Sound of the ’60s: Saudi composer looks back on Kingdom’s musical rebirth
Even carrying a musical instrument used to be considered a sin in Saudi Arabia
In 1962, then Crown Prince Faisal, who later became king, eased the prohibition
Updated 15 September 2022
DEEMA AL-KHUDAIR
JEDDAH: A Saudi composer has recalled the Kingdom’s musical rebirth in the 1960s, when a public performance was staged to mark the return of King Saud from a trip abroad for medical treatment.
Music was not allowed to be played publicly in the Kingdom before 1962, so people would play in secret, Saudi composer, author and researcher Mohammed Al-Senan recalled.
“In public events, weddings, or even private occasions, it wasn’t allowed. Anyone carrying an instrument or even a gramophone was caught by the religious police at that time. Carrying or renting a musical instrument, even in the markets, was considered a major sin,” he said.
However, when King Saud returned to the Kingdom from a medical trip in 1962, a party was held on the order of Faisal, who was crown prince at the time and later became king.
“The surprise was that the ceremony included songs accompanied by musical instruments from well-known singers at that time,” Al-Senan recalled.
It was a turning point, and from that moment on music was played and concerts were aired on the Saudi TV channel.
“After the ’60s, media became active in this field, especially after Talal Maddah rose to fame,” Al-Senan said.
Maddah, a Saudi musician and composer, became famous for his songs “Sowai’at Al-Aseel” and “Wardak Ya Zare’a Al-Ward. He held concerts and was featured in “Al-Maw’ed,” a popular Lebanese magazine.
Later in the same decade, other Saudi musicians, such as Mohammed Abdo and composer Ghazi Ali, became well-known music figures.
Soon after, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Media began to broadcast their music on radio and TV, and hosted concerts at the Radio and Television Theatre.
“Many famous singers performed on this stage, such as Abdulmajeed Abdullah Rashid Al-Majid, Hussien Qurayesh and others,” he said.
“The Ministry of Media played a huge role in inciting the music craze at the time and supported these artists.”
Al-Senan has had a long and illustrious musical career in the Kingdom.
He studied with the late Jordanian maestro Tawfiq Jad, who opened the Al-Ahly Club in Alkhobar to teach oriental music.
In 1962, Jad founded the Alkhobar Orchestra, which later became the Silver Band, with Al-Senan featured as a violinist.
Some of the band’s performances were shown on Aramco TV in 1962 and 1963.
Silver Band concerts were popular events in the entertainment clubs of Aramco, as well as the Air Force clubs at Dhahran air base in 1965 and 1966.
National Cultural Awards winners honored in Riyadh
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah honored the Winners of the Fourth National Cultural Awards in Riyadh Monday evening.
The event, which was held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saw the creation of two new awards for cultural media and handicrafts.
Cultural Pioneer Award went to Dr. Saad Al-Suwaian, in recognition of his great scientific, literary and cultural contributions over many years in the field, while author and artist Diaa Youssef won the Youth Cultural Award.
Badr Al-Buwardi took home the Business Owners Award, for his family’s efforts in preserving cultural heritage.
The International Cultural Excellence Award went to “Turquoise Mountain“ for their work in protecting heritage and communities around the world.
As for institutions, MBC Group won the Cultural Institutions Award (for-profit). King Faisal Foundation won the award for the non-profit category.
Winners in other cultural sectors were also honored during the ceremony.
To mark the occasion, Prince Badr said that the awards are a supportive and encouraging umbrella for talent and creativity.
“The Ministry of Culture has been keen to adopt a strategy to develop cultural capabilities, in an extended and integrated journey with partners in various sectors,” the minister added.
The awards celebrate the achievements, contributions, and cultural productions of Saudi intellectuals in various cultural sectors every year.
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Egypt for Arab League meeting
Prince Faisal will participate in 162nd regular session of the Arab League in Cairo
Updated 09 September 2024
Arab News
CAIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Cairo on Monday evening at the start of a visit to Egypt, the foreign ministry announced.
During his visit, the prince will participate in the 162nd regular session of the Arab League which takes place Tuesday at the Arab League headquarters.
