عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Majed Al-Hugail Appointed CEO of Saudi Cultural Development Fund

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saud National Day. (SPA file)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saud National Day. (SPA file)
TT
TT

Majed Al-Hugail Appointed CEO of Saudi Cultural Development Fund

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saud National Day. (SPA file)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saud National Day. (SPA file)

The board of directors of the Cultural Development Fund (CDF), chaired by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, appointed Majed bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hugail as CDF’s new chief executive officer (CEO) effective June 1, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

With his expertise, Al-Hugail is set to lead the fund, continuing its growth, fostering the cultural sector’s development and sustainability, and boosting its economic and social impact.

Al-Hugail has extensive leadership experience in the financial, cultural, and public sectors. His distinguished career includes several key roles, most recently as general supervisor of the Ministry of Culture vice minister’s executive office and Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) head of the private sector.

Al-Hugail holds a master's degree in business administration from London Business School, a board director diploma from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, and a bachelor's degree in management from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

He succeeds Mohammed Bin Dayel, who led the fund for three years, during which CDF devoted its efforts to developing and advancing the cultural sector.

The CDF was founded in 2021 to further boost the cultural landscape within Saudi Arabia. It is organizationally linked to the National Development Fund to promote the development of a self-reliant cultural sector. The CDF supports various cultural activities and projects, facilitates investment, and seeks to improve the domestic cultural sector's profitability in alignment with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Viking Ship Navigating Seafarers’ Ancient Routes Berths in Adriatic 

A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Viking Ship Navigating Seafarers’ Ancient Routes Berths in Adriatic 

A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)

A replica Viking ship has berthed in Montenegro's Adriatic port of Bar on a years-long trip through European waters inspired by the Norse seafarers who set out from Scandinavia to explore, trade and conquer a millennium ago.

The ship, Saga Farmann, is a full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking cargo vessel, or knarr, made from oak and pine, which was found in Norway as early as 1893 but only excavated in the 1970s.

"This is the type of ship that would travel to Iceland, or Greenland, even North America," said Linda Sten Vagnes, one of the journey's leaders.

The trip, set to end in 2026, was originally planned to follow the Norwegian coast into the White Sea off northern Russia and the Volga River, but it was rerouted to follow the rivers of Europe from West to East.

"We had to the change the route because of the war (in Ukraine)," Sten Vagnes said.

The Viking age, spanning the 8th to 11th centuries AD, saw Norsemen journey from Scandinavia aboard timber longships to stage raids, trade and settle across a wide region, including North America, using their mastery of maritime technology.

The Saga Farman's journey, which started in 2023, was inspired by the sagas about Vikings who travelled to Constantinople, capital of the-then Byzantine empire.

It took years of hard work by enthusiasts, with the support of the governments of Denmark and Norway, to make an exact copy of a knarr. The vessel was launched in 2018, said Axel Hubert Persvik, a ship builder.

"It takes a long time because most of craft we do is by hand, ... it takes many hours to build it."

At the latest leg of the trip, the 21 meters (69 ft)-long and five meters (16 ft)-wide ship sailed from the Aegean Sea into the Adriatic, said Zander Simpson, the ship's captain.

"The next stage of the trip is around Italy, Sicily ... to stay in Rome this winter, before next year's stage which will take her up the Italian coast, the French Riviera ... to Paris."

In addition to sails and oars, the Saga Farmann has four electric motors to propel it upwind and upstream. More than three tons of batteries are stored onboard where they serve for propulsion and as ballast.