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Several Agreements Signed at Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh 

The Ministry of Culture signs an MoU with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The Ministry of Culture signs an MoU with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Several Agreements Signed at Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh 

The Ministry of Culture signs an MoU with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
The Ministry of Culture signs an MoU with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

The inaugural Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh witnessed on Monday the signing of numerous agreements aimed at boosting the cultural sector in Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) to implement several strategic cultural and artistic projects across the capital.

The MoU reflects the commitment to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It specifically supports the National Culture Strategy's goals: making culture a way of life and using it for economic growth and to boost the Kingdom's international standing.

The Ministry of Culture signed another MoU, with the ASYAD Holding Group, which leads a consortium including SparkLabs Saudi Arabia and Lamar Holding, to develop a landmark multi-use cultural site in Riyadh.

Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan attended the signing of the agreement.

The Ministry also signed an MoU with Deutsche Bank to promote cultural exchange and develop cultural and artistic talents.

The MoU aims to establish a framework for cultural exchange between the Ministry of Culture and Deutsche Bank, contributing to greater understanding of potential areas of cooperation.

It also seeks to boost the professional skills of cultural personnel through the exchange of expertise, training programs, professional mentorship, and knowledge transfer.

Moreover, it includes exploring the hosting of reciprocal cultural delegations between the Kingdom and Europe with the goal of building the capacities of art curators and strengthening the presence of Saudi talents on the international stage.

The Ministry of Investment signed an MoU with the Cultural Development Fund to explore areas of cooperation in cultural investment and attract international companies to the Saudi cultural sector.

It aims to strengthen the partnership between the two sides in exploring investment opportunities and developing initiatives that help in attracting leading international companies to operate in cultural sectors. This will bolster the competitiveness of the cultural sector and increase its contribution to the national economy.

Saudi Sarat Investments Holding signed an agreement with Colnaghi, one of the world’s oldest auction houses, established in France in 1760, to open the company’s first office in the Middle East.

The Cultural Development Fund signed an agreement to establish the Kingdom’s first investment fund dedicated to the fashion sector, with capital of SAR300 million.

The investment fund will be managed by Merak Capital, with the Cultural Development Fund participating as a principal investor.

It aims to invest in companies and projects operating in the fashion sector and to develop related supply chains and services, in line with global best practices in asset and risk management.

It targets investments in fashion companies, including innovative ventures and Saudi brands with strong growth potential.

The Ministry of Culture said on Monday that investments in cultural infrastructure in Saudi Arabia have surpassed SAR81 billion since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030.

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Culture

Top Prosecutor: Louvre Heist Probe Still Aims to Recover Jewelry

FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
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Top Prosecutor: Louvre Heist Probe Still Aims to Recover Jewelry

FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
FILE - People wait for the Louvre museum to open, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

French investigators remain determined to find the imperial jewels stolen from the Louvre in October, a prosecutor has told AFP.

Police believe they have arrested all four thieves who carried out the brazen October 19 robbery, making off with jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the world-famous museum.

"The interrogations have not produced any new investigative elements," top Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said this week, three months after the broad-daylight heist.

But the case remains a top priority, she underlined.

"Our main objective is still to recover the jewelry," she said.

That Sunday morning in October, thieves parked a mover's truck with an extendable ladder below the Louvre's Apollo Gallery housing the French crown jewels.

Two of the thieves climbed up the ladder, broke a window and used angle grinders to cut glass display booths containing the treasures, while the other two waited below, investigators say.

The four then fled on high-powered motor scooters, dropping a diamond-and-emerald crown in their hurry.

But eight other items of jewelry -- including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise -- remain at large.

Beccuau said investigators were keeping an open mind as to where the loot might be.

"We don't have any signals indicating that the jewelry is likely to have crossed the border," she said, though she added: "Anything is possible."

Detectives benefitted from contacts with "intermediaries in the art world, including internationally" as they pursued their probe.

