Startup of the Week: Promoting creativity in a fun way

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Noura Al-Yahya
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Updated 28 July 2020
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Startup of the Week: Promoting creativity in a fun way

  • The studio offers special fashion design boxes containing different items with instructions

People are blessed with different talents and skills. It is important to identify and hone them from an early age.
The old education system, unfortunately, was not designed to identify individual talent. In fact, it was meant to produce people with a certain skill set, and believed in the one-size-fits-all approach, which is very detrimental to individual growth.
However, things around the world are changing. Different systems and programs are being introduced to do away with the old. Schools are introducing different ways to encourage children to express themselves and showcase their talents. In addition to schools, individuals and organizations are also taking initiatives to help identify and promote talent using new methods.
 NY Art Studio is one of those places, where young girls enjoy their time while learning art through workshops conducted by Noura Al-Yahya, the studio’s owner.
Al-Yahya told Arab News that the workshops were multi-thematic, but all related to painting.
“I felt that drawing fashion sketches had the biggest turnout. Therefore, I decided to make all the workshops related to fashion,” she said.
Al-Yahya opened the studio in March 2019. “When I opened, I started training kids and adults — the response was great.”
She grew up in an environment that encouraged children to try out new things and to freely express their creativity.
“My parents discovered my hobby when I was 5 years old (I used to paint on house floors) and they were not bothered about it at all. They started supporting my hobby by providing me the tools required for painting,” Al-Yahya said.
“At the age of 16, my mother encouraged me to launch a small project to present my paintings and my artwork. At that young age, I started participating in exhibitions,” she said.
Her education in law did not prevent Al-Yahya from following her passion. “In college, I did not give up, I went to drawing workshops and developed my skills by watching YouTube videos and reading books. While at the university, I decided to attend ‘Training of Trainers’ courses. I worked on training kids in painting and took advantage of my free time in college.
“I started conducting small workshops for young girls at rented spaces. The drawing training was very interesting for me, so I continued to train young girls more often (because my workshops became well-known) and I specialized more in drawing fashion sketches,” she said.
“I got tired of renting halls and transferring materials, so my father suggested that I open my own studio,” she added.
Al-Yahya said her mother supported her financially and morally, and became her partner in the studio, and that she started to help her with administrative matters.
The studio offers special fashion design boxes containing different items with instructions. Al-Yahya said the boxes were an instant hit, and that she sold some 300 in just 5 days.
“Most of the feedback I got from mothers was that their girls really enjoyed their time, it kept them away from their electronic devices and they wanted to order more boxes,” she said.
 Talking about the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on her activities, Al-Yahya said she sent simple images for girls to continue practicing at homes.
A year after Al-Yahya opened her studio, she decided to launch a fashion line for dresses and jellabiyas.
“The line was launched a few days before the pandemic broke out, but it proved to be very successful. I named it Rue by NY,” she added.
The studio is now open for workshops. To register, follow the studio’s account on Instagram @nyartstudio1.

 


Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Iraqi PM

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. (File/SPA/AFP)
Updated 15 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Iraqi PM

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Tuesday.

During the call, they reviewed relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields, Saudi Press Agency reported. 


Bangladeshi leader sends letter to Saudi crown prince about bilateral relations

Updated 46 min 4 sec ago
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Bangladeshi leader sends letter to Saudi crown prince about bilateral relations

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a letter on Tuesday from the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus.

The Bangladeshi ambassador to the Kingdom, Delwar Hossain, presented the letter, which addressed relations between Riyadh and Dhaka, to Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

During their meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday, the envoy and the deputy minister discussed ways to strengthen ties between their countries in various sectors.


Saudi Arabia showcases heritage, digital innovation at Jusoor expo in Kosovo

Updated 06 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia showcases heritage, digital innovation at Jusoor expo in Kosovo

  • Exhibition’s introductory section showcases Al-Masmak Fort and Saudi coffee, highlighting authentic Saudi heritage and hospitality
  • Visitors received detailed information about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah

RIYADH: The sixth Jusoor exhibition, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs at Skanderbeg Square in Pristina, Kosovo, is attracting a large number of visitors daily.

