Shaikha Mai Al Khalifa to Asharq Al-Awsat: AlUla Has Become a ‘Global Cultural Destination’

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a cooperation agreement with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a cooperation agreement with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research
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Shaikha Mai Al Khalifa to Asharq Al-Awsat: AlUla Has Become a ‘Global Cultural Destination’

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a cooperation agreement with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a cooperation agreement with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research

Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa of Bahrain, founder of the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research and Chair of its Board of Trustees, affirmed that AlUla region in northwestern Saudi Arabia has become a “global cultural destination.”

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Shaikha Mai confirmed that “AlUla has become one of the most important destinations for cultural tourism, attracting visitors from around the world, thanks to its inclusion of registered sites on the World Heritage List and its representation as an open museum of human civilizations spanning thousands of years.”

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) had signed a cooperation agreement with Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research.

The agreement looks to build cooperation in the fields of culture and heritage, as part of the efforts of the RCU to achieve the “AlUla Vision” and activate partnerships towards making AlUla a vibrant destination for heritage, culture, and the arts.

Moreover, the agreement will facilitate the establishment of a strategic partnership that supports the exchange of expertise, research, and capacity building in the fields of culture, heritage, and creativity.

It aims to preserve cultural and heritage assets, enhance historical sites, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, support studies and research, promote culture, science, intellectual pursuits, music, and literature, build capabilities, and host writers, thinkers, and artists.

“We, at the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research in Bahrain, are delighted to have an agreement for cultural cooperation and exchange of expertise with the RCU,” Shaikha Mai told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Shaikha Mai added that the Center, which is a non-profit private institution that celebrated its 21st anniversary in January, extends cooperation with official institutions at the core of its mission.



Dubai Culture Celebrates Winners of 3rd Dubai Festival for Youth Music

The competition featured 10 categories with intense rivalry among the finalists. WAM
The competition featured 10 categories with intense rivalry among the finalists. WAM
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Dubai Culture Celebrates Winners of 3rd Dubai Festival for Youth Music

The competition featured 10 categories with intense rivalry among the finalists. WAM
The competition featured 10 categories with intense rivalry among the finalists. WAM

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has crowned the winners of the third Dubai Festival for Youth Music during a ceremony hosted at Etihad Museum, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Thursday.

The festival is geared toward elevating the local music sector, discovering emerging talent, inspiring them to pursue their creative passion, and contribute to strengthening the cultural and creative industries, WAM said.

The closing ceremony was attended by Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, Fatma Al Jallaf, Acting Director of the Performing Arts Department at Dubai Culture, and poet Dr. Aref Alshaikh, who was honoured with the ‘Music Personality of the Year’ award in recognition of his longstanding literary contributions and influential role in enriching the local cultural landscape.

The event also welcomed the festival’s jury members, including composer Mohammad Malulla, maestro Fadel Hamidi, and artist Jasem Mohamed, WAM said.
The competition featured 10 categories with intense rivalry among the finalists, who unleashed their creativity through captivating musical and vocal performances. These were eagerly followed by the jury and audience, showcasing diverse skills in singing, music composition, instrumental performance, and more.