Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah

Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah
A melting pot of local and international influences defines Saudi design, Princess Nourah Al-Faisal told Arab News on the sidelines of a Torba Studio talk. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 March 2025
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Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah

Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah
  • She applauds Saudis for sense of humor, creating fun designs
  • Princess Nourah highlighted the importance of fashion designers knowing their heritage, culture, and roots

RIYADH: A melting pot of local and international influences defines Saudi design, Princess Nourah Al-Faisal told Arab News on the sidelines of a Torba Studio talk.

In a talk titled “Experience in the Field,” Princess Nourah and Nazek Alkhulaifi, the co-founder and designer at Torba Studio, engaged in a conversation about the next generation of fashion design at the headquarters of Adhlal, a research-based consultancy in Riyadh founded by Princess Nourah.

As a part of its internship program Torba Studio has talks every Thursday and the Riyadh-based fashion brand opened the talk to the public during Ramadan.

As an entrepreneur and designer with more than two decades of experience working in design, Princess Nourah has seen the transformation of the design sector, and she described modern-day Saudi design as eclectic.

She added: “What I was talking about earlier is the community being a melting pot; it really is.

“There are so many influences. It used to be that there were the Saudis and the Europeans, but now there is everything coming in — you see influences from Korea, Japan, India. It has become a melting pot that the silk trade route used to come through. It’s a reawakening of that cultural collision and it is really interesting.

“We are the heart of the Islamic world and our cultures are so varied and that’s where they all meet.”

Princess Nourah highlighted the importance of fashion designers knowing their heritage, culture, and roots, which are elements that allow them to create designs that fit their environment.

She said: “Our clothes need to fit our lifestyles, our culture, and need to help us live. That is what design is for, to solve problems.”

She said that Saudi designers were going through an experimental phase of introducing heritage into their work, such as weaving and embroidery.

She added: “I expect that we will see a vast improvement over the next few years. If you look at Riyadh Fashion Week the first year and then compare it to the second year, imagine what will happen in the next four or five years.

“There is a confidence and embracing of our heritage and culture and trying to understand how to express them with pride.”

Princess Nourah applauds Saudis for their sense of humor and their capability to create fun designs.

She said: “I think you are going to see it in design, not just fashion, you are going to see it all across design and in the way people choose to live their lives.”

Alkhulaifi told Arab News that as Saudi youngsters immersed themselves in the fashion and design industry, guidance was vital for their success.

Alkhulaifi said: “It is very much an increase and the energy is positive. It is like a driving force, like a big wave of creatives that are ready to add something to the industry.

“We need to guide and share the experiences because we want more structured exposure to benefit everyone in the industry.”

Alkhulaifi said every Torba Studio collection revolved around the human experience and the philosophy of the unknown, adding: “Every piece that we do (create) has some sort of symbolism of being human.”


Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics

Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics
Updated 32 sec ago
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Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics

Saudi interior minister visits Paris Operation Center responsible for security during Olympics
  • Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met separately with Laurent Nunez, head of Paris Police Prefecture, and Guillaume Cardy, chief of RAID elite police unit

LONDON: Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif visited the Paris Operation Center during his official trip to France this week, where he held meetings with ministers and officials to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.

He was received on Tuesday by Laurent Nunez, the head of the Paris Police Prefecture, who briefed him on the workflow and technology of the center. Last summer, during the Paris 2024 Olympics, French authorities conducted a massive operation, deploying nearly 45,000 police officers for the event.

Prince Abdulaziz also visited the headquarters of the elite unit, RAID, which conducts research, provides assistance, intervenes in counter-terrorism efforts, and handles hostage rescues as well as high-risk criminal situations. He met with Guillaume Cardy, the chief of RAID, and observed a security strategy to address threats using the latest tactical methods and supporting techniques.

On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz discussed ways to enhance security cooperation with his French counterpart, Bruno Retailleau. The two interior ministers signed an executive document outlining future security cooperation between Riyadh and Paris.


Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross Rafah border crossing

Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
Updated 2 min 14 sec ago
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Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross Rafah border crossing

Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza cross the Rafah border crossing. (SPA)
  • Humanitarian aid, provided by KSrelief, is destined for the Gaza Strip as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing campaign to deliver assistance to Palestinian people

RIYADH: Six Saudi trucks carrying food aid for Gaza crossed the Rafah border crossing, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The humanitarian consignment, provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, is destined for the Gaza Strip as part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing campaign to deliver vital assistance to the Palestinian people.

A worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death, a hunger monitor warned on Tuesday, as the number of Palestinians reported killed in the conflict crossed the 60,000 threshold.

Facing mounting international criticism over conditions in Gaza, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the World Food Programme said on Tuesday it was not getting the permissions it needed to deliver enough aid since Israel began humanitarian pauses on Sunday.

Gaza health authorities have been reporting more and more people dying from hunger-related causes. The total stands at 147, among them 88 children, most of whom died in the last few weeks.


Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
Updated 27 min 52 sec ago
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Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
  • The cabinet voiced support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France

The Saudi cabinet reaffirmed on Tuesday the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, voicing support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

The cabinet expressed hope the forum would accelerate international recognition of a Palestinian state and pave the way for implementing the two-state solution. It also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pledge to recognize Palestine, urging other countries to take similar steps in support of Palestinian rights and regional stability.

Chaired by King Salman, the cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. It stressed that such actions violate international law and undermine efforts to achieve peace.

The cabinet also reviewed recent diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening ties with regional and international partners. It praised the outcomes of the Saudi delegation’s visit to Syria, conducted under the directive of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which led to the signing of 47 investment agreements worth nearly 24 billion riyals and the formation of a joint business council to boost cooperation between the two nations' private sectors.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. He noted that Saudi Arabia has recorded the fastest progress among G20 countries in sustainable development over the past decade, underscoring its leadership in international initiatives that promote prosperity and progress.


Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
  • Program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent
  • Initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism

RIYADH: The Center of Digital Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has concluded the Saudi Game Champions program, a nine-month initiative to support the growth of the nation’s development studios.

The program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent.

The initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism.

It offered over 180 hours of specialized workshops and more than 1,500 hours of mentorship, involving 25 Saudi Arabia game studios.

At the closing ceremony, Hussain Al-Safwan of LIMELESS Studio won the Bold Change Award, while Fahad Al-Jumaan of Hero Galaxy Studio received the Most Inspirational Award.

Mostafa Fares earned the Most Creative Award, and his colleague Ali Aseeri received the People’s Choice Award, both representing SYMMETRIC STUDIO.

The initiative is a part of the center’s broader efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s role in the global gaming industry.


Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
Updated 29 July 2025
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Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
  • The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday

The Saudi Arabia-backed Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has launched a five-day training course in Moroni, Comoros, focused on combating terrorism financing and money laundering. 

The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It focuses on skills to analyze financial data and detect suspicious activities, raise public awareness of related risks, and develop effective prevention and coordination mechanisms among regulatory, security, and financial authorities.

Participants include representatives from regulatory and judicial bodies, the Ministry of Interior, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, non-financial businesses, and non-profit organizations.

The course reflects the coalition’s commitment to enhance international cooperation and develop national civil and military competencies to combat these crimes.

It also aims to create a professional training environment that fosters integrated and effective systems to combat financial threats linked to terrorism.