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AlUla's Jabal Ikmah Listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register

AlUla's Maraya Concert Hall. (AlUla)
AlUla's Maraya Concert Hall. (AlUla)
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AlUla's Jabal Ikmah Listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register

AlUla's Maraya Concert Hall. (AlUla)
AlUla's Maraya Concert Hall. (AlUla)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed AlUla's Jabal Ikmah in its Memory of the World Register, years after Al-Hijr (Mada’in Salih) archeological site in AlUla governorate became the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site to be inscribed in 2008.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) announced the new Saudi achievement in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science after the Harrat Uwayrid entered UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program last year.
Jabal Ikmah is one of the most prominent historic sites in AlUla and is designated as one of the largest open-air libraries in the Arabian Peninsula.

According to SPA, it includes hundreds of carved inscriptions and stone carvings along the mountain made in different eras and civilizations, some thousands of years ago.

The listing of Jabal Ikmah on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register constitutes a model for cooperation to develop AlUla into a pioneering global destination for cultural and natural heritage.
Such cooperation binds RCU with UNESCO and a network of global partners to the commission, including ICOMOS Saudi Arabia, the Louvre Museum, and the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA).
Jabal Ikmah is one of the five central districts of the Journey Through Time Masterplan, and it embodies the convergence of nature and history in AlUla as part of projects to develop the natural and cultural environment and highlight cultural depth.
As part of the RCU efforts to preserve heritage, the Journey Through Time Masterplan included establishing the "Kingdoms Institute" in Dadan Oasis, whose design is inspired by the Dadanian civilization.
The institute includes several archaeological programs and research studies. It will specialize in studying and analyzing artifacts, their contents, the stories behind them, and the most prominent advanced scientific methodologies and international practices for archaeological excavation and heritage preservation.
RCU aims to share the legacy of the governorate with the world through various means of partnerships to help explore its features and natural and cultural environment.
This emanates from the commission’s commitment to double the importance of the historical status of the governorate and highlight its cultural features to achieve the goals of AlUla Vision, which are consistent with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
In the past few days, the commission, in partnership with UNESCO, issued the first newsletter of the "Memory of the Arab World" program to highlight AlUla’s legacy and the importance of documenting heritage, enriching civilizations, and cultural communication.
The bulletin included promoting awareness about the cultural diversity and heritage in AlUla. It also shed light on various inscriptions that display the unique history of the governorate and the different cultural meanings that aim to enhance communication between civilizations.
This reflects efforts to protect the historical, natural, and cultural sites of AlUla and promote a common understanding of the importance of documentary heritage as a gateway for education and dialogue between cultures.

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Culture

Cultural, Intellectual Destinations Inspire Riyadh International Book Fair Visitors

The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honor during this edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair. (Saleh al-Ghannam)
The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honor during this edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair. (Saleh al-Ghannam)
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Cultural, Intellectual Destinations Inspire Riyadh International Book Fair Visitors

The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honor during this edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair. (Saleh al-Ghannam)
The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honor during this edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair. (Saleh al-Ghannam)

The new edition of the Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF) is offering its audience millions of books and new titles from the Arabic library, and also offering a wide space for intellectual and cultural dialogues that revive the evenings of the Saudi capital with publishers, intellects, and content creators from all over the world.

The corridors of the fair were crowded thanks to its new location at the King Saud University, and its organization over an area of 50,000 sqm. People have been touring seamlessly to visit the pavilions of over 1,800 publishers partaking from 32 countries and displaying millions of titles. The setup also features halls for the training workshops and platforms for the discussion evenings, which look into various topics on the intellectual movement and the Arabic creativity.

The Oman pavilion... history and art

RIBF is hosting a folkloric Omani group that performs popular arts reflecting the diversity and richness of the country. The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honor of this year’s edition of the fair. Its pavilion displays diverse aspects of thought, culture, literature, art, and heritage, and hosts seminars, poetry evenings and art shows in which partakes an elite of Omani novelists and intellects.

