Saudi Culture Ministry launches contest for calligraphy center

The contest, which takes place in three phases, aims to promote talented youth and encourage them to make good use of their skills. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 13 July 2021
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Saudi Culture Ministry launches contest for calligraphy center

  • The center includes a forum for Arab and Muslim calligraphers

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture has launched a competition to design a logo for the Madinah-based Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy.
Designers, calligraphers and artists interested in participating in the contest should register through the link https://engage.moc.gov.sa/mbs_design_competition until Aug. 11.
The winning logo will receive a prize of up to SR100,000 ($26,662). The contest aims to promote talented youth and encourage them to make good use of their skills.
The contest will take place in three phases. In the first phase, the submission of proposals through the dedicated electronic platform will be accepted, screened and nominated for the next stage.
In the second phase, experts will conduct workshops to guide the selected artists in making the final presentation to a jury. The panel of judges will then select the winning logo.

FASTFACT

The Prince Mohammad bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy contains a museum, an exhibition hall and an institute dedicated to the art of Arabic calligraphy.

Interested candidates should keep in mind the following guidelines, which are also available on the website: The design should be made using Arabic calligraphy; the name of the center should be in Arabic and English and positioned next to the logo; the proposed design should be digital and high quality; the logo should be submitted in the suggested base color, black on a white background, and white on a black background; and the logo should be made in both small and large sizes.
The Prince Mohammad bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy contains a museum, an exhibition hall and an institute dedicated to the art of Arabic calligraphy.
The center also includes a forum for Arab and Muslim calligraphers.
The center aims to become a leading international center for Arabic calligraphy under the ministry’s supervision, cementing the Kingdom’s status as a pioneer in the field and the official home of Arabic calligraphy.
It seeks to provide a cultural and educational environment for people interested in the art of Arabic calligraphy.


Lebanese president arrives in Saudi Arabia to strengthen ties

Updated 4 sec ago
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Lebanese president arrives in Saudi Arabia to strengthen ties

  • Joseph Aoun became Lebanon's first head of state to visit Riyadh in six years.
  • Aoun voiced hopes of “building normal economic ties” with Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Riyadh on Monday, becoming his country’s first head of state to visit Saudi Arabia in six years.

Upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport, he was welcomed by Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al-Bukhari and Lebanese Ambassador to Riyadh Fawzi Kabbara, among other senior officials.

Aoun praised the role of Saudi Arabia in supporting and stabilizing Lebanon, and expressed his hope to strengthen relations with the Kingdom.

“I look forward to the talks I will have with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this evening,” Aoun said upon his arrival.

Kabbara and Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji are accompanying Aoun on the official visit, according to the Lebanese Presidency.

Aoun said he chose Saudi Arabia as his first destination because of its “historic links” with Lebanon and its role as a regional and global player.

“I hope and expect that Saudi Arabia will help us reset relations in the interest of both countries and overcome recent obstacles,” he told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview Friday.

He voiced hopes of “building normal economic ties”, saying Lebanon could align with "Vision 2030”.

“This would allow the Saudis to return to their second home, Lebanon, while Lebanese look forward to reconnecting with Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Aoun, who assumed office in January this year, has committed to establishing a new era where the Lebanese state would maintain a “monopoly on weapons.”


Saudi crown prince receives guests at Al-Yamama Palace for start of Ramadan

Updated 03 March 2025
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Saudi crown prince receives guests at Al-Yamama Palace for start of Ramadan

  • Mufti general of the Kingdom and the ruler of Riyadh among the guests
  • Crown prince shook hands with guests, congratulating them on the holy month

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received princes, eminent scholars, ministers, and a group of citizens on Sunday at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh.

The mufti general of the Kingdom and the ruler of Riyadh were among the guests to congratulate the crown prince on the start of the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Saturday.

At the beginning of the reception, the gathering listened to verses from the Qur’an. The crown prince shook hands with the guests, congratulating them on the start of the holy month, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He prayed that Allah would accept everyone’s fasts, prayers, and good deeds and that Saudi Arabia would continue to enjoy security and stability under the leadership of King Salman.


