RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034.

The Crown Prince confirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to contribute to the development of football sport worldwide and promoting messages of love, peace and tolerance.

He highlighted the Kingdom’s significant capabilities, the enthusiasm of the Saudi people, and their ability to overcome challenges, which ultimately led to their successful bid to host the World Cup 2034, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

On Wednesday, FIFA announced that Saudi Arabia will host the international football tournament in 2034.

Later on Wednesday, the crown prince announced the establishment of the “Supreme Authority for Hosting the 2034 World Cup.”

Setting up the authority showed the Kingdom’s determination to present an exceptional version of the tournament, SPA said.

Saudi Arabia became the first country in FIFA’s history to solely host the expanded format of the World Cup with 48 teams, featuring 16 additional football teams for the first time since Qatar’s World Cup 2022, SPA reported.

The US, Mexico and Canada will host the expanded format of World Cup 2026, while the 2030 event is set to take place in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

In July, Saudi Arabia officially submitted its bid to host the World Cup 2034 under the slogan “Growing Together.”

The Kingdom will host the football matches in 15 stadiums across five cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.

It also plans to host entertainment activities for World Cup fans in 10 sites, including King Salman Park and the Jeddah Waterfront Park.

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language hosted the World Arabic Language Day celebration program and its accompanying exhibition at the UN headquarters in New York.

Organized in collaboration with the Kingdom’s permanent mission to the UN, the event was held under the theme, “Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage,” from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11.

The academy’s secretary-general, Abdullah Al-Washmi, emphasized the Kingdom’s pivotal role in supporting the Arabic language globally, rooted in Saudi Vision 2030, as the birthplace of the Arabic language and the Holy Qur’an, and in preserving and promoting Arabic as an integral part of cultural identity.

He added that this year’s theme reflected a growing global awareness of the importance of the Arabic language, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Washmi said that the academy’s role was as a leading institution working to enhance the status of the Arabic language and developing tools for its teaching and dissemination locally and internationally, adding that the institution operated in more than 60 countries, demonstrating its global impact.

He also underscored the historical significance of the Arabic language at the UN, where it was recognized as one of its six official languages through a landmark resolution by the General Assembly in 1973.

Held under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event was attended by high-ranking international and diplomatic figures.

This marks the fourth consecutive year of the celebration, showcasing the academy’s efforts to promote Arabic in global organizations and highlighting Saudi Arabia’s dedication to preserving the language’s cultural and scientific heritage.

The event included a panel discussion, “Arabic Translation at the UN,” featuring international experts and a virtual training course on “Arabic Translation Skills for Diplomatic Purposes” for UN staff.

An Arabic language exhibition featured artistic works and digital displays focused on the language’s beauty, history and impact on other civilizations. It reflected Saudi culture’s authenticity while introducing the academy’s activities and publications.