黑料社区

Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)
Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)
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Updated 20 September 2024

Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations
  • Events taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla over 4-day holiday
  • Traditional arts, theater events also on the schedule nationwide

RIYADH/JEDDAH/ALKHOBAR: With the Saudi National Day holiday running from Friday to Monday, what better way to mark the annual Sept. 23 occasion than by immersing oneself in the Kingdom鈥檚 most breathtaking landscapes as well as fireworks, music and art shows.

The General Entertainment Authority has announced there will be fireworks displays across 黑料社区. On Sept. 22, Umm Ajlan Park in the capital is hosting, for free, the nation鈥檚 biggest fireworks display, a drone show, and a folklore event, starting at 9 p.m.




Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)

There will also be fireworks displays at Jeddah Promenade from Friday to Monday starting at 6 p.m. On the same day, as a part of the festivities, there will be an air show at Jeddah鈥檚 North Corniche with planes flying in formation and leaving green smoke trails across the sky.

Having started on Sept. 19, the Mishkat Interactive Exhibition is hosting the 鈥淓nergy of Glory鈥 celebration until Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., focusing on Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation鈥檚 sustainable energy goals.




September 23 will feature a local band performing traditional and modern songs, a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show at the Jeddah Yacht Club. (Supplied)

At Nakheel Mall Riyadh, Fontana Circus will be performing with gravity-defying aerialists. There will also be a musical fountain on display.

At The Globe, one of Riyadh鈥檚 most iconic dining spots, which is a glass-enclosed venue with panoramic city views, diners can enjoy afternoon tea from Sept. 20 to 23.




In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. (Supplied)

Other dining options in the capital include the Mandarin Oriental and Al-Faisaliah where cuisine from the Kingdom鈥檚 13 regions is on the menu.

At Jeddah Yacht Club and Jeddah Art Promenade, a local band will perform traditional and modern songs, in addition to a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show on Sept. 23.

One of the standout events this weekend is 鈥淪hojaa,鈥 a family-friendly musical show at The Club in Al-Shallal Theme Park. Running from Sept. 20 to 23, this performance celebrates 黑料社区 culture with music, storytelling, and a homage to the Year of the Camel.

In Jeddah鈥檚 Historic District, the cultural history of 黑料社区 will be presented at the Tariq Abdulhakim Center. From Sept. 21 to 24, the center will host museum tours, karaoke sessions, art workshops, face painting for children, and an Arabic calligraphy booth.

Zawiya 97 in the Historic District will have an artisan souq on Sept. 23, with handmade crafts for sale, and educational and cultural offerings. From Sept. 22 to 23, there will be performers playing traditional music on the oud at Social Shot Lounge & Bar.

In AlUla, the Azimuth Festival is on from Sept. 19 to 21 at Wadi Al-Fann, featuring international and regional artists. Also, Hero Experiences Group is offering hot-air balloon flights above AlUla鈥檚 ancient landscapes

Also on offer is the Sharaan Platinum Dinner Safari, a tour of the nature reserve led by expert guides in the afternoon. There will be tours of canyons with ancient petroglyphs and rock formations. Canapes will be available as the sun sets over the valley.

In the evening, a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, will be on offer in a canyon aglow with lanterns, and later a stargazing session under the vast desert sky.

In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. The activities include live performances, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings which highlight Saudi heritage.

In addition, there will performances of traditional Saudi art forms, including the Al-Ardah dance.

From Sept. 19 to 23, Alkhobar鈥檚 new performing arts center, Fantakah, will stage an original play titled 鈥淭he Law of Attraction.鈥 Fantakah founder and chief operating officer, Husain Zaber, is the writer and director.


Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to 鈥榖est of brothers鈥

Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to 鈥榖est of brothers鈥
Updated 8 sec ago

Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to 鈥榖est of brothers鈥

Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to 鈥榖est of brothers鈥
  • Mohammed Al-Qasim, 20, was stabbed to death in Cambridge on Friday
  • Relatives set up fundraiser to provide Saudi families in need with clean water as tribute

RIYADH: Family and friends of Mohammed Al-Qasim, the 20-year-old Saudi student who was stabbed to death in Cambridge, UK on Friday, have been sharing their condolences and memories online.

His relatives have also set up a fundraiser to provide families in need in 黑料社区 with clean water as a tribute. At the time of writing it had raised more than SR30,000 ($8,000).

