Imagination Park zone makes debut at Riyadh Season

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Updated 17 October 2022
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Imagination Park zone makes debut at Riyadh Season

  • The third Riyadh Season will kick off on Oct. 21 with more than 8,500 activities

RIYADH: Riyadh Season’s new Imagination Park zone offers four experiences based on Netflix’s most popular shows, models and exhibitions of popular films as well as a range of entertainment options, General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh has said.

The zone also has a section for rare luxury cars, another section for modified cars, as well as a range of shops selling souvenirs from movies and TV shows.

The third Riyadh Season will kick off on Oct. 21 with more than 8,500 activities. This year’s event will offer visitors a wide range of entertainment options.

The new season will include 15 zones: Boulevard World, Boulevard Riyadh City, Winter Wonderland, Al-Murabaa, Sky Riyadh, Via Riyadh, Riyadh Zoo, Little Riyadh, The Groves, Imagination Park, Al-Suwaidi Park, Souq Al-Zel, Qariat Zaman, Fan Festival and Riyadh Front.

Visitors to the Al-Murabaa zone, where the National Museum is located, will be able to take part in a new experience this year.

The area has eight restaurants and two international cafes, as well as outdoor courtyards with music and art performances.

The garden will also feature advanced lighting technology during Riyadh Season.

In the Souq Al-Zel zone, traditional shows, light shows and live graffiti events by Saudi artists will take place every week. 

Riyadh Season combines exclusivity and modernity to promote the capital as a major incubator and popular destination for tourism.

It also contributes to promoting the Saudi entertainment sector industry and consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a prominent regional and global entertainment destination.

The season will also feature the largest man-made lake in the world, cloud-embracing lounges and the international Cirque du Soleil.

Riyadh Season also has sports events like WWE and the Riyadh Season Cup, which brings together the Paris Saint-Germain football team and stars from Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr clubs.

There are also 65 days of fireworks, a variety of Saudi and Arab plays, concerts, local and international exhibitions covering anime, perfumes and games, as well as various events for families, individuals and children.


Documentary shines light on Saudi Arabia’s progress, development

New Konoz documentary highlight's Kingdoms advancements towards achieving 2030 goals. (SPA)
Updated 7 sec ago
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Documentary shines light on Saudi Arabia’s progress, development

  • Movie celebrates political, economic, cultural, sporting advancements

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s transformation toward its Vision 2030 goals has been documented in a new film by the Ministry of Media.

Launched by the ministry’s Konoz initiative, “The Destination” highlights the progress made in the political, economic, medical, sporting, cultural, media and artistic fields.

Its title reflects the Kingdom’s path toward becoming a global destination for tourism and investment.

Mirroring the film's title, Saudi Arabia has become a global destination for investment, tourism, and much more. (Supplied)

Konoz CEO Abdullah Al-Ahmari credited megaprojects and upcoming events such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo Riyadh 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034.

“The Konoz initiative aims to document the Kingdom’s achievements through creative productions,” he said, describing the country as a “model admired by the world.”

The film reflected the progress being made on the ground and highlighted the initiative’s focus on Saudi talent in shaping the Kingdom’s future, he said.

“The Destination” includes interviews with key figures from various fields as well as testimonies, quotes and historical records. It is part of a series of films produced by Konoz in cooperation with almost 90 organizations and more than 2,600 individuals.

The Konoz initiative is part of the Human Capacity Development Program under Vision 2030. Its goal is to promote Saudi Arabian culture around the world by highlighting the contributions and success stories of its citizens.

 


Grant helps nonprofits to create green jobs

Updated 07 July 2025
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Grant helps nonprofits to create green jobs

  • Funding available for projects that equip low-income individuals with vocational and technical skills for green sectors
  • Initiative is aligned with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and green investment

JEDDAH: The King Khalid Foundation has opened applications for the fourth round of its Green Grant, aimed at empowering nonprofit organizations across Saudi Arabia.

Applications for the grant are open until Aug. 9, with funding available for projects that equip low-income individuals with vocational and technical skills for green sectors, improving livelihoods through sustainable jobs.

