The Arena in Diriyah to revolutionize entertainment in Saudi Arabia, Gulf

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The 20,000-seat arena marks a crucial milestone in Diriyah’s transformation as a key driver in Saudi Arabia’s vision for cultural and economic growth. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 March 2024
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The Arena in Diriyah to revolutionize entertainment in Saudi Arabia, Gulf

RIYADH: Diriyah Co., a Public Investment Fund entity transforming Diriyah into a global cultural, historical, and lifestyle hub, on Wednesday unveiled an innovative concept design for The Arena in Diriyah at the global real estate exhibition MIPIM in Cannes.

Design of multipurpose sports, entertainment, and cultural arena, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, has been overseen by London-based HKS Architects, which said the result will be a technologically advanced, globally significant venue that embodies the essence of its surroundings, local geological formations, and culture.

The 20,000-seat arena marks a crucial milestone in Diriyah’s transformation as a key driver in Saudi Arabia’s vision for cultural and economic growth. This announcement is part of a SR236 billion ($63.2 billion) masterplan that underpins Diriyah’s development, redefining cultural and lifestyle offerings within the capital.

The 76,000-square-meter arena aims to establish itself as the premier venue in the Middle East, serving as a tourism hallmark, drawing visitors from across the globe and transforming the region’s events landscape.

Group CEO of Diriyah Co. Jerry Inzerillo said: “The Arena in Diriyah exemplifies Diriyah’s unique lifestyle offering that harmonizes community, culture, and natural connection, setting a new standard for world-class destinations rooted in Saudi heritage.”

The venue will incorporate the traditional Najdi architecture motif, reflecting centuries of heritage. It will feature a “versatile design that allows for easy configuration changes, enabling the hosting of multiple events in rapid succession,” while its “state-of-the-art design will prioritize excellent acoustics and optimal viewing angles from every seat.”

Beyond the arena, a shopping district and an outdoor plaza for performances and recreation expand the entertainment experience, according to the press release.

The Arena in Diriyah will be “one of Diriyah’s iconic assets, and integral to the unprecedented Diriyah masterplan,” aiming to enhance Saudi Arabia’s entertainment scene, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The venue champions a lifestyle that is “authentically Saudi,” offering a “harmonious blend of heritage and innovation, and fostering community engagement through world-class events that stimulate tourism and economic growth.”

HKS Architects lead architect Alex Thomas described the venue’s architecture as rising from the landscape like monoliths, inspired by local geological formations, and reminiscent of ancient Najdi forts and palaces.

“Captivating digital waterfalls” visually draw guests toward the vibrant and dynamic experience within, he said.

The announcement was made in the presence of UK Minister of State for Business and Trade, Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston.


Attempt to smuggle amphetamines thwarted

Updated 7 sec ago
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Attempt to smuggle amphetamines thwarted

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s counter-narcotics authority has dismantled a major amphetamine trafficking operation, seizing 1.52 million pills hidden within a table shipment in Riyadh and apprehending four suspects linked to the scheme.

The General Directorate of Narcotics Control executed the bust as part of broader Interior Ministry initiatives to disrupt drug networks threatening national security. Investigators tracked the contraband to recipients in both Riyadh and Eastern Province, culminating in the arrest of three Syrian expatriates and one Saudi national.

Security authorities urged the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.

Reports can also be made to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email.


Aseer’s nature-sculpted basalt columns tell ancient volcanic tales

Updated 3 min 27 sec ago
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Aseer’s nature-sculpted basalt columns tell ancient volcanic tales

RIYADH: Deep within the mountains and plains of Aseer, nature unveils one of its most magnificent geological masterpieces in the form of the region’s basalt columns.

Meticulously shaped, they stand tall as timeless witnesses, narrating chapters of the province’s rich volcanic history.

These formations are not just rigid rock structures, but natural sculptures, shaped over millions of years, embodying a harmonious blend of natural beauty and scientific depth.

The basalt columns of Aseer are among the most remarkable and rarest geological phenomena in the Kingdom, captivating the attention of visitors and science enthusiasts.

Composed of volcanic rock formed from slowly cooled lava flows, these columns have shrunk and cracked over time, creating stunning geometric shapes, often hexagonal, pentagonal, or quadrilateral, with astonishing natural precision.