"They have ways of receiving warning signals about networks of receivers of stolen goods, including abroad," Beccuau said.

As for anyone coming forward to hand over the jewels, that would be considered to be "active repentance, which could be taken into consideration" later during a trial, she said.

A fifth suspect, a 38-year-old woman who is the partner of one of the men, has been charged with being an accomplice but was released under judicial supervision pending a trial.

Investigators still had no idea if someone had ordered the theft.

"We refuse to have any preconceived notions about what might have led the individuals concerned to commit this theft," the prosecutor said.

But she said detectives and investigating magistrates were resolute.

"We haven't said our last word. It will take as long as it takes," she said.

Culture

Desert X AlUla Unveils Acclaimed Lineup of Saudi and Global Artists in 2026 Edition

Running from January 16 to February 28, the exhibition will feature an exceptional selection of specially commissioned artworks. SPA
Running from January 16 to February 28, the exhibition will feature an exceptional selection of specially commissioned artworks. SPA
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Desert X AlUla Unveils Acclaimed Lineup of Saudi and Global Artists in 2026 Edition

Running from January 16 to February 28, the exhibition will feature an exceptional selection of specially commissioned artworks. SPA
Running from January 16 to February 28, the exhibition will feature an exceptional selection of specially commissioned artworks. SPA

Arts AlUla has announced the lineup of Saudi and international artists participating in the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, the international open-air art exhibition held in collaboration with Desert X.

Running from January 16 to February 28, the exhibition will feature an exceptional selection of specially commissioned artworks, ranging from large-scale installations and sound pieces that stretch across and beneath the desert landscape, to kinetic works and immersive interactive experiences.

The showcase reflects a deep connection to AlUla’s unique environment, its dramatic natural landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

Desert X AlUla, the region’s first public art biennial, will feature 11 artists presenting diverse perspectives, materials, and artistic traditions in their large-scale works in its 2026 edition.

The program offers a delightful mix of performances and interactive family activities, alongside dedicated programs that blend sound, movement, storytelling, and play.

Also, the visitor pavilion will host a live music program curated in collaboration with AlUla Music Hub, creating moments where art, nature, and community converge in a shared experience shaped by rhythm and a strong sense of place.

Arts AlUla confirmed that Desert X AlUla 2026 will be open to the public.

Culture

Saudi Heritage Commission Announces Discovery of 20 Rock Engravings in Soudah Peaks Project

The newly identified sites feature inscriptions and rock carvings estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. (SPA)
The newly identified sites feature inscriptions and rock carvings estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. (SPA)
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Saudi Heritage Commission Announces Discovery of 20 Rock Engravings in Soudah Peaks Project

The newly identified sites feature inscriptions and rock carvings estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. (SPA)
The newly identified sites feature inscriptions and rock carvings estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission, in collaboration with Soudah Development, a Public Investment Fund company, announced on Tuesday the discovery of 20 ancient rock art sites within the Soudah Peaks area.

Spanning more than 636.5 square kilometers across Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa, the project area is now recognized as home to some of the region’s oldest cultural landmarks. The newly identified sites feature inscriptions and rock carvings estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, offering valuable insights into the region’s rich history.

The findings include Thamudic inscriptions, along with vivid depictions of ibex, hyenas, and ostriches, as well as scenes of hunters, dancers, palm trees, and weapons, reflecting the environmental and social practices of the ancient communities that once inhabited the area.

The survey forms part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Heritage Commission and Soudah Development. Conducted in four scientific phases, the initiative began with data collection and site analysis, concluding with the documentation and classification of high-value archaeological sites in preparation for future development and preservation efforts.

Soudah Development remains committed to protecting and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of the project area. The company continues to work towards creating an integrated cultural and tourism experience that reflects the authenticity and historical richness of the region, in line with its vision to transform Soudah Peaks into a premier luxury mountain destination rooted in heritage.