Top Saudi fashion designer lauds leadership for flourishing creative scene

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Updated 29 December 2022
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Top Saudi fashion designer lauds leadership for flourishing creative scene

  • Mohammed Khoja’s new line joyful after dire pandemic
  • Artist known for iconic 2018 ode to women drivers

RIYADH: Leading Saudi fashion designer and founder of luxury brand Hindamme, Mohammed Khoja, has lauded the Kingdom’s leadership for the current flourishing arts and culture scene in the country.

Speaking on “The Mayman Show” this week, Khoja praised the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Saudi Fashion Commission.

“Yeah, it’s building bridges with the world. I mean, I think that for a long time we weren’t invited to the table and now … that’s no longer the case,” he said.

Speaking about Hindamme, Khoja said he added the ‘E’ to the end of his brand’s name because he wanted to reflect the time he spent in France.

“I lived in Paris, and it is an Arabic word. Hindamme, of course, it means to possess kind of a good esthetic or a perfect harmony. And I added the ‘E’ just, I guess, (as) a different way to spell it,” he said.

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Khoja is currently working on his fifth collection, “Season V,” which he came up with during the COVID-19 lockdown. “That took me quite a while. I started designing that during quarantine. So all the kind of thoughts and ideas I had at the time were to look at the brighter side.”

He said that the recent “turbulence” inspired him to “create a collection that was kind of more joyful and reminded us of the more important things in life.” In keeping with that focus, he decided to use colors that he felt could create feelings of happiness, such as lavender.

Khoja plans to diversify his output and work in interior design, another idea he had during COVID-19 when being inside his home made him look more closely at his surroundings. “I think it’s very interesting to me … I’ve always loved furniture and objects, design objects,” he said.

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“Okay, so in a way, it is kind of fashion. It’s things that represent you, but it’s in your own home because, you know, there are things that express your style or your mood. So I think that’s what kind of garnered my interest even more,” he explained.

Since his first collection in 2016, Khoja has always attempted to reflect on the many subcultures in the Kingdom. “I was kind of being exposed to all these different, you know beautiful pieces of heritage from our country. And I really felt like I’m compelled to … incredibly inspired to use them in my work and also to highlight them and create representation,” he said.

Khoja said he has, like other artists, always tried to create distinctive work. “So what makes us distinctive (as) Saudis? Especially within design, (it) is to look at you know, the beautiful elements that we already own and cherish. And you know if we can use them somehow and interpret them in our work, then you’re creating a very kind of contemporary Saudi design identity.”

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One of Khoja’s eye-catching creations was the design for a jacket commemorating the day — June 24, 2018 — when women began driving in the Kingdom. It is currently on display at the Victorian & Albert Museum in London.

He said the museum had begun to expand and had asked him for one of the jackets, and he agreed because he “just wanted to kind of contribute and celebrate this decision.”


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Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi received Sayyid Najib bin Hilal Al-Busaidi, Oman’s newly appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi congratulated Al-Busaidi on his appointment and wished him success in his duties.

The parties discussed various topics and explored ways to enhance bilateral efforts toward “greater integration, solidarity, and interconnectedness.”

They also looked at the latest developments in regional and international arenas.


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RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has implemented an advanced interventional technique to diagnose breast tumors that conventional imaging cannot detect.

It enables physicians to obtain precise biopsy samples during the same visit, accelerating diagnosis and allowing earlier treatment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The shift addresses recent cases where certain breast abnormalities were only visible through contrast-enhanced imaging, leading the hospital to adopt contrast-enhanced mammography as a precise clinical tool.

Previously, the standard protocol required a separate MRI-guided biopsy after initial imaging, often resulting in redundant procedures, greater patient burden, higher costs and treatment delays.

In contrast, the new CEM-guided approach allows immediate, accurate tissue sampling during the same session, eliminating the need for additional appointments.


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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Tuesday.

During the call, they reviewed relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields, Saudi Press Agency reported. 


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RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a letter on Tuesday from the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus.

The Bangladeshi ambassador to the Kingdom, Delwar Hossain, presented the letter, which addressed relations between Riyadh and Dhaka, to Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

During their meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday, the envoy and the deputy minister discussed ways to strengthen ties between their countries in various sectors.


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Updated 06 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia showcases heritage, digital innovation at Jusoor expo in Kosovo

  • Exhibition’s introductory section showcases Al-Masmak Fort and Saudi coffee, highlighting authentic Saudi heritage and hospitality
  • Visitors received detailed information about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah

RIYADH: The sixth Jusoor exhibition, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs at Skanderbeg Square in Pristina, Kosovo, is attracting a large number of visitors daily.

The exhibition’s introductory section showcases Al-Masmak Fort and Saudi coffee, highlighting authentic Saudi heritage and hospitality.

The technology pavilion at the 10-day event has attracted significant interest for its modern digital innovations highlighting the Kingdom’s technical progress, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It includes several ministry-developed applications, notably the Correct Citation app, which features a smart keyboard that accurately integrates Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadiths, and allows them to be shared as text or images.

The 3D Hajj and Umrah app offers a virtual experience simulating pilgrimage rituals in multiple languages, while the Rushd app provides a comprehensive digital library with books and Islamic content in 51 languages.

Attendees praised the Kingdom’s efforts in serving Islam and promoting moderation, the SPA reported.

Visitors also received detailed information about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, and its role in serving pilgrims.

Additionally, VR technology allows visitors to explore rare photos of Makkah and historic mosques, offering an engaging interactive experience of the Kingdom’s history and holy sites.

The ministry recently concluded the fifth Jusoor exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, which welcomed more than 1.25 million visitors from diverse backgrounds.

The 10-day exhibition at Istiqlal Mosque was one of the largest cultural and advocacy events organized by the ministry outside the Kingdom.

Saudi officials also distributed more than 150,000 copies of Qur’an, printed and translated into Indonesian by the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah.

Indonesian visitors praised the exhibition for its blend of spiritual and cultural themes, strong organization, and diverse, informative content.