Asir education department launches literacy campaign
The campaign is strategically designed to activate continuing education programs by engaging target populations in their own communities
Updated 5 min ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The General Administration of Education in Asir region has launched a campaign titled “We Reach You for a Society Without Illiteracy,” aiming to reach beneficiaries in remote areas and villages.
Asir’s Education Director-General Fahd Aqala emphasized that the initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to elevate education levels and eradicate illiteracy.
It supports social and economic development while advancing Saudi Vision 2030’s comprehensive education goals, he added.
The campaign is strategically designed to activate continuing education programs by engaging target populations in their own communities.
Aqala stated that the directorate has mobilized resources to maximize the campaign’s reach.
He said literacy represents more than education — it serves as a fundamental cornerstone for societal advancement and sustainable development.
According to Aqala, continuing education programs in the region served over 11,414 male and female learners in 2024 at 263 centers and evening schools.
Arthur praised the Kingdom for introducing regulations governing the use of AI, particularly its model for ethical adoption
Updated 9 sec ago
SPA
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General Lydia Arthur recently visited the headquarters of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the International Centre for Research and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh.
Arthur was briefed on the SDAIA’s efforts in the sector, and the support the Kingdom provides to the UNESCO-affiliated ICAIRE to carry out its international missions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Arthur praised the Kingdom for introducing regulations governing the use of AI, particularly its model for ethical adoption. She said the Kingdom’s model should be adopted more widely at a global level.
During the visit, she reviewed the work of the ICAIRE center and its international efforts to promote responsible uses, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The ICAIRE organization seeks to advance research and ethics through international cooperation, champion awareness, nurture skills development, and provide policy advice, according to its website.
Thai festival brings eruption of color and music to Riyadh
Event is a celebration of the strong and growing friendship between our countries and our people, says Thailand’s envoy
Updated 02 May 2025
Tamara Aboalsaud
RIYADH: The Thai Festival in the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter celebrates both Thailand’s rich culture and its blossoming friendship with Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh was chosen as one of six flagship cities around the world to hold the festival, alongside Washington DC, Beijing, New Delhi, Hanoi, and Paris.
The cutting of the ribbon marks the inauguration of the Thai Festival in one of six flagship cities, Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
At a press conference prior to the festival, which is open to the public May 2 and 3, Thailand’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Darm Boontham said: “This is a proud moment for us and a great opportunity to share the rich tradition and modern creativity of Thailand with our Saudi friends.”
The festival comes at a significant time, three years since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
HIGHLIGHTS
• This year’s theme is ‘The Pulse of Tradition, The Pulse of Tomorrow,’ reflecting Thailand’s pride in its culture and its commitment to innovation and creativity.
• The ministers of culture for Thailand and Saudi Arabia — Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al-Saud — attended the event.
“This event is a celebration of the strong and growing friendship between our countries and our people,” Boontham continued.
Booths showcasing Thai products and services at the Thai Festival at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
This year’s theme is “The Pulse of Tradition, The Pulse of Tomorrow,” reflecting Thailand’s pride in its culture and its commitment to innovation and creativity.
The festival features several exhibitions of Thai products and services, including handicrafts from local communities in Thailand, live demonstrations, health and wellness products, eco-tourism, and Thai cuisine.
Muythai demonstration at the Thai Festival in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
It also includes a live cooking show by a celebrity Thai chef, screenings of several beloved Thai movies followed by Q&A sessions, a musical and cultural performance, a Muay Thai boxing demonstration, a fashion show by Thai designers, and a Khon performance.
Khon, a traditional masked dramatic art that features music and dance as well as ritual, literary, and handicraft components, is included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, Boontham said.
Booths showcasing Thai products and services at the Thai Festival at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
“We invite everyone, Saudi nationals, residents and all friends of Thailand to join us for this unique celebration, to enjoy the science of sound and taste of Thailand and to continue building a warm and lasting friendship between our two great nations.”
