Riyadh’s Boulevard World captures essence of cultural diversity

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In Boulevard World, cultural diversity is valued and embraced, with each country taking pride in its own distinct heritage. (Boulevard World)
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Updated 30 January 2024
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Riyadh’s Boulevard World captures essence of cultural diversity

  • Largest Riyadh Season zone showcasing cultural goods, heritage from Morocco, Iran, Turkiye and more

RIYADH: The Boulevard World zone is among the largest zones of the fourth Riyadh Season, encompassing a wide range of international entertainment experiences. This year, having expanded by over 40 percent, it makes a comeback with a wintry ambiance, embodying the essence of the ancient Levant and showcasing its rich history through iconic structures.

In Boulevard World, cultural diversity is valued and embraced, with each country taking pride in its own distinct heritage.




Visitors can explore a variety of cultural products including rugs from Iran, argan oil from Morocco and teas from China. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)

From traditional cuisine and clothing to music and dance forms, the preservation of cultural traditions allows people to connect with their roots and give a sense of identity. It fosters a deep appreciation and understanding of different cultures, promoting tolerance and respect.

By cherishing and upholding these customs, Boulevard World exemplifies a rich tapestry of traditions that adds vibrancy and color to the community.

HIGHLIGHT

Saudi brand Arom Al-Shay is local gem in the heart of the Chinese pavilion at Boulevard World, offering visitors authentic Chinese tea flavors.

At the Boulevard World pavilions, various countries showcase their most significant cultural aspects, including Morocco, China, Palestine, Turkiye, and Iran.

These cultural traditions are evident in the various festivals, rituals, and practices passed down from generation to generation.




Visitors can explore a variety of cultural products including rugs from Iran, argan oil from Morocco and teas from China. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)

Tea, for example, is significant in Chinese culture, encompassing daily life, tradition, and social interactions. Its importance can be traced back thousands of years, with tea ceremonies centralizing ancient Chinese customs. This beverage is revered for its medicinal properties, soothing effects, and ability to promote mental clarity.

A local gem lies in the heart of the Chinese pavilion at Boulevard World. Saudi brand Arom Al-Shay (Tea Origin) offers visitors authentic Chinese tea flavors.

Maram Khaled, who tends to the visitors at the booth, showcased four popular Chinese tea options that Arom Al-Shay provides.




Visitors can explore a variety of cultural products including rugs from Iran, argan oil from Morocco and teas from China. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)

Khaled told Arab News: “Jasmine pearls undergo plucking and hand rolling before being infused with Jasmine flowers. Jasmine pearls are unlike Jasmine flower tea which consists of green or black tea leaves.”

She also explained that the shop offers oolong tea, which is yellow, unlike green or red tea. Its antioxidants are medium and the tea is less bitter than others: “The infusion of vanilla enhances the oolong’s inherent natural sweetness, creating a symphony of flavors. The tea is also more caffeinated than others and aids in weight loss.”

The shop’s third kind is smoked tea, their best-selling flavor. “It mixes Chinese and Ceylon tea leaves smoked on pine wood fire, resulting in a noticeable smoky scent,” said Khaled.




In Boulevard World, cultural diversity is valued and embraced, with each country taking pride in its own distinct heritage. (Boulevard World)

At the Morocco pavilion, visitors can learn about the significance of natural skincare in Moroccan culture.

Safa’a at the Morocco pavilion told Arab News about traditional Moroccan beauty rituals and products that have been enriched with natural ingredients that nourish and heal the skin for centuries.

Argan oil, known as "liquid gold," is one of the key ingredients used in skincare rituals due to its high vitamin E and antioxidants content.




In Boulevard World, cultural diversity is valued and embraced, with each country taking pride in its own distinct heritage. (Boulevard World)

“In Morocco, we opt for naturally made soaps and rarely use commercial shower gels. Most of our products are infused with argan oil which is exclusive to Morocco,” she explained.