King Saud University Seismic Studies Center director and Saudi Society for Geosciences president Prof. Abdullah Al-Amri shared exciting insights.  

He highlighted the Aseer region’s rich geological formations, which can be found in several captivating locations, including Muhayil Aseer, Jabal Mishrif in Al-Harajah, Qarn Mujal east of Tendha, Wadi Al-Asran, and the coastal area between Al-Qahma and Al-Barak, nestled within the Black Mountain range.

Al-Amri noted that these formations have been recognized since ancient times.

Renowned geographer Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan Al-Hamdani described them in his book “Sifat Jazirat Al-Arab” as part of the Sarat Janb range, stretching from the north of Dhahran Al-Janub to the north of Sarat Ubaida, now known as Harrat Al-Sarat.

A Cenozoic volcanic field, Harrat Al-Sarat covers around 700 square km and boasts towering mountains like Jabal Ferwa, which rises 3,004 meters above sea level, and Jabal Zalm, standing at 2,575 meters.

Saudi Geological Survey spokesperson Tariq Aba Al-Khail elaborated on the fascinating formation of basalt columns.

The unique structures arise from thermal contraction when lava cools and solidifies, resulting in vertical cracks at right angles to the cooling surface.

While the columns typically appear vertical, they may bend or tilt depending on the cooling conditions.

Aba Al-Khail likened the formations to the cracking of clay as it dries, but instead, they occur in igneous rocks, particularly basalt, and can also be found in andesite, trachyte, and rhyolite.

He explained that the remarkable formations date back around 30 million years and have been discovered in the southwestern volcanic lava fields, such as Harrat Al-Barak.

The phenomenon holds significant scientific value, offering researchers the opportunity to explore ancient volcanic activity in the Arabian Peninsula.


Saudi Arabia and Kuwait strengthen museum relations

Updated 22 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia and Kuwait strengthen museum relations

  • Agreement aims to strengthen cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of museums and exhibitions
  • Mona Khazindar underlined the importance of the Tareq Rajab Museum as a leading institution dedicated to Islamic art and heritage

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Museums Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait on Wednesday.

The agreement aims to strengthen cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of museums and exhibitions.

It aims to strengthen the broader cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, helping to promote mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue between the two countries.

Mona Khazindar, adviser to the Saudi Ministry of Culture and representative of the Museums Commission, signed the memorandum alongside Ziad Tareq Rajab, director of the Tareq Rajab Museum. The document outlines areas of cultural cooperation and mutual interest for both parties.

Key areas of cooperation include the exchange of research, the loan of objects and the organization of temporary exhibitions, with the aim of enriching the cultural content and enhancing the value of both collections. The memorandum also establishes a joint working group to implement these areas of cooperation and facilitate the exchange of knowledge.

Khazindar said that the memorandum reflected the Museums Commission’s commitment to forming strategic partnerships with long-established private museums in the Arab region.

She underlined the importance of the Tareq Rajab Museum as a leading institution dedicated to Islamic art and heritage, adding that the collaboration would support cultural and knowledge-exchange initiatives across the museum sector.


Nothing will prevent Saudi success, says UK social media influencer

Updated 22 May 2025
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Nothing will prevent Saudi success, says UK social media influencer

  • John bin London praises ‘never quit’ attitude of the Kingdom’s people

RIYADH: British content creator and social influencer John bin London has said he is amazed at the resilience of Saudi Arabia and its people and believes nothing will stop the Kingdom’s success.

Bin London, a native of Nottingham, England, who grew up in Abu Dhabi, was the first guest on the seventh season of The Mayman Show.

He expressed his admiration of the Saudi people and the Kingdom’s rapid transformation.

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“Saudis have a ‘nothing will stop us or will get in our way and we will succeed’ (attitude),” he said. “This is something that I saw within the people.”

He added that whether it was Telfaz 11 — a creative media studio led by an enthusiastic team of storytellers and social influencers — or students he met from small Saudi villages who had traveled to the UK to obtain university degrees, everyone seemed to have a “never quit” mentality.

Bin London also used the partial privatization of oil giant Saudi Aramco as a prime example of the Kingdom’s flourishing economy potential and appeal.

