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.

 


Sudanese culture in spotlight at Jeddah event

Updated 23 May 2025
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Sudanese culture in spotlight at Jeddah event

  • Passport to the World runs until May 24
  • The event previously placed the spotlight on Filipino, Bangladeshi, and Indian cultures

JEDDAH: Passport to the World, which is taking place in Jeddah until May 24, is offering visitors an immersive look at Sudan’s cultural heritage through live folk performances, traditional dances, and interactive workshops that highlight customs, celebrations, and community rituals.

The event also features a food corner serving authentic Sudanese dishes, desserts, and traditional drinks that reflect the country’s hospitality.

Guests are also given an opportunity to wear traditional Sudanese clothing and explore the meanings behind its regional colors and patterns.

Organized by the General Entertainment Authority, the event supports efforts to showcase the cultural diversity of expatriate communities in the Kingdom while promoting values of coexistence through interactive cultural programming.

The event previously placed the spotlight on Filipino, Bangladeshi, and Indian cultures.

The Sudanese showcase is its conclusion and has attracted strong public interest. A previous edition in Alkhobar was also well received.
 


Saudi minister of municipalities and housing concludes official visit to Kuwait

Updated 23 May 2025
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Saudi minister of municipalities and housing concludes official visit to Kuwait

  • Guidelines adopted at meeting of GCC’s ministers

KUWAIT CITY: Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail has concluded his official visit to Kuwait, during which he headed the Kingdom’s delegation at the 23rd meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s housing ministers, which included participation from the relevant ministers of member states and was attended by the secretary-general of the GCC.

Several technical guidelines were adopted at the meeting, most notably the Value Engineering Guide for GCC Housing Projects, which was prepared by Riyadh as a step to enhance spending efficiency while improving the quality of outcomes in Gulf housing schemes.


Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee holds talks on Gaza with French foreign minister in Paris

Updated 23 May 2025
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Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee holds talks on Gaza with French foreign minister in Paris

  • Delegation includes Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts Ayman Safadi and Badr Abdelatty
  • Discussions focus on coordinated international efforts to end war in Gaza, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and halt ongoing Israeli violations

PARIS: Senior members of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee held talks with French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday about the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip and efforts to advance peace in the region.

The delegation that visited the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs was led by the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and included his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts Ayman Safadi and Badr Abdelatty.

Their discussions with Barrot focused on coordinated international efforts to end the war in Gaza, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid, and halt ongoing violations by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people and the occupied territories, breaches that have been described as contraventions of international law and humanitarian norms, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also talked about ways in which joint diplomatic action might be intensified to promote a just and lasting peace, with an emphasis on the implementation of a two-state solution in line with international resolutions.

Other topics included the preparations for a high-level international conference on the two-state solution, which is scheduled to take place at the UN headquarters in New York in June and will be jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.


Saudi fund unveils handicraft investment accelerators

Updated 23 May 2025
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Saudi fund unveils handicraft investment accelerators

  • Nama’ initiative launched in partnership with Ministry of Culture and Quality of Life Program

RIYADH: Nama’ Accelerators, a pioneering initiative to foster the growth of cultural enterprises, has been launched by the Saudi Cultural Development Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program.

The project, featuring a comprehensive training and development program, will include several sector-specific tracks. The first of these is the flagship handicrafts track, with the aim of amplifying the economic, social and creative impact of the 2025 — Year of Handicrafts initiative.

It targets micro, small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand across 11 diverse fields within the sector, including pottery, textiles and woodworking.

Benefits on offer include specialized training in modern craft techniques, intensive workshops on marketing and business management, and improved market access both locally and internationally. It also provides financial incentives to support sustainable growth and expansion.

Through this inaugural track, Nama’ Accelerators intends to transform the Kingdom’s rich artisanal heritage into sustainable economic ventures that foster community development, encourage innovation within the handicraft industries and enrich the national identity.

The Cultural Development Fund seeks to advance the handicrafts sector by maximizing its economic and social impact, fostering innovation across its diverse fields, and cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that nurtures creativity and growth.

The Cultural Development Fund (CDF), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program — a key component of Saudi Vision 2030—has unveiled “Nama’ Accelerators.” (Supplied)

Nama’ Accelerators represents a strategic milestone in the fund’s ambition to position itself as the financial center of excellence for the cultural sector. As a key financial enabler for entrepreneurs and enterprises, it fuels the sustainable and profitable growth of their ventures. 

The initiative also strengthens the fund’s collaboration with key players across the cultural ecosystem, supporting its continued progress toward fulfilling the objectives of the National Culture Strategy within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework.

