RIYADH: The 18th Al-Jouf International Olive Festival offers an engaging experience, highlighting the journey of olives from cultivation to the final product.

Held at the Prince Abdullah Cultural Center in Sakaka until Jan. 12, the event showcases the Al-Jouf region’s olive production, which includes over 23 million trees yielding more than 150,000 tonnes of table olives annually.

The festival features 43 local farmers and five agricultural companies offering high-quality olive oil, table olives, and related products, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In addition to competitive pricing, all products meet strict food safety standards, having undergone rigorous testing at Al-Jouf’s municipal laboratory.

Seven analyses — acidity, rancidity, moisture, chemical content, oil blending, taste, and authenticity — ensure the products’ quality. Those that pass receive a certification label for consumer confidence, the SPA added.

The festival has also become a key tourism and economic event for both the Kingdom and Al-Jouf region, attracting significant interest, visitors, and investment.

It also supports families in cottage industries, entrepreneurs, and small businesses by offering spaces to showcase their products, fostering growth and expanding their consumer reach.

Additionally, the festival celebrates Saudi heritage through folk art performances, the Saudi Ardah, traditional fashion, Sadu weaving, plastic arts, poetry, and cultural evenings.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Youth Leaders Program welcomed its latest group of graduates on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The new graduates are the seventh group to complete the initiative, run by the Salam Project for Cultural Communication under the patronage of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji attended the event, expressing gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of Saudi citizens.

He emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to equipping youth with the skills needed to effectively represent the nation internationally.

Elkhereiji noted that the program aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering young people to become influential global ambassadors.

Launched in 2018, the program has seen 432 young men and women graduate across seven cohorts, the SPA reported.

Notably, 240 graduates have participated in over 120 international conferences both within and outside the Kingdom, leveraging the program’s comprehensive curriculum, which covers key areas such as Saudi Vision 2030, intercultural communication, global issues, international representation, media engagement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and international diplomacy.

Mohammed Al-Sayed, executive director of the project, said it aims to support efforts to build bridges of cultural communication with diverse peoples and cultures.