Saudi Design Festival, a physical hub for creatives to highlight design

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Basma Bouzo, founder of Saudi Design Festival at the SDF opening night at Jax in Diriyah. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Basma Bouzo, founder of Saudi Design Festival at the SDF opening night at Jax in Diriyah. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Updated 18 January 2022
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Saudi Design Festival, a physical hub for creatives to highlight design

  • The idea of the Saudi Design Festival was born during the pandemic
  • The three-week festival is part of a move toward city-wide activation that will put design at the center because design is everywhere

RIYADH: The global pandemic shut down much of the world—but not Basma Bouzo’s ambition or imagination. As a self-proclaimed “cultural instigator,” Bouzo took the challenges of the pandemic in her stride and used it as an opportunity to found the Saudi Design Festival.

The first of its kind in the Middle East, the three-week festival opened in historic Diriyah on Sunday. A pioneer in creating niche initiatives in the Kingdom for the past 14 years, she took a lesson from the pandemic and reflected on how to streamline the way in which design is presented in Saudi Arabia.

“The pandemic has so many negative connotations, but it really accelerated a lot of things and a lot of plans; it really made us push towards this new structure,” she told Arab News.

In the 21-day ticketed festival in the hip district of Al-Diriyah Al-Jadida, or New Diriyah, where curated local and international talents are invited to come together to experiment, collaborate and learn about each other. Workshops, talks, and contests will be announced soon. The general public will also be encouraged to stop by and offer support.

“We are re-shaping what a design festival is. We moved from Design Week, which is huddled in one place, in one location and everything under that umbrella, to toward eventually a city-wide activation that would put design at the center because design is everywhere—you have to just look at it,” she said.

No stranger to the local and global art & design scene, Bouzo and her sister Noura started pulling together narratives from Saudi voices in 2007 and presenting them in a print publication, the aptly titled Oasis magazine. In 2014, she launched Saudi Design Week and now, in 2022, the Saudi Design Festival.

“The crux of what we started doing is that a lot of people didn’t understand that Saudi design existed,” she said.

She said that, while there has always been a talent pool in the Kingdom, it was difficult to see and develop because there was no clear place in which people could easily meet and mingle. There was no design community.

The decision to host it in the Jax Art District was serendipitous.

“I think part of our journey has been always finding locations that are unique that people kind of overlook — and this fell into place with our partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Architecture and Design Commission,” she said.

Jax Art District is a cluster of warehouses that house different creative spaces. Many of the studios are still being built and the work-in-progress feel serves as a symbolic backdrop for this festival.

Amid the seemingly never-ending construction in Jax, the location also serves as fuel for Bouzo to keep going. The entire area is being created in real time, from the ground up — much like the festival itself.

Riyadh-native Munira Altheeb visited the Saudi Design Festival on its opening night and was very proud at how her home town was morphing into a hub for designers. She appreciated the community which Bouzo is creating and was energized by the promise of what is to come.

“As someone from Riyadh, I never would have imagined that this festival would be happening — culture and design together in one space, with young people and professional designers together. I’m really happy to be in it,” she told Arab News.


Saudi Arabia’s urban planning on display at WUF

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Saudi Arabia’s urban planning on display at WUF

  • The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities

CAIRO: The Saudi pavilion at the World Urban Forum in Cairo this week hosted a series of workshops and bilateral meetings on the Kingdom’s strategies and projects in comprehensive urban planning.

The Saudi presence also underlined the positive effect of these strategies on achieving sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life in Saudi cities, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Through representatives and officials of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and more than 30 national entities, the Saudi pavilion showed the Kingdom’s efforts to adopt and expand comprehensive urban planning practices focused on sustainability, and apply the requirement to study environmental impact in municipal and investment projects.

The meetings highlighted the concept of smart municipalities aimed at improving the quality of municipal services in Saudi regions and adopting modern technologies and enhanced municipal regulations for smart city policies, as well as the use of artificial intelligence technologies and data in improving the quality of life.

The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities, the Saudi Press Agency reported, in addition to urban landscape development projects and visual distortion treatment projects.

 

 


Saudi foreign minister, Blinken discuss regional crises

Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi foreign minister, Blinken discuss regional crises

  • Two discussed ongoing efforts to address the issues in Gaza and Lebanon

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, they reviewed regional issues, with a particular focus on Gaza and Lebanon and ongoing efforts to address the issues there, SPA added.

In a separate call on Friday with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Blinken stressed the need to stop the fighting in Sudan and the need to support efforts to form a civilian government, the State Department said.