Mhanna al-Qamshoui from the Omani Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, said the visitors flocked to the Sultanate’s pavilion right after the opening, looking to explore the rare Omani manuscripts, the art exhibition, musical shows, and VR presentation on the Sultanate, as well as a Majlis serving Omani goods and popular sweets.

Qamshoui added that the pavilion exhibits a collection of rare manuscripts that reflect the Omani cultural history and its role in the Arab world, the connections among Arab countries and people throughout history, and their civilizational role in advancing humanity and serving various scientific and cultural purposes.

Visitors of the Omani pavilion have been given the opportunity to enjoy a collection of rare manuscripts including the oldest ever, which was written in 1137. The pavilion is decorated with a mural inspired by the Jabreen Castle built by Bil'arab bin Sultan bin Saif Al Yarubi in 1670.

Outdoor area... coffee and books

In the outdoor area, visitors can take a break in the coffee shops and partake in the intellectual discussions before resuming their tours.

The area also hosts theater shows and Saudi and Omani performances that entertain the visitors with cultural ambiances that highlight the historic connection between humans and books, and the significance of literatures for Arabs, as well as honoring the symbols of culture, thought, and poetry in the region.

Qamshoui announced that the Omani Orchestra will attend the RIBF in the few coming days to share its musical creativity with the Saudi audience, and expand the Omani experience in the heart of Saudi Arabia.

Culture

Saudi Assistant Culture Minister, Somali Education Minister Discuss Cultural Exchange

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023. SPA
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023. SPA
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Saudi Assistant Culture Minister, Somali Education Minister Discuss Cultural Exchange

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023. SPA
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023. SPA

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan Al-Touq has met with the Somali Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir.

During their meeting, they discussed Saudi-Somali cultural exchange and cooperation in libraries and the Arabic language.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2023, held from September 28 to October 7, under the theme “An Inspiring Destination,” with the participation of several Somali intellectuals.

Culture

Japan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Gives Lecture in Al-Jouf Region

SPA
SPA
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Japan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Gives Lecture in Al-Jouf Region

SPA
SPA

Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Fumio Iwai gave a public lecture titled “Experience of Japan through Meiji Restoration” at Abdurahman Al-Sudeiri Culture Canter in Sakaka, Al-Jouf Region.

In his lecture, Ambassador Iwai talked about the social and economic reforms that Japan experienced in its history and discussed the similarities with the dynamic social and economic reforms currently underway in Saudi Arabia, in terms of developing industry and culture, growing human resource and passion of the people, according to SPA.

Ambassador Iwai exchanged opinions with the audience through a question-and-answer session.

Prior to the lecture, Ambassador Iwai paid a visit to Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Al-Jouf province.

He also visited Al-Jouf University and met with the its president, Dr. Mohammed bin Mufrij Al-Huwaiti, the chamber of commerce, and Nawwaf Al-Rashed Heritage Museum.

Culture

Al-Jouf University Joins Times Higher Education 2024

Al-Jouf University Joins Times Higher Education 2024
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Al-Jouf University Joins Times Higher Education 2024

Al-Jouf University Joins Times Higher Education 2024

Al-Jouf University has realized an achievement by joining the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 for the second time, SPA reported.
Acting President of Al-Jouf University Dr. Mohammed Al-Hwaiti said that this achievement is an addition to other accomplishments that the university has achieved on international rankings over the past two years.

He said this accomplishment reflects its efforts to develop the academic and administrative world through visions and plans that contributed to making the university a distinguished facility among international universities.

Culture

Pakistani Biryani: A Spicy Recipe for Delectable Debate 

In this photograph taken on September 19, 2023, a staff carries plates of biryani at a restaurant in Karachi. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on September 19, 2023, a staff carries plates of biryani at a restaurant in Karachi. (AFP)
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Pakistani Biryani: A Spicy Recipe for Delectable Debate 

In this photograph taken on September 19, 2023, a staff carries plates of biryani at a restaurant in Karachi. (AFP)
In this photograph taken on September 19, 2023, a staff carries plates of biryani at a restaurant in Karachi. (AFP)

Eying each other across a stream of traffic, rival Pakistani biryani joints vie for customers, serving a fiery medley of meat, rice and spice that unites and divides South Asian appetites.

