Saudi Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with ESSEC Business School for Riyadh University of Arts

The signing ceremony was held at Fenaa Alawwal, a leading cultural hub in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. SPA
The signing ceremony was held at Fenaa Alawwal, a leading cultural hub in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. SPA
TT

Saudi Culture Ministry Signs Partnership with ESSEC Business School for Riyadh University of Arts

The signing ceremony was held at Fenaa Alawwal, a leading cultural hub in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. SPA
The signing ceremony was held at Fenaa Alawwal, a leading cultural hub in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Culture signed on Sunday a partnership with ESSEC Business School, for Riyadh University of Arts (RUA)’s College of Cultural Management, to nurture creative talent and foster cross-cultural exchange, according to a statement issued by the ministry

The signing ceremony was held at Fenaa Alawwal, a leading cultural hub in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. Deputy Minister for National Partnerships and Talent Development at the Culture Ministry Noha Kattan signed for Riyadh University of Arts, while Dean and President of the ESSEC Business School Vincenzo Vinzi signed on behalf of ESSEC Business School.

Under this partnership, ESSEC will collaborate with RUA to co-design and deliver specialized programs for the College of Cultural Management, equipping future leaders with the skills to shape the evolving cultural landscape.

Founded in 1907, ESSEC Business School is among Europe’s most prestigious institutions, recognized for its academic excellence, global reach, and commitment to innovation and ethical leadership. Its programs emphasize experiential learning and empower students to drive meaningful impact across industries.

Riyadh University of Arts will offer a progressive educational framework spanning all levels and disciplines within the arts and culture sectors, including short courses, diplomas, bachelor’s, higher diplomas, master’s, and doctoral programs.

Further details on RUA, its academic programs, and international partnerships will be available on its official website, set to launch in the first quarter of 2026.

The statement added that the partnership with ESSEC is part of a series of partnerships and MoUs between Riyadh University of Arts and top-tier international institutions, advancing academic excellence, research collaboration, and world-class cultural education.



Saudi Heritage Commission Wins 2025 New York Product Design Award

Saudi Heritage Commission Wins 2025 New York Product Design Award
TT

Saudi Heritage Commission Wins 2025 New York Product Design Award

Saudi Heritage Commission Wins 2025 New York Product Design Award

Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission achieved a new international milestone after winning the Silver Category at the 2025 New York Product Design Awards for its creative work, Al-Qaayed Craft Mural, one of the most prominent products of the Artisans House in Jazan Region.

This recognition coincides with the Year of Handicrafts 2025, launched by the Kingdom to strengthen the presence of traditional crafts and highlight their cultural and economic value. The award reflects the commission’s ability to present Saudi handicrafts in contemporary forms that keep pace with innovation while showcasing the richness of national identity, SPA reported.

With this achievement, the Heritage Commission has raised its total award count this year to six, including five international honors and one regional distinction, bringing its overall accolades since establishment to 13 across the fields of heritage, handicrafts, and design.

The commission emphasized that this international recognition embodies its ongoing commitment to preserving and developing handicrafts within the framework of the Year of Handicrafts 2025.

It also highlights the integration of efforts by its specialized teams and its effective local and international partnerships to support male and female artisans and enable their products to reach global creative platforms, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi National Museum Celebrates World Arabic Language Day with Focus on Heritage, Crafts

The Saudi National Museum is organizing a cultural program to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2025, which is observed annually on December 18
The Saudi National Museum is organizing a cultural program to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2025, which is observed annually on December 18
TT

Saudi National Museum Celebrates World Arabic Language Day with Focus on Heritage, Crafts

The Saudi National Museum is organizing a cultural program to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2025, which is observed annually on December 18
The Saudi National Museum is organizing a cultural program to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2025, which is observed annually on December 18

Saudi Arabia’s National Museum is organizing a cultural program to celebrate World Arabic Language Day 2025, which is observed annually on December 18.

The program will run over three days, offering visitors a unique experience that combines heritage, arts, and the Arabic language.

The celebration will feature a series of cultural and intellectual dialogues exploring the human and cultural dimensions of the Arabic language.

A key highlight is a session titled "the aesthetics of language in Saudi folk songs," which will examine the relationship between traditional folk songs and highlight the role of language in preserving cultural heritage, connecting tools and crafts to the living heritage of Saudi societies.

The program also offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore literary and cultural works through a book signing session with a conversational style, allowing direct interaction with authors and the exploration of the aesthetics of Arabic in their texts.

The program will conclude its activities with a series of workshops, interactive activities, and artistic performances that reflect the richness and diversity of traditional crafts and arts, providing visitors with an exceptional cultural experience that blends discovery, knowledge, and celebration of living heritage.


Hadrami Dan Added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List

The Hadrami Dan included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following a long and diligent process. Photo: X
The Hadrami Dan included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following a long and diligent process. Photo: X
TT

Hadrami Dan Added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List

The Hadrami Dan included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following a long and diligent process. Photo: X
The Hadrami Dan included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity following a long and diligent process. Photo: X

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of UNESCO, during its ongoing 20th session in New Delhi, included the Hadrami Dan on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Hadrami Dan is a traditional performance and community gathering that combines spontaneous poetry, music and dance, widespread practiced across Hadhramaut Governorate. A typical Hadrami Dan gathering includes at least one singer and poet, with the audience seated in rows or circles.

Yemen’s Ambassador to UNESCO Mohammed Jumaih said the Hadrami Dan deserves this recognition, following a long and diligent process to reach this goal.

Jumaih thanked the Ministry of Culture and its staff, and the National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.

He offered special gratitude to the Hadhramaut Foundation for Culture, which undertook the preparation and financing of the nomination file.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, its Chairperson (India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal Sharma), the committee members, its secretariat, and the Evaluation Body experts for their efforts.

Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Muammar Al-Eryani in the Yemeni government said this achievement represents “a well-deserved international recognition of one of the most important creative expressions in Hadhramaut and Yemen in general.”

The Hadrami Dan embodies the depth of Yemeni cultural identