Joy on streets of the Kingdom on 94th National Day

1 / 6
Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 23 September 2024
Follow

Joy on streets of the Kingdom on 94th National Day

  • Art, music, parades, fireworks and more mark occasion enjoyed by children and families

RIYADH: Monday marked a day of joy and expressions of pride as people throughout the Kingdom took to the streets flying the Saudi flag high at various events organized by local authorities to mark the occasion.

The Royal Guard Presidency organized a celebration of the 94th Saudi National Day on Sept. 23 in Jeddah, in the presence of Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Hudhaili, the commander of the Royal Guard Group in the Western Region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The celebration included musical performances of Saudi melodies, a motorcycle parade, a show by the Honor Guard, and other activities.

The official ceremony began with the national anthem and recitation of verses from the Qur’an, followed by a performance of an operetta titled “And Blessings,” presented by Dar Al-Tarbia Al-Hadetha School, a documentary film about the occasion, and a film by the Royal Guard, all themed around the special day.




The General Entertainment Authority also organized fireworks displays throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the day. (SPA)

The ceremony also featured welcoming words, poems and national melodies, with attendees gathering to enjoy the festive atmosphere and promote the values of national unity.

The 94th National Day celebrations in the Jazan region, organized by the municipality in the northern coastal area of Jazan city, also attracted a large and diverse crowd of visitors of all ages.

Locals with their children thronged the event venue adorned with the national flag, enjoying shows, parades and cultural exhibitions organized by local associations and clubs in partnership with the Ministry of Sports. The activities took place along the cultural street in Jazan.

People visited art stations to admire national-themed artworks symbolizing allegiance, patriotism and admiration for the nation and its leadership.




Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)

The cultural street, stretching more than 450 meters, featured a wide range of attractions for visitors along its length. People could stroll shaded pathways adorned with decorative motifs featuring the national flag, relax in designated seating areas, and pose for photos next to beautiful sculptures.

Families and children in Madinah also enjoyed an atmosphere of happiness at events and programs held in parks and squares. The events were held under the slogan “We Dream, We Achieve.”

In Hail and Tabuk, thousands of children draped in the national flag and dressed in its colors, also celebrated National Day, joining their families at various public spaces for celebrations organized by the local municipalities.

A bicycle parade in Yanbu featured 130 cyclists carrying national flags to celebrate the day. The event was attended by Yanbu Governor Saad bin Marzouq Al-Suhaimi, government officials and numerous enthusiasts.




A bicycle parade in Yanbu featured 130 cyclists carrying national flags to celebrate the day. (SPA)

The parade started from the Royal Commission in Yanbu Industrial City and continued to the historic district in Yanbu Al-Bahr. It involved local security forces, industrial security from the commission, and 21 volunteers, all expressing their joy for Saudi National Day.

In the Northern Borders region, cities and governorates were decorated with more than 6,000 flags raised in gardens, public parks, streets and squares, and 650 advertising boards.

Festivities included entertainment and cultural events organized by the region’s municipality and held in Arar Water Tower Park.

The General Entertainment Authority also organized fireworks displays throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the day. The fireworks were launched simultaneously in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlKhobar, Buraidah, Tabuk, Madinah, Abha, Hail, Arar, Najran, Baha, Al-Jouf and Jazan.


Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears

Updated 58 min 26 sec ago
Follow

Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears

  • Delegates at Human Resources Summit and Expo in Riyadh hear generational diversity and differing views on career progression are challenges that must be addressed
  • Experts discussed the effects of AI on the job market and explored strategies businesses need to adopt to ‘future-proof’ talent and navigate changing work landscapes

RIYADH: An employee who remains in the same role for four years is considered loyal in today’s job market, the audience at a human resources conference in Riyadh heard during a panel discussion on Tuesday.

The comment, at the Human Resources Summit and Expo, came from Syed Azharudin, director of learning and organizational development at logistical services company Ajex, who cited a recent study into workforce trends. Generational diversity is a factor that has to be addressed, he added.

“The biggest challenge for the HR industry is that you have different generations working together, like Gen X, baby boomers, millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha, so you cannot have a blanket approach,” Azharudin said.

People from the most recent generations are more likely to be “job-hoppers,” he added; a study by global tech consultancy FDM Group found that Generation Z respondents were 13 per cent more likely than their non-Gen Z counterparts to view their current role as a stepping stone to a better career. 

In other sessions, HR experts discussed the effects of artificial intelligence on the job market, and explored the strategies companies need to adopt in their attempts to “future-proof” talent and navigate ever-changing work landscapes. As the rapidly evolving technology continues to dominate headlines, they considered a hot-button question: What would the future look like if human labor was replaced by AI?

“We’re not going to lose (our jobs) but we also need to make sure that we go efficiently and with innovative ways to utilize such tools,” said Eid Alkhaldi, succession management director at the Saudi Telcom Company.

