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.



Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence
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Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

Saudi Culinary Arts Commission Signs New Partnership to Expand Global Presence

The Culinary Arts Commission has announced a strategic partnership with the international organization Sirha Food to enhance the presence of Saudi culinary culture at international events and competitions focused on the culinary arts.
Under this partnership, the Kingdom will host regional selection competitions for both the Bocuse d'Or competition and the Pastry World Cup for the Middle East in 2025.

According to SPA, this marks a significant step in the development of the Kingdom’s culinary arts sector, as these prestigious competitions aim to discover the best talents in the region, providing chefs with the opportunity to compete on the global stage and offering Saudi chefs a platform to showcase their skills internationally.
The collaboration between the Culinary Arts Commission and Sirha Food includes participation in the finals of the Pastry World Cup and the Bocuse d'Or World Final, as well as the Sirha exhibition, set to take place in Lyon, France, in January 2025.
The partnership builds on the existing collaboration between the commission and Sirha Food, which previously resulted in the organization of the Sirha Arabia exhibition in Riyadh.
CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission Mayada Badr stated that the collaboration with Sirha Food represents a pivotal step toward advancing the culinary arts in the Kingdom. She noted that hosting the regional edition of the Bocuse d'Or competition and the Pastry World Cup, alongside the commission's participation in Sirha Lyon, reflects its commitment to enhancing the Kingdom's global status in this field.
Badr also pointed out that this partnership aligns with the commission’s ongoing efforts to develop the culinary arts sector through fruitful collaborations that contribute to improving the culinary scene in the Kingdom, fostering growth in the sector, and benefiting Saudi chefs and local talent.