The foreign minister attended the 161st Ministerial Council meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on Monday.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the GCC held three separate ministerial meetings with Russia, India and Brazil to open new horizons for cooperation, during which Prince Faisal met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Full steam ahead for Saudi Arabia’s aquaculture dream
Sector plays major role toward increasing seafood consumption rate, says official
Updated 09 September 2024
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: The Kingdom decided to introduce aquaculture more than 40 years ago, leading to the establishment of the National Fisheries Center. Since then, the sector has undergone significant development through international partnerships and collaborations, particularly with the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Aquaculture today plays a vital role in helping to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, diversifying national income sources, and transforming the sector into a genuine industry that contributes to the Kingdom’s food security.
Following its launch, the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program has enabled the Kingdom to build expertise, forming a solid foundation for achieving future goals.
Aquaculture is also encouraging growth and prosperity for coastal and rural areas, while preserving biodiversity and the environment. (Supplied/KAUST)
Abdul Majeed Al-Shehri, director of corporate communications and partnerships at the program, gave Arab News a look at the program and its developments.
He said: “We are working, through integration with other sectors, in food industries to improve production efficiency and add value to achieve self-sufficiency.
HIGHLIGHT
Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia is encouraging growth and prosperity for coastal and rural areas, while preserving biodiversity and the environment.
“This includes the establishment of Animal Protein City in the Jazan region, which aims to build emerging food clusters and develop logistical services for supply chains. In numbers, we have increased aquaculture production from 32,000 tonnes in 2016 to 120,000 tonnes in 2022.”
Aquaculture is also encouraging growth and prosperity for coastal and rural areas, while preserving biodiversity and the environment.
Aquaculture today plays a vital role in helping to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, including diversifying national income sources. (Supplied/KAUST)
According to an official statement, the sector has linked with other agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, and contributed to the development of related industries such as seafood processing, feed production, and fishery-based manufacturing industries.
A diverse range of aquatic species have been introduced to suit the various geographic and climatic regions of the Kingdom, including Nile tilapia, carp, ornamental fish, and sturgeon in inland waters, and barramundi, marine tilapia, gilthead seabream, European seabass, and sea cucumber in marine ecosystems.
The introduction of rainbow trout has also seen encouraging success, alongside the implementation of modern technologies like closed systems in farming operations.
In numbers, we have increased aquaculture production from 32,000 tonnes in 2016 to 120,000 tonnes in 2022.
Abdul Majeed Al-Shehri, National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, corporate communications director
The aquaculture sector in Saudi Arabia produces over 140,000 tonnes annually, with a distribution of 25 percent from inland fish farms and 75 percent from marine water projects.
Several cultured products are exported, including shrimps, certain types of fish, ornamental fish, and sea cucumbers. Annually, 59,844 tonnes of fish and shrimps are exported, with a total value of SR1.1 billion ($293 million).
Aquaculture today plays a vital role in helping to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, including diversifying national income sources. (Supplied/KAUST)
Biosecurity monitoring programs have enhanced quality and safety standards, resulting in Saudi aquaculture products being sought by consumers in nearly 35 countries.
Countries importing shrimps from the Kingdom include Japan, China, the US, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Africa, the EU countries, and Russia.
Al-Shehri said: “In the field of shrimp farming, we cultivate whiteleg shrimp. We also have an initiative for applied research to explore the introduction of several new species suitable for farming in the Kingdom, in collaboration with KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology).
“Additionally, we are working on cultivating several types of microalgae and have studied two species of seaweed.”
Alongside increasing the aquaculture sector’s contribution to food security and achieving self-sufficiency in seafood, Al-Shehri added: “We aim for the sector to play a major role in providing fresh and healthy seafood to the community, with leadership focused on improving quality of life and transitioning to healthier lifestyles.
“This includes increasing the seafood consumption rate to the global average of 18 percent by 2030.”
He added that the seafood consumption rate in the Kingdom had increased from 9 percent in 2016 to 13 percent in 2023.
The National Center for Fisheries Research in Jeddah, which was established in 1982, has played a pivotal role in advancing aquaculture research and development in Saudi Arabia.
The center has contributed to sharing its knowledge with the private sector to boost shrimp production projects, as well as cultivating marine tilapia in fully saline water and introducing barramundi to the Kingdom.
Collaborative studies with institutions like KAUST have been instrumental in assessing stocks of fish species and looking at critical habitats, guiding conservation efforts.
