��������

RIYADH: When Saudi writer Kendah Jambi released “The Epic of Frost” in 2024, she wrapped up a fantasy trilogy that had been nearly a decade in the making.

Spanning three titles published by Adab Book — “The Voyagers” (2021), “The Historian” (2023), and “The Epic of Frost” (2024) — the trilogy reflects a growing interest in Arabic speculative fiction and highlights her steady rise within the Kingdom’s evolving literary scene.

With the series complete, the 25-year-old has turned the page with a new project: “Khalil,” a standalone novel rooted in Saudi heritage and slated for release this year.

Reflecting on her journey, she told Arab News: “In comparison to when I first started, it has definitely become a lot easier to write and complete a novel in shorter amount of time.”

Her works have resonated with readers across �������� who seek her out at the region’s various book fairs. Jambi said that she is touched by the kindness they express and their connection to her works. “I have young authors flooding my socials daily talking about how my work inspired them to write and stay persistent.”

She added that her goal has always been “to make the world fall in love with the Arabic language.”

Her trilogy also gained momentum through its Manga Arabia adaptation, which Jambi said brought new attention to the original novels.

This, she said, brings the story full circle as “The Voyagers” was written originally to be a manga series and ended up becoming a novel.

Her advice to aspiring writers is grounded in experience: “Always chase what you believe in, no matter how long it takes. It took me seven years to write my first book, and I never regret taking my time,” she said.

While her earlier work leaned heavily into fantasy, her upcoming novel “Khalil” represents a shift in setting and tone.

“‘Khalil’ takes place in our modern-day �������� across different regions. It reflects our heritage and traditions while being completely inspired by Arabian mythology,” she explained.

One such reimagining involves the folklore figure “Um Al-Saaf wa Al-Leef,” whom she described as “a witch who sits atop palm trees and eats children.”

In Jambi’s version, the character is still a deranged witch, but she does not eat children — instead, she has children named Al-Saaf and Al-Leef.

Jambi emphasized the importance of cultural accuracy in portraying southern Saudi characters, noting that her work “stays true to the people … I definitely made sure of that with help from friends native to that region.

“The characters are people whom Saudi readers can relate to as they hold similar values and have a familiar upbringing,” she added.

Explaining the shift from fantasy to a narrative more grounded in reality, Jambi said: “My pen is free and can go wherever it wants.”

She sees the current moment in �������� as particularly significant for writers, with growing cultural initiatives under Vision 2030.

Maram Al-Samman, who read Jambi’s trilogy, told Arab News: “I see in Kendah Jambi a new and promising voice in Arabic fantasy literature … There are some moments that might lack narrative coherence, but her boldness in introducing new ideas and her creation of complex characters distinguish her work.”

Reflecting on her overall impression, Al-Samman added: “Personally, I believe her writing is worth reading, especially for those who enjoy novels that expand the imagination and open the door to deep thought.”

With the trilogy and her upcoming standalone novel sharing the same narrative universe, Jambi has created an expansive literary ecosystem where the fantastical and the familiar coexist.

RIYADH: The Pilgrim Experience Program, a key initiative under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, issued its 2024 annual report, showing a 101 percent increase in arrivals compared with 2022 — an achievement attributed to cross-sector integration and streamlined procedures facilitating pilgrimages.

The report highlighted the program’s and its affiliated entities’ achievements in enhancing services for pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors, showing the Kingdom’s efforts to provide a rich, seamless and spiritually fulfilling experience from planning to safe return.

According to the report, in 2024 more than 18.5 million pilgrims and Umrah performers arrived from abroad, including 16.92 million Umrah performers, exceeding the year’s targets.

It noted that 89 initiatives, implemented with more than 40 government entities, achieved a 95 percent compliance rate. These initiatives cover all stages of the pilgrim journey, including transport, rituals, and visits to historical and religious sites.

Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah and chairman of the Pilgrim Experience Program committee, said that the Saudi leadership has prioritized serving Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as a key goal of Vision 2030.

Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah hosted more than 13 million visitors in 2024, up from 4 million in 2022. Visitor satisfaction rose from 57 percent to 81 percent, reflecting improved service quality and experience.

Volunteer engagement grew significantly, with more than 153,000 volunteers serving pilgrims in 2024, up from 15,000 in 2022 — showing a stronger culture of social participation.

Internationally, the program led 33 overseas visits with public and private partners, addressing logistical challenges, opening new routes, increasing seat capacity and easing travel for pilgrims.

The Hajj and Umrah minister emphasized that these achievements result from the efforts of more than 40 partner organisations, each working with a sense of religious and national duty.

Globally, Makkah ranked fifth in international visitor numbers, while Madinah climbed to seventh in the global tourism performance index, reinforcing ��������’s position as a leading spiritual and cultural destination.

The report also highlighted advances in digital services, notably the Nusuk platform, which now offers more than 100 services to streamline travel, booking, and pilgrimage arrangements.

Meanwhile, the Makkah Route initiative, designed to expedite travel procedures for pilgrims in their home countries, has benefited more than 940,000 travelers since its inception.

The report concluded by emphasizing that these milestones reflect the support of the Kingdom’s leadership and the efforts of various government agencies.

It reaffirmed that serving pilgrims remains a top national priority, with continued innovation and integration to enhance their religious and cultural journey in line with Vision 2030 aspirations.