Additionally, other natural ingredients like rose water, ghassoul clay, and prickly pear oil are also widely used in Moroccan skincare.

“These natural products not only provide effective results but also have minimal environmental impact, emphasizing the sustainable and eco-friendly approach of Moroccan skincare,” Safa’a explained.




Tea is significant in Chinese culture, encompassing daily life, tradition, and social interactions. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)

One of the newest locations this season is the Turkish pavilion where guests can explore apparel, accessories, pastries, and more. The traditional Turkish chestnut offered to visitors at the doors will give them the impression that they are truly exploring the stunning metropolis of Istanbul.

Sultanahmet Sweets, a Turkish sweet shop that sells mouth-melting Turkish delicacies — with the option of a diet section produced with artificial sugar — is one of the loveliest stores to open up in the Turkish area.

Bashar Al-Ayouf, a sales representative for the shop, is a Syrian citizen who lives in Istanbul, where the store was created by ambitious young Syrians who are now participating in many exhibits across the world.




The Turkish pavilion also featured exquisite, handcrafted jewelry with excellent finishing and a variety of fantastic Turkish patterns in a shop named Rose Stone, which specializes in producing jewelry. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)

“For the first time, we are offering chocolate and sweets here in Saudi Arabia. We have opened multiple stores in the Syrian and Turkish zones, and our best-selling item is the pomegranate delight sweet, which is made of pistachios and pomegranate and is always sold out. I have noticed that the people here love pomegranates,” Al-Ayouf said.

The Turkish pavilion also featured exquisite, handcrafted jewelry with excellent finishing and a variety of fantastic Turkish patterns in a shop named Rose Stone.

When entering the Iranian pavilion, guests are welcomed by the sight of saffron tea, which is available at the Novin Saffron shop. Saffron is the most costly and sought-after herb in the world, and it is well-known in Iranian culture.

Hassan Khalid, who arrived in the Kingdom as a representative of Novin Saffron, said: “We have three different varieties of saffron here to suit every taste, and the prices vary based on the quality. We have been doing exhibits for 13 years, but this is our first time in Riyadh.”

Naturally, the Iranian pavilion would not be complete without an area dedicated to rugs. Visitors can view and feel the rugs in person and place an order for delivery from the Iranian Carpet store.

 


Palestinian child arrives in Saudi Arabia for treatment under King Salman’s directives

Updated 13 June 2025
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Palestinian child arrives in Saudi Arabia for treatment under King Salman’s directives

RIYADH: Palestinian Mohammed Khaled Hijazi, 7, arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday with his parents to receive medical care and was immediately transferred to the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh.

The supervisor general at the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the humanitarian initiative to treat the Palestinian boy in the Kingdom.

Al-Rabeeah said that Hijazi lost his right eye while his left eye was severely damaged by an explosion while he was playing with friends near their house, which was completely destroyed, in the Jabalia camp, north of Gaza, last month.

The supervisor general prayed for the boy’s speedy recovery and for the Palestinian people to be relieved of their suffering.

He clarified that this initiative is a continuation of the relief and humanitarian efforts provided by the Kingdom to the Palestinian people in times of crisis and adversity, particularly the most vulnerable categories, such as children, who innocently pay the price of conflicts.

Al-Rabeeah also saidthat the initiative is part of the humanitarian approach adopted by the Kingdom toward needy peoples through KSrelief, which does not discriminate based on gender, race, or religion, and is fundamentally rooted in noble human principles of compassion and human solidarity.

The Palestinian boy’s parents expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom for treating their son, affirming that this brotherly gesture is not unusual from the Kingdom’s leadership, which has always been known for its honorable stance in support of the Palestinian people.


Wrapped in gratitude: How Saudi women are redefining post-Hajj gift culture

Updated 13 June 2025
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Wrapped in gratitude: How Saudi women are redefining post-Hajj gift culture

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia, the end of Hajj doesn’t simply mark the conclusion of a sacred pilgrimage — it opens the door to another cherished tradition.

