RIYADH: Cities across Saudi Arabia are set to host the largest traditional cultural show simulating human struggle since the founding of the Saudi state and the development it has gained throughout its luminous history full of achievements.
The show, which will be held from Feb. 22 to 24 to commemorate Founding Day, will present visitors with a cultural celebration of traditional Saudi garments and costumes, and the aroma of traditional Saudi coffee, as the Kingdom’s history unfolds before their eyes, organizers said.
King Salman had issued a royal decree designating Feb. 22 as Founding Day, to recognize the foundation of the First Saudi State in 1727 by Imam Mohammed bin Saud.
In the era of the Saudi state, Diriyah was a meeting point for Hajj and trade caravans coming from outside the Arabian Peninsula, and the area has been renowned since the pre-Islamic era for its different markets that vary in terms of tradition and heritage and in the number of pilgrims, a statement on Saudi Press Agency said on Saturday.
It includes a simulation of the movement of the well-known commercial markets throughout the Kingdom, especially the “Nejnaj, a place where ancient flea markets burst to life.”
The Nejnaj event was divided into five regions (central, eastern, northern, western, and southern), and each region has a gate that includes a mini-art exhibition consisting of old photos from each region showing its ancient heritage and history during the Saudi state. Each region will have actors and narrators telling real stories from the founding period.
The night sky will also light up with a fireworks and drone show on Thursday.
A virtual historical exhibition will be held on Tuesday, whereby students participated by submitting a picture, painting, or a form of expressive writing defining the Founding Day and the historical depth of the Kingdom.
The exhibition is the first and largest virtual exhibition in the world in terms of space, participants and global competition,” SPA reported, adding that it will be managed through a control panel for each participant on the Saudi virtual reality system VRSA, which is the latest global smart Saudi 3D interactive technology in the world.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a large musical show will be held in Riyadh that will take audiences back to the first days of the Kingdom up until the current time, and highlights the establishment and unification stages of the Kingdom. It also shows its transition to modern life, while preserving the language, religion, customs, traditions and social relations.
The “Founding Day Operetta” aims to celebrate the founder and other historical icons throughout three centuries in a musical led by Mohammed Abdo, Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Rashed Al-Fares, Majed Al-Mohandes, and Dalia.
It was composed by Saham, Nasser Al-Saleh and Nawaf Abdullah, and written by Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin, Mohammed Al-Anizi, Naif Saqer, Najla Al-Mahya and Ahmed Alawi.
Saudi Arabia to hold a number of events over three days to celebrate the first Founding Day
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Saudi Arabia to hold a number of events over three days to celebrate the first Founding Day
Saudi and French experts explore opportunities for cooperation in sustainable agriculture
Saudi Arabia’s National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, also known as Estidamah, welcomed a delegation from the French National Federation of Seed Potato Growers for an official visit during which they discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation and exchanges of expertise.
The visitors learned about the center’s activities, including its research and technical programs and prominent projects that support the development of sustainable agricultural solutions in the Kingdom.
The center said the visit reflected its commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading international organizations, and the sharing of experience that can contribute to the development of the agricultural sector and improved food security.
The French federation, which specializes in support and development of potato seed production, oversees a number of research and technical institutions.
AlUla Skies Festival 2025 returns next week
- The festival features a variety of additional activities, including illuminated hot air balloon shows, tethered-flight and free-flight balloon rides over AlUla’s iconic landmarks, and musical concerts blending culture, exploration and entertainment
RIYADH: AlUla Moments has announced the return of the “AlUla Skies Festival 2025” from April 18 to 27, featuring a variety of new experiences.
The festival highlights the area’s clear, light-pollution-free skies and AlUla’s deep, ancient connection to astronomy, as it is home to Gharameel and AlUla’s Beacon, the first designated Dark Sky locations in the Middle East, recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association, solidifying AlUla’s status as a global hub for astro-tourism.
The festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to stargaze in a pristine natural environment, showcasing IDA-certified locations such as Gharameel and AlUla’s Beacon.
These spots are among the first official Dark Sky Sites in the region, reinforcing AlUla’s role as a leading destination for stargazing tourism.
Visitors can head to the Gharameel Reserve to view the Milky Way in one of the clearest skies in the region. The experience also includes night walks, camping sessions and grilled dinners around campfires.
The festival features a variety of additional activities, including illuminated hot air balloon shows, tethered-flight and free-flight balloon rides over AlUla’s iconic landmarks, and musical concerts blending culture, exploration and entertainment.
For more information about the AlUla Skies Festival, visitors can check the official website: https://www.experiencealula.com/en.
SFDA CEO meets German food safety president
- The meeting took place as part of the bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum, held in Chile from April 9-11
RIYADH: The chief executive officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, on Thursday met in Santiago with President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Dr. Andreas Hensel.
The meeting took place as part of the bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum, held in Chile from April 9-11.
According to a press release from the SFDA, both sides underscored the crucial role of regulatory authorities in forging robust partnerships with the private sector.
This collaboration is vital for developing and improving product quality, driving progress, and enhancing operational efficiency within a unified system that prioritizes product safety.
