Ancient Italian masterpieces arrive in AlUla for first regional exhibit at Maraya

Ancient Italian masterpieces arrive in AlUla for first regional exhibit at Maraya
This exhibit, a highlight of AlUla’s 2024 Ancient Kingdoms Festival, is on display at Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, until Dec. 14. (Supplied)
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Updated 08 November 2024
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Ancient Italian masterpieces arrive in AlUla for first regional exhibit at Maraya

Ancient Italian masterpieces arrive in AlUla for first regional exhibit at Maraya

DUBAI: The Royal Commission for AlUla has partnered with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to bring ancient masterpieces from its renowned collection to Saudi Arabia and the region for the first time.

The agreement between RCU and MANN will facilitate the transport of a curated collection of artifacts from Naples to AlUla for the “Masterpieces of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples” exhibit.




Statuette of Alexander on horseback Herculaneum, 1st century BCE Bronze. (Supplied)

This exhibit, a highlight of AlUla’s 2024 Ancient Kingdoms Festival, is on display at Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, until Dec. 14.

Fifteen masterpieces from ancient sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome are being presented to a regional audience for the first time, marking a historic debut outside Italy. 

The Nilotic Mosaic, displayed abroad only once before in Japan, will also be featured. 




Statue of Trajan Minturno, late 1st century CE Marble. (Supplied)

Abdulrahman Al-Suhaibani, vice president of culture at the RCU, said: “The National Archaeological Museum of Naples is a repository of masterpieces that reveal the wonders and richly interconnected stories that helped shaped the ancient world — key among them are Nabataean artifacts including alters and inscriptions dedicated to the Nabataean chief deity Dushares that show the extent of that civilization, from AlUla in northwest Arabia to the shores of southern Europe.”

“It’s a privilege for RCU to host the masterpieces of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples exhibit and to display its wonderful collection of ancient artifacts for the first time in the region as we build toward an exciting calendar of cultural events, including the AlUla World Archaeological Symposium and the Ancient Kingdom’s Festival,” he said. 


Saudi architectural projects among 15-strong shortlist for new RIBA award

Saudi architectural projects among 15-strong shortlist for new RIBA award
Updated 16 September 2025
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Saudi architectural projects among 15-strong shortlist for new RIBA award

Saudi architectural projects among 15-strong shortlist for new RIBA award

DUBAI: Riyadh has emerged as a focal point for cutting-edge design as the Royal Institute of British Architects unveiled the 15 finalists for its inaugural Middle East’s Most Transformative New Buildings award.

The new accolade recognises the most transformative and socially impactful new architecture throughout the Gulf, and two of the most striking contenders are in the Saudi capital.

At the heart of Riyadh’s contribution is King Salman Park, a sweeping regeneration of the city’s former airport site by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold and Setec. The ambitious project is transforming a relic of the aviation era into a vast urban oasis, providing residents and visitors with a network of gardens, water features and recreational spaces designed to bring nature back to the desert metropolis; pioneering desert soil revitalisation, sustainable water use, and climate-resilient planting.

Nearby, the Wadi Safar Experience Center is a gateway to the wider Wadi Safar development and draws on the vernacular Najdi style. Created by Dar Al Omran – Rasem Badran, the center features inward-facing courtyards and earth-berm landscaping that create a cool, contemplative atmosphere while celebrating the region’s heritage.

The shortlist also highlights excellence throughout the wider Middle East. In the UAE, the Khor Kalba Turtle and Wildlife Sanctuary by Hopkins Architects supports the rehabilitation of turtles and endangered birds in Sharjah’s ancient mangrove forest, its rounded pavilions blending seamlessly with the coastal landscape. Dubai’s Jafar Centre at Dubai College, designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, provides a flexible, daylight-filled STEM hub where acoustics and energy efficiency take precedence.

In Doha, the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women is a contemporary reimagining of a sacred space by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Its roof is punctuated by more than 5,000 light wells that scatter natural light across prayer halls and communal areas, giving the building a serene glow that matches its pioneering purpose.

Several projects reimagine heritage forms for today’s context. In Sharjah, The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid Bin Ibrahim by ANARCHITECT, transforms two 1950s family homes, once owned by a pearl merchant, into a boutique hotel, balancing preservation and cultural identity with contemporary design.