Both sell a niche version of the dish, steeped in the same vats, with matching prices and trophies commending their quality.

But in Karachi, where a biryani craze boomed after the creation of Pakistan, it is the subtle differences that inspire devotion.

"Our biryani is not only different from theirs but unique in the world," says restaurateur Muhammad Saqib, who layers his "bone marrow biryani" with herbs.

"When a person bites into it he drowns in a world of flavors," the 36-year-old says.

Across the road, Muhammad Zain sees it differently.

"We were the ones who started the biryani business here first," the 27-year-old claims, as staff scoop out sharing platters with a gut-punch of masala.

"It's our own personal and secret recipe."

Both agree on one thing.

"You can't find biryani like Pakistan's anywhere in the world," says Saqib.

"Whether it's a celebration or any other occasion, biryani always comes first," according to Zain.

International cuisine

British colonial rule in South Asia ended in 1947 with a violent rupture of the region along religious lines.

Hindus and Sikhs in newly created Pakistan fled to India while Muslim "Mohajirs" -- refugees -- went the other way.

India and Pakistan have been arch-rivals since, fighting wars and locked in endless diplomatic strife. Trade and travel have been largely choked off.

Many Mohajirs settled in Karachi, home to just 400,000 people in 1947 but one of the world's largest cities today with a population of 20 million.

For Indian food historian Pushpesh Pant, biryani served in South Asia's melting-pot cities such as Karachi is a reminder of shared heritage.

"Hindus ate differently, Nanakpanthis (Sikhs) ate differently, and Muslims ate differently, but it was not as if their food did not influence each other," he told AFP from the city of Gurugram outside Delhi.

"In certain parts of Pakistan and certain parts of India, the differences in flavors and foods are not as great as man-made borders would make us think."

Every Karachi neighborhood has its own canteens fronted by vendors clanking a spatula against the inside of biryani pots.

The recipe has endless variations.

The one with beef is a favorite in Islamic Pakistan, while vegetarian variants are more popular in largely Hindu India.

Chicken is universal. Along coastlines, seafood is in the mix.

And purists debate if adding potatoes is heresy.

"Other than that, there is Pulao Biryani which is purely from Delhi," says 27-year-old pharmacist Muhammad Al Aaqib, describing a broth-stewed variation.

"My roots lead back to Delhi too so it's like the mother of biryanis for us."

"Perhaps every person has a different way of cooking it, and their way is better," says 36-year-old landlord Mehran Khoso.

'No secret ingredient'

The origins of biryani are hotly contested.

However, it is generally accepted the word has Persian roots and it is argued the dish was popularized in the elite kitchens of the Mughal Empire, which spanned South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries.

In spite of that pedigree, its defining quality is permutation.

Quratul Ain Asad, 40, spends Sunday morning cooking for her husband and son, Mohajir descendants of a family that arrived in Karachi from the Indian town of Tonk in 1948.

But at the dinner table, they feast not on an heirloom recipe but a TV chef's version with a cooling yoghurt sauce and a simple shredded salad.

Asad insists on Karachi's biryani supremacy.

"You will not like biryani from anywhere else once you've tasted Karachi's biryani," she says.

"There is no secret ingredient. I just cook with a lot of passion and joy," she adds. "Perhaps that's why the taste comes out good."

Cooked in bulk, biryani is also a staple of charity donations.

At Ghazi Foods, 28-year-old Ali Nawaz paddles out dozens of portions of biryani into plastic pouches, which are delivered to poor neighborhoods on motorbikes.

A minute after one of those bikes stops, the biryani is gone, seized by kids and young adults.

"People pray for us when they eat it," says Nawaz. "It feels good that our biryani reaches the people."