Discussions also centered on the importance of establishing an integrated regulatory system underpinned by reliable reference data, accurate quality testing, and transparent regulatory frameworks.
This foundation will foster greater confidence in regulatory information, improve the capacity for proactive risk assessment and response, and ultimately enhance product reliability and food safety.
Officials from the SFDA delegation also conducted a series of bilateral meetings with several counterpart regulatory bodies, including the UK Food Standards Agency, the Chilean Food Safety and Quality Agency, the New Zealand Food Safety branch of the Ministry of Primary Industries, and the Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority.
These meetings were geared toward fostering cooperation frameworks and enhancing integrated work with international organizations to serve food quality and safety objectives.
Saudi Arabia was green corridor 8 million years ago: Saudi Heritage Commission
- Mesfer Alqahtani: The core findings of this study is that the Arabian Peninsula was not always a desert, it underwent repeated humid phases that supported rich biodiversity
- SHC, in collaboration with leading local and international institutions, led a scientific mission that looked into the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes preserved in cave formations
RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission unveiled new findings this week that prove the Kingdom was a vital oasis eight million years ago.
Mesfer Alqahtani, archaeology consultant at the commission, said on Wednesday: “The core findings of this study is that the Arabian Peninsula was not always a desert, it underwent repeated humid phases that supported rich biodiversity and sustained both land and marine ecosystems, making it a natural bridge for the movement of species between Africa and Asia in the ancient world.”
The SHC, in collaboration with leading local and international institutions, led a scientific mission that looked into the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes preserved in cave formations. It used a combination of dating techniques such as uranium-thorium and uranium lead analysis studies to document the longest-known record of ancient climate in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back about eight million years.
The study analyzed 22 speleothem samples extracted from seven desert caves located northeast of Riyadh near Shawayyah in Rumah governorate. The caves are locally known as Duhool Al-Samman.
Experts at the SHC underlined that these findings provide clear evidence of recurrent humid and rainy periods in the region’s past.
The study also found fossils pointing to the presence of a fertile environment.
Dr. Ajab Alotaibi, director general of the commission’s antiquities sector, said that the study highlighted the Arabian Peninsula’s crucial role as a corridor for the dispersal of organisms between Africa, Asia and Europe.
The study is part of the commission’s flagship initiative, the Green Arabia Project, which aims to explore the region’s natural and environmental history.
Michael Petralia, professor and director, Australian Research Center for Human Evolution, said: “Our archaeological work on the lakes of Arabia has now indicated that humans and early humans were in Saudi Arabia 500,000 years ago; that tells us immediately that Arabia acted as a crossroads between continents, between Africa and Asia, so this is a landscape that is very important in terms of documenting heritage, paleontology, archaeology, through time.”
The SHC-led findings have been published in the scientific journal, “Nature,” under the title “Recurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years.”
The research brought together 30 scientists from 28 organizations — local and international — including the Heritage Commission, the Saudi Geological Survey, King Saud University, the Max Planck Institute in Germany, Griffith University in Australia, and several universities and research centers across Germany, Italy, the UK and the US.
According to the SHC, the study marks a major milestone for the Green Arabia Project, one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious efforts to promote scientific research and document the natural and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.
These findings also offer valuable insights into restoring Saudi Arabia to its original, greener state, supporting pivotal projects such as Green Riyadh and the Saudi Green Initiative.
The project seeks to better understand how environmental and climatic changes have shaped the region across eras — contributing to a richer, more complete understanding of Saudi Arabia’s natural history.
Jasir Al-Herbish, CEO of the SHC, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to advancing research and fostering international collaborations.
Endangered species find new home in Saudi royal reserve
- Five Arabian oryx, 15 Arabian sand gazelles, two steppe eagles and three Egyptian vultures have been released in an effort to reestablish native species in their natural environments
- Initiative, in partnership with the reserve’s development authority, is part of a broader program to breed and reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has released 25 animals from endangered species into the King Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve.
The initiative, in partnership with the reserve’s development authority, is part of a broader program to breed and reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats.
The animals — five Arabian oryx, 15 Arabian sand gazelles, two steppe eagles and three Egyptian vultures — have been released in an effort to reestablish native species in their natural environments, restore ecological balance and enhance biodiversity in Saudi Arabia’s protected areas.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said it was “another step toward achieving our vision for wildlife development in the Kingdom.”
He emphasized it demonstrated the center’s commitment to breeding endangered species according to international standards, enhancing biodiversity and achieving environmental sustainability targets under Saudi Vision 2030.
The program also reflects the center’s dedication to collaborating with environmental partners to achieve common goals that reflected the Kingdom’s efforts to balance economic development with the protection of natural resources. It continues the center’s work in ecosystem rehabilitation and endangered species breeding, supporting the National Environment Strategy and Saudi Green Initiative.
Qurban added the work also boosted tourism, created jobs and led to improved quality of life in local communities.
The initiatives are implemented through specialized centers considered among the world’s best in breeding and reintroduction, applying international standards and practices to ensure successful releases and ecological balance.
