Saudi Arabia’s King Salman invites Syria president to attend upcoming Arab League summit
The Arab League restored Syria’s membership into the organization during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday
Arab summit will take place in the Kingdom on May. 19
Updated 10 May 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: King Salman has invited Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad to attend an upcoming Arab League meeting that will take place on May. 19 in the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The invitation to the meeting was handed over by the Kingdom’s ambassador to Jordan, Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, during a meeting with the president in Damascus.
Al-Sudairi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Al-Assad and their wishes for security and stability for the Syrian government and people.
In return, Al-Assad conveyed his greetings and appreciation to the king and crown prince.
The Arab League restored Syria’s membership into the organization during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday.
Syria’s membership was suspended for brutally cracking down on mass protests against Assad in 2011. Since then, the uprising turned into a civil war that killed nearly a half million people and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.
Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation
Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa were taken to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital upon arrival Saturday from Manila
Updated 18 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived Saturday in Riyadh and are now being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.
They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed under the program.
Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)
The program’s medical and surgical team is headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser to the Royal Court and director general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).
The twin’s parents expressed their deep gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA said.
In an interview published Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, was quoted as saying that since her babies were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help make her children live a normal life.
Mrs. Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, have no other means to get their twins undergo costly surgical operation. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and told that the Kingdom was willing to help.
“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Mrs. Misa said.
Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.
A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.
Al-Rabeeah has pointed out that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”
A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage
Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite
Updated 18 May 2025
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.
With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.
To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.
Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.
One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.
“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”
Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.
She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.
“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.
Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan
Updated 18 May 2025
Arab News
Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan attended the send-off ceremony for the first group of this year’s Hajj pilgrims departing from Tajikistan at Dushanbe International Airport.
Alreshaidan said that serving pilgrims is “an honor and a source of pride for the leadership of the Kingdom and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A’lem Zadah, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Committee of Religious Affairs, thanked the Saudi government for the facilities it provides to pilgrims, the SPA added.
Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation
The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences
Updated 17 May 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: The Saudi National Museum hosted International Museum Day celebrations in Riyadh on Saturday under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”
The event brought together cultural and heritage experts, artists, and enthusiasts for a day of dialogue, workshops, and interactive sessions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It opened with a panel titled “Living Heritage in Rapidly Changing Communities,” followed by a thought-provoking session on “Museums and Change.”
Speakers discussed how museums can evolve to reflect and respond to the fast-paced transformations shaping modern society.
A highlight was an interactive session on “Saudi Storytelling and Performing Arts in Museums,” emphasizing the power of narrative in preserving cultural identity and passing values to younger generations.
The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences.
Another panel, “Technological Challenges in Cultural Heritage,” explored innovative ways to safeguard and share heritage using digital tools.
This theme was further explored in the workshop “Craft and Technology: The Art of Digital Weaving,” where participants examined the intersection of traditional crafts and modern digital techniques.
Throughout the sessions, participants stressed the importance of community engagement, reinforcing museums’ role as inclusive spaces for education, creativity, and cultural innovation in a rapidly changing world.
The event also featured additional panels and workshops on museums’ evolving role in preserving identity and addressing contemporary challenges.
Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades
Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Updated 17 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: For more than three decades, Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted his time to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant, centuries-old art form traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes across the Asir region.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years, not a week has passed without him visiting a village in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.
His mission: to seek out the remnants of this heritage art in homes, many of which have been lost to time and weather.
Despite the challenges, he has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors.
The traditional art, known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
But long before, Al-Almaai had been tirelessly cataloging the artwork, oftenn navigating harsh conditions, including dilapidated buildings and the threat of snakes and poisonous insects, to reach the artworks.
Almost every visit revealed intricate designs made using natural pigments sourced from the surrounding environment.
He explained to SPA that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt. Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design.
Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake, winding rhythmically across the walls.
Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) are a form of visual closure at the end of a design.
Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered beneath the primary art, referred to as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.
Al-Almaai’s lifelong dedication underscores the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural legacy — one painted wall at a time.