During another discussion, Nada Al-Hassan, the Saudi Ministry of Investment’s director of training and development, spoke about ways to advance inclusive leadership in the region. 

“There are a lot of success stories and a lot of initiatives in all governmental sectors (in Saudi Arabia),” she said, highlighting in particular the Vision 2030 Human Resources Development Program and the Saudization program Tawteen.

The Human Resources Summit and Expo began on June 15 and continues until June 19.


Saudia Airlines confirms flight from Jeddah diverted after bomb threat has landed safely

Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. (Supplied)
Updated 6 min 49 sec ago
Follow

Saudia Airlines confirms flight from Jeddah diverted after bomb threat has landed safely

  • ⁠Flight SV5276, bound for Jakarta, was rerouted to a different airport in Indonesia after an email claimed there was an explosive device on board
  • The aircraft landed safely at Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, where passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft and nobody was hurt

RIYADH: Saudia Airlines has confirmed that all passengers and crew are safe after a flight from Jeddah to Jakarta made an emergency landing at another airport in Indonesia, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Tuesday.

The flight was forced to divert after an email threat claimed there was a bomb on board, a Saudia spokesperson said.

Abdullah Al-Shahrani, the airline’s general manager of corporate communications, told Al Arabiya that in response to the security alert, Flight SV5276 was rerouted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan as a precaution.

The plane landed there safely and all passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft without incident and nobody was hurt, he added. Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. Al-Shahrani said passenger safety remains Saudia’s top priority and the airline was working to help passengers continue their journeys.

In a statement to Arab News, Saudia confirmed: “In response to a security alert received in flight, Saudia diverted Flight SV5276, operating from Jeddah to Jakarta, to Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia as a precautionary measure.

“The aircraft landed safely, and all guests and crew disembarked without incident. Local authorities conducted standard checks shortly after landing, and have cleared the aircraft for continued operation.

“The safety and well-being of our guests and crew remain Saudia’s highest priority. Full care and support have been provided and onward travel arrangements are being made."


UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation

Updated 18 June 2025
Follow

UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation

  • The statement said the latest escalation had “necessitated the suspension” of the high-level conference in New York

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France, co-chairs of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, joined with the chairs of the conference’s working groups in issuing a joint statement on Tuesday expressing “deep concern” over recent developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The statement said the latest escalation had “necessitated the suspension” of the high-level conference, underscoring “the validity of warnings about the fragility of the situation” and the urgent need to “restore calm, respect international law, and strengthen diplomatic action.”

Despite the setback, the group reaffirmed their “full commitment to the conference’s objectives” and pledged to “ensure the continuity of its work and the achievement of its goals,” SPA added.

They added that “the co-chairs of the working groups will announce the date of the conference's roundtables soon,” with the aim of generating “clear and coordinated international commitments” to advance the implementation of a two-state solution.

“In these critical circumstances,” the statement continued, “we must redouble our efforts calling for respect for international law and the sovereignty of states, and to promote peace, freedom, and dignity for all peoples of the region.”

The group also reiterated its “unwavering support for all efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza” and called for a “just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue,” affirming that regional stability and security hinge on a lasting peace.


Riyadh event highlights women’s role in diplomacy

Updated 17 June 2025
Follow

Riyadh event highlights women’s role in diplomacy

  • Speech stresses progress made under King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

RIYADH: The Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh has held a symposium to mark the forthcoming International Day of Women in Diplomacy. It was attended by Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji, female diplomatic leaders, and ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom.

Elkhereiji spoke of the importance of empowering women in diplomacy, citing the progress made under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in light of the Vision 2030 reform plan.

He noted that Saudi women now serve as ambassadors, leaders, and negotiators on the global stage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The symposium discussed efforts to support women’s diplomatic careers, the role of men in advancing change, and the unique contributions women bring to diplomacy.

Topics also included the global rise of women in diplomacy, their impact on foreign and domestic policy, and ways to enhance female participation in multilateral forums to address future challenges.


Saudi theatrical show ‘Terhal’ returns to Diriyah

Updated 17 June 2025
Follow

Saudi theatrical show ‘Terhal’ returns to Diriyah

  • “Terhal” is a pioneering Saudi production which boasts advanced lighting and visual technology

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture is to present the theatrical performance “Terhal” from Aug. 4-25 at Mayadeen Venue in Diriyah.

“Terhal” is a pioneering Saudi production which boasts advanced lighting and visual technology, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It offers a visually captivating experience, telling the story of a young Saudi man who dreams of shaping his country’s future.

His journey across the Kingdom takes him through diverse landscapes and rich traditions, helping him to rediscover Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural heritage. He returns to his village at the end with renewed confidence, wisdom, and hope.

The show features stunning scenes inspired by Saudi landscapes, and highlights young Saudi talents alongside renowned international performers.

The second edition of “Terhal” builds on the success of its 2023 debut which celebrated Saudi culture, from performing arts to handicrafts, traditional attire and cuisine.