Seven wonders of Arab world to be named in bid to improve global recognition

Special The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of Al-Ula. (File/AFP)
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The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of Al-Ula. (File/AFP)
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Updated 29 September 2024
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Seven wonders of Arab world to be named in bid to improve global recognition

The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Seven Arabian Wonders of the World project aims to recognize the accomplishments of Arab civilizations past and present

RIYADH: Seven ancient and modern wonders of the Arab world are expected to get a surge in global recognition as a major campaign prepares to get underway.

Organized by the foundation that led the campaign to name the Colosseum, Taj Mahal, Petra and others as the new seven wonders of the world in 2007, the Seven Arabian Wonders of the World project aims to recognize the accomplishments of Arab civilizations past and present.

The Zurich-based New7Wonders Foundation has now invited Arab states to bid for the exclusive rights to host the campaign, which is expected to take place by the summer of 2025.

Some of the architectural and engineering marvels poised to qualify include the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the World Trade Centre in Bahrain, Riyadh’s futuristic King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center designed by Zaha Hadid, and I.M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.

New7Wonders founder Bernard Weber believes these “modern monuments” deserve to be honored alongside equally remarkable achievements of ancient Arab civilizations: AlUla (Saudi Arabia), the Old City of Sanaa (Yemen), the Samarra Tower (Iraq), and reaching as far as the Alhambra Palace (Spain).

“The Arab world is in the midst of a remarkable renaissance that has witnessed the construction of a series of extraordinary landmarks. These kinds of modern world wonders are the product of an evolving Arab civilization that is confidently projecting itself to the world in a bold and dynamic way,” he told Arab News.  

Weber is confident that this latest chapter of his “wonders” movement will generate a significant wave of international enthusiasm and recognition.

“Our 7 Wonders of the Arabian World campaign will draw attention to not only the pathbreaking architectural and engineering wonders of a modern Arab world, but will also connect them symbolically to those of an ancient Arab civilization that should stand proudly alongside that of the Greeks and Romans,” Weber told Arab News.

“Arabian culture and its impact on humanity has not been properly recognized and celebrated in comparison with Greek, Roman, Chinese and other great cultures of the past.”

According to Weber, the event has the potential of generating more than $1 billion in tourism, branding and ancillary revenue to the host nation.

Weber’s original campaign to choose seven new world wonders

The Arab Wonders campaign is expected to build on the success of Weber’s landmark 2007 N7W competition that invited the public to choose from 400 historic structures from all over the world that led to more than 100 million ballots being cast between 2005 and 2007.

The final tally resulted in the proclamation of a new set of seven world wonders: Chichen Itza, The Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Roman Colosseum, the Statue of Christ Redeemer, and the Taj Mahal.

The campaign fulfilled Weber’s dream of a democratic, worldwide vote that served as a long overdue revival of Herodotus’ ancient Greek concept of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — declared in the fifth century B.C. — of which only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing.

Apart from reviving the ancient Greek “world wonders” classification, Weber also had the underlying goal of driving renewed efforts to preserve and protect those leading examples of human civilization. 

His faith was rewarded in the wake of the original 2007 world wonders declaration, after which many countries responded by undertaking badly-needed restoration work on their national treasures while promoting popular awareness and pride in their nations’ collective heritage.

China and the other countries where the new seven wonders are situated have all experienced a huge boost in tourism since joining New7Wonders movement. A case study by Pearson UK estimated that the net worldwide economic effect of New7Wonders exceeds $5 billion owing to the “Wonder Effect” on tourism as well as on national marketing and brand value generation.

The follow-up 2011 campaign enjoyed a similar level of spectacular success — with 600 million online votes cast. This is why Weber believes that the Seven Arab Wonders vote could well exceed the billion mark.

Today, the enormous impact of global social media interactive platforms such as TikTok and Instagram as well as YouTube will further energize the voting and campaigning for the Seven Arab Wonders “in a way that Herodotus could never have imagined,” Weber said.

