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Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Saudi Society for Culture Partner to Preserve Traditional Crafts

The MoU was signed by Advisor to the CEO of DGDA Eng. Abdullah Al Ghanim and SASCA General Manager Khalid Al Baz. (SPA)
The MoU was signed by Advisor to the CEO of DGDA Eng. Abdullah Al Ghanim and SASCA General Manager Khalid Al Baz. (SPA)
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Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Saudi Society for Culture Partner to Preserve Traditional Crafts

The MoU was signed by Advisor to the CEO of DGDA Eng. Abdullah Al Ghanim and SASCA General Manager Khalid Al Baz. (SPA)
The MoU was signed by Advisor to the CEO of DGDA Eng. Abdullah Al Ghanim and SASCA General Manager Khalid Al Baz. (SPA)

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts (SASCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost collaboration on various projects, initiatives, and events, leveraging SASCA's rich publications to support DGDA's mission.

The MoU, signed by Advisor to the CEO of DGDA Eng. Abdullah Al Ghanim and SASCA General Manager Khalid Al Baz, entails empowering Saudi artists and implementing art acquisition programs that will elevate the aesthetic appeal of significant locations within Diriyah and the historic At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The memorandum encompasses a wide range of collaborative efforts, including the organization of national events and holidays, the revival of musical performances, and the use of DGDA’s facilities, theaters, and cultural assets for the SASCA's programs and projects.

Furthermore, the MoU sets the stage for joint initiatives that promote community engagement, providing training and empowerment opportunities for the people of Diriyah, as well as innovative cultural and artistic programs aimed at enriching the local community.

This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both parties to increase appreciation for and participation in the cultural and artistic sectors, empower artists and talented individuals in this field, and document their efforts to revitalize the cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia.

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Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
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Egypt Opens More Galleries in Long-Awaited Antiquities Museum

A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)
A King Ramses II statue displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trial partial operation in Giza, Egypt, 15 October 2024. (EPA)

Egypt opened a series of galleries to the public on Tuesday in its flagship new museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the pyramids of Giza.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly last week announced a "trial opening" ahead of a formal inauguration. Egyptian officials say a number of world leaders have expressed interest in attending the official opening but have not indicated when this will take place.

Pharaonic statues are showcased at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

The museum's main entrance hall with its stairway of Pharaonic statues and an annex for commercial shopping opened to the public in February 2023.

Ali Abu Al-Shish, a member of the Egyptian Archaeologists Union who attended Tuesday's opening of almost a dozen galleries, said the trial operation of the vast museum was evidence Egypt now had the space to exhibit its antiquities, including those being returned by Western states and museums.

It's an "important message that we can recover our antiquities, which are spread across various countries in the world," he said.

Visiting Russian tourist Kseniia Muse said: "We are so happy to be here, to have visited these beautiful sculptures... It is very modern and at the same time you can touch the ancient."

Pharaonic statues are displayed at the Grand Staircase of the Grand Egyptian Museum during a partial trial in Giza, Egypt, October 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Tourism is an important source of foreign currency revenue for Egypt. The government has been trying to increase tourist numbers after facing a long-running foreign currency shortage that was exacerbated by external shocks.

Until now, Egypt's most famous collections have been housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has been largely unmodernized and unrenovated since opening in 1902.