JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal has announced restoration work on eight historic mosques located in various parts of Jeddah. In the first step, all the mosques will be opened for worship and prayers, according to a media report.
Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the Tourism Development Council and chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Development of Historic Jeddah, launched the project in the presence of dignitaries, including Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), and Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed.
So far 800 mosques have been surveyed in the Kingdom. Of this, 21 historic mosques in Riyadh, Asir, Eastern Province, Madinah, Jeddah and Yanbu have already been restored. Three of the mosques, Masjid Tabab in Asir, Masjid Jaoufa in Al-Ahsa and Masjid Al-Shafei in Jeddah, were opened last year. A program for the restoration of historic mosques under the (SCTNH) was also started in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The program for the care of historic mosques launched by the SCTNH in partnership with the Charitable Heritage Foundation is aimed at highlighting the historic and religious importance of these mosques. It also concentrates on spreading the message of the historic mosques for enlightening the lives of Muslims based on the principles of unity and brotherhood in society.
The agencies which are restoring the mosques made clear that the mosques are places of worship and not designed to attract tourists. The groups are taking care to implement international standards related to world heritage sites while working to restore historic mosques.
Eight historic Jeddah mosques to be restored
Eight historic Jeddah mosques to be restored
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief sends supplies to Yemeni schools
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed supplies to educational facilities in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
KSrelief’s support included chairs, computers and office furniture for 10 literacy schools and nine centers for people with disabilities in Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate.
The project aims to provide quality and sustainable educational opportunities for communities in the governorates of Aden, Hadhramaut, Dhale, Lahj, Shabwa and Al-Mahra.
A total of 9,747 people will benefit from the initiative, including 6,527 people with special needs, 2,389 illiterate students, and 831 staff at the targeted centers and schools.
The initiative is a part of ongoing projects provided by Saudi Arabia through KSrelief to address the challenges facing Yemeni educational institutions that are providing literacy programs and support for children with disabilities.
Separately, KSrelief hosted an event at Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians to mark International Day of Education, which included various competitions and drawing exercises.
The initiative is a part of KSrelief’s educational awareness programs in the camp.
KSrelief continues aid work across Middle East
- The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's projects aimed at ensuring food security
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has continued to provide support for vulnerable communities across the Middle East, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Food was sent to 187 families in Yemen’s Al-Dhale governorate, benefiting 1,309 people.
In Syria’s Al-Rastan city aid was sent to 48 families, benefitting 255 people, including bags of flour, winter kits, and personal care items.
The Kingdom also sent 125 tonnes of dates to Jordan, for distribution across various provinces and regions, starting from the Al-Qastal area south of the capital, Amman.
The aid was presented by Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi to Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court Yousef Issawi.
And 800 cartons of dates were delivered to families in Sudan’s Wad Madani locality of Gezira state, benefiting 5,111 people.
Saudi Cabinet discusses Syria, Lebanon and Kingdom’s success at WEF
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefs members on telephone call with US President Donald Trump
- Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus and Beirut last week for talks with the new Syrian ruler and Lebanese president
RIYADH: The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday discussed the outcomes of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visits to Syria and Lebanon last week.
The prince met newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut and the new Syrian ruler, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Damascus.
The Cabinet session in Riyadh was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who briefed members on his telephone conversation with new US President Donald Trump last Wednesday, and his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday during her visit to AlUla.
After the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said Saudi diplomacy supports Syria and Lebanon, and the efforts to restore their rightful positions within the Arab and international communities.
Cabinet members also praised the work of the Kingdom’s delegation at the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos last week. Several Saudi ministers and business leaders attended the event, at which the Kingdom hosted a Saudi House pavilion to showcase the nation’s transformation and help forge connections with government and business stakeholders.
The Cabinet said that the announcement by Saudi Arabia that it will regularly host WEF meetings in Riyadh beginning in 2026 reaffirms the country’s leadership role as a global center for international dialogue, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh
- Designers tell Arab News what inspires their creativity
- Haruss founder says ‘it’s an honor’ to represent the Saudi fashion industry
RIYADH: As part of their mission to empower Arab designers, Layali Maraya is featuring regional designers at the Mansard Hotel in Riyadh until Wednesday.