An official declaration ceremony was held in 2007 in front of 60,000 spectators at the Benfica Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007, or “7/7/7” day, a date chosen by Weber for its numerical affinity to the New7Wonders concept.

The star-studded event was headlined by Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong, and featured performances by pop star Jennifer Lopez and operatic tenor Jose Carreras.

The ceremony was simulcast on TV networks on all continents and streamed online (a pioneering moment in broadcasting) to a global audience of more than one billion spectators.

‘Wonder Markers’ first unveiled at Expo 2020 Dubai

In 2022, the New7Wonders Foundation demonstrated its commitment to the Arab region when it took part in the Expo 2020 Dubai as an official participant. This historic event served as an ideal moment for Weber and his long-time N7W director Jean-Paul de la Fuente to unveil a series of symbolic “Wonder Markers” that were prepared specifically for the Expo.

The first of these almost three-meter signposts was installed and unveiled by De la Fuente in 2023 at the Huangyaguan Great Wall in China, featuring six panels pointing out the precise distance and geographical direction of the other world wonders.

“China was the first nation to install our permanent Wonder Marker. This served as unique recognition of the New7Wonders as a global brand promoting their most precious icon, the Great Wall, that would now be connected to six other ‘wonders’ across our planet,” De la Fuente explained.

Weber — an abiding passion for art and architecture

While living in Montreal, Canada in the late 1990s, Weber began formulating the elements of his New7Wonders project. He originally became fascinated by architecture while growing up in Switzerland where he was raised by his single mother Heidi, an ambitious entrepreneur.  

She became famous in the late fifties for persuading the legendary Swiss architect Le Corbusier to allow her to revive, reconfigure and relaunch the series of four modernist furniture designs — including the fabled chaise longue — that he first conceived in 1927.

On the day of this interview, the 61-year-old Weber — a champion freestyle skier as a teenager who later scaled the Matterhorn — was relaxing on one of the original Le Corbusier chaise longues that rolled off his mother’s assembly line in the late fifties. 

Weber has long cultivated a passion for art, aviation and film.

After serving as Donald Sutherland’s double in Federico Fellini’s “Casanova,” (“I was the only one who Fellini could find that was as tall as Sutherland,” Weber recalled) he decided to get behind the camera, making his directorial debut with the award-winning feature film “Hotel Locarno” in 1978.


Saudi woman guide showcases Riyadh’s history on free walking tours

Saudi woman guide showcases Riyadh’s history on free walking tours
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Saudi woman guide showcases Riyadh’s history on free walking tours

Saudi woman guide showcases Riyadh’s history on free walking tours
  • Fatimah Abusrair runs her tours on a voluntary tip-based model
  • Focus on storytelling, personal experiences, she tells Arab News 

RIYADH: A Saudi woman is leading free walking tours through Riyadh’s traditional neighborhoods, blending cultural exploration with a personal, story-driven approach.

Fatimah Abusrair, a communication and marketing consultant — and a licensed guide — told Arab News she sees a growing interest in informal, community-led tours.

“I can see that people care about doing activities and interacting with locals in unofficial ways,” she said.

Abusrair runs the tours on a voluntary tip-based model, and uses a storytelling approach which she says allows her to connect more personally with participants.

“To meet the local person and speak with them, that’s part of the experience,” she said. “I speak about history and culture, but I’m also speaking about myself, my life, and how I was raised.”

She views her approach as a way to strengthen the image of Saudi Arabia and offer visitors a more grounded understanding of local life.

“It increases positivity and understanding,” she added. “They’re not getting the information only from formal resources, but they’re getting exactly the same information from the locals.”

The idea of a tip-based model, Abusrair said, was meant to make the experience more accessible. 

“You truly do not want to pay that much money,” she said. “So the idea of a tip-based (model), it means that they will pay me based on their budget.”

Lawrence Eta, a Canadian participant in a recent tour, spoke about how the experience helped to bridge a cultural gap. 

“For many visitors and newcomers, Saudi Arabia is still unfamiliar territory,” he said. “A personalized tour helps bridge that gap. It gives travelers a chance to experience the city beyond the headlines.”

