Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

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Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)
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Updated 16 January 2025
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Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

  • Celebration in capital to mark 1925 publication of ‘Kings of Arabia’
  • Event held on anniversary of monarch’s triumphant Riyadh return

RIYADH: On Jan. 15, 1902, King Abdulaziz Al-Saud returned in triumph to Riyadh after a period of exile in Kuwait, and consolidated control over both the political and religious powers of Arabia.

The event marked the beginning of a new era for the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Islamic world.

This year on Jan. 15, to mark the monarch’s return 123 years ago, the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh celebrated the centennial of an iconic book, “Kings of Arabia,” one of Lebanese-American writer and political activist Amin Rihani’s most notable books.

Published in 1925, it follows the writer’s journey across the Arabian Peninsula and his encounters with its most prominent Arab leaders.

Upon meeting King Abdulaziz, known at the time as the Sultan of Najd and its dependencies, Rihani famously had this to say about the late ruler: “Now that I have met all the Arab leaders. None of them (is) greater than this man.




Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

“And I am not hastily judging nor am I exaggerating. As he is truly great. Great in his handshake and smile. Great in his words and his gaze.

“Great at stomping the Earth with his staff. He speaks his mind in the first meeting fearing no man. He reveals his secret and what a great secret it is.

“A man who knows his worth and believes only in Allah and himself. The man in him is greater than the Sultan. And he earned his people’s leadership with merits, not titles.

“I came to Ibn Saud with a heart that carries neither love nor hate as I told him. Neither the British’s nor the Hejaz’s opinions, neither the praises nor the condemnations had affected me, and the heart was filled with love in the first meeting between us.

“Even though this love might not be a result of admiration. I am delighted to have visited Ibn Saud after having visited them all. Truly, he is the crowning jewel.”

Prince Faisal bin Salman, special advisor to King Salman and chairman of the board of directors of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, spoke at the event which was hosted jointly by the foundation and the Amin Rihani Organization.




Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud speaks during the centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Prince Faisal spoke about how Rihani came to Saudi Arabia with the preconceived notions common among many people who “did not have the opportunity to get to know the Arabian Peninsula up close.”

“At that time, the Arabian Peninsula and its neighboring countries were wary of the other, and looked at it with suspicion,” he said.

“King Abdulaziz in his wisdom adopted an open and welcoming dialect for all, believing that living authentic Islamic and Arab values ​​such as faith, trust in Allah, generosity, courage, and chivalry would change understanding and break barriers and distances.”

Prince Faisal also saluted the progress made in the Kingdom since the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1932.

“This scene pictured by Rihani in his book, conveyed ... the building of a contemporary state that combines authenticity, modernity, and ambitious fruits for the future.




Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

“The success established by King Abdulaziz was continued in his sons, the kings after him, arriving at Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman.”

Prince Faisal added that “they too walk on the same path of preserving the Islamic principles and authentic Arab values ​​of Abdulaziz, the spirit of growth and opening up to the world, which made the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today one of the most important models globally in development, progress and innovation.”

Prince Faisal said that he has never encountered anyone who had previously held a negative image of the Kingdom and who had not reevaluated their misconceptions after visiting and meeting its people.

Rihani’s nephew, president of the Amin Rihani Organization and professor at Notre Dame University in Lebanon, Amin Albert Rihani, delivered a speech remotely.

“Those interested in Middle Eastern studies around the world will find it difficult to understand the developments and current events in the Middle East at the beginning of the 21st century unless they read the book ‘Kings of Arabia,’ because it constitutes the cornerstone of the history of the Near East in general and the Arab world in particular, and it also constitutes the gateway to contemporary Arab history,” he said.




Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Rihani spoke about the rich history and affection that connects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

“How did (Rihani’s) historical journey build, at the last of its stations, the first bridge of affection between the first two newly emerging Arab countries, between Lebanon, which was officially established in 1920, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose unification was announced in 1932?

“It is a bridge of affection, love, and appreciation between Sultan Abdulaziz and Amin Rihani.

“It is the first bridge between the small homeland with the big heart and the large homeland with the vast and wide vision, ready to keep up with the times and keep up with the model that is to be emulated in every poverty and victory.”

Rihani’s family also attended the event as the prince’s guests of honor.




Thought sessions at the Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Following the presentation, the event concluded with two panel discussions on the prominence of King Abdulaziz in “Kings of Arabia” and on the book’s history.