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The initial public offering saw 100 percent of the shares transferred to the Public Investment Fund. Some 95 percent remained with the sovereign wealth fund, with the other 5 percent floated to private investors.

“The economics say, ‘Oh this is not going to work, and if it fails this and that,’ and then in a few years, what did we see? We saw a growth of 150 percent,” said bin London.

He also highlighted NEOM’s The Line project. Built on 34 sq. km, it will eventually accommodate 9 million people with a reduced infrastructure footprint, creating new methods of efficiency.

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“I remember, not long ago, people doubted The Line and then suddenly they saw the trucks going in, and The Line being built, this shut them up,” he said.

Bin London’s view of Saudi perseverance did not just come from observing projects and financial deals, however. He firmly believes that success comes from the people behind it — starting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: “I think it was obvious to everyone who was following and paying attention what was going to happen in this country.”

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The influencer, who is fluent in Arabic and has also mastered the Najdi Arabic dialect, creates content in the language to advocate for the opportunities offered in the land he has decided to make his home.

“I started picking up on vocabulary, pronunciation, from their dialects. It was, I guess, an unconscious thing,” he said.

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“It was just who you hear around you, how they speak. You start copying it and then later on a lot of my friends were from the Otaibi tribe, which … spreads from Taif, Hijaz and into Najd.”

The Briton lauds many Saudi tourist destinations but says Diriyah, the Kingdom’s birthplace and home of At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will always have a special place in his heart.

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“Diriyah is one of my favorite places. It was somewhere that before my first visit to Saudi Arabia, which was in the end of 2022, I literally dreamt about visiting.

“It’s the jewel of the Kingdom, it’s the place of the Al-Saud family, who created this country.

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“I used to watch the videos and see the pictures and I want(ed) to visit the museums, like it was literally a dream, so much so that the first time I came I woke up super early — and I’m not a morning person — with excitement to go visit Diriyah,” he said.

The excitement of that visit, he recalled, meant he spent an entire day wandering around and taking in the depth of history and captivating surroundings.


Major tourism project inaugurated in Al-Ahsa region

Updated 22 May 2025
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Major tourism project inaugurated in Al-Ahsa region

  • Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr laid the foundation stone for the Dusit D2 Al-Ahsa resort
  • Spanning over 77,000 square meters, it will be located in Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

RIYADH: The launch of a major new resort project was inaugurated by Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, governor of Al-Ahsa, as he laid the foundation stone to mark the start of its construction on Wednesday evening.

Various officials from government entities, investors, and representatives from Al-Ahsa Development Authority and the Tourism Fund attended the ceremony for the Dusit D2 Al-Ahsa resort.

Spanning over 77,000 square meters, it will be located in Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It will include 120 luxury hotel units and amenities such as an artificial lake, a health club, restaurants, a cultural center, nature trails, and recreational areas.

The resort will partly operate using solar energy and have electric internal transport, water treatment, and low-carbon building materials.

A SR60 million ($15.995 million) project was also implemented to upgrade the water system in the region ahead of tourist season.

Prince Saud expressed pride at the rapid growth of high-quality tourism projects in Al-Ahsa, all of which strengthen its status as an attractive tourist destination in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He added that these projects contribute to diversifying income sources and increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The support and care that Al-Ahsa and its development projects receive from the Kingdom’s leadership help empower the private sector and encourage investments across various fields, the prince added.

The importance of supporting and enabling the private sector and creating a fruitful investment environment — one that prompts innovative initiatives and provides job opportunities for the people of the governorate — was also highlighted.

The ceremony included the signing of management and operation agreements with the Thai company Dusit, which will operate the resort once it is completed, SPA reported.

Naif bin Abdullah Al-Madhi, CEO of the Business Sector and Tourism Development Fund, spoke of the necessity to embolden projects that reflect the diversity of the Saudi identity and contribute to making unique experiences for tourists that showcase local culture and heritage.

Al-Madhi described the resort as a model for utilizing local environmental resources to offer a complete hospitality experience that highlights agricultural and cultural tourism, especially in a region with the largest palm oasis in the world.

Bassem Al-Ghadeer, chairman of Al-Ghadeer Group, which owns the project, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the governor for his support of the development.