RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions made a historic debut as the first Middle Eastern sponsor of AnimeJapan 2025, one of the world’s largest anime events.

Held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, the four-day festival drew more than 150,000 visitors and featured over 100 global exhibitors, organizers said in a statement.

A subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, known as Misk, Manga Production’s participation underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing position in the global anime industry.

Attendees experienced interactive exhibitions, including traditional Saudi attire try-ons and authentic Saudi coffee tastings, offering a unique fusion of heritage and creativity.

Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, delivered a keynote speech titled “A New Era of Animation! The Future of ‘Saudinimation’ Driven by Japan and Saudi Arabia,” outlining the collaborative opportunities between the two nations.

He said: “The overwhelming response reflects our mission to position Saudi creativity globally. AnimeJapan 2025 was a milestone in fostering co-production and content partnerships, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision to be a hub for entertainment innovation.”

The pavilion also welcomed high-profile Japanese officials, including Akamatsu Ken, vice minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, and Kobayashi Fumiaki, vice minister of the environment, signaling strong governmental interest in cultural exchange.

Abdulaziz Al-Mowani, director of marketing and communications, said: “This platform allowed us to share Saudi Arabia’s creative identity while forging strategic media and industry connections.

“Effective storytelling bridges cultures, and the event proved the power of our narrative.”

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi has visited the Grand Mosque Operations Center in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He met the director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, along with several security officials and Saudi programmers from the authority working at the center.

Al-Ghamdi reviewed the operations of the Baseer platform, developed by the authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, represented by Public Security.

The platform uses computer vision and AI to monitor and analyze the movement of visitors to the Grand Mosque, ensuring smooth crowd management and assisting in locating missing persons.

He also reviewed the Sawaher platform, designed to enhance the safety of the Grand Mosque, contributing to a secure and smart environment that facilitates worshippers and Umrah performers in performing their rituals seamlessly.

Al-Ghamdi also visited the Highway Security Center in Al-Shumaisi, where he was briefed on the Banan device, which enhances identity verification using biometric features.

He observed the center’s operations, the command room and the advanced technology used in the Saudi Lucid vehicle, which is equipped with AI tools.