Gamers8 fest welcomes Ithra’s Creative Solutions program

Ithra’s initiative introduced in tandem with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) to build a market for both consumers and developers. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 July 2022
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Gamers8 fest welcomes Ithra’s Creative Solutions program

  • As the extended reality market is set to balloon, Saudi creatives work to make their mark

RIYADH: A new creativity program from the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has taken the Gamers8 festival in Riyadh by storm.

The center’s latest endeavor is a leading initiative in innovative and interactive content creation: the Creative Solutions program.

Creative Solutions is a yearly program based in the Kingdom that gives a platform to creatives eager to take part in an emerging industry saturated with immersive and innovative technologies, creating an ecosystem of collective learning. It was launched in 2021 to enrich economic growth and provide a platform for innovators to pursue their creative ideas, from an idea to a working prototype.

Ithra’s collaboration with Gamers8 brings an educational approach to the e-sports industry, with a focus on its design and technology aspects, while also developing a more balanced approach in the e-sports and gaming creative industry.

Ithra’s initiative has been introduced in tandem with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) in an effort to build a market for both consumers and developers. It will also create greater local job opportunities. Instead of outsourcing, Saudi companies in e-sports will be able to produce and consume locally.

“We see this sector as important as other sectors,” Miznah Al-Zamil, the head of the Creativity and Innovation department at Ithra, told Arab News.

“Gamers8 is the first and the largest event in this industry, to be specific, and we wanted to be participants as a knowledge beacon and the role that we have in the culture and creative industry,” Al-Zamil added.

Ithra’s collaboration with Gamers8 includes an exhibit showcasing the five innovative winning projects of last year’s Creative Solutions cohort, all falling under the extended reality (XR) umbrella in relation to arts, culture and education. The exhibit will run alongside the festival until Sept. 8.

“I was really surprised when I learned that the consumer market for games and e-sports, Saudi is in the top five in the world. It’s mind blowing,” Filipe Gomes, head of the Creative Solutions program, told Arab News. “The question was how can we connect our value and showcase it — not just what we can do locally through a consumer perspective, but also from a production perspective.”

The program’s first round onboarded 60 creatives, selected out of approximately 2,000 applicants, who went through 12 masterclass sessions in a range of topics, including narrative storytelling, 3D production, virtual reality headsets, augmented reality, and others.

The program is currently running its second round, and 15 selected creatives’ ideas will be presented at Gamers8 on Aug. 21, allowing participants to pitch their ideas to Creative Solutions partners, vendors, the media and more stakeholders.

“What is obvious to all is that gamers usually, if you’re (into tech), have to do a lot with esports. But on the contrary, it has a lot to do with design, it has a lot to do with creatives. There’s a lot that goes into development. Here is where Ithra comes in and technically contributes to such a growing industry,” Al Zamil said.

Three years ago, the XR market was valued at $27 billion and is expected to reach $300 billion by 2024.

“It’s a global phenomenon, and it’s a huge opportunity,” said Gomes. “The program is a gate for Saudi to the world, and the world to Saudi. We work with partners all across the globe, so why not bring some of the key content around games and virtual reality to Gamers8 through these connections.”

Additionally, an XR-centered panel discussion will take place, joined by leading experts and specialists in the field, including the head of the SEF, Faisal Bin Bandar, and the dean of e-learning and distance education at the University of Tabuk, Ali Alshammari, coming together to shed light on data around the topic and the future of the field.

“The Saudi XR ecosystem is developing. There is a huge potential worldwide, to be honest, and Saudi needs to have its mark,” Al-Zamil said.


Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation

Updated 30 January 2025
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Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from European Council President Antonio Costa, the Saudi Press Agency said early Thursday.

The pair discussed enhancing cooperation between the Kingdom and European Union countries.

They also tackled a number of regional and international issues and the efforts made to achieve security and stability.


Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

Updated 30 January 2025
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Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

  • The Kingdom and the international police organization sign host country agreement

RIYADH: Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region.

Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.


Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy

Updated 29 January 2025
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Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy

Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Asheikh received Japan’s newly appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Morino Yasunari in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The Japanese ambassador praised the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan, affirming his country’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to bolster parliamentary collaboration between the Shoura Council and the Japanese Parliament, and other topics of mutual interest.


Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success

Updated 29 January 2025
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Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success

  • The Green Qassim Land Initiative has completed planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative

RIYADH: Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal commended the success of the Green Qassim Land Initiative in planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative.

In a meeting on Wednesday, he praised government and private sector efforts, particularly the contributions of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

The governor also lauded the ministry’s and center’s innovative approach to repurposing materials confiscated from environmental regulation violators for sustainable reforestation, notably in Qassim National Park.

Prince Faisal reaffirmed the region’s commitment to expanding vegetation cover and strengthening environmental protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry’s Qassim branch director general, Salman Al-Suwainea, said that the initiative has progressed through various stages of collaboration with governmental and nonprofit organizations, playing a key role in advancing the Saudi Green Initiative’s objectives.


King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam

Updated 29 January 2025
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King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam

  • The prize was awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information

RIYADH: The 2025 King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam has been awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.

Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf is a Saudi initiative by the Liajlehum Association, which serves people with disabilities.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal announced the laureates for the Service to Islam category at a ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf has been awarded the prize for its provision of a complete Qur’anic interpretation in sign language, and for providing an interactive Qur’an for those with hearing disabilities.

It offers an innovative approach to Qur’anic interpretation, using techniques that enable the deaf to reflect on and understand the meaning of the Holy Qur’an.

Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth has been awarded the prize for his outstanding efforts in documenting Islamic history, his achievements in the field of historical and geographical atlases, and his accomplishments in both the diversity and comprehensiveness of the topics covered, which include most aspects of Islamic history, its figures, monuments and stages.

The Saudi national’s work includes atlases on the life of Prophet Muhammad, the history of the prophets and messengers, the Rashidun caliphs, atlases on religions, places in the Holy Qur’an, Islamic sects and schools of thought, Hadith scholars, and Holy Qur’an interpreters.

His work has been translated into several languages.

Earlier, on Jan. 8, the KFP, awarded in five categories, was announced, except for the Service to Islam prize. Announcing the winners then, Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, KFP secretary-general, said: “The selection committees, after meticulous deliberations, have reached decisions for ... Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science. ”

The coveted prize for Islamic studies for 2025 was awarded jointly to Professor Saad Abdulaziz Alrashid and Professor Said Faiz Alsaid. Both are Saudi nationals and professors at King Saud University.

The prize for Arabic language and literature was withheld due to the nominated works not reaching the set criteria.

The prize for medicine was awarded to Michel Sadelain (Canada), and the prize for science awarded in physics to Sumio Iijima, a professor at Meijo University, Japan. 

The KFP was established in 1977, and given for the first time in 1979 in three categories — Service to Islam, Islamic studies, and Arabic language and literature. Two additional categories were introduced in 1981 — medicine and science. The first medicine prize was awarded in 1982, and in science two years later.

Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate’s name and a summary of the work that qualified them for the prize.