Gift-giving, known locally as hadiyat al-hajj or “the pilgrim’s gift,” is a gesture that turns a personal journey into a shared blessing. For many, it is an expression of faith, gratitude and love.

While classics like Zamzam water and dates still hold their place, a new generation of Saudi women is redefining this tradition, infusing it with creative spirit, personal stories and intentional detail. From custom packaging to symbolic items and handwritten notes, Hajj gifts today are becoming more than a token — they’re a continuation of the spiritual journey itself.

“I didn’t want to just hand someone a plastic bottle and say, ‘I went’,” said Nawal Al-Subaie, aged 30. “So I put together small bundles with Zamzam water, engraved tasbeeh and handwritten du’a cards for each friend. It was my way of letting them in on the experience.”

The gifts now often carry symbolic meaning — a fragrance that evokes the air of Arafat, prayer cards reflecting moments of silence in Muzdalifah, or a simple stamped tag reading “Hajj Mabroor” in hand-drawn calligraphy. The items are chosen with care, often representing moments that shaped the pilgrim’s heart.

For Dana Al-Hamdan, 26, the most powerful way to preserve the feeling of Hajj was through images. Instead of giving traditional gifts, she printed instant film photographs she took throughout her pilgrimage, labeled with the exact date and time.

“I gave them to my twin sister,” she said. “One was from Arafat just before Maghrib, another from the moment I arrived in Mina. They weren’t staged — they were raw and personal.”

The emotional weight of that gesture lingered far beyond the exchange.

“She kept one photo in her wallet and the other on her desk.” Al-Hamdan said.

This new take on hadiyat al-hajj is trending on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Videos show everything from Hajj-themed gift boxes and laser-cut Qur’anic bookmarks to handmade pouches, scented oils and memory tokens.

But it isn’t about luxury or performance; it’s about thoughtfulness. Many women prepare the gifts in quiet, reflective settings. Some add prayers or verses. Others prepare items based on personal meaning, such as a prayer for healing, a verse for patience, or an object that symbolizes strength.

Latifa Al-Dossari, 27, created sets of prayer beads and placed them inside tiny velvet bags, along with notes describing what that day of Hajj felt like.

“It was like writing someone a letter from Mina,” she said.

What’s happening with these gifts is part of a larger movement, a shift toward a more expressive, emotionally honest form of spirituality. For many Saudi women, especially younger ones, Hajj is not only a rite to fulfill, but a memory to share, a testimony that invites others in.

Some see hadiyat al-hajj as souvenirs, others see them as silent declarations. “I remembered you,” they say. “I carried your name. This was not a journey I took alone.”

The true beauty of this tradition lies in the unspoken energy that surrounds it. These are not mass-produced tokens; they are gifts that hold time, intention, and prayer.

For the women crafting them, the act is a final ritual, a quiet bridge from the pilgrim’s journey back to daily life, but built with du’a, thought and love rather than stone or scripture.

Because, in the end, the real gift isn’t the Zamzam or the photograph or the beads. It’s the sincerity that comes with it — the kind that says: “You were with me, even when I was away.”


Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israel attacks on Iran

Updated 13 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israel attacks on Iran

  • ‘Heinous attacks’ on ‘brotherly’ Iran violates international law
  • UN, global community must ‘immediately halt this aggression’

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia led Arab condemnation Israel’s strikes on Iran early on Friday, which targeted multiple sites it linked to the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries.

The strikes killed Hossein Salami, the chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, along with another top IRGC official and two nuclear scientists in the initial raids.

It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Saudi Arabia was the first Arab nation to speak out against the attacks, stating that the Kingdom “expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The statement added: “While the Kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and the (UN) Security Council bear a great responsibility to immediately halt this aggression.”

The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that “severe punishment” would be directed at Israel. Hours later, Israel’s military said it had begun intercepting Iranian drones launched in retaliation.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military operation on Iran would “continue for as many days as it takes” to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”

Israel has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meanwhile warned that Israel would suffer severe consequences after the deadly attacks.