The festival was organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Saudi Arabia in partnership with Thailand’s private and public sectors, including Thai supply chain company SGC International’s Riyadh division, with the support of Saudi and Thai private companies.
Fashion show by Thai Designers at the Thai Festival in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
The ministers of culture for Thailand and Saudi Arabia — Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al-Saud — attended the event.
The objective of the festival goes beyond tourism, the ambassador said, it is intended to promote everything Thailand can offer in terms of creative economy, innovation, and how Thailand can tap into Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s green initiative.
Thai minister of culture Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol speaks at the Thai Festival in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
Boontham also confirmed plans to create Thai AirAsia X, a new low-cost airline from Thailand that should operate flights from Riyadh to Bangkok “very soon,” he said.
According to Boontham, the largest developing areas of cooperation between the two nations are economy, trade, and investment.
Thai ambassador to Saudi Arabia Darm Boontham inaugurates the Thai Festival at the Cultural Palace. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
Over the last three years, the volume of trade has increased by an average of 25 percent and the ambassador is confident that “all the necessary mechanisms” are in place to support further growth.
In 2024, trade reached a value of $8.8 billion and the hope is that in two years that number will reach $10 billion, he added.
Booths showcasing Thai products and services at the Thai Festival at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
Boontham cited SGC International, a Thai company known for construction materials that is now expanding into petrochemicals, food, and food processing as a sign of promising investment in Saudi Arabia.
Technology sharing, in areas including green consumption technology, is “quite prevalent” and shows promise, he added.
Interactive booths showing live demonstarions of handicraft at the Thai Festival in Riyadh. (Photo by Huda Bashattah)
Tourism is another large area of cooperation. Last year, around 230,000 Saudi tourists visited Thailand, and 13,000 Thai tourists visited Saudi Arabia; both numbers are expected to grow in coming years, the ambassador noted.
According to Boontham, “many Thai students” are coming to pursue their studies in Saudi as well, and Thailand is working hard to encourage more Saudis to study in Thailand.
In hospitality education, especially, “Thailand has a lot to offer Saudi students,” Boontham said. In 2024, 50 individuals from Saudi Arabia went to train in Thai hotels and institutions.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli airstrike near Syria’s Presidential Palace
Airstrike, which occurred early Friday, came after Israeli authorities reportedly warned the Syrian government against attacks on Druze
Updated 02 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike that targeted the vicinity of the Presidential Palace in Damascus, calling it a blatant violation of the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty and a serious threat to regional stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation “in the strongest terms” of the attack, and reiterated its categorical rejection of Israeli actions that undermine the sovereignty, security, and stability of Syria.
The airstrike, which occurred early Friday, came after Israeli authorities reportedly warned the Syrian government against advancing toward villages inhabited by members of the Druze minority in southern Syria.
The warning followed days of violent clashes between pro-government forces and Druze fighters near the capital, which left dozens of people dead or injured.
Syria’s presidency described the Israeli attack as a “dangerous escalation against state institutions and the sovereignty of the state,” and urged the international community to take a stand against such violations. It warned that the strike not only threatens Syria’s national security but also the unity of its people.
The Saudi foreign ministry echoed these concerns, calling on the international community to intervene and halt Israel’s “blatant violations of international law in Syria and the region.”
The Kingdom further warned that the continuation of such policies and what it described as “extremist Israeli practices” could exacerbate violence, extremism, and instability across the region.
Saudi Ministry of Interior warns of strict penalties for Hajj permit violations
Authorities instructed to arrest violators, take legal action against them
Updated 02 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Friday it had launched a campaign to prevent violations of Hajj regulations, warning of strict penalties for individuals attempting to perform the pilgrimage without the required permits.
As part of its efforts, the ministry has begun enforcing measures aimed at stopping violators from entering or remaining in Makkah and surrounding sacred sites.
Authorities have been instructed to arrest violators and take legal action against them, and anyone who assists in the breach of Hajj rules.
The ministry announced that individuals caught performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit, including those holding any type of visit visa, face fines of up to SR20,000 ($5,333).
