Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars

The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries which recognise Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration. (SPA)
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The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries which recognise Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration. (SPA)
Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in  for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars
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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired the preparatory ministerial meeting on Sunday to discuss the summit’s agenda. (SPA)
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Updated 10 November 2024

Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars

Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in  for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars
  • Leaders to push for urgent action in response to the ongoing conflict

RIYADH: Arab and Islamic leaders will convene in Riyadh for the Arab-Islamic summit scheduled for Monday, focusing on Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

On Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired the preparatory ministerial meeting, where officials reviewed the latest developments and outlined the summit’s agenda.

“The escalating violence in the Palestinian and Lebanese territories, including the brutal Israeli aggression, has compelled Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action,” read a statement on SPA.

HIGHLIGHT

On the sidelines of the preparatory meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the efforts being made to address them.

Key priorities are halting the aggression, protecting civilians, supporting Palestinians and Lebanese, unifying positions, and pressuring the international community to end the attacks and establish lasting peace and stability in the region.

The summit builds on the earlier Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh on Nov. 11, 2023, following the directives of King Salman and complementing the efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to address the dangerous and unprecedented developments in Gaza and the rest of Palestine.

“This requires solidarity among Arab and Islamic nations to confront these challenges and mitigate their consequences,” SPA added.

The foreign ministers of , Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Palestine, along with the secretaries-general of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, aim to initiate immediate international action to halt the war on Gaza and achieve a lasting, comprehensive peace.

On the sidelines of the preparatory meeting, Prince Faisal held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the efforts being made to address them.

The ministerial committee formed at the last Arab-Islamic summit has initiated diplomatic efforts with world leaders to secure an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and restore essential services in Gaza.

In meetings throughout the year, committee members stressed the urgent need to halt Israeli military actions displacing Palestinians and destroying infrastructure and called for safe corridors to deliver humanitarian aid.

The committee members condemned Israel’s violations of international law, including restricting access to water, electricity, and movement.

They reaffirmed support for the Palestinian right to self-determination and an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They also urged a revival of the peace process for a just and lasting resolution, calling on the international community to hold Israel accountable for these violations.

The Saudi state news channel Al-Ekhbariya broadcast footage on Sunday of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati landing in Riyadh.


Noor Riyadh announces artists for this year’s festival of light and art

Noor Riyadh announces artists for this year’s festival of light and art
Updated 05 November 2025

Noor Riyadh announces artists for this year’s festival of light and art

Noor Riyadh announces artists for this year’s festival of light and art
  • This year’s curatorial theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” reflects the rapid transformation shaping Riyadh

RIYADH: The annual Noor Riyadh, the region’s largest international festival of light and art, has announced its list of participating artists, gearing up for the 2025 launch that will run from Nov. 20-Dec. 6. 

The show, curated by Mami Kataoka, Li Zhenhua and Sara Almutlaq, takes place in various hubs across Riyadh and will include 60 artworks by 59 artists, representing 24 nationalities, with 35 newly commissioned pieces. 

“Noor Riyadh is defined by its artists; their ideas, their courage and their vision,” said Nouf Almoneef, festival director of Noor Riyadh. “Each work captures the city’s momentum through light, reminding us that creativity is a universal language that connects cultures and inspires dialogue.” 

Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto's "Love Difference" (2025). (Supplied)

This year’s curatorial theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” reflects the rapid transformation shaping Riyadh.

The festival will present work responding to the theme by leading international and local artists, including Saad Al-Howede, Monira Al-Qadiri, Abdulrahman Al-Soliman, James Clar, Ivana Franke, fuse*, Ayoung Kim, Shinji Ohmaki, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Muhannad Shono.

The show will also include a special installation dedicated to the work of the late Safeya Binzagr (1940–2024), a leading figure of ’s modern art movement and the first female Saudi artist to hold a solo exhibition in 1968. 

Croatian artist Ivana Franke's "Center" (2024). (Supplied)

“Light is both a medium and a metaphor for transformation,” said Kataoka, the curatorial advisory lead. “‘In the Blink of an Eye’ reveals how quickly perception can shift — offering a moment to pause within the momentum of change and see beauty in what is constantly evolving.”

The 2025 festival is led by an international curatorial team that brings together distinct perspectives on contemporary culture, whose vision connects Riyadh’s historical heart to its modern skyline and metro network. The show invites audiences to encounter light as a medium for perception, memory and momentum. 

The festival’s program will have Noor Riyadh unfold across six locations this year: Qasr Al-Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, stc Metro Station, KAFD Metro Station, Al-Faisaliah Tower and JAX District. 

Saudi artist Saad Al-Howede's "Memory Melting" (2025). (Supplied)

Held under the umbrella of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Art, Noor Riyadh echoes Riyadh Art’s mission to transform the Kingdom’s capital city by sparking creativity and enriching daily lives. 

Since its inception, Riyadh Art has showcased more than 550 artworks by 500 Saudi and international artists, attracting more than 9.6 million visitors and spectators through its major programs. Noor Riyadh transforms everyday public spaces into distinctive encounters, hoping to create a sense of shared wonder across communities through art.

The full list of the festival’s 2025 participating artists includes: Addie Wagenknecht (US), Abdulrahman Al-Soliman (), Abdelrahman Elshahed (), Ahmad Angawi (), Alex Schweder (US), Alexandra Gelis (Colombia and Canada), Ayoung Kim (South Korea), atelier oi + WonderGlass (Switzerland), Christian Partos (Sweden), Christophe Berthonneau (France), dies_ (Italy), Saad Al-Howede (), Edwin van der Heide (Netherlands), Encor Studio (Switzerland), Fatma Abdulhadi (), Francesco Simeti (Italy), fuse* (Italy), Guillaume Cousin (France), Hmoud Alattawi (), Iregular (Canada), Ivana Franke (Croatia), James Clar (Philippines and US), Karolina Halatek (Poland), Khalid Zahid (), Kurt Hentschlager (Austria), Laszlo Zsolt Bordos (Hungary), Loris Cecchini (Italy), Marnix De Nijs (Netherlands), Michelangelo Pistoletto (Italy), Mohammed Farea (), Monira Al-Qadiri (Kuwait), Muhannad Shono (), n + n Corsino (France), Nebras Aljoaib (), Obaid Alsafi (), Otolab (Italy), Plastique Fantastique (Germany), Random International (UK), Rejane Cantoni (Brazil), Robert Seidel (Germany), Roman Hill (US and France), Ryoichi Kurokawa (Japan), Safeya Binzagr (), Saeed Gebaan (), Shinji Ohmaki (Japan), Shiro Takatani (Dumb Type, Japan), Shun Ito (Japan), Six N. Five (Ezequiel Pini, Argentina), someform Studio (Germany), Studio Above&Below (UK), Tonoptik (Russia), Traumnovelle (Belgium), Vali Chincisan (Romania), Wang Yuyang (China), Wu Chi-Tsung (Taiwan), Zeitguised (Germany), Zhang Zengzeng (China), Zheng Da (China) and Ziyad Alroqi ().