Culture

King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language Launches Riyadh Lexicon

Riyadh Lexicon provides linguistic explanation of modern contemporary vocabulary - SPA
Riyadh Lexicon provides linguistic explanation of modern contemporary vocabulary - SPA
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King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language Launches Riyadh Lexicon

Riyadh Lexicon provides linguistic explanation of modern contemporary vocabulary - SPA
Riyadh Lexicon provides linguistic explanation of modern contemporary vocabulary - SPA

The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language celebrated on Wednesday the launch of Riyadh Lexicon, the richest dictionary in contemporary words.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the academy patronized the launching ceremony with the attendance of linguists and representatives of strategic partners, SPA reported.
Acting Secretary General of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi commended the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in supporting and promoting the Arabic language worldwide.
Riyadh Lexicon provides linguistic explanation of modern contemporary vocabulary using computer technologies for more storage, preciseness and search tools. It is also uploaded in an App to be used in mobile phones.
The launch of the Riyadh Lexicon is in re-emphasis of the Kingdom’s strategic support to all issues pertaining to the Arabic language.

Culture

Saudi Arabia Takes Part in Conference of Ministers of Culture in Islamic World in Qatar

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq speaks at the event. (SPA)
Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq speaks at the event. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Takes Part in Conference of Ministers of Culture in Islamic World in Qatar

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq speaks at the event. (SPA)
Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq speaks at the event. (SPA)

Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq participated in the 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, which was held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Qatar between September 25 and 26.

The event, organized by the Qatari Ministry of Culture under the theme "Renewing Cultural Work in the Islamic World", brought together ministers of culture, members of the organization from Islamic countries, and representatives of regional and international organizations concerned with cultural affairs.

Al-Touq, who was attending on behalf of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, said Saudi Arabia has mobilized all its potential to boost the Islamic cultural sector and maintain its place on the world's cultural map.

It has sought to deepen the debate on the main characteristics of the Islamic world, which are not limited to its culture and enlightening values, its history and civilization, and its contribution to the heritage of humanity, but include academic and economic features, he remarked.

He stressed that the initiatives and programs announced by Saudi Arabia emphasize the keenness of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to lend support to all efforts that serve the Islamic world and help preserve its culture.

Speaking at the conference, Al-Touq revealed the launch of the Culture Index in the Islamic World project, in cooperation with ICESCO, which will activate a memorandum of understanding signed by the Ministry of Culture and ICESCO on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Conference of Arab Culture Ministers.

He said through the project, the Ministry of Culture seeks to monitor the transformation and evolution of the cultural scene and document its achievements. It will enrich it through cultural indicators: culture for economic development, culture for environment, climate and resilience, culture for social development, and culture for openness and diversity.

Al-Touq also unveiled the Paths of Hajj program that will focus on building files and databases to identify and classify mosques, and heritage and historical sites on Hajj routes, help efforts aimed at preserving and protecting them, and support all sectors associated with the performance of the holy pilgrimage.

Culture

Bavarian Hammersmith Forges Wrought-Iron Pans at a Mill More Than 500 Years Old 

A view of handmade pans by hammersmith Andreas Rohrmoser stand in a hammer forge, in Bad Oberdorf, Germany, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of handmade pans by hammersmith Andreas Rohrmoser stand in a hammer forge, in Bad Oberdorf, Germany, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
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Bavarian Hammersmith Forges Wrought-Iron Pans at a Mill More Than 500 Years Old 

A view of handmade pans by hammersmith Andreas Rohrmoser stand in a hammer forge, in Bad Oberdorf, Germany, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of handmade pans by hammersmith Andreas Rohrmoser stand in a hammer forge, in Bad Oberdorf, Germany, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. (AP)

Andreas Rohrmoser has been forging thousands of wrought-iron pans the old-fashioned way in his centuries-old hammer mill in the Bavarian village of Bad Oberdorf near the Austria border.

The 53-year-old German hammersmith took over the mill from his predecessor two years ago but had been working there for 15 years already.

The red-roofed mill itself, nestled in a valley in the foothills of the Alps, is more than 500 years old, he said in an interview on Monday. It sits on a canal of the Ostrach river that was built centuries ago specifically to power the mill.