The initiative is aligned with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and green investment, and enables nonprofits to drive sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Eligible projects include organic farming, ecotourism, recycling, energy efficiency, renewable energy, reforestation, and wildlife protection.

The grant fosters job creation and income opportunities, while preserving the environment and reducing ecological impact, the SPA added.

Launched in 2022 by Princess Nouf bint Mohammed, CEO of the foundation, the program has since expanded nationwide, offering workshops on the green economy and emerging environmental careers.

This cycle accepts proposals only from nonprofit organizations; individual applications are not eligible. Grant amounts vary by project scale and feasibility.

Successful applicants will join workshops from Aug. 18–24, with final recipients announced in October 2025. For guidelines, applications, and more details, visit kkf.org.sa/greengrants.


Saudi FM arrives in Brazil to participate in BRICS summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday to attend the 17th BRICS summit.
Updated 07 July 2025
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Saudi FM arrives in Brazil to participate in BRICS summit

  • Prince Faisal is attending on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
  • He will participate in second day of the summit, which will be attended by partner and guest countries

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Monday to lead the Kingdom’s delegation at the 17th BRICS summit.

The Kingdom, not a full member of the bloc, is participating as a country that has been invited to join the group. Prince Faisal is attending on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal will participate in the second day of the summit, which will be attended by partner and guest countries invited by the presidency and international organizations, SPA added.

Discussions will focus on global development efforts, including climate issues and the fight against pandemics and diseases.

The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE as members.


Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions

Updated 07 July 2025
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Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions

  • Event, titled Asir … We Are the Living Heritage, was attended by experts and enthusiasts from the fields of culture and the arts
  • Attendees discussed various issues, including how to engage young people in cultural issues through social media

RIYADH: The Intangible Heritage Association held a workshop to encourage better preservation of cultural heritage in the digital age and urged young people to become the nation’s future storytellers.

Held at the Al-Abo Sarrah Palaces, northwest of Abha, the capital of Asir Province, the event, titled “Asir … We Are the Living Heritage,” was attended by experts and enthusiasts from the fields of culture and the arts.

Othman Al-Seeni, the association’s chairman, described the workshop as part of a broader national effort to safeguard intangible heritage across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“We are gathering the opinions and ideas of researchers and enthusiasts, whether on customs, traditions, handicrafts or performing arts, and using them in initiatives to document and preserve this heritage as a vital part of Saudi culture,” he said.

The attendees discussed various issues, including how to engage young people in cultural issues through social media. One concern was how misinformation about folk tales, customs and traditional narratives was being spread online.

The workshop’s conclusion was that heritage endures not through documentation alone but through active, daily practice. Young Saudis should be seen as future storytellers, not just passive recipients, they said.

The organizers also warned against fully automated documentation, recommending “cultural verification” protocols when using AI tools. Digital heritage efforts must retain human oversight from experts to ensure their authenticity, they said.

The association has already completed phase one of a comprehensive heritage inventory with the Heritage Commission, cataloging more than 10,000 cultural elements across six regions, and a second phase is planned.


Saudi program to train future tourism leaders

Updated 07 July 2025
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Saudi program to train future tourism leaders

  • Tourism Oluo Program is a key initiative to attract talented university graduates
  • Program equips graduates with hands-on training aligned to local and global tourism market

RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund has opened applications for its fourth leadership training program, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The Tourism Oluo Program is a key initiative to attract talented university graduates from local and international institutions for careers in the sector, a vital part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan.

Implemented with Spain’s IE University, the program equips graduates with hands-on training aligned to local and global tourism market needs, the SPA added.

Participants will receive practical training at the fund’s Riyadh headquarters and attend specialized courses in the Kingdom and abroad with leading academic and training institutions. 

The program provides social insurance, medical coverage, monthly stipends, paid annual leave, and opportunities to contribute to strategic tourism projects.

Targeted fields include finance, accounting, business administration, information technology, and engineering, according to the report. 

This initiative supports the National Tourism Strategy’s aims to meet evolving market demands and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global destination.