A culinary tour of Europe — in the heart of Riyadh

The festival has been organized by the EU Delegation to Riyadh in cooperation with the embassies of EU member states, the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission and the Diplomatic Quarter Office. (Supplied)
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Updated 16 March 2023
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A culinary tour of Europe — in the heart of Riyadh

  • The free event will be held at Al-Kindi Plaza in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, and will run from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on March 16-17.

RIYADH: Culinary delights from around Europe will be on offer at Saudi Arabia’s first-ever European Food Festival.

The festival has been organized by the EU Delegation to Riyadh in cooperation with the embassies of EU member states, the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission and the Diplomatic Quarter Office.

The free event will be held at Al-Kindi Plaza in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, and will run from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on March 16-17.

Saudi festival-goers will discover the diversity of European cuisine, with specialities and food items available from European countries, including Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy live music, entertainment and special activities for children.

Live cooking shows, organized and sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association, will feature leading Saudi chefs competing to prepare dishes with European ingredients.

Patrick Simonnet, EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “The European Food Festival aims to celebrate the rich culinary heritage of Europe and showcase the diversity of our continent’s gastronomy. We hope this inaugural event will deepen our cooperation with the people of Saudi Arabia, and provide a platform for cultural exchange between Europe and the Kingdom. And what better way to do it than through our shared love for food?”

The event’s culinary partners include restaurants and brands present in Saudi Arabia, such as Eataly, Chez Bruno, Cova, L’Olivo, Crepe House and Lecomptoir Lounge.

Leading bakeries, such as Dolce Ragusa, Eric Kayser, Fareen, Aur, La Grenier a Pain, Breddy and Oh Deer Bakery, are also taking part.

The event will also feature chefs from the Hilton, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Intercontinental, and Radisson Blu Hotels preparing signature dishes.

Organic supermarket Rootura La Vie Claire, Green Cola, Delta Coffee, Dutch Stroopwafels, DAVA Farms, Loacker and FrieslandCampina will also sell popular products.

The event will also feature the popular juice bar and coffee shop Joe & the Juice.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will also be organizing a lottery among attendees to win free flight tickets.

Participants will also be able to have a taste of Saudi coffee, offered by the Culinary Arts Commission.

The festival is a cashless event, with the food and drinks at the event sold through card payments. 

Interested attendees can register online on http://eufoodfest.com to ensure smooth access to the Diplomatic Quarter.


Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference

Saudi Arabia's delegation was headed by the speaker of the Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. (Supplied)
Updated 20 June 2025
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Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference

  • Event aims to build bridges, promote mutual understanding

ROME: The Second Parliamentary Conference on Interreligious Dialogue — titled “Strengthening Trust and Embracing Hope for our Common Future” — has started in Rome, with the participation of the Saudi delegation headed by Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. The event is being attended by heads of parliaments from around the world.

Lorenzo Fontana, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, praised the body’s significant and vital role, stressing the importance of the conference in building bridges and promoting mutual understanding.

 


Pesticides workshop held in AlUla

The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. (SPA)
Updated 20 June 2025
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Pesticides workshop held in AlUla

  • The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom

ALULA: A workshop, titled Safe Handling of Palm and Date Pest Pesticides, was held on Friday in the AlUla Governorate. The event, which was organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, took place in the agricultural sector of the commission’s headquarters.

The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. It aimed to raise awareness about safe pesticide use while enhancing efficiency in agricultural pest control in a way that improves production quality while ensuring environmental safety.

The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom. They bid to support the agricultural sector’s development and enhance sustainability practices.

 

 


KSrelief distributes shelter aid in Somalia’s Togdheer region

The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country. (SPA)
Updated 20 June 2025
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KSrelief distributes shelter aid in Somalia’s Togdheer region

  • The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs

TOGDHEER: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently distributed 1,030 pieces of clothing, 475 shelter bags, and 20 tents to several camps in the Togdheer region of Somalia, benefiting 1,525 families and 9,150 individuals. The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country.

Earlier, three relief trucks provided by the Saudi aid agency arrived on Wednesday in the town of Sarmada in Syria’s Idlib governorate, carrying 20 tonnes of medical aid.

The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs. The aid supports frontline medical teams in underserved areas, benefiting about 150,000 people.

Elsewhere, the agency distributed 3,000 cartons of dates to families in need in the Shabwa governorate of Yemen, benefiting 18,000 individuals.

 


Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen

Updated 20 June 2025
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Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen

  • KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015

RIYADH: Masam, a project launched by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has achieved a significant milestone by clearing 67,585,167 sq. meters and removing 500,000 explosives from Yemeni lands since its launch in June 2018.

Items removed include anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices indiscriminately planted to harm civilians.

Demining efforts have dramatically reduced casualties — and allowed displaced people and farmers to return and resume cultivation — earning widespread praise from the UN and international organizations.

The agency has also initiated the Artificial Limbs Centers Project in several Yemeni cities, providing prosthetics and aiding physical rehabilitation to those injured by explosives.

The Masam Project stands as a vital contribution in enabling a safe and dignified life for Yemenis.

KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015.

 


Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

Updated 20 June 2025
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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Istanbul on Friday to take part in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The high-level meeting, to be hosted by Turkiye, will see foreign ministers from OIC member states convene on Saturday to discuss avenues for strengthening joint multilateral cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agenda also includes deliberations on regional developments and their broader international implications, SPA added.

The gathering comes amid heightened tensions across parts of the Islamic world, with participants expected to address key geopolitical challenges and reaffirm the OIC’s collective stance on pressing issues.