The crackdown also targets those facilitating unauthorized access to Makkah and the holy sites.
Those found guilty of aiding violators, whether by applying for visit visas on their behalf, transporting them, housing them in hotels, apartments or pilgrim accommodations, or otherwise helping them remain in restricted areas, may be fined up to SR100,000.
The ministry clarified that penalties will be determined based on the number of violators involved.
Offenders, including residents and individuals who overstay or breach Hajj protocols, will face deportation and a ban from re-entering the Kingdom for 10 years.
In addition, Saudi courts will be asked to confiscate vehicles used in transporting violators if owned by the carrier or any accomplice.
Officials have urged the public to strictly follow all Hajj-related regulations, stressing that the measures are in place to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of pilgrims.
The ministry has also called on the public to report any violations. Residents in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province can contact authorities via 911, while those in other regions are advised to call 999.
‘Pinocchio’ springs to life on Ithra stage in Dhahran
Touch of Arabia applied in reimagining by La Baldufa theater
3 creators, actors create works focusing on social awareness
Updated 02 May 2025
Jasmine Bager Dhahran
The most famous little wooden boy in the world sprang to life at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, on Thursday night.
The story of Pinocchio, reimagined by the acclaimed La Baldufa theater company from Spain, breathed fresh energy from Saudi Arabia into the tale of the adventurous wooden toy who dreams of becoming a real boy.
While the tale is widely known thanks to the Oscar-winning 1940 Disney film, “Pinocchio” was originally a book by Italian author Carlo Collodi, first published in 1883.
The story explores themes of poverty, education, fatherhood, and the search for truth.
A day before the premiere at Ithra, the three creators and performers behind La Baldufa — Enric Blasi, Carlos Pijuan and Emiliano Pardo —hosted a masterclass on the stage, offering attendees a look into their creative process.
The cast discussed their use of what they described as clowning and gestural theater to create works built around social awareness.
Founded in Lleida, Spain, in 1996, La Baldufa has spent nearly three decades creating and crafting innovative performing arts productions for live audiences.
Materials used on stage are intentionally simple: wood, paper and humans — aligning with their artistic vision.
They said they customize each performance. In China, they would have text read aloud by a Chinese audience member on stage and use some of that language.
And, as promised, they used Arabic in their Ithra production the following day.
Audience participation plays a central role as a random member of the public is invited to read a passage on stage, adding to the sense of spontaneity and inclusivity.
Part of the stage was constructed on-site. It is designed for easy transport assembly, using shadow spotlights, paper elements, and audio from the country where they perform, to ensure the production resonates with local audiences.
The company has toured more than 40 countries, captivating children of all ages.
Each performance is tied to its location. The show incorporates live voices from the audience. Dimmed lights, shifting silhouettes, and dynamic staging help shape the mood.
Though music is typically performed live and acoustically, travel constraints required the use of pre-recorded audio featuring both upbeat and slower tempos.
Sprinklings of Arabic delighted the crowd, especially when audience members were invited to participate.
Two shy girls, initially hesitant, eventually found their voices once on stage — an emotional moment for those watching.
Your experience may vary, but the message is clear: this is a show you could try to replicate at home — simple, but not simplistic.
Eight-year-old Anwyn Frith told Arab News: “I was excited about watching ‘Pinocchio’ tonight; my favorite part was when the man was building Pinocchio,” she said.
But she offered a few suggestions: “They were speaking everything in Arabic and I couldn’t understand it.
“Maybe next time they can speak English a little bit more. And maybe add more of the ‘Pinocchio’ movie into it, like when he keeps lying and his nose grows and goes out.”
La Baldufa’s interpretation honors the spirit of Collodi’s original while inviting contemporary audiences, especially younger ones, into a world of wonder and imagination.
After the show, the trio was happy to meet and greet an audience equally eager to connect.
Running nightly until May 4, tickets start at SR40 ($10) and are available on the Ithra website.