The celebration also featured a short clip of a newly released documentary film detailing Rihani’s journey and its significance in the birth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
 


‘At the Edge’: Art Week Riyadh signals bold new chapter in Saudi cultural renaissance, say organizers

Updated 06 April 2025
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‘At the Edge’: Art Week Riyadh signals bold new chapter in Saudi cultural renaissance, say organizers

  • Event organized by Visual Arts Commission and hosted at JAX District from April 6 to 13

RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh is making waves in the Saudi capital this week, with curators and creatives hailing the event as a pivotal moment in the Kingdom’s fast-evolving cultural landscape, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Organized by the Visual Arts Commission and hosted at the JAX District from April 6 to 13, the event is bringing together local and international artists, curators, and institutions in a celebration of contemporary creativity and cross-cultural dialogue.

The initiative reflects the growing momentum of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation, part of the broader Vision 2030 reform agenda that is reshaping the Kingdom’s social and artistic fabric, according to organizers.

Vittoria Matarrese, Director and Art Curator of Art Week Riyadh, described the event as a significant turning point.

“We chose the title ‘At the Edge’ because it reflects the nature of the phase Riyadh is undergoing,” Matarrese said. “It is a city positioned between the desert and urbanization, between heritage and renewal. This balance is evident in the diversity of participation and the dialogues presented by the exhibition.”

She added that Riyadh is increasingly defining itself as a space where modernity and tradition intersect, enabling a unique creative evolution.

Shumon Basar, curator of the Public Cultural Program at Art Week Riyadh, underscored the importance of the conversations taking place as part of the programme, titled “How to Create an Art World: Lessons in Value.”

He explained: “Our goal is not only to share experiences, but also to raise essential questions about the types of value that art creates in the contemporary world—whether economic, symbolic, or social—and how art can serve as a tool to understand cultural transformations, rather than merely reflect them.”

Art Week Riyadh serves as a key cultural platform that embraces diversity and encourages artistic experimentation, offering a space for critical reflection on the evolving role of art in society, SPA added. 


A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone

Updated 06 April 2025
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A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone

  • Open-air museum of ancient artworks is key to decoding past civilizations
  • Drawings reveal how human beings interacted with now-extinct animals in the area

MAKKAH: In the heart of NEOM’s Hisma Desert, where sandstone mountains and plateaus rise from the arid landscape, is an extraordinary collection of ancient rock art and archaeological inscriptions. These priceless treasures illuminate the cultural and economic vitality of long-lost civilizations.

Once a vital corridor for caravans travelling the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, this region preserves an invaluable legacy etched into its geological formations.

The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels. (Supplied)

Abdulelah Al-Fares, a photographer and expert in ancient artifacts and a member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, told Arab News that the rock art is in the mountains and plateaus in NEOM, part of a mountain range in the northwestern part of Tabuk.

Hisma Desert is bordered by the Sharah Mountains to the north, by Wadi Araba to the northwest, by the Hijaz Mountains to the west, and by Harrat Al-Raha to the south.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.

• The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.

• Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail.

“The plateaus, part of the Hisma Desert and its geological formations, represent an open-air museum of nature, ancient rock art, and diverse historical inscriptions,” he said.

The artworks illuminate the journey of human civilization, revealing its cultural and social evolution in the region. (Supplied)

The rock drawings feature engravings of human figures, animals and various scattered scenes throughout the site.

The engravings on the plateau’s facades depict scenes of animals, including wild animals such as camels, cattle, ibexes, ostriches and wolves, as well as other predatory animals, and depictions of hunting scenes and human combat.

These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years.

Abdulelah Al-Fares, Saudi Heritage Preservation Society member

“These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years,” he said. “Most of the themes and scenes in some of the rock drawings in the region are repeated and depict, to some extent, the world of wild animals and the interactions of humans through hunting and warfare.

“The mountains embody a civilizational and cultural legacy through their distinctive rock drawings featuring human and animal forms,” Al-Fares said.

The rock drawings feature engravings of human figures, animals and various scattered scenes throughout the site. (Supplied)

He also highlighted the value of exploring NEOM’s ancient rock art. These carvings — depicting animals, hunting scenes and human figures — are a bridge between our modern lives and the world of humans thousands of years ago. They are a source of cultural and historical knowledge.

The artworks also illuminate the journey of human civilization, revealing its cultural and social evolution in the region.

Scattered throughout the area, a wide array of rock art sites show a vast and dense collection of drawings and archaeological inscriptions from different eras etched on mountain surfaces.

Al-Fares pointed out their diversity, noting the varied artistic styles, forms, and themes that distinguish each piece.

Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail. The careful attention to detail is thought to underscore the camel’s role as an essential sources of food and transport in ancient times.

