Success of Jeddah Season was diversity and inclusivity

Manager of Jeddah Season, Nawaf Qomosani. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 June 2022
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Success of Jeddah Season was diversity and inclusivity

  • Jeddah Season had events tailored to almost everyone, including Anime Village for fans of the art and Japanese culture, Jeddah Waves for water sports enthusiasts and cultural shows for art, music and theater lovers

JEDDAH: With its wide variety of daily shows, experiences, games, exhibitions and concerts, Jeddah Season was a resounding success, receiving over 5 million visitors from around 68 countries. 

More than 36 performances and events were held in the Kingdom for the first time. 

Jeddah Season had events tailored to almost everyone, including Anime Village for fans of the art and Japanese culture, Jeddah Waves for water sports enthusiasts and cultural shows for art, music and theater lovers. 

Inclusivity was a priority for Jeddah Season’s manager Nawaf Qomosani.

“We know that Jeddah’s people love the water and sea activities, and we also know that they love anime, so that’s why one of the main focuses was to provide international-standard events for these two segments,” he told Arab News.

“Besides that, we also wanted to focus on food and traditional events, and I hope that we covered all kinds of events within this season,” he added.

Qomosani said that organizers faced many challenges on a daily basis to maintain the high quality of events for visitors.

“We wanted to give them the best possible option every day, taking into consideration such factors as the weather and timing. With the great team we have, we overcame these challenges daily,” he said.

Qomosani believes that the City Walk, one of the nine zones, was the highlight of Jeddah Season.

“It had different events that appealed to everyone. You could find events for kids, adults, anime lovers, music lovers. I think that’s the perfect kind of zone that everyone wishes for,” he said.

Some zones such as Luna, Jeddah Superdome, Layalina Theatre, the Yacht Club, and Prince Majid Park will continue to operate after the season ends and until the end of the year. 

It is currently being discussed whether to extend the operation of zones Jeddah Waves and Jeddah June until the end of the year. 

In line with Vision 2030, Jeddah Season provided scores of economic and employment opportunities to more than 74,000 people, of which 80 percent were Saudis, in 14 different professional fields. 


Saudi Shoura Council members meet Uzbekistan Senate head

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi Shoura Council members meet Uzbekistan Senate head

TASHKENT: A delegation from the Saudi-Uzbek Parliamentary Friendship Committee in the Shoura Council, headed by council member and committee chairman, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Jarbaa, met the head of the Uzbek Senate, Tanzila Narbaeva, in Tashkent.

Narbaeva welcomed the delegation, who are on an official visit to Uzbekistan, and stressed the keen interest of both countries’ leaders to build strong relations.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance ties, explored prospects for parliamentary cooperation between the Shoura Council and the Uzbek Senate and discussed other topics of mutual interest.

The meeting was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yousef Saleh Al-Otaibi.


KSrelief helps Syrian orphans in Jordan

Updated 10 min 31 sec ago
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KSrelief helps Syrian orphans in Jordan

  • Project was signed by the agency’s general supervisor, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, and the Secretary-General of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization Dr. Hussein Al-Shebli
  • Signing ceremony, held at the Saudi Embassy in Amman, was attended by Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Jordan

AMMAN: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed an agreement to implement a project to support 1,000 Syrian orphans and their host communities in Jordan.

The project, valued at almost SR4.9 million ($1.3 million), was signed by the agency’s general supervisor, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, and the secretary-general of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization, Dr. Hussein Al-Shebli.

The signing ceremony, held at the Saudi Embassy in Amman, was attended by Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Jordan and non-resident ambassador to the State of Palestine, and representatives of international humanitarian organizations.

As well as providing funds to cover the cost of the orphans’ basic needs, the agreement will support a range of education, recreation and community initiatives in Amman, Zarqa, Mafraq, Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash, Balqa, Madaba, Karak, Tafilah, Ma’an and Aqaba.


Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists

Saudi citizenship has been granted to a number of people with distinguished talents. (File/AFP)
Updated 4 min 39 sec ago
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Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists

  • Move is in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create an appealing environment that attracts, invests in, and retains exceptional creative minds

RIYADH: Saudi citizenship has been granted to a number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and people who have unique capabilities, expertise, and specializations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The granting of citizenship was issued as part of a royal order granting Saudi citizenship to people with distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise for the benefit of the nation in various fields.

It is also in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create an appealing environment that attracts, invests in, and retains exceptional creative minds.

A number of specialists, whose expertise in the economic, health, cultural, sports and innovation fields was considered distinguished, were previously awarded citizenship in 2021.


Two lynx kittens born at Prince Saud Al-Faisal National Center in Taif

Updated 04 July 2024
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Two lynx kittens born at Prince Saud Al-Faisal National Center in Taif

  • Births follow launch of specialist breeding program in 2022
  • New arrivals tribute to center’s efforts to protect endangered species, NCW chief says

RIYADH: A breeding program set up by the National Center for Wildlife Development has paid off after a lynx at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research in Taif gave birth to two kittens, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The program was established in 2022 and is part of the center’s wider efforts to preserve wildlife and protect ecosystems in line with the National Environment Strategy and Saudi Green Initiative under Vision 2030.
NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban said the birth of the kittens represented the center’s “ongoing efforts to preserve endangered species and expand breeding programs” and was “evidence of the continued success in implementing ambitious environmental programs that aim to protect biodiversity in the Kingdom.”
Such initiatives sought to “promote the best practices of environmental conservation in accordance with an integrated legislative structure that embodies the center’s vision of achieving a thriving and sustainable wildlife,” he said.
Qurban said the predator breeding program was being run alongside other programs that sought to create suitable environments for the animals on their release, and that the Taif center had played a key role in helping to get endangered species back into their natural environments.


Kiswa of Kaaba to be replaced with advent of new Islamic year

The Kiswa of the Kaaba will be replaced on Muharram 1, the beginning of the new Hijri year. (SPA)
Updated 04 July 2024
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Kiswa of Kaaba to be replaced with advent of new Islamic year

  • Production of the Kiswa requires about 1,000 kilograms of raw silk which is dyed black at the complex, 120 kilograms of gold wire, and 100 kilograms of silver wire

RIYADH: The intricate black cloth covering the Kaaba will be replaced on Muharram 1, the beginning of the Hijri year, as part of an annual tradition.

The Kiswa will be changed with the help of 159 technicians and craftsmen, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The old Kiswa will be removed and replaced by a new one which consists of four separate sides and a door curtain. Each side will be raised separately to the top of the Kaaba in preparation for its unfolding over the old side.

The new Kiswa will be attached from above and the ropes of the old cloth will then be loosened.

Over 200 craftsmen and administrators work at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa in Makkah where the special cloth is produced.

The complex has separate departments for dyeing, machine-weaving, hand-weaving, printing, belts, gold-plating, sewing, and assembling.

The sewing and assembling department features the largest sewing machine in the world which is 16 meters long and runs on a computer system.

Production of the Kiswa requires about 1,000 kilograms of raw silk which is dyed black at the complex, 120 kilograms of gold wire, and 100 kilograms of silver wire.

The new Hijri year is due to start on July 7.