The canal’s water power, channeled through a mill wheel, drives a gigantic hammer inside the building punching down on the anvil. There, in his blacksmith shop, Rohrmoser flattens and shapes his famous skillets.

“The secret of my pans is that they don’t have any kind of coating and therefore you can heat them to a much higher temperature than most other industrially made pans,” Rohrmoser said.

Rohrmoser also used to make horseshoes in the past, but the demand for his skillets has been so strong that he only focuses on them now.

His pans come in different sizes and cost from about $50 to $100.

Among the many dishes he recommends making with his skillets are Bavarian Kaiserschmarrn pancakes, steak and home-fried potatoes.

“The strong heat will make the different dishes — like the fried potatoes — so much crunchier and better,” he said.

Culture

12th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World Kicks off in Doha

A picture shows a view of the sunset in Doha from the old city port on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
A picture shows a view of the sunset in Doha from the old city port on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
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12th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World Kicks off in Doha

A picture shows a view of the sunset in Doha from the old city port on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
A picture shows a view of the sunset in Doha from the old city port on September 22, 2023. (AFP)

The 12th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World kicked off in the Qatari capital Doha on Monday, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The event is organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and hosted by the Qatari Ministry of Culture under the theme “Towards Renewing Cultural Work in the Islamic World”.

The two-day event is being attended by a number of ministers of cultural affairs, delegations of ISESCO member states, and representatives of a host of related regional and international organizations.

The conference reviewed ISESCO's efforts to support cultural work in light of its vision and strategic directions, as well as the report of its affiliate Heritage Committee and the document of guidelines for cultural policies.

Culture

Picasso Masterpiece Begins Pre-auction Tour in Dubai

A visitor looks at Pablo Picasso’s painting “Femme à la montre” displayed for viewing at Sotheby’s Dubai on September 25, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
A visitor looks at Pablo Picasso’s painting “Femme à la montre” displayed for viewing at Sotheby’s Dubai on September 25, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
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Picasso Masterpiece Begins Pre-auction Tour in Dubai

A visitor looks at Pablo Picasso’s painting “Femme à la montre” displayed for viewing at Sotheby’s Dubai on September 25, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
A visitor looks at Pablo Picasso’s painting “Femme à la montre” displayed for viewing at Sotheby’s Dubai on September 25, 2023. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

A Pablo Picasso masterpiece expected to fetch at least $120 million at auction went on show Monday in Dubai, kicking off a set of rare viewings outside the United States.

"Femme a la montre", the 1932 portrait of Marie-Therese Walter, Picasso's mistress and "golden muse", is being exhibited for two days before heading to Hong Kong and London.

The viewing is "the first time a painting of this caliber by the world-renowned artist has ever been exhibited in the UAE", Sotheby's Dubai said in a statement, noting it is the first time the portrait had been shown outside the United States in half a century.

"Over the years the UAE has earned the status of being a global art destination, which receives a further boost as this rare Picasso is unveiled here," said UAE Culture Minister Sheikh Salem bin Khalid al-Qassimi.

"Femme a la montre" will be sold in November as part of a two-day auction of late New Yorker Emily Fisher Landau's prestigious collection.

Walter met Picasso in Paris in 1927, when the Spaniard was still married to Russian-Ukrainian ballet dancer Olga Khokhlova, and when Walter was 17.

Walter, whose daughter with Picasso died last year, also featured in "Femme assise pres d'une fenetre (Marie-Therese)", which was sold in 2021 for $103.4 million by Christie's auction house.

"The market for Picasso is one of the most truly global of any artist. He is a worldwide phenomenon," said Julian Dawes, head of impressionist and modern art at Sotheby's.

Between 2021 and 2022 "we saw over 100 percent increase in bidders and buyers across all of our departments from the Middle East", Dawes added.

Fifty years after his death in 1973 aged 91, Picasso remains one of the most influential artists of the modern world, and is often hailed as a dynamic and creative genius.

But in the wake of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault, his reputation has been tarnished by accusations that he exerted a violent hold over the women who shared his life and inspired his art.