Blinken also discussed the need to expand humanitarian access to Sudan and thanked the UAE for its provision of aid for Gaza and Lebanon, according to a State Department statement.


Saudi health minister unveils new healthcare projects in Qassim

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi health minister unveils new healthcare projects in Qassim

  • Saudi Health Minister’s visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million)

BURAIDAH: Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel visited Qassim to review several healthcare projects designed to enhance the quality, efficiency and accessibility of medical services for residents.

These initiatives align with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a key component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to foster a “vibrant society” enjoying a healthy and prosperous life, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

His visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million). Among these were key projects under the Qassim Health Cluster, such as the dental center in Unaizah, along with community-supported initiatives worth nearly SR102 million.

Highlights included the Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Fertility Center in Buraidah, the Abdullah Saleh Al-Othaim Diabetes Treatment Center at Al-Rass General Hospital, the Al-Rajhi Bank Cardiac Catheterization Center, and several other specialized healthcare facilities.

 


Saudi Arabia highlights global humanitarian efforts at G20 Parliamentary Summit in Brazil

Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, took part in the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary S
Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia highlights global humanitarian efforts at G20 Parliamentary Summit in Brazil

  • Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, made the comments during the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary Speakers held in Brazil

RIYADH: Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, commended Brazil’s initiative to launch the Global Alliance to Combat Hunger and Poverty, affirming that Saudi Arabia has been a member of the alliance since May 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This came during the 10th Summit of G20 Parliamentary Speakers held in Brasilia, Brazil, focusing on the theme “Parliaments for a Fair World and a Sustainable Planet.”

Al-Sulami led the Kingdom’s delegation at the international gathering, revealing that Riyadh would host the UN Conference on Land and Drought in December.

The deputy speaker elaborated on Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive approach to addressing poverty and hunger through the efforts of the government and the Shoura Council, which have created a social safety net through various support programs, the Social Development Bank, and the contribution of charitable organizations.

On the international front, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian contributions have been substantial, SPA reported. From 1975 to 2024, the Kingdom provided nearly $133 billion in development assistance, reaching 171 countries worldwide. This aid has supported over 7,090 humanitarian and development projects. Currently, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre manages 1,700 projects aimed at combating hunger and poverty around the world.

Al-Sulami highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to workplace equality through its adoption of ILO Conventions 100 and 111. The Kingdom’s laws ensure equal pay and employment opportunities, with no discrimination between men and women in jobs and wages. These efforts have yielded significant results, with female participation in the labor market reaching 37 percent by 2023, exceeding expectations set in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The Kingdom has also provided $187 million in urgent relief to Gaza, along with $1.6 billion in development and humanitarian assistance, according to SPA.

Saudi Arabia launched the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution in partnership with other Arab and Islamic countries, the EU, and Norway, hosting its first meeting in Riyadh on Oct. 30, 2024. Following the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on Nov. 11, 2023, the Kingdom announced another edition of the summit scheduled for Nov. 11, 2024. These efforts aim to achieve an immediate ceasefire, end the Israeli occupation, provide relief to the Palestinian people, and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The P20 summit addressed several crucial topics, including parliamentary contributions to fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality; the role of parliaments in sustainable development; and adapting parliamentary systems to 21st-century governance challenges. Iman Al-Jubreen, a member of the Shoura Council delegation, presented a working paper on women’s representation in decision-making positions, sharing Saudi Arabia’s experience in women’s empowerment.


Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

Updated 08 November 2024
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Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

  • Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days
  • The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival

RIYADH: Audiences will be spoilt for choice at the Jazan Winter Festival, with 300 fantastic events on the program, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
General supervisor Yahya bin Jaber Al-Ghazwani told a press conference that the festival, under the patronage of Jazan Governor Prince Mohammed bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, included 200 diverse events implemented by the region’s secretariat and 100 by other government agencies and departments.
Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days with events taking place at 42 sites across Jazan city and the region’s governorates.
The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival for performing arts, along with concerts, cultural events, forums, poetry evenings, sports events, waterfront events, and park and heritage events.
On Thursday, the skies above Jazan’s North Corniche witnessed the launch of more than 3,000 balloons in various colors to celebrate the Jazan Winter Festival 2025.
Hundreds of residents, visitors and volunteers marveled at the spectacle, which included artistic formations of illuminated balloons.
The event marks the start of a busy winter season aimed at promoting local tourism in an atmosphere of joy and entertainment.