Starbucks celebrates Saudi National Day with special cup design

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This year’s winning design by Joud Al-Sultan will grace Starbucks’ cups throughout the month. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 September 2023
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Starbucks celebrates Saudi National Day with special cup design

  • Saudi artist Joud Yahya Al-Sultan’s work won public vote in coffee chain’s second design contest

JEDDAH: To commemorate the 93rd Saudi National Day, coffee chain Starbucks has announced the winner of its second design competition, held in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

The contest, which was launched last year to mark the Year of Saudi Coffee, aims to portray the Kingdom’s heritage and culture through art and creativity and encourage the creative community to pay tribute to Saudi Arabia’s history and its beloved coffee traditions.

This year’s winning design, created by Saudi artist Joud Yahya Al-Sultan, will grace Starbucks’ cups throughout the month. Her work was chosen by public vote from a shortlist of 10 designs, selected from a multitude of entries. The top three artists all received cash prizes.

Al-Sultan’s artwork incorporates immediately recognizable elements of Saudi culture including coffee, camels, and traditional houses adorned with vibrant decorations.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Al-Sultan explained: “Through my illustrations, I tried to highlight elements related to our beloved Saudi culture in a harmonious mixture that represents the Saudi identity. Camels, old houses and Saudi coffee are all elements that are deeply ingrained in the minds of the people, representing a history full of pride and honor.”

She continued: “Frankly, I did not expect to win due to the large number of creative designers and painters in the Kingdom.”

Her winning design was created using Photoshop. She selected a palette of brown tones to represent her country’s heritage and convey a sense of tradition and history.

Al-Sultan added that she is already planning her next creative endeavor for Starbucks — one that will showcase her artistic talents to audiences in the Gulf and beyond.

The artist told Arab News that she has been passionate about drawing since childhood. Her ability to create digital drawings and visual identities has opened up exciting opportunities in the world of art and design, she explained.

“My message to emerging painters and designers is to take advantage of the opportunities available to you because you do not know which of these opportunities will build your future,” Al-Sultan said.

 


Grand Mosque in Makkah furnished with 33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets for Ramadan

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Grand Mosque in Makkah furnished with 33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets for Ramadan

  • High-quality carpets are known for their durability and designed to handle heavy foot traffic 
  • Carpets are used on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan

MAKKAH: Saudi authorities have furnished the Grand Mosque in Makkah with thousands of luxury carpets during the holy month of Ramadan.

The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said that the 33,000 luxury carpets were made in Saudi Arabia, and known for their high quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and durability.

The carpets, each measuring 1.2 meters by 4 meters or 1.2 meters by 3 meters, are used on Fridays, during the month of Ramadan, and in other peak seasons, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Carpets are 1.6 cm thick and able to cope with heavy foot traffic, the SPA added.

One of the authority’s missions is to provide services and attend to the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

The authority announced this week that it provided almost 11 million iftar meals to Umrah pilgrims and other worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah during the first half of Ramadan, a time of worship for Muslims who fast from sunrise to sunset.


Riyadh Municipality to host cultural tent event

Riyadh Municipality will host a cultural tent event with family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tahlia Oasis.
Updated 18 March 2025
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Riyadh Municipality to host cultural tent event

  • Cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage

RIYADH: Riyadh Municipality will host a cultural tent event with family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tahlia Oasis, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event will include activities for families, including a children’s face-painting corner, and attendees will be able to join PlayStation League competitions that offer challenges suitable for different age groups.

Live cooking shows will allow visitors to learn about the diversity of Saudi cuisine, and local entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to display their products in local stores.

Additionally, the cultural tent will exhibit books, pictures and manuscripts about Riyadh’s heritage.

The cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage.

The event is part of efforts by Riyadh Municipality to improve quality of life for residents in the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Everyone is welcome to attend the events, which run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.


Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza

Palestinians react at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip March 18, 25
Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza

  • Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned and denounced renewed violence in Gaza after Israel unleashed its most intense strikes overnight since a ceasefire was established two months ago.

The health ministry in Gaza said more than 400 people were killed after the strikes that took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.

The Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians.

Saudi Arabia also said it was important that the international community fulfilled its responsibilities by intervening immediately to put an end to Israeli crimes and stop the severe humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people.

Gaza’s health ministry said the bodies of 413 people had been received by the territory’s hospitals, adding “a number of victims are still under the rubble.”


Saudi cabinet urges immediate international action to end Gaza humanitarian crisis

Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi cabinet urges immediate international action to end Gaza humanitarian crisis

  • This cabinet also strong condemned the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' attacks on the Gaza

The Saudi Council of Ministers on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasized the urgent need for the international community to take immediate action to halt these atrocities and put an end to the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.

This came following the strong condemnation of the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The cabinet continued to follow up on developments in the Arab, regional, and international arenas, reiterating the Kingdom’s firm positions on these matters and affirming its ongoing support for efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region and globally.

During the session, the crown prince briefed the cabinet on the contents of two phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.


Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site.
Updated 18 March 2025
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Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain

  • Excavation uncovers artifacts, city layout from historic port city on Maritime Silk Road

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site in Al-Lith governorate, Makkah region.

The project was carried out in collaboration with China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration as part of a bilateral agreement to exchange expertise in archaeological excavation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It coincides with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025, which features joint cultural initiatives. The goal is to strengthen cultural exchange and highlight historical ties between the two civilizations through the Silk Road.

The collaboration reflects Saudi Arabia and China’s commitment to supporting historical research and documenting shared heritage, the SPA reported.

The excavation aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the site by studying residential areas, city planning and connections to other urban centers. It also sought to document structural features, including parts of the city wall, towers and gates.

Researchers uncovered various artifacts, including pottery, stone vessels, decorative items, a gold dinar from the mid-second Hijri century and Chinese porcelain. Gravestones with unique carvings were also found.

The survey identified key architectural features, including wall foundations and gravestones, highlighting the site’s significance along the Maritime Silk Road.

The port city thrived until the late third Hijri century, reaching its peak in the fifth and sixth Hijri centuries. It remains one of the largest archaeological sites on the Red Sea coast, according to the SPA.

The Heritage Commission is committed to preserving antiquities and advancing archaeological research across the Kingdom, the SPA added.

It also aims to expand cooperation with local and international partners in line with Vision 2030, promoting culture and ensuring the sustainability of heritage for future generations.