The three-day event, held under the patronage of Ameera Al-Taweel, Layali Maraya features modern luxury in a collection of Arab brands including Okhtein, an Egyptian label known for its handcrafted handbags with detailed accents that represent the beauty of Egyptian culture.
Also featured is Lynyer, a Lebanese brand by Leen Abelnour, who finds inspiration in Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry aesthetics and nature to create bold pieces.
“I ended up going for very big statement pieces that go with Middle Eastern women, and make women stand out wherever they are, especially for confident women who want to walk into the room and turn heads,” she said.
HIGHLIGHT
Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.
“All the pieces that you see here are nature inspired. They are also very culturally inspired by India, Pakistan, and by Lebanon, which is where I’m from.”
Growing up in the Kingdom and traveling internationally to pursue her career, Abelnour said that being back in Riyadh was a full-circle moment for her.
“When I launched the brand, I wanted to work with small artisans around the world … I started realizing that growing up in Saudi Arabia has really affected my taste in jewelry,” she said.
The founder of Saudi clothing brand Harjuss, Saud Saleh, said the label completes “basic, essential, human needs.”
Harjuss’s ready-to-wear collections are created around the seasons. The winter collection plays with texture and heavy fabrics while the summer line uses linen for breathability.
“It’s a very smart casual, very simple, very classy collection and it’s a 100 percent Saudi brand, founded by young Saudi talents,” Saleh said. “This is an honor to us to be representing the fashion industry of Saudi Arabia to the region and the outside world.”
Layali Maraya also featured Saudi labels 1886, Abadia, Dalal Jewelry, and Nora Alshaikh, among others.
Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.
The products offered by Maraya range from fashion and fragrance to accessories, jewelry and home decor.
Japanese ambassador visits Japan Cultural Days at Ithra
- Yasunari tours exhibits, drops in on sushi-making workshop
- Locals, expats and Japanese visitors try tea ceremonies and other activities
DHAHRAN: Japan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia attended a cultural event in Dhahran on Monday as the two countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Ambassador Morino Yasunari toured various Japan Cultural Days exhibits at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where events run until Feb. 8. The envoy even dropped in on a sushi-making workshop where Arab News was in attendance.
Communal tables were set up and a professional sushi chef instructed the 20 participants on how to prepare three kinds of sushi, using select ingredients. The ticketed class allowed sushi-lovers to roll out their own sushi and then eat it.
Those at the table joked that perhaps the ambassador popped in to see their work because he could not resist the delicious aromas coming out of the space.
One of those participants at the class was Danah Al-Harbi. The ambassador happened to visit her session, and she told Arab News that his visit showed his commitment to understanding the similarities between the two countries.
“It was honestly a completely new experience for us in the Eastern Province. It is the first time that Japanese culture is truly immersed at Ithra, and one of the most notable highlights of this event for me was the sushi-making experience.
Saudis that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.
Rieko Ono, Workshop facilitator
“I had to try it and it was truly exceptional. I love eating sushi, but I didn’t know how to make it until today,” Al-Harbi told Arab News. “Now, I can eat it after making it.”
Yasunari also visited the Japanese House experience where visitors took part in a traditional tea ceremony, serving and drinking matcha while making wagashi, the delicate, plant-based traditional Japanese confectionary crafted by hand to complement the unsweetened tea.
“The most interesting part is that I find something similar and also something in common between the two countries, Japan and Saudi, I found that the Arabic coffee and tea culture is something very close to each other, and we use this too for friendship and harmony,” Rieko Ono, who flew over from Tokyo to lead some of the workshops, told Arab News.
“I came to Saudi Arabia a few years ago, that was also fun, so it’s my second time and I love this. I’m very happy that Saudi Arabia is open now and so welcoming — I admire this.
“Saudi people love Japanese culture and anime helped us a lot,” she said. “Saudi people that maybe did not go to Japan have a chance to taste the flavor of Japan. I hope to see you next time in Japan but today, you can come to Ithra.”
