Saudi pavilion at Beijing International Book Fair showcases KSA’s culture and history
Saudi Arabia was invited to participate at the event as guest of honor
Updated 20 June 2024
SPA
BEIJING: Saudi Arabia, represented by its Heritage Commission, is taking part in the Beijing International Book Fair, which began on Wednesday and continues until Sunday. The Kingdom was invited to participate at the event as guest of honor.
The Saudi pavilion offers visitors a chance to learn more about the nation’s heritage, diverse culture, historical landmarks and overall historical significance, officials said. It includes displays featuring archaeological reproductions that illustrate the Kingdom’s rich culture and expansive history over thousands of years.
Sayidaty has been empowering women for decades, says editor
Championing local talent, Lama Al-Shethry tells Arab News
She predicts ‘great’ growth for Saudi Arabia’s media houses
Updated 27 June 2024
HUSSAM AL-MAYMAN
RIYADH: Sayidaty magazine has played a critical role in empowering women for four decades, according to the publication’s Editor-in-Chief Lama Al-Shethry.
Al-Shethry, who also serves as chief editor for Al Jamila magazine and is a board member of the Saudi Journalists Association, made the comments during a recent wide-ranging interview on The Mayman Show by Arab News.
“I believe that throughout more than four decades now Sayidaty has played a major role in empowering women in different eras,” she said.
Al-Shethry added: “Fifteen years ago, Sayidaty launched a big campaign for under-age marriage, and it was on a regional level where key opinion leaders were part of this campaign: authors, intellectuals, royal members, ministers.
“And they were able to stop, actually five under-age marriages, in Saudi, Egypt and Yemen back then.”
She said that this year the publication is championing local productions include the film “Noura” and its “talented” 17-year-old star Maria Bahrawi.
“We were with her in Cannes because the movie, of course, is the first Saudi movie to participate in Cannes,” said Al-Shethry.
She said the two examples show that Sayidaty continues to play the same role of empowerment.
“We are targeting the same audience, same region, same people, but different eras. But it’s the same role. Obviously now, with Vision 2030, obviously this is the time where you put your hand together with young talents.
“Having women rights I think we crossed a really milestone in that. And now is the time to focus on how to support talents and how to make them grow.
Al-Shethry said she has helped to create digital content in Arabic. This resulted in Sayidaty making it onto Forbes’ 2021 top-five most-visited sites in the Middle East and North Africa region.
In addition, she is also the co-founder, with her friend Hala Al-Jurayed, of Bintnet Network, the first Arabic online magazine providing female-centered lifestyle content.
“There was no digital content in Arabic. There was a gap in that and we thought why not start a website. Part of it is a forum where people have this small community of members, discuss things, talk on a daily basis, to chat. And on the other side of it, there is this content that is related to lifestyle, travel and decor, fashion, jewelry,” she said.
Al-Shethry said she did not get into the digital space with a clear business plan but it turned out to be “really successful.” She was able to adapt to various changes in journalism, including the advent of social media.
Al-Shethry said she was “honored” to be elected to the board of the Saudi Journalists Association with 12 colleagues, alongside Chairman Adhwan Al-Ahmari and Vice Chairman Faisal J. Abbas, who is Arab News’ editor-in-chief.
She said her predecessors in the media had built a solid foundation for the current generation of leaders to develop the industry in Saudi Arabia. “So great things are about to come for sure.”
Al-Baha Summer Festival highlights region’s agricultural identity
Festival features six agricultural events that enhance the region’s agricultural and tourism identity, support economic development, and provide job opportunities
Updated 27 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The 45th Al-Baha Summer Festival, themed “A Summer in Al-Baha: Embrace Serenity,” has been launched under the patronage of Prince Hussam bin Saud, governor of Al-Baha region.
The festival features six agricultural events that enhance the region’s agricultural and tourism identity, support economic development, and provide opportunities for young men and women to enter the labor market.
Fahd bin Muftah Al-Zahrani, director of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in the region, highlighted the ministry’s focus on agricultural festivals due to their success in marketing agricultural products and showcasing the region's rich natural resources.
This success is bolstered by collaboration with numerous distinguished partners from both governmental and private sectors, especially agricultural cooperative societies which play a crucial role in advancing agricultural efforts by enhancing marketing strategies, improving the quantity and quality of agricultural products, diversifying promising crops, and promoting sustainable agricultural development.
A number of distinguished farmers participate in the festivals, offering the finest local agricultural products.
Al-Zahrani noted that agricultural festivals are a tourism marketing gateway to which many visitors flock, highlighting that the number of visitors at the “Grains and Almonds” festival last year reached approximately 3,000 people, while 3,500 visitors flocked to the “Bounties Festival” in Baljurashi. Visitors to other similar events reached around 40,000 people.
Faisal Al-Ghamdi, a local farmer, said that turning agricultural seasons into festivals during the summer is a unique initiative that attracts tourists, supports small farmers and craftsmen, generates economic returns, markets agricultural products, enhances local produce, and strengthens the national economy.
Another farmer, Ali Al-Zahrani, said that seasonal agricultural festivals generate diverse economic returns each year, benefiting all segments of society.
These festivals encourage the region’s farmers and their families to market their products, improve agricultural production quality and competitiveness, and showcase productive human capabilities, he added.
King Salman issues royal order to appoint, promote 154 judges
Updated 27 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: King Salman issued a royal order on Thursday to promote and appoint 154 judges at the Ministry of Justice, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani said that the royal order confirmed the keenness of the Kingdom’s leadership to support the Kingdom’s judiciary.
Last month, the king issued a royal decree to promote 26 judges at the Board of Grievances.
Commander of the Special Forces for Environmental Security Brig. Gen. Saher bin Mohammed Al-Harbi inaugurated the Organelle Center at the Ibex Protected Area in Riyadh
Inauguration was held in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife
Updated 27 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Under the auspices of the Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, the Commander of the Special Forces for Environmental Security Brig. Gen. Saher bin Mohammed Al-Harbi inaugurated the Organelle Center at the Ibex Protected Area in Riyadh.
The inauguration was held in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife.
Al-Harbi highlighted the support offered by the Kingdom’s leadership to all security sectors to help them perform their duties in ensuring the security and safety of the nation’s assets.
He indicated that the inauguration of the center, including all of its security equipment, modern technical systems, and means of monitoring and protection abreast of the latest technologies used in efficiently improving protection activities, will contribute to reducing environmental violations at the Ibex Protected Area and enforcing the related regulations.
Undersecretary at Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development heads Kingdom’s delegation at meeting in Tunisia
Ahmed Al-Zahrani highlighted key initiatives and programs launched by the Kingdom to deal with changes in digitization and new technology
Updated 27 June 2024
Arab News
TUNIS: Ahmed Al-Zahrani, the undersecretary for skills and training at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, headed the Kingdom’s delegation in Tunisia at the second regional meeting on educating young people in skills and transitioning them to work, which took place from June 26-27.
He highlighted key initiatives and programs launched by the Kingdom to deal with changes in digitization and new technology — such as artificial intelligence — that will affect the labor market and the skills system.