Another façade shows a herd of cows, all facing forward, their large crescent-shaped horns curving at the tips. Encircling this herd, human figures of varying sizes are skilfully carved.

These ancient artworks are pictorial panels of human history, activity, environmental adaptation, and cultural development during ancient times. Their value shines brighter given the scarcity of insights into prehistoric life.

Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.

The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.

Many carvings portray human beings astride animals, including a warrior wielding a spear and sword, rendered with finesse and skill.

Scattered throughout the region, some drawings hint at the presence of different ethnic groups that lived in the area. The provide clues to migratiosn and trace the routes of trade caravans that used these locations as settlement points.

 


Riyadh forum to discuss future of project management

The forum’s chairman, Badr Burshaid, speaks during an event in Riyadh. (X @BadrBurshaid)
Updated 06 April 2025
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Riyadh forum to discuss future of project management

  • The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology

RIYADH: Riyadh will host the fourth Global Project Management Forum from May 17 to 19, focusing on advancing project management and promoting innovation and sustainability.

Held under the theme “Next-Gen Project Management: The Power of People, Processes, and Technology,” the forum will bring together professionals from more than 100 countries to explore the future of project management and share new methodologies.

The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The forum’s chairman, Badr Burshaid, said the goal is to provide practical solutions to challenges while encouraging collaboration across people, processes, and technology.

The event will include sessions and workshops on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, global value chains, and leadership development, along with an exhibition and book signings.

 


The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region

Updated 06 April 2025
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The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region

  • Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association rescues stranded motorists, finds missing people and assists in medical emergencies
  • Group recently helped evacuate severely overweight man suffering medical emergency in apartment

MAKKAH: A volunteer search and rescue team recently helped to evacuate a severely overweight man suffering a medical emergency in an apartment in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region.

The man, weighing around 200 kilograms, was suffering from shortness of breath and low oxygen levels.

Due to the narrow staircase in the building — around a meter wide — the specialized team had to be brought in to evacuate the patient on a stretcher.

The team worked with the Saudi Red Crescent to safely transport him to a nearby hospital where he was placed on a respirator.

It was one example of a diverse range of rescue missions that the Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association regularly carry out.

Their work includes rescuing people from floods, assisting motorists stuck in the sand and locating people who have gone missing in the desert.

Operating under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, they thrive in a spirited volunteer environment, committing their time, skills, and energy to community service while promoting a culture of volunteerism.

In an interview with Arab News, Mohammed Bashit Al-Ruwaili, head of public relations and media, and the official spokesperson for the association, said that the team is made up of over 150 dedicated volunteers, who play essential roles in multiple areas — most notably in supporting official agencies during search and rescue operations and contributing to life-saving efforts.

He emphasized that the team operates within a well-structured institutional framework, working in direct coordination with relevant security authorities to assist in the execution of rescue missions.

Al-Ruwaili noted that the team plays a vital role in raising community awareness through training programs that teach members of the public about wilderness safety.

It also offers support via interactive community service initiatives led by experienced and skilled members.

The team is equipped with a comprehensive system that includes vehicles fitted with communication and alert devices, and personnel trained in first aid and search operations under challenging conditions.

He pointed out that the Falcons face major challenges from harsh weather conditions, including sandstorms and extreme heat, which can hinder rescue efforts, and emphasized the continuous need to strengthen and capabilities by providing volunteers with more advanced equipment.

Al-Ruwaili also underscored the importance of unified efforts between official agencies and volunteer teams to ensure rapid and effective emergency response.

The team is committed, he said, to expanding its efforts by attracting new volunteers and forging strategic partnerships with relevant authorities.

Al-Ruwaili stressed the importance of cooperating with authorities and promptly reporting any emergencies.

He reaffirmed the Turaif Falcons’ commitment to remaining on the front lines, always prepared to respond, save lives, and serve the community.


Saudi ambassador meets Maldivian minister

Updated 06 April 2025
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Saudi ambassador meets Maldivian minister

  • Khaleel conveyed the government’s appreciation to the Saudi ambassador for his contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia

MALE: Saudi Ambassador of Maldives Matrek Al-Dosari met with the Abdulla Khaleel, Maldivian minister of foreign affairs, in Male on Sunday.

During the meeting, Khaleel conveyed the government’s appreciation to the Saudi ambassador for his contributions to strengthening the brotherly relations between the Maldives and the Kingdom, according to an official statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Al-Dosari expressed his gratitude to the government and people of the Maldives for the warm hospitality and friendship extended to him during his tenure.

He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to further strengthening the close and brotherly ties between the two countries.