Saudi Pavilion Launches Cultural Exchange Program at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Pavilion Launches Cultural Exchange Program at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has launched its cultural exchange program, designed to provide professional and personal development for staff from participating pavilions. This initiative aims to share Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and global influence with new team members.

Director of the Saudi Pavilion Eng. Adel Alfayez said that the program celebrates unity through diversity and fosters collaboration among pavilions, enabling the exchange of stories and the building of connections.

Alfayez welcomed the new team members, highlighting their journey through the Kingdom's diverse heritage, landscapes, and economy. This experience will help them build meaningful relationships with visitors and enrich their careers in preparation for Expo 2030 Riyadh.

The program's inaugural phase includes 13 Saudi staff members distributed across five international pavilions, with 15 visiting international staff members rotating through key roles in the Saudi Pavilion for three months. Additional participants will join in later rounds.

Visiting staff will undergo comprehensive training, covering Saudi culture, occupational health and safety, pavilion operational objectives, and visitor experience management. A job shadowing system will provide direct support from Saudi colleagues, ensuring immersion in the Kingdom's culture and skill acquisition.

The Saudi Pavilion will host over 700 events during Expo 2025 Osaka, including live shows, performing arts, and heritage activities. Visitors can enjoy a rich cultural experience featuring an augmented reality exhibit, as well as musical performances and special events marking national occasions.



RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii
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RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

RCU Advances Preservation of AlUla Old Town under Cooperation Agreement with Pompeii

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii continue to advance their joint work on the preservation of AlUla Old Town, under the cooperation agreement signed in January 2025.

The partnership aims to deepen research and protection efforts at this historic site and guide its development through a comprehensive heritage-led approach.

According to a press release issued by the RCU, a specialized team of archaeologists, conservators, architects and engineers is leading the project, applying rigorous scientific methodologies to study the town’s urban character and emphasize its historical significance, SPA reported.

These efforts lay the groundwork for long-term preservation programs that safeguard its architectural and artistic features.
AlUla Old Town is one of the most significant elements of AlUla’s cultural history, with surviving structures estimated to be around three centuries old. More than one thousand residential units still retain the essence of traditional life, forming a living record of oasis culture and reflecting AlUla’s enduring cultural continuity.

The release added that the current phase includes the restoration of approximately 30 houses, in addition to interventions on selected elements and the mosque within the town’s boundaries. Work is centred on strengthening documentation and interpretation standards and enhancing preservation techniques that support the site’s long-term sustainability and reinforce its role as a leading cultural destination.

These efforts reflect RCU’s commitment to protecting and developing heritage sites in line with international best practices.

They also support the sustainable development of AlUla Old Town in alignment with AlUla’s long-term vision, enhancing its cultural and historical significance locally and internationally.


Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Jeddah Book Fair 2025

 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
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Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Launches Jeddah Book Fair 2025

 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA
 This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts - SPA

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission launched the Jeddah Book Fair 2025 today at the Jeddah Superdome.

More than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies from 24 countries are participating, with 400 booths, SPA reported.

This cultural event is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s major literary platforms, bringing together publishers, creators, and book enthusiasts.

CEO of the commission Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Wasel stated that the fair reflects the commission's advanced efforts in developing the publishing industry, supporting creative talent, and enhancing the presence of Saudi publishers and writers.

The exhibition features more than 170 cultural events, ranging from seminars and panel discussions to lectures, poetry readings, and various workshops. The program includes presentations by prominent writers and thinkers, as well as a dedicated children’s area.
Visitors are welcomed daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM, except on Fridays, when it opens at 2:00 PM.


Saudi Heritage Commission, SDAIA Sign MoU to Boost AI Use in Cultural Heritage

The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
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Saudi Heritage Commission, SDAIA Sign MoU to Boost AI Use in Cultural Heritage

The Saudi Heritage Commission logo
The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

The Saudi Heritage Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) to advance data- and AI-driven solutions in the cultural heritage sector.

The agreement helps enable technologies that showcase, document, and strengthen the digital presence of national heritage.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Heritage Conference 2025 that was organized by the Heritage Commission on December 9-10 in Riyadh.

The event was held under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan.

The agreement reflects the two sides’ keenness to employ data and analytical technologies in the inventory, documentation, and relational analysis of cultural heritage. It aims to support decision-making and build a knowledge ecosystem grounded in accurate and measurable data.

The MoU also paves the way for joint projects to enhance digital heritage content and apply AI-based tools to interpret heritage and make it more accessible to the public.