Unlike traditional tours that focus on facts and timelines, Eta said this experience allowed for genuine connection. 

“This kind of authentic, personal tour adds real depth to tourism in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “It shifts the focus from sightseeing to storytelling, from just visiting places to connecting with people.” 

He added that the experience was especially meaningful because it was led by someone who lives in the city and speaks from personal experience. 

“A personalized walking tour in Riyadh feels truly authentic when led by someone who brings it to life through personal stories, rather than just historical facts.”

Eta said walking alongside people from different countries all curious and open to learning, created a unique sense of community.

“The tour becomes a shared memory, not just a checklist of landmarks,” he said.

As Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector continues to grow, Abusrair sees an opportunity for more community-driven initiatives.

“There are a lot of tourists coming,” she said. “But there aren’t enough guides yet. Everything is new in the tourism industry for us in Saudi Arabia.”

Tourism is a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. One of the initiative’s key goals is to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil by turning it into a global tourism hub.

While Vision 2030 initially aimed to attract 100 million visitors annually by 2030, the Kingdom surpassed that milestone seven years ahead of schedule. The new target has now been raised to 150 million visitors per year.

Abusrair said that being a local guide contributes to how Saudi Arabia is seen. 

“It will support promoting Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination because (tourists hear) people speak,” she said.


Music festival celebrates Franco-Saudi ties

Music festival celebrates Franco-Saudi ties
Updated 18 June 2025
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Music festival celebrates Franco-Saudi ties

Music festival celebrates Franco-Saudi ties

RIYADH: A music festival celebrating the cultural ties between France and Saudi Arabia will take place in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah from June 20-26.

Organized by the French embassy in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise, the Saudi Music Hub, Unstable, Hayy Jameel and MDL Beast, the Fete de la Musique will use a shared love of music to bring diverse audiences together.

Since its inception in France in 1982, the Fete de la Musique has evolved into a global celebration and now takes place in more than 120 countries. True to its founding principle of making music accessible to all, free of charge, it has become a powerful platform for cultural dialogue.

The 2025 edition features a diverse and eclectic line-up, highlighting the vibrancy of both the French and Saudi music scenes.

French artists such as Karimouche, a bold, socially engaged voice in word and song, and DJ SONGE, a producer known for immersive Afro-futuristic electronic sets, will share the stage with Saudi talent such as Kosh, a beatmaker who fuses traditional rhythms with deep electronic bass, and Seera, a rising star on the local rock scene.

Each host city will offer a distinctive atmosphere.

Riyadh starts the celebrations on June 20 at Unstable, a hybrid venue at the heart of the Saudi urban music scene. Alkhobar followed on June 21 at the Saudi Music Hub, a space dedicated to music education and performance that offers a more intimate setting. Jeddah will bring the festivities to a close on June 25-26 with performances by powerful female artists at Hayy Jameel, a cultural hub.

More than the concerts it features, the event also fosters cultural exchange, artistic dialogue and discovery, creating lasting connections between French and Saudi artists and audiences.


Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears

Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears
Updated 18 June 2025
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Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears

Four years with a company counts as loyalty in the modern job market, HR summit hears
  • Delegates at Human Resources Summit and Expo in Riyadh hear generational diversity and differing views on career progression are challenges that must be addressed
  • Experts discussed the effects of AI on the job market and explored strategies businesses need to adopt to ‘future-proof’ talent and navigate changing work landscapes

RIYADH: An employee who remains in the same role for four years is considered loyal in today’s job market, the audience at a human resources conference in Riyadh heard during a panel discussion on Tuesday.

The comment, at the Human Resources Summit and Expo, came from Syed Azharudin, director of learning and organizational development at logistical services company Ajex, who cited a recent study into workforce trends. Generational diversity is a factor that has to be addressed, he added.

“The biggest challenge for the HR industry is that you have different generations working together, like Gen X, baby boomers, millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha, so you cannot have a blanket approach,” Azharudin said.