Al-Qasim was on a 10-week placement at the EF International Language Campus in the city when he was killed. Two men from Cambridge have been arrested on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender.

Al-Qasim鈥檚 uncle, Majed Abalkhail, said on X that his nephew鈥檚 death 鈥渉as been a huge shock for all of us 鈥 especially since Mohammed came to Cambridge as a student, carrying nothing but dreams and hopes for the future.鈥

鈥淲e truly hope 鈥 that this will be the last such tragedy, and that full justice will be served, with everyone responsible held fully accountable. May Allah have mercy on Mohammed and grant him the highest place in paradise.鈥

Abalkhail described his nephew as 鈥渁 young man raised upon goodness, and our hearts still weep over his loss.鈥

Al-Qasim鈥檚 sister, Jana, wrote on X that he was 鈥渁 man worth a thousand men, the true meaning of support, strength, and dignity.鈥

鈥淚 never knew the taste of fear for a single day, because I knew Mohammed was my backbone and my support after Allah,鈥 she said.

鈥淲ith the magnitude of his pride and love for me, I was proud of him and loved him many times more. Since our childhood, I would hear that brothers often annoy, quarrel, and fight with their siblings, but by Allah, he never raised his voice at me once, and I never saw from him anything but kindness and love.鈥

Another sister, Thekra, said: 鈥淥 Allah, your servant Mohammed Al-Qasim was the best of brothers. Kind, gentle, and fearful of you among us. He never once raised his voice since the day my mother gave birth to him until you took him back to you.鈥

Abdallah Al-Matrafi, who described himself as a neighbor of the family, said on X that Al-Qasim鈥檚 鈥渓ate father, his brothers and his sons are among the finest people we have known in manners, character, appreciation, respect, and good neighborliness.鈥

鈥淭o this day, we remember them fondly, and we will continue to do so for the rest of our lives.鈥

Professor Fahad Al-Olayan said: 鈥淢ay Allah have mercy on Mohammed. I was honored to have him as one of my students at the university last semester. He was a hardworking student, eager to learn.鈥

Nawaf Al-Darrab, a friend of Al-Qasim, said he knew the young man to be 鈥渃lose to Allah 鈥 always smiling, committed to his prayers, and forgiving toward everyone.鈥

鈥淯ntil we meet again, my beloved and my brother, in the highest paradise with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous 鈥 what an excellent company they are.鈥

In a public statement, his family described Al-Qasim as a 鈥測oung man brimming with enthusiasm, with chivalry, and courage,鈥 and said he was 鈥渢he family鈥檚 charisma鈥 and 鈥渉is father鈥檚 support.鈥

鈥淗e was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mother鈥檚 heart,鈥 they said.

The fundraiser set up in Al-Qasim鈥檚 name can be found at https://ehsan.sa/donationcampaign/details/1828254.


First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom鈥檚 space economy

First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom鈥檚 space economy
Updated 52 min 2 sec ago

First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom鈥檚 space economy

First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom鈥檚 space economy
  • Earth Observation platform was launched to meet the growing demand for high-resolution satellite imagery and space analytics across key sectors
  • Neo Space Group CEO Martijn Blanken: Earth Observation data supports infrastructure development, urban growth, and resource management

JEDDAH: Neo Space Group, a space and satellite communications company under the Public Investment Fund, has launched 黑料社区鈥檚 first dedicated Earth observation marketplace, advancing the Kingdom鈥檚 space economy.

Operated by UP42, a subsidiary of Neo Space Group, the Earth Observation platform was launched to meet the growing demand for high-resolution satellite imagery and space analytics across key sectors.

It supports the Kingdom鈥檚 economic transformation under Vision 2030 by integrating Earth Observation data into sectors such as environment, infrastructure, energy, real estate, mining, logistics, agriculture, and urban planning.

Martijn Blanken, CEO of the Neo Space Group, said that the platform reflects increasing demand for space-based intelligence in the Kingdom, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

鈥淓arth Observation data is essential today,鈥 said Blanken. 鈥淚t supports infrastructure development, urban growth, and resource management. With more than 2.15 million sq. km, 黑料社区 requires scalable, data-driven tools for strategic decisions.鈥

The platform provides access to global data providers and AI-powered services, allowing government agencies, local companies, and international users to acquire and analyze high-resolution imagery and geospatial data through a digital interface.

Frank Salzgeber, acting deputy governor for the space sector at the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, called the launch an important step for the Kingdom鈥檚 space economy.