“With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate and it will definitely receive it,” Khamenei said in a statement.

Early speculation as to how aware US President Donald Trump was of the attacks soon came to an end after telling Fox News he had received “advanced notice”, stating that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see.”

Iran later said it would not be attending talks scheduled to take place in Oman. 


How emerging AI talent is shaping the future of smart healthcare in Saudi Arabia

Updated 13 June 2025
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How emerging AI talent is shaping the future of smart healthcare in Saudi Arabia

  • HuLP is an AI tool enabling doctors to refine cancer predictions in real-time, improving accuracy and trust
  • Med-YOLOWorld is a universal AI imaging tool that reads nine medical scan types at 70 frames per second

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates its investment in AI-powered healthcare, two young researchers from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence are building the very tools that hospitals in the Kingdom will soon need — intelligent, interpretable, and scalable systems for diagnosis and prognosis.

Although the university’s 2025 cohort did not include Saudi nationals this year, the work of two standout graduates, Mohammed Firdaus Ridzuan and Tooba Tehreem Sheikh, directly aligns with Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation plans under Vision 2030.

Their research offers practical, forward-looking solutions for the Kingdom’s next generation of smart hospitals.

At a time when AI systems are being deployed across diagnostic units in Saudi hospitals, from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital to new initiatives backed by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the focus is shifting from capability to clarity.

Can the systems provide real-time support? Can they explain their reasoning? Can doctors intervene? These are the questions both Ridzuan and Sheikh have set out to answer.

Ridzuan, a PhD graduate in machine learning, developed Human-in-the-Loop for Prognosis, or HuLP for short — a cancer survival prediction system that places doctors back at the center of AI-powered decision-making.

Mohammed Firdaus Ridzuan. (Supplied)

“While AI has made significant strides in diagnosing diseases, predicting individual survival outcomes, especially in cancer, is still a challenging task,” Ridzuan told Arab News. “Our model addresses this by enabling real-time clinician intervention.”

Unlike traditional models that operate in isolation, HuLP is built for collaboration. Medical professionals can adjust and refine its predictions using their clinical expertise. These adjustments are not just temporary; they influence how the model evolves.

“Doctors and medical professionals can actively engage with the system,” Ridzuan said. “Their insights don’t just influence the result — they actually help the model learn.”

This approach to human-AI partnership ensures that predictions remain explainable, context-aware, and grounded in patient-specific realities, a key need for Saudi hospitals integrating AI at scale.

“By allowing clinicians to dynamically adjust predictions, we create a more adaptive and responsive system that can handle local challenges,” Ridzuan added.

The Kingdom’s healthcare institutions are undergoing a digital transformation driven by national entities like SDAIA, the Ministry of Health, and the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Innovation.

The Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, and KFSHI aigned a partnership in 2024 to commercialize GenAI. (Supplied)

These entities are focused not only on adopting new AI tools but also on ensuring that these systems can integrate into clinical workflows. This is where Ridzuan sees HuLP making an impact.

“Smart hospitals are already integrating AI diagnostic tools for medical imaging and patient data analysis,” he said. “Our model can take this to the next level by empowering clinicians to interact with and guide the system’s predictions.”

In settings where trust and transparency are vital, Ridzuan’s collaborative model could help hospitals overcome one of AI’s most persistent problems: the black box effect.

This refers to the opaque nature of certain systems, particularly in the field of AI, where the internal workings and decision-making processes are hidden or unknown.

The emphasis on local relevance also comes through in HuLP’s design. Ridzuan says real-time data from regional healthcare systems is essential for training accurate, context-sensitive models.

“Local data provides insights into the unique health conditions and medical practices within the Gulf region,” he said. “Integrating this data ensures that the AI is attuned to the specific needs and health profiles of patients in the region.