 


Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film Festival 

Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film Festival 
Updated 16 September 2025
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Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film Festival 

Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film Festival 

DUBAI: Australian actress and producer Cate Blanchett will be honored at the eighth edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), set to run from Oct. 16 to 24. 

She will serve as this year’s guest of honor and will receive the Champion of Humanity Award.

“From her iconic roles in ‘Elizabeth,’ ‘Blue Jasmine’ and ‘TÁR,’ to her remarkable collaborations with the world’s most celebrated directors, Cate Blanchett has left an indelible mark on global cinema,” an Instagram post by the festival read.  

“Beyond her artistry, she continues to champion urgent humanitarian causes as a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador, echoing the festival’s guiding vision: ‘Cinema for Humanity,’” the statement added. “To honor her work in centering the voices of refugees and those forcibly displaced, Blanchett will be receiving the Champion of Humanity Award by El Gouna Film Festival.”

Blanchett is also known for her stage work, having served as co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, and she is the co-founder of Dirty Films, a production company behind several award-winning film and television projects.

Beyond her work as an actress and producer, Blanchett has served as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2016. 

In this role, she has used her platform to raise awareness on refugee issues and encourage support. She has visited refugee camps and host communities in countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Niger and Brazil to meet displaced people and highlight their circumstances. 

In 2018, she received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in recognition of her efforts.

Amr Mansi, founder and executive director of GFF, said in a statement: “It is an immense honor to welcome an artist of Cate Blanchett’s caliber to the El Gouna Film Festival. Her unparalleled talent has captivated audiences for decades, and her dedication to humanitarian causes through her work with UNHCR is truly inspiring.

“The partnership with UNHCR and the Sawiris Foundation, including her visit, perfectly embodies our festival’s core mission of using the power of cinema to drive positive change and support humanity,” he added. 


Italian chef Antoine Di Fazio builds culinary bridges at one-off event in Riyadh

Italian chef Antoine Di Fazio builds culinary bridges at one-off event in Riyadh
Updated 16 September 2025
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Italian chef Antoine Di Fazio builds culinary bridges at one-off event in Riyadh

Italian chef Antoine Di Fazio builds culinary bridges at one-off event in Riyadh

DUBAI: Italian chef Antoine Di Fazio, known for his championship-winning pizza-making prowess, is taking on an altogether unexpected challenge in Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday night, the chef will present Irish brand Silver Hill’s roasted duck in two Middle Eastern-style dishes with an experimental twist.

Diners at Levantine Restaurant, DoubleTree by Hilton in Riyadh, will be treated to the chef’s thoughtful take on food that bridges cultures.

He told Arab News ahead of the event: “For sure, duck is not a common ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, but things are changing quickly.

“Arabs are traveling more, discovering new tastes, and are eager to experience different cuisines. As an executive chef, I always strive to innovate and create fusion concepts.”

“Saudi Arabia itself offers immense inspiration, with so many traditional dishes to learn from. Over my decades here, I’ve had the privilege of learning from each region.”

Di Fazio has opted to create two traditional Saudi dishes with a twist. First, guests will be treated to Jareesh or cracked wheat. It is a staple grain in the Kingdom and the wider Middle East.

The chef and his team will cook the grains until tender with ghee, caramelized onion, Arabic spices, and dried lemon. Instead of chicken, Silver Hill duck will be featured, which “adds a richer, more distinctive flavor,” said Di Fazio.

Next up, Saleeg will be made with Egyptian rice, milk, butter, olive oil, mastika (Arabic gum), and a blend of spices. Traditionally served with chicken, this time around duck will enhance the creaminess of the dish.

“Technically, yes, it can be challenging, especially as an Italian chef, to balance flavors and reach the right taste,” he explained of the cooking process.

“But after years of studying traditional food and cooking in Saudi Arabia, I’ve adapted. I also collaborate closely with a committee of Arabic chefs, who I often turn to for advice and refinement.”

Di Fazio, who placed fifth at the Pizza World Cup in Napoli in 2011 and won the Italian Pizza Cup in 2012, is also a special advisor to Italian chefs through the World Association of Chef’s Societies.

