ROSHN and KFCRIS Launch Saudi Women’s Book, Glossary

ROSHN and KFCRIS Launch Saudi Women’s Book, Glossary
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ROSHN and KFCRIS Launch Saudi Women’s Book, Glossary

ROSHN and KFCRIS Launch Saudi Women’s Book, Glossary

ROSHN Group, the PIF-owned giga-project and Saudi Arabia’s most trusted real estate developer has signed an agreement with King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) to further express appreciation for and preserve Saudi women’s unique identity by releasing the first Saudi Women’s Book and Glossary, as part of the Saudi Women Project.

Attending the signing ceremony at KFCRIS were Princess Haifa AlFaisal, member of the Board of Trustees of the King Faisal Foundation, KFCRIS Secretary General, Princess Maha AlFaisal, ROSHN Group Chief Marketing and Communication Officer Ghada Alrumayan, KFCRIS Assistant Secretary-General Ibrahim Aldeghaither, and Director of the Saudi Women’s Project and scientific supervisor of the book and glossary that is be being developed by the center Dr. Dalal AlHarbi

Saudi Women’s Book and Glossary is a comprehensive study of the role of Saudi women in the formation of the Kingdom’s national identity and the preservation of its customs and traditions, said a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

The book is backed by extensive research into the national and regional customs that women have passed on for generations, from rituals around births and weddings to caring for family and interacting with society. It carefully documents Saudi women’s contributions to education, attire, and occupations.

The book is supplemented by a glossary of the vocabulary related to women in Saudi heritage in all the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Women Project is a pioneering cultural research undertaking, which seeks to present all aspects of Saudi women’s lived reality from the Kingdom’s unification in 1932.

The Saudi Women’s Book and Glossary presents the women’s role in the social, economic, and cultural developments in Saudi society, with focus on their customs and traditions. It is an unprecedented effort to preserve this unique Saudi story for generations to come.

“This project comes at a decisive moment in the history of Saudi women, with our contributions to the Kingdom’s advancement at a high tide, with Vision 2030 on the horizon. As we survey our accomplishments as a nation, it fills me with immense pride to see women excel across different sectors, as doctors and engineers, in the arts and sports, or raising the next generation of Saudi pioneers,” said ROSHN Group's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Ghada AlRumayan.

“At ROSHN, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to empowering women with the skills and support to thrive in our dynamic, growing economy,” she added.

KFCRIS was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1983 to maintain the late King’s mission of exchanging knowledge between the Kingdom and the world. KFCRIS brings together local and international researchers and organizations to produce sociological research and engage in intercultural dialogue.

It also houses Al-Faisal Cultural House, its publishing arm, the King Faisal Centre Library, the Faisal Family Archives, and Al-Faisal Museum for Arab-Islamic Art, which houses valuable collections of Islamic art, rare manuscripts, and pieces related to the late King Faisal.

ROSHN’s partnership with KFCRIS is part of the group’s wider strategy to improve the quality of life across the Kingdom by leveraging its reach and resources to create tangible impacts.

This agreement, in particular, aligns with the group’s core values, opportunity and empowerment, and is one other initiative that helps empower Saudi women and uphold Saudi culture.

Such endeavors include ROSHN’s pioneering RETURN program, which enables women to re-enter the workforce through dedicated training programs, as well as the group’s partnership with Nusf, The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment, and participation in its recent Walk the Talk mentorship initiative which offers Saudi women a unique opportunity to network and learn from accomplished women professionals.



Multi-Billion-Dollar Art Districts to Be Developed as Part of Diriyah Project in Saudi Arabia

The announcement was made during the second edition of the “Bashayer - Delivering our Future” annual event. (SPA)
The announcement was made during the second edition of the “Bashayer - Delivering our Future” annual event. (SPA)
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Multi-Billion-Dollar Art Districts to Be Developed as Part of Diriyah Project in Saudi Arabia

The announcement was made during the second edition of the “Bashayer - Delivering our Future” annual event. (SPA)
The announcement was made during the second edition of the “Bashayer - Delivering our Future” annual event. (SPA)

Diriyah Company announced on Wednesday the details of two high-profile multi-billion-dollar educational and arts districts to be developed as part of the $63.2 billion Diriyah project on the outskirts of Riyadh.

The announcement was made during the second edition of its annual international event “Bashayer - Delivering our Future”, which gathered global investors, hospitality companies, construction firms, infrastructure experts and sports, arts, culture, tourism and retail sector representatives, Diriyah Company said in a statement.

The two new districts, the Qurain Cultural District and the Northern District, are proof of the accelerating growth and development of Diriyah, one of the world’s biggest and most unique urban development projects spanning an area of 14 square kilometers.

The Qurain Cultural District is set to become a vibrant global hub where culture meets modern urban living. It will offer a diverse range of arts, retail, office, and residential spaces for people to live, work, shop local brands, and enjoy local dining experiences.

Its cultural offerings will include a cinema, museums, and several academies focused on writing, traditional Najdi architecture and mud building, Arabic music, culinary arts, performing arts, and theater. It will also include two world-class hotels and branded residences: the Ritz-Carlton Diriyah, with 195 rooms and 165 residences, and the Address Diriyah, offering 204 rooms and 60 serviced apartments.

The district will feature 19 mixed-use buildings, including office, retail, and residences, 10 of which have various boutique office options, and a wide range of retail space and dining venues.

The development of the Qurain Cultural District will proceed under a SAR5.8 billion ($1.55 billion) contract.

Development work in the Northern District began following the announcement of a partnership contract worth SAR7.8 billion ($2 billion) in July 2024.

The Northern District, said the release, will transform Diriyah into a global hub for scholars, students, and visionaries. It will feature the King Salman Foundation, museums, a university, a library, and a lively public square. It will also host the newly announced Capella Diriyah, a 100-room luxury hotel that represents Capella Hotels and Resorts' first venture in the Middle East.

Work on the Northern District is already under way after a SAR7.8 billion ($2 billion) joint venture contract was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Cooperation Limited and El Seif Engineering Contracting Co. Ltd.

Commenting on the new high-profile districts, Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “Qurain Cultural District and Northern District are two of the most important and significant areas of the Diriyah masterplan, and demonstrate the range and diversity of what Diriyah has to offer.”

“They will both become global centers of excellence, of knowledge, learning and creativity as Diriyah once more becomes a gathering place for the world. We are delighted to share details of these major developments at Bashayer and share once more the unique range of investment opportunities and partnerships the Diriyah Company has to offer the world,” he added.

The Diriyah project is one of Saudi Arabia’s five giga-projects supported by the Public Investment Fund, the world's fifth-largest sovereign wealth fund. It aims to provide homes for 100,000 residents, create 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million visitors annually, and contribute $18.6 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.