The system is built to learn continuously. As clinicians correct or refine its predictions, the model updates itself, improving with each interaction. This feedback loop is crucial for real-world deployments, especially in the Gulf, where data quality can be inconsistent.

While Ridzuan is focused on outcomes, Sheikh, an MSc graduate in computer vision, is transforming the way hospitals detect disease in the first place.

Her project, Med-YOLOWorld, is a next-generation imaging system that can read nine types of medical scans in real time.

Unlike traditional radiology AI tools, which are often limited to specific tasks, Med-YOLOWorld operates with open-vocabulary detection. That means it can identify anomalies and organ structures that it has not been explicitly trained on — a key feature for scalability.

“Most models are confined to a single modality like CT or X-ray,” Sheikh told Arab News. “Med-YOLOWorld supports nine diverse imaging types, including ultrasound, dermoscopy, microscopy, and histopathology.”

With support for up to 70 frames per second, the system is designed for clinical deployment in high-demand environments.

Sheikh sees clear potential for its use in Saudi Arabia, where institutions like the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre are already implementing multi-modal AI imaging tools.

The Center for Health Intelligence is KFSHRC's arm for Innovating the Future of Healthcare. (Supplied)

“It can seamlessly integrate with existing imaging systems to enable open-vocabulary detection,” she said. “Identifying a wide range of medical findings — even those outside its original training set — is essential for fast-paced clinical environments.”

But building a universal imaging tool came with its own technical hurdles.

“The biggest challenge was managing the diverse preprocessing requirements across imaging modalities,” Sheikh said. “CT and MRI scans need intensity normalization, while ultrasound, dermoscopy, and microscopy have completely different visual characteristics.”

Data imbalance was another issue. While MRI and CT scans are widely available, data for more niche imaging types is scarce. Sheikh tackled this by designing custom augmentation techniques to ensure the model performs consistently across all modalities.

She is now working on combining Med-YOLOWorld with vision-language models, systems that explain what they see in natural language.

“MiniGPT-Med does a great job at explaining radiology images,” she said. “But pairing it with a system like Med-YOLOWorld adds a crucial dimension — open-world localization. Not just describing the issue but pointing to it.”

This fusion could create a powerful end-to-end diagnostic pipeline: detect, explain, and localize. For Saudi hospitals embracing AI-driven imaging, the impact could be transformative.

Tooba Tehreem Sheikh. (Supplied)

For Sheikh, the global implications of her work are just as important as the technical achievements. “Med-YOLOWorld reduces the need for large, annotated datasets,” she said. “In fast-scaling healthcare systems, that’s a game-changer.”

By enabling the detection of unseen categories, the system can remain relevant even as new diseases or anomalies emerge. And when combined with language models, it can assist in medical training, annotations, and decision support, all while reducing dependence on expert-labeled data.

This approach could accelerate AI adoption in emerging regions, including across the Gulf and the wider Middle East and North Africa, where access to large datasets and AI-specialized radiologists remains limited.

While MBZUAI is based in the UAE, its alumni are playing a growing role in shaping AI initiatives that extend across the Gulf. Both Ridzuan and Sheikh have demonstrated how innovation, when aligned with clinical realities and regional goals, can scale far beyond the lab.

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in smart hospitals, real-time imaging, and personalized care, tools like HuLP and Med-YOLOWorld represent the next wave of AI in healthcare: explainable, collaborative, and regionally adaptable.

And with growing partnerships between research institutions, healthcare providers, and government entities, these systems may not be far from deployment in the Kingdom, paving the way for a more intelligent, human-centered approach to medical care.
 

 


Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj

Updated 13 June 2025
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Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj

MAKKAH: Every year, the holy lands transform into a unique visual spectacle pulsing with faith and human diversity, drawing the world’s eyes to Makkah, where millions of Muslims perform the pilgrimage of Hajj.

During this period of spiritual and human momentum, photographers stand as visual historians, conveying to the world unforgettable scenes through their lenses that capture moments of worship, tears, unity, mercy, and cultural diversity.

