Saudi ‘Ehsan’ Campaign: Social Unity Reaches Millions

The fourth edition of the Saudi annual national campaign for charitable activities was inaugurated with generous donations from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
The fourth edition of the Saudi annual national campaign for charitable activities was inaugurated with generous donations from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
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Saudi ‘Ehsan’ Campaign: Social Unity Reaches Millions

The fourth edition of the Saudi annual national campaign for charitable activities was inaugurated with generous donations from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
The fourth edition of the Saudi annual national campaign for charitable activities was inaugurated with generous donations from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)

As Islam’s holy month of Ramadan begins, people’s hearts open, eager to do good deeds and help those in need.

The fourth Saudi annual national campaign for charitable activities shows how individuals and Saudi organizations are competing to give generously.

This year's campaign was kickstarted by significant donations from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, through the Ehsan platform.

Within hours of launching last Friday, donations exceeded SAR 1 billion, highlighting the community’s eagerness to contribute. The campaign continues to accept donations until the end of Ramadan.

The Ehsan platform offers diverse opportunities for charitable donations, catering to various needs. From supporting families who have lost their breadwinners to helping patients struggling with illness and poverty, the platform addresses a wide range of challenges.

Donations can also aid debtors and those in need by covering electricity bills through the “Taysirat” service.

Additionally, the platform provides assistance for individuals facing legal obligations and offers opportunities for supporting emergency relief projects worldwide in collaboration with the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid.

At Ehsan’s headquarters in Riyadh, a team acts as a central hub, working tirelessly throughout the campaign. They track donations, encourage competition in doing good, and share stories of kindness on social media.

The platform’s social media profiles showcase individuals and organizations giving generously to support charitable causes, maximizing their impact and contributing to the national charity campaign.

At the exhibition accompanying the fourth edition of the national charity campaign, visitors can see the results of the campaign through various projects nearing completion or already in progress.

The exhibition showcases the nearly completed “Salam” Endowment Hospital project in Madinah, the first of its kind in the Kingdom.

It is located near the Prophet’s Mosque and boasts 14 floors, including an emergency department, intensive care unit, and dialysis center.

Moreover, interactive displays at the fair illustrate the impact of donor generosity in various charitable and developmental areas, highlighting nationwide contributions.

The exhibition also introduced the Ehsan Endowment Fund, launched last January to ensure financial sustainability for charitable endeavors, enabling individuals and organizations to invest and allocate returns to diverse charitable activities in collaboration with over 1,700 local organizations.

Ehsan has positively impacted over 4.8 million people across education, social, health, relief, environmental, economic, and technological sectors.

Donations continue 24/7 during Ramadan, totaling over SAR 6.2 billion. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Ehsan promotes a culture of donation and supports community projects and humanitarian causes, enabling secure donations.



Diriyah Art Futures, Schiattarella Associati Inaugurate 'The Light Footprint' Exhibition in Venice

The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation. (SPA)
The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation. (SPA)
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Diriyah Art Futures, Schiattarella Associati Inaugurate 'The Light Footprint' Exhibition in Venice

The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation. (SPA)
The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation. (SPA)

The Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), the MENA region's first New Media Arts hub, inaugurated on Thursday "The Light Footprint," an exhibition in collaboration with Italian architecture studio Schiattarella Associati.

The exhibition's launch, which runs until June 15, coincides with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 and explores the architectural development of DAF's groundbreaking headquarters in Riyadh, said DAF in a statement.

The Light Footprint exhibition is hosted at Venice's Querini Stampalia Foundation and presents architectural models, sketches, videos, drawings, photographs, and archival objects to highlight the development process of DAF's remarkable headquarters.

The opening event brought together Advisor to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture Mona Khazindar, Director of DAF Haytham Nawar, and Principal Architects of Schiattarella Associati Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella for a guided curator-led tour of the exhibition, highlighting the building's architectural and conceptual vision.

Designed by Schiattarella Associati, the DAF hub sets a new benchmark for developing technologically advanced cultural landmarks that integrate historical context with forward-thinking architectural design. Carved into the escarpment of Diriyah, the design draws on Najdi traditions, local materials, and a philosophy that prioritizes sustainability, cultural resonance, and human connection.

Khazindar stated: "We are pleased to present our vision for Diriyah Art Futures alongside the launch of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025. This project embodies our efforts to develop forward-looking cultural institutions that foster bold experimentation and new forms of creative expression rooted in our distinct heritage."

"Through projects like Diriyah Art Futures, we are establishing new benchmarks for contemporary cultural institutions while transforming the Kingdom into a leading global capital for cultural exchange," she added.

Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella said: "Our work begins with the belief that architecture must resist the global flattening of cultural identity by embracing the uniqueness of place. With Diriyah Art Futures, we sought to create something deeply rooted in the local context, which draws on natural materials, historical continuity, and the values of the Najdi tradition to build a contemporary language tied to its environment."

Developed by the Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, DAF is an arts, research, and education hub driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of science and technology.

DAF's 6,550-square-meter hub is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, symbolizing Saudi Arabia's efforts to develop forward-looking institutions, with strong roots in the nation's unique cultural heritage.