Inland aquaculture initiatives, such as the partnership with the Innovators Center at King Abdulaziz University, highlight the center’s dedication to exploring modern technologies and enhancing productivity in aquaculture systems.
Al-Shehri said: “We (have) launched the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, which includes an initiative to develop fishing ports. This initiative has worked on developing 16 fishing ports, intending to develop 28 more, bringing the total number of ports to 44 across various locations in the Kingdom. This initiative has reduced fishing effort by 40 percent.
“We (have) also conducted a study in collaboration with KAUST to assess the stocks of major fish species and critical fishery habitats.”
In addressing the challenge of aquatic diseases, the center has set a high standard for biosecurity and quality control in aquaculture projects.
Since its inception, the program has been highly effective in safeguarding aquaculture organisms from diseases. Currently, 95 percent of aquaculture projects in the Kingdom are certified under Best Aquaculture Practices.
The Fish Health and Safety Laboratory in Jeddah serves as the reference diagnostic laboratory for the World Organisation for Animal Health in the Middle East. The laboratory provides comprehensive diagnostic reports for companies and entities requiring aquatic health testing.
It recently earned the ISO/IEC 17025 certification for testing laboratories and has established a twinning program with the University of Arizona’s Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory.
Saudi Arabia earlier this year chaired the 36th session of the Committee on Fisheries in Rome, an international government forum at which members reviewed and discussed global fishery and aquaculture challenges.
Flamboyant flamingos, sand dunes attract visitors to Al-Asfar Lake
"The lake is known for its population of flamingos, which create a beautiful and charming vibe that visitors can enjoy at sunset"
Updated 09 September 2024
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Asfar Lake, a vast landscape teeming with bird and wildlife, is an important site on the route of many migratory birds.
Owing to its beauty and natural landscape, the lake is frequented by hikers, tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the world.
The lake is known for its population of flamingos, which create a beautiful and charming vibe that visitors can enjoy at sunset. (SPA)
A tourist guide in the region, Deif Ahmed, told Arab News that Al-Asfar is one of the most important destinations for tourism in Al-Ahsa Governorate.
The lake dates back hundreds of years and has about 162 springs, he added. Al-Haql Spring, for example, produces about 80,000 liters of water per minute. Together with the Al-Khodoud Spring and others, fresh water moves into the Thmahlab River on its way to the lake.
Rolling sand dunes around Al-Asfar lake offer visitors an ideal vantage point to watch the sunset and wildlife. (SPA)
Ahmed said that the spring water was known to be sweet and fresh, and was once collected and used by locals.
Bedouins used to set up tents around the lake, he added. The green flats around the lake could be used to feed sheep and camels.
The lake dates back hundreds of years and has about 162 springs. (SPA)
In 1970, King Faisal ordered the establishment of a project to collect spring water pouring into the lake, to be used for palm irrigation in Al-Ahsa, Ahmed said.
The governorate had 11 million palm trees at the time.
The drainage and irrigation project guides water from the springs to palm trees and farmers in Al-Ahsa. The remaining water runs through agricultural drainage channels to Al-Asfar Lake.
Ahmed said that migratory birds stay around the lake because of the abundance of fish.
The lake is known for its population of flamingos, which create a beautiful and charming vibe that visitors can enjoy at sunset, he added.
Nearby, rolling sand dunes offer visitors an ideal vantage point to watch the sunset, Ahmed said.
Saudi dishes, local products promoted at Irth cafe
The initiative aims to foster culinary innovation and elevate Saudi cuisine locally and globally, while promoting collaboration between chefs and local producers
Updated 09 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Culinary Arts Commission has announced the launch of Irth Store and Cafe in Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The project supports local chefs by featuring Saudi dishes, while offering a platform for local producers to showcase and sell their products to a wider audience.
Irth will open in Madinah and Jeddah in mid-September, with the Riyadh branch set for October, the SPA added.
The initiative aims to foster culinary innovation and elevate Saudi cuisine locally and globally, while promoting collaboration between chefs and local producers.
The project is part of the commission’s vision to establish Saudi culinary culture and transform the Kingdom into a hub for exceptional culinary experiences.
The Culinary Arts Commission has worked since its establishment in 2020 to highlight Saudi cuisine at both local and international levels, making the Kingdom a leading gourmet destination.