The exhibition’s introductory section showcases Al-Masmak Fort and Saudi coffee, highlighting authentic Saudi heritage and hospitality.

The technology pavilion at the 10-day event has attracted significant interest for its modern digital innovations highlighting the Kingdom’s technical progress, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It includes several ministry-developed applications, notably the Correct Citation app, which features a smart keyboard that accurately integrates Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths, and allows them to be shared as text or images.

The 3D Hajj and Umrah app offers a virtual experience simulating pilgrimage rituals in multiple languages, while the Rushd app provides a comprehensive digital library with books and Islamic content in 51 languages.

Attendees praised the Kingdom’s efforts in serving Islam and promoting moderation, the SPA reported.

Visitors also received detailed information about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, and its role in serving pilgrims.

Additionally, VR technology allows visitors to explore rare photos of Makkah and historic mosques, offering an engaging interactive experience of the Kingdom’s history and holy sites.

The ministry recently concluded the fifth Jusoor exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, which welcomed more than 1.25 million visitors from diverse backgrounds.

The 10-day exhibition at Istiqlal Mosque was one of the largest cultural and advocacy events organized by the ministry outside the Kingdom.

Saudi officials also distributed more than 150,000 copies of Qur’an, printed and translated into Indonesian by the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah.

Indonesian visitors praised the exhibition for its blend of spiritual and cultural themes, strong organization, and diverse, informative content.


Saudi cabinet reviews Hajj preparations, regional developments

Updated 06 May 2025
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Saudi cabinet reviews Hajj preparations, regional developments

  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed authorities to ensure top-level Hajj preparations and pilgrim services
  • The cabinet highlighted record non-oil exports and praised Saudi Arabia’s global rise in digital governance and open data transparency

JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended on Tuesday the weekly cabinet meeting in Jeddah that reviewd Hajj preperations and regional developments, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The crown prince welcomed Muslim pilgrims who began flocking to the Kingdom from various countries to perform Hajj this year.

He also directed relevant authorities to work with the highest levels of efficiency and excellence in implementing security, preventive and organizational plans to serve the pilgrim guests.

The crown prince also observed the record performance reports of the kingdom’s non-oil exports in 2024 and their continued upward trajectory. The reports reflect the accelerating steps towards diversifying sources of income and investment in the Saudi economy in line with Vision 2030.  

Ministers also noted Saudi Arabia’s advancements in digital governance, including its top regional ranking for the third year in the UN’s e-government services index, and its leap of 92 places in the global Open Data Inventory.

On regional issues, the cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s call for de-escalation across conflict zones, condemned Israeli strikes on Syria, urged an end to the war in Sudan through a local political solution, and reaffirmed support for the two-state solution as a path to lasting peace in Palestine.


New Saudi initiative focuses on water efficiency

Updated 06 May 2025
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New Saudi initiative focuses on water efficiency

  • Project will estimate water needs of native species like haloxylon persicum, ziziphus spina-christi, calligonum comosum, and vachellia gerrardii in Riyadh and Qassim
  • NCVC continues to implement initiatives to establish sustainable vegetation cover throughout the Kingdom

RIYADH: A new project launched in Riyadh aims to optimize water use and conserve resources, aligning with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, and Yazeed Al-Asheikh, vice president for graduate studies and scientific research at King Saud University, launched the project.

It will estimate water needs of native species like haloxylon persicum, ziziphus spina-christi, calligonum comosum, and vachellia gerrardii in Riyadh and Qassim.

The project will also evaluate the impact of biochar on water efficiency and sustainable growth, according to the SPA.

Additionally, it will assess carbon storage potential of native species in Riyadh and Qassim, as well as mangroves in Asir and Jazan, across various ecosystems.

At the launch, the team presented the project’s objectives, phases, and expected outcomes. Field visits have begun to identify key locations and plant communities.

The center continues to implement initiatives to establish sustainable vegetation cover throughout the Kingdom, including conservation, ecosystem rehabilitation, biodiversity restoration, rangeland management, and the protection of natural resources.