Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh

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Updated 30 January 2025
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Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh

Layali Maraya spotlights Arab designers’ ingenuity in Riyadh
  • Designers tell Arab News what inspires their creativity
  • Haruss founder says ‘it’s an honor’ to represent the Saudi fashion industry

RIYADH: As part of their mission to empower Arab designers, Layali Maraya is featuring regional designers at the Mansard Hotel in Riyadh until Wednesday.

The three-day event, held under the patronage of Ameera Al-Taweel, Layali Maraya features modern luxury in a collection of Arab brands including Okhtein, an Egyptian label known for its handcrafted handbags with detailed accents that represent the beauty of Egyptian culture.




The products offered by Maraya range from fashion and fragrance to accessories, jewelry and home decor. (AN Photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)

Also featured is Lynyer, a Lebanese brand by Leen Abelnour, who finds inspiration in Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry aesthetics and nature to create bold pieces.

“I ended up going for very big statement pieces that go with Middle Eastern women, and make women stand out wherever they are, especially for confident women who want to walk into the room and turn heads,” she said.

HIGHLIGHT

Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.

“All the pieces that you see here are nature inspired. They are also very culturally inspired by India, Pakistan, and by Lebanon, which is where I’m from.”




Leen Abelnour, the founder of Lynyer Statement Jewels, is inspired by Asian and Middle Eastern jewelry, blending nature's delicacy into bold pieces. (AN Photo by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhuob)

Growing up in the Kingdom and traveling internationally to pursue her career, Abelnour said that being back in Riyadh was a full-circle moment for her.

“When I launched the brand, I wanted to work with small artisans around the world … I started realizing that growing up in Saudi Arabia has really affected my taste in jewelry,” she said.




Saudi clothing brand Harjuss is designed to meet "basic, essential, human needs," according to its founder Saud Saleh. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub)

The founder of Saudi clothing brand Harjuss, Saud Saleh, said the label completes “basic, essential, human needs.”

Harjuss’s ready-to-wear collections are created around the seasons. The winter collection plays with texture and heavy fabrics while the summer line uses linen for breathability.

“It’s a very smart casual, very simple, very classy collection and it’s a 100 percent Saudi brand, founded by young Saudi talents,” Saleh said. “This is an honor to us to be representing the fashion industry of Saudi Arabia to the region and the outside world.”

Layali Maraya also featured Saudi labels 1886, Abadia, Dalal Jewelry, and Nora Alshaikh, among others.

Maraya is the region’s first omni-channel platform with a Riyadh store, an e-commerce platform, and mobile app.

The products offered by Maraya range from fashion and fragrance to accessories, jewelry and home decor.

 


World Defense Show organizers announce expanded 3rd edition

World Defense Show organizers announce expanded 3rd edition
Updated 52 min 33 sec ago
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World Defense Show organizers announce expanded 3rd edition

World Defense Show organizers announce expanded 3rd edition
  • Next edition will be held under the theme The Future of Defense Integration, showcasing the latest technology in air, land, sea, and space
  • Organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, the event is a key part of the Kingdom’s ambition to localize 50 percent of its defense spending by 2030

RIYADH: Organizers of Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show have announced an expanded exhibition area with several new sections for its third edition, which will be held in February 2026.

An additional hall will increase floor space to a total of 273,000 square meters, more than 58 percent larger than the first edition in 2022, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

More than 65 percent of the exhibition space is already sold out, according to the report.

The next edition will be held under the theme “The Future of Defense Integration,” showcasing the latest technology in air, land, sea, and space.

Organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, the event is a key part of the Kingdom’s ambition to localize 50 percent of its defense spending by 2030.

The next edition will be the most successful yet, said the event’s CEO Andrew Percy, as reported by SPA.

There will be more local and international participation, and the exhibition will focus more closely on technology including unmanned and marine defense systems.

New programs in the upcoming edition will include a defense and security industry lab, and an exhibition of future technologies.

A Saudi supply chain zone will allow local small and medium-sized enterprises to network with key players in global supply chains.

Positive feedback from the last two editions exceeded expectations, Percy said, allowing organizers to set new ambitious goals for this upcoming event.

The World Defense Show was first held in 2022 on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

It attracted 600 exhibitors from 42 countries, 82 military and defense delegations, and 65 thousand visitors from 85 countries, according to GAMI.

The second edition in 2024 saw over 106,000 people attend, with 441 delegations from 116 countries.

A total of 61 purchase contracts worth SR26 billion ($6.9 billion) were signed, according to GAMI.


