JEDDAH: There are 132 private and public museums in Saudi Arabia and the Vision 2030 plan has rightly focused on their role in boosting tourism and putting the Kingdom in the lead among different countries.
According to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), the most prominent among them are the National Museum and Al-Masmak Historical Museum in Riyadh.
Al-Masmak is considered one of the leading national museums because of the Al-Masmak Fort, the most important historical monument in the Kingdom. The fort occupies a prominent place in the history of Riyadh in particular and the Kingdom in general because it is connected with the epic of capturing Riyadh in the Hijri year 1319 by the late King Abdulaziz.
In the Hijri year 1400, the Riyadh Secretariat conducted a special study to renovate Al-Masmak. Later, the Ministry of Education, represented by the agency for antiquities and museums and in coordination with Riyadh Development Authority, adopted a program to transform this monument into a museum to represent the stages of establishing the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz.
The museum was opened in early 1995 under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who was the governor of Riyadh at that time. It is one of the largest museums in the Kingdom, located on an area of 17,000 square meters.
The museum has nine galleries, including the Man and the Universe (scientific phenomenon), Arabian Kingdoms (historic period of the Arabian Peninsula). It has a number of artifacts and statues from that era, in addition to photos and maps.
Another prominent museum in the Kingdom is Al-Haramain Museum in Makkah, which contains seven halls highlighting the cultural and historical dimension of the Two Holy Mosques. It also houses old and recent portraits and models of precious antiquities and inscriptions related to the Grand Mosque, in addition to the Kaaba kiswa and the old door of the Kaaba, the handmade fabric machine for the manufacture of the kiswa and other collectibles.
In Jeddah, the Khuzam Palace Museum was built inside the Palace of King Abdulaziz. It is one of the prominent museums in the city. The original palace was built in 1923 and was transformed to a national museum in 1995. It reflects the civilizations and historical stages of the Hijaz region.
Museums to help realize Vision 2030
Museums to help realize Vision 2030
Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh
- ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan
RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.
Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”
He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”
“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.
The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.
A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
RIYADH: Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.
The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
A version of this story originally appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center
- The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has helped to treat 452 Yemenis, who lost limbs because of the ongoing conflict, at the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Aden governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
A total of 1,407 procedures were completed for men, who made up 65 percent of patients, and women at 35 percent.
In addition, 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent residents.
The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy.
KSrelief continues to provide general and critical care for vulnerable Yemeni people, the SPA reported.