Photographer Anas Al-Harthi said: “When I carry my camera during Hajj season, I feel that I am not just documenting an event but painting a grand canvas of faith in human colors from every continent.”

He added: “A photographer during Hajj does not just take a picture — he moves with a deep sense that this shot may remain a witness to a moment that will never be repeated in the pilgrim’s life.”

Photo by Faisal Al-Thaqafi.

Al-Harthi pointed out that the greatest challenge is respecting the sanctity of the scene without interfering with it, which requires a high artistic sense and an appreciation of place, time and situation.

Photographer Anas Bakhsh said that the experience of photographing during Hajj places the photographer at the heart of human emotion.

“Thousands of faces pass before you, and each face carries a story, every tear bears a prayer, and every movement expresses longing and contentment. Sometimes I feel that the photo I took is an answered prayer for someone in a moment of complete submission to God.”

He said that the scene forever engraved in his memory is when crowds gather on the plain of Arafat at the same time, a majestic sight where differences between people dissolve and the sounds of Talbiyah and supplication rise.

Photographer Faisal Al-Thaqafi said that professional photography during Hajj is not only about technical skill, but also about cultural and religious awareness, and the ability to engage with the scene with the spirit of a believing photographer. “The photographer during Hajj is not just a professional holding a camera — he is an eye pulsing with faith, translating emotion into imagery.”

He added: “Sometimes you capture an image of an elderly pilgrim raising his hands to the sky, and you realize that this photo will remain in people’s hearts more than any commentary or report — because it is sincere, pure, and simple.”

The three photographers agree that the logistical challenges — crowds, heat, and problems involving mobility — do not stand in the way of their passion. Instead, they drive them to exert double the effort to document this unique event.

Bakhsh said: “Every season, I return home with thousands of photos, but I keep only one or two for myself — those images that I feel touched something inside me and perhaps touched the hearts of millions around the world.”

Photo by Faisal Al-Thaqafi.

Al-Thaqafi said that a successful photograph during Hajj is not only one of high visual quality, but one that conveys a genuine emotion. “The strongest images are those that do not need an explanation. You see a pilgrim smiling or crying, and you feel your heart tremble.”

Al-Harthi believes that a photograph can change the world’s perception of Hajj and bring this great ritual closer to non-Muslims as well, saying: “We are not working only for documentation — we are working to build a human bridge, where the spirit of Islam is shown through an honest and professional lens.”

With these sincere lenses, the Hajj season becomes an open exhibition of spirituality, where photos tell stories that words cannot express, and bear witness to the greatest annual human gathering, where everyone is equal in attire, and united in purpose: seeking mercy and forgiveness.

Amid this visual momentum created by photographers through their lenses, the impact of these images is also felt by the pilgrims themselves and by millions of followers on social media. Syrian pilgrim Omar Al-Kadeeb, from Deir Ezzor, said: “Photos of relatives who performed the pilgrimage in the holy sites and near the Kaaba reached my family and friends within minutes and spread widely. At that moment, we felt like we were part of their spiritual journey despite the distance.” He added: “I saw images taken of pilgrims from all nationalities, and I found myself moving emotionally through the scenes — from a father crying in prayer, to a child smiling in Arafat, to a woman raising her hands to the sky in a profoundly moving moment that cannot be described.”

Photos by Faisal Al-Thaqafi, center shot, and Anas Al-Harthi.

Al-Kadeeb said that the professional photos shared by photographers on platforms such as X, Instagram and TikTok enhance the status of Hajj in people’s hearts and make it feel more relatable and more meaningful to the viewer — even if they are not performing Hajj themselves.

“I believe every beautiful image from Hajj is an indirect invitation for people to dream of Hajj and to realize the greatness of this immense pillar,” Al-Kadeeb said.

He concluded with high praise for the photographers: “They are not just professionals — they are messengers of peace and beauty, delivering the message in today’s universal language: a photo.”