People from the most recent generations are more likely to be “job-hoppers,” he added; a study by global tech consultancy FDM Group found that Generation Z respondents were 13 per cent more likely than their non-Gen Z counterparts to view their current role as a stepping stone to a better career. 

In other sessions, HR experts discussed the effects of artificial intelligence on the job market, and explored the strategies companies need to adopt in their attempts to “future-proof” talent and navigate ever-changing work landscapes. As the rapidly evolving technology continues to dominate headlines, they considered a hot-button question: What would the future look like if human labor was replaced by AI?

“We’re not going to lose (our jobs) but we also need to make sure that we go efficiently and with innovative ways to utilize such tools,” said Eid Alkhaldi, succession management director at the Saudi Telcom Company.

During another discussion, Nada Al-Hassan, the Saudi Ministry of Investment’s director of training and development, spoke about ways to advance inclusive leadership in the region. 

“There are a lot of success stories and a lot of initiatives in all governmental sectors (in Saudi Arabia),” she said, highlighting in particular the Vision 2030 Human Resources Development Program and the Saudization program Tawteen.

The Human Resources Summit and Expo began on June 15 and continues until June 19.


Saudia flight from Jeddah to Jakarta diverted after bomb threat, lands safely

Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. (Supplied)
Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. (Supplied)
Updated 18 June 2025
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Saudia flight from Jeddah to Jakarta diverted after bomb threat, lands safely

Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. (Supplied)
  • ⁠Flight SV5276, bound for Jakarta, was rerouted to a different airport in Indonesia after an email claimed there was an explosive device on board
  • The aircraft landed safely at Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, where passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft and nobody was hurt

RIYADH: Saudia has confirmed that all passengers and crew are safe after a flight from Jeddah to Jakarta made an emergency landing at another airport in Indonesia, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Tuesday.

The flight was forced to divert after an email threat claimed there was a bomb on board, a Saudia spokesperson said.

Abdullah Al-Shahrani, the airline’s general manager of corporate communications, told Al Arabiya that in response to the security alert, Flight SV5276 was rerouted to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan as a precaution.

The plane landed there safely and all passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft without incident and nobody was hurt, he added. Inspections by authorities confirmed the aircraft was secure and the bomb threat was false. Al-Shahrani said passenger safety remains Saudia’s top priority and the airline was working to help passengers continue their journeys.

In a statement to Arab News, Saudia confirmed: “In response to a security alert received in flight, Saudia diverted Flight SV5276, operating from Jeddah to Jakarta, to Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia as a precautionary measure.

“The aircraft landed safely, and all guests and crew disembarked without incident. Local authorities conducted standard checks shortly after landing, and have cleared the aircraft for continued operation.

“The safety and well-being of our guests and crew remain Saudia’s highest priority. Full care and support have been provided and onward travel arrangements are being made."


UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation

UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation
Updated 18 June 2025
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UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation

UN two-state conference co-chairs urge renewed push for Palestinian state amid regional escalation
  • The statement said the latest escalation had “necessitated the suspension” of the high-level conference in New York

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France, co-chairs of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, joined with the chairs of the conference’s working groups in issuing a joint statement on Tuesday expressing “deep concern” over recent developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The statement said the latest escalation had “necessitated the suspension” of the high-level conference, underscoring “the validity of warnings about the fragility of the situation” and the urgent need to “restore calm, respect international law, and strengthen diplomatic action.”

Despite the setback, the group reaffirmed their “full commitment to the conference’s objectives” and pledged to “ensure the continuity of its work and the achievement of its goals,” SPA added.

They added that “the co-chairs of the working groups will announce the date of the conference's roundtables soon,” with the aim of generating “clear and coordinated international commitments” to advance the implementation of a two-state solution.

“In these critical circumstances,” the statement continued, “we must redouble our efforts calling for respect for international law and the sovereignty of states, and to promote peace, freedom, and dignity for all peoples of the region.”

The group also reiterated its “unwavering support for all efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza” and called for a “just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue,” affirming that regional stability and security hinge on a lasting peace.