Khalid Al-Baker, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, told Arab News: “Promoting and sustaining national culture hinges on transforming the cultural sector into an economically productive industry. This transformation involves expanding cultural offerings — including cultural days, events, and activities — and streamlining the permit issuance process for cultural projects.”

He added that, as part of the Quality of Life Program’s efforts to fulfill Vision 2030’s objectives: “We have implemented programs targeting these key pathways, including the launch of Nama’ Accelerators.” 

Nama’ Accelerators will actively elevate the role of handicrafts in society, transforming them from museum artifacts into a vibrant, economically sustainable sector. The initiative promotes creativity and innovation while safeguarding a living cultural heritage for current and future generations, Al-Baker said.
 


Saudi Signage Expo has grown to meet demands of an evolving market 

Updated 23 May 2025
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Saudi Signage Expo has grown to meet demands of an evolving market 

  • Sustainability a key pillar as exhibitors unveil products designed with recyclability and circular economy principles in mind

RIYADH: The Saudi Signage and Labelling Expo, the Middle East’s leading event for the digital, print, graphic and imaging sectors, has grown significantly to meet the demand of an evolving signage sector in the Kingdom meeting circular economy principles.

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the expo held at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 20-22, Mutaz Al Mazari, event director at dmg events, organizer of the expo, said: “We are proud to bring the expo to Riyadh as the largest event for signage, labelling, paper and packaging industries in the Middle East.

“Since its launch last year, it has grown significantly to meet the demand of a rapidly evolving signage sector in the Kingdom.”

With a bigger exhibition space and more than 150 exhibitors from more than 15 countries, this year’s expo offered opportunities for buyers to connect directly with suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers in Saudi Arabia’s booming signage, labelling and packaging industries, supporting the country’s Vision 2030 for economic diversification and sustainability regulations, Al Mazari said.

Mutaz Al Mazari, Event Director, dmg events. (AN photo by Rashid Hassan)

The event also supported the region’s broader ambitions by encouraging knowledge exchange, promoting local production capabilities and enabling new commercial partnerships.

Visitors this year discovered a wide range of solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s rapidly growing sectors, including retail, healthcare, entertainment and more.

“With Saudi Arabia’s signage market projected to reach $492 million by 2027, the demand for high-quality, future-ready visual communication tools has never been greater,” Al Mazari said.

From procurement professionals to systems integrators and business owners, the expo provided direct access to the latest digital signage systems, labelling solutions and printing technologies to meet evolving consumer needs.

Attendees gained valuable insights through live demos, engaged with new products and services, as well as know-how of systems and solutions that would help them make informed decisions for upcoming projects and future investments, all aligned with the broader Vision 2030 goals.

This year’s expo was much bigger than the launch year. Building on the positive response from 2024, live demonstrations this year played a major role. Additionally, features such as car wrapping and the debut of Label It, a fast-paced labelling competition offered hands-on experiences and tailored networking opportunities beyond traditional exhibitions.

On supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals, particularly in economic diversification, local production and sustainable development, Al Mazari said: “Saudi Signage and Labelling Expo and Saudi Paper and Packaging Expo facilitated the growth of the domestic signage and printing sector supporting the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategies under Vision 2030.

“The events connected international solution providers with local manufacturers, distributors and end-users seeking to localize supply chains and expand their services,” he added.

The event spotlighted innovations in sustainable printing, recyclable packaging and energy-efficient signage systems, all aligning with the country’s long-term environmental goals, Al Mazari noted.

As Vision 2030 accelerates investments in smart cities, retail infrastructure and tourism destinations, the technologies on display at the expo will help businesses meet modern design and communication standards while lowering their environmental footprint, he said.

Moreover, sustainability was one of the key pillars of this year’s event. Across both signage and packaging segments, exhibitors unveiled products designed with resource efficiency, recyclability and circular economy principles in mind.

With a key focus on paper recycling and waste equipment, the product sectors highlighted a shift toward greener, smarter production.

“We saw a noticeable shift towards digital signage systems that reduce material usage and extend product lifecycle value, an important step for businesses aiming to move away from traditional print-heavy methods. Exhibitors such as Caravan and Alyanabie Company for Advertising Manufacturing, Gulf Sparrows Trading Company – BlueRhine and National Signage Industrial Company for Energy Efficiency responded to this demand by showcasing technologies that combine sustainability with long-term performance, helping businesses stay aligned with evolving regulations and customer expectations,” Al Mazari said.