“There were many challenges at the start, especially when I first introduced Italian food here. People were less familiar with authentic Italian cuisine. But with patience, consistency, and passion, I gained great joy in showing Middle Eastern diners the richness of true Italian flavors,” he said.

“Italian cuisine is deeply rooted in tradition and heritage, with each region offering unique dishes and stories — just like in Saudi Arabia. There is so much more to discover beyond the basics,” he added.


Celebrities to take part in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ table read for Gaza charity

Celebrities to take part in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ table read for Gaza charity
Updated 15 September 2025
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Celebrities to take part in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ table read for Gaza charity

Celebrities to take part in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ table read for Gaza charity

DUBAI: Actors Ambika Mod, Daisy Ridley and Morfydd Clark will take part in a table read of “Pride and Prejudice” in London to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians next month. 

The event is being arranged by the Cinema for Gaza group and will be hosted by stand-up comedian, television presenter and podcaster Nish Kumer.

Set to take place on Oct. 12, other celebrities involved include Jameela Jamil, Susan Wokoma, Mawaan Rizwan, Priya Kansara, Amar Chadha-Patel, Jeff Mirza, Shazia Mirza and Asim Chaudhry, with more names to be announced according to organizers. It has been billed as a “fun and imaginative tribute to Austen’s enduring tale,” being directed by “We Are Lady Parts” creator Nida Manzoor.

“It is the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth as we lift the curtain on a single man with a large fortune in want of a wife,” reads the event’s description. “Roll up to witness the unsuspecting Mr. Bingley going toe-to-toe with the Bennett family, as Mr Darcy puts his foot in his mouth every time he encounters the vexing, intriguing Elizabeth Bennett. Enjoy withering wit, some top-notch repressed flirting, and hard-won happy endings.”

According to Cinema for Gaza, “every penny raised on the night will go directly to Medical Aid for Palestine’s lifesaving work, including their polyclinic in Gaza, which is continuing to operate despite Israel’s bombardment, siege, and forced displacement orders.”


Mo Amer and Mo Gawdat explore personal storytelling and AI at Abu Dhabi conference

Mo Amer and Mo Gawdat explore personal storytelling and AI at Abu Dhabi conference
Updated 15 September 2025
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Mo Amer and Mo Gawdat explore personal storytelling and AI at Abu Dhabi conference

Mo Amer and Mo Gawdat explore personal storytelling and AI at Abu Dhabi conference

ABU DHABI: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi hosted a thought-provoking exchange on Sunday as Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor Mo Amer joined Egyptian technologist and author Mo Gawdat for a panel titled “The Power of Personal Narratives in the Age of AI” at the annual Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries.

Over the course of the discussion, Gawdat — Google X’s former chief business officer and a prominent voice on artificial intelligence — warned of the rapid pace of technological change. “AI is already smarter than us in everything,” he said, adding that society faces a choice: use these tools to improve life or allow them to fuel greed, war, and control.

While he acknowledged AI’s transformative potential, Gawdat insisted that “it will never create a comedian,” because true comedy requires a uniquely human spark.

Amer responded with his trademark humor and touching perspective. Born in Kuwait and raised in the US, he recalled discovering stand-up in Houston and realizing immediately “this was it” because of the raw storytelling the art form allows.

“Comedy is the greatest art,” he told the audience, emphasizing that every comedian offers a different truth and connection. Amer reflected on his own journey to representation on platforms such as Netflix, hoping young viewers can see themselves in his story and feel empowered to tell their own.

The conversation moved fluidly between technology, faith, and creativity. Gawdat mused on whether AI could ever possess a “spark of spirit,” while Amer countered that humanity’s heart and soul cannot be replicated by machines.

When asked if he is scared that he could be replaced by AI, Amer said: “I’m not scared of AI because AI can never be me. A joke written by me, delivered by someone else, will never be the same. That’s happened to me before where I go up on stage and be like, ‘Let me show you how the joke is done.’ The joke kills and everyone’s laughing and they go, ‘Oh, it’s the person who is delivering the joke, who is the author of the joke, who really lands it.’”