Saudi commission launches fashion recycling initiative

Updated 03 March 2025
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Saudi commission launches fashion recycling initiative

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission launched the Future of Sustainability Initiative, a project designed to promote fashion recycling across retail spaces in the country.

The initiative aims to foster behavioral change in clothing recycling through the strategic placement of recycling bins in prominent malls, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It encourages both the public and private sectors to adopt responsible fashion recycling practices, the SPA added.

The initiative embodies the values of the commission’s sustainability pillar, focusing on promoting sustainable practices within the fashion industry and enhancing consumer awareness.

By supporting the development of a circular textile recycling system, the initiative seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of fashion recycling, thereby advancing the sustainability agenda in the Kingdom.


Restoration of 130-year-old Buraidah mosque to uphold architectural heritage

Updated 03 March 2025
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Restoration of 130-year-old Buraidah mosque to uphold architectural heritage

RIYADH: The historic Al-Ruwaibah Mosque in Buraidah, Qassim region, is among the mosques undergoing restoration as part of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques.

The second phase of the crown prince’s project focuses on preserving the mosque’s original materials and spatial features while allowing for necessary additions that do not compromise its historical character.

As part of the restoration, the mosque’s traditional roof — composed of clay, tamarisk wood and palm fronds — will be carefully preserved, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Located 7.5 km southeast of Buraidah municipality, Al-Ruwaibah Mosque is more than 130 years old and has undergone only one previous restoration, in 1945.

The mosque has long served as a center for prayer, worship and Qur’anic study, in addition to being a place for teaching reading, writing and various sciences, making it a vital cultural and educational landmark in the region.

Before restoration, the mosque covered almost 204 sq. m and could accommodate 60 worshippers. On completion, its area will expand to about 233 sq. m, increasing its capacity to 74 worshippers.

The restoration will focus on rebuilding the mosque’s traditional roof, which consists of lintels, perpendicular trunks, a layer of palm branches, and a final clay layer that serves as insulation and helps to drain rainwater.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s project aims to balance traditional and modern construction standards to ensure the sustainability of historic mosques.

Saudi companies specializing in heritage restoration are leading the work, with Saudi engineers actively involved to maintain the mosque’s authentic architectural identity while ensuring structural durability.

Phase two of the crown prince’s project follows the successful completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions across the Kingdom.

The project’s strategic objectives include rehabilitating mosques for worship, restoring architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and enhancing the religious and cultural significance of these historical sites.

The project aligns with Vision 2030 by preserving architectural heritage and influencing the design of modern mosques.


Saudi opposition welcome to return home: Head of State Security

Updated 03 March 2025
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Saudi opposition welcome to return home: Head of State Security

  • ‘If a person has not actually committed a crime, but only entertained the thought of it, the state will address this issue and fix it’

RIYADH: Saudi opposition staying overseas are welcome to return home without any fear of punishment, Abdulaziz Al-Howairini, head of the Presidency of State Security, said in an interview on MBC’s “Hekayat Waad” program during Ramadan.

“Under the directives of the crown prince, if there are no lawsuits filed against you for homicide, theft or assault, and you were misled, the state will welcome you and will not punish you,” he said.

“If a person has not actually committed a crime, but only entertained the thought of it, the state will address this issue and fix it.”

 

 

Al-Howairini, quoting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said: “Anyone who decides to return, without having any lawsuits filed against them for assault, homicide, or other violent acts, and if their actions were limited to opposition or they were exploited by haters or received money at some point or were misled, they are welcome to come back without fear of punishment.”

He added that the Kingdom’s embassies were fully aware of the new directive, and nationals seeking assistance can contact a designated number (990) where they can provide their name and location and request to communicate with their family members.

“We receive numerous calls, but rest assured, we do not shame those individuals,” Al-Howairini said, guaranteeing the confidentiality of communications.