Saudi Arabia pledges innovation in road safety at Morocco conference

Saudi Arabia pledges innovation in road safety at Morocco conference
Updated 18 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia pledges innovation in road safety at Morocco conference

Saudi Arabia pledges innovation in road safety at Morocco conference
  • Saudi interior minister, Moroccan PM discuss security cooperation
  • Kingdom reaffirms its focus on reducing traffic fatalities through tech, collaboration 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Marrakesh on Tuesday.

Their meeting, held on the sidelines of the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, reviewed ongoing security cooperation and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Sami Al-Saleh, Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, and several senior officials attended the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In his speech at the conference, Prince Abdulaziz commended Morocco’s efforts in hosting the event, highlighting its crucial role in fostering cooperation on road safety, protecting lives, and addressing challenges in the field.

He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to road safety, recognizing it as a key public health, security, and economic priority.

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the alarming global impact of road accidents, with over 1.3 million fatalities annually and millions more suffering severe injuries that hinder personal and national progress.

Stressing the need for effective strategies, he called for the development of mechanisms to reduce injuries and work toward a future with fewer road casualties.

Prince Abdulaziz underscored the profound social, economic, and health impact of traffic-related injuries, emphasizing the Kingdom’s determination to tackle these challenges through innovation and commitment.

He reaffirmed that, under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is dedicated to creating sustainable and safer road environments in alignment with global road safety objectives and the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.

Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the Kingdom’s traffic safety initiatives, including a ministerial-level committee that has contributed to a more than 50 percent reduction in traffic-related fatalities over the past seven years.

He also emphasized the transformative role of technology in road safety, stating that Saudi Arabia will leverage AI-driven traffic management systems and IoT solutions to reduce fatalities and injuries. These innovations will enhance urban mobility, creating safer and more efficient road networks across the Kingdom.


Historic Baran village draws winter tourists

Historic Baran village draws winter tourists
Updated 18 February 2025
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Historic Baran village draws winter tourists

Historic Baran village draws winter tourists

RIYADH: Nestled among the mountainous slopes of Qilwah governorate in Baha, the village of Baran stands as a captivating cultural landmark and boasts over 500 years of history.

It is a draw for tourists and history enthusiasts, particularly in winter when the weather is refreshing and the surrounding landscapes are at their most picturesque, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Saeed Al-Zahrani, a 73-year-old resident, said the village was constructed from stone, sidr wood and white quartz. Doors and windows are adorned with intricate architectural engravings, highlighting Baran’s unique heritage.

Atiya Al-Zahrani, another resident, said the village consisted of several multi-story buildings, ranging from three to four floors. At its heart are expansive agricultural terraces, which have long served as residents’ primary livelihoods, providing fertile soil for growing crops.

In a recent effort to preserve the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, the Heritage Commission has added 25 new sites, including Baran village, to the National Register of Architectural Heritage.

This initiative is part of the commission's broader efforts to archive and digitize heritage sites across the country, ensuring conservation of its rich legacy.


Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms until Thursday

Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms until Thursday
Updated 18 February 2025
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Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms until Thursday

Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms until Thursday

RIYADH: The General Directorate of Civil Defense has issued a weather warning for most regions of Saudi Arabia, forecasting continued thunderstorms until Thursday.

Light to moderate rain is expected in the Makkah region, with potential flash floods, hail and strong downdrafts affecting areas such as Taif, Maysan, Al-Muwayh, Turbah, Al-Lith, Al-Qunfudah, Jeddah and Rabigh.

According to the directorate, the Riyadh region may experience moderate to heavy rain, flash floods, hail and strong downdrafts, impacting the capital and other cities, including Diriyah, Dhurma, Al-Muzahimiyah, Shaqra, Al-Zulfi, Al-Majmaah, Ramah and Al-Kharj.

Moderate to heavy rain is also expected in the Eastern Province, Qassim, Hail and the Northern Borders, while Jouf, Madinah and Baha may see light to moderate rainfall.

The Civil Defense has advised the public to take necessary precautions and avoid flood-prone areas such as valleys.

It also urged people to stay updated on weather conditions through its official channels and social media platforms.


KSrelief sends food to Libya, Uganda

KSrelief sends food to Libya, Uganda
Updated 18 February 2025
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KSrelief sends food to Libya, Uganda

KSrelief sends food to Libya, Uganda

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 600 food parcels to 2,907 people in the Libyan town of Suluq, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

This distribution is a part of the urgent food-assistance project for families affected by Cyclone Daniel in Libya, conducted in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent.

KSrelief also sent 25 tonnes of dates recently to Uganda.

Saudi Arabia’s government, through KSrelief, continues to provide aid to vulnerable communities across the world.