鈥淎longside enhancing national capabilities, the platform is expected to accelerate the adoption of space technologies in the Kingdom. It reflects our national priorities: fostering technological innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building secure infrastructure.鈥

The platform follows Neo Space Group鈥檚 acquisition of UP42 GmbH from Airbus in December 2024. The German company runs a cloud-native Earth observation platform that simplifies satellite data access and processing.

Available at sa.up42.com, the platform lets users search, access, and process satellite data at scale using automated workflows, unified formats, and user-friendly tools. It complies with Saudi regulations and is hosted on secure local infrastructure.


9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest

9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest
Updated 05 August 2025

9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest

9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest
  • Supports 30 STEM teams to transform research into startups
  • King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology backs project

RIYADH: Nine teams have advanced to the finals of the SR2.25 million ($600,000) Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup competition, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The teams that advanced are Plansulin, Queed, iRama, Quantasphere Ltd., Advanced Future Technology, Novo Genomics, Larimar, Visi Ground, and iBoat.

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology hosted the semifinal stage at its Academy 32 facility, the SPA reported.

The event was set up to support 30 teams in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to transform research projects into market-ready startups.

Jameel, organized by StartSmart Entrepreneurship Center, and implemented through partnerships with KACST, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority.

It targets deep tech innovations in the health, energy, environment and climate sectors, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to empower research-based startups.

The semifinal event featured sector-specific training sessions, interactive product development challenges within fixed timeframes, cross-disciplinary workshops and business model refinement exercises.

Participants received specialized mentorship to overcome technical and commercial hurdles.

Radwan Noor, KACST鈥檚 general manager of Venture Attraction, said in a statement that they are enabling researchers to convert scientific outputs into viable tech companies with tangible market impact.

KACST supports this through scientific expertise, mentorship, judging, and access to laboratories and research infrastructure.

He said several participating startups graduated from KACST鈥檚 Ventures Program, demonstrating successful pathways from national labs to market solutions.

Mohammed Abdulghaffar, senior general manager at Community Jameel, added that this collaboration empowers scientists and innovators to commercialize research.


Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh

Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh
Updated 05 August 2025

Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh

Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh
  • Running until Aug. 25, the event attracts top breeders and farms from within the Kingdom and around the world
  • Auction provides an opportunity for people across the world of falconry to meet, interact and share ideas

RIYADH: The International Falcon Breeders Auction opened on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, north of Riyadh.

Running until Aug. 25, the event attracts top breeders and farms from within the Kingdom and around the world, with Europe, the Americas and Asia all represented, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

More than just a sales platform, the auction provides an opportunity for people across the world of falconry to meet, interact and share ideas on this ancient sport. The many pavilions, including a 鈥淔alconer of the Future鈥 stand, provide a showcase for breeding farms and equipment suppliers.

The event also supports the Saudi Falcons Club鈥檚 efforts to promote the heritage, culture and development of falconry, including pioneering breeding farms, and reinforcing the Kingdom鈥檚 position as a global hub for the sector.

Last year鈥檚 auction saw 872 birds changing hands for a combined value of more than SR10 million ($2.7 million). That represented a 25 percent increase in revenue and a 36 percent rise in the number of birds sold from 2023.

This year鈥檚 event is expected once again to attract the very best falconers and breeders from across the globe, highlighting 黑料社区鈥檚 leadership in preserving intangible cultural heritage and its growing international stature in the falconry world.


Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom鈥檚 Islamic efforts

Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom鈥檚 Islamic efforts
Updated 05 August 2025

Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom鈥檚 Islamic efforts

Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom鈥檚 Islamic efforts

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh received Sri Lankan Ambassador Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh.

The officials discussed various topics related to Islamic affairs and ongoing cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the envoy praised the Kingdom鈥檚 leading role in supporting Islamic causes and promoting the values of tolerance and moderation globally, particularly in Sri Lanka.

Ameer Ajwad emphasized that these efforts reflect the true message of Islam, the SPA reported.

鈥淲e take pride in the Kingdom鈥檚 remarkable role in promoting the values of tolerance and moderation 鈥 a noble mission that truly represents the lofty message of Islam,鈥 the envoy said.

He thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous support to Sri Lanka across various fields, and especially their service in response to Qur鈥檃nic injunctions.

The ambassador also praised the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for spreading a message of moderation worldwide.

He commended the ministry鈥檚 awareness programs, training for imams and preachers, and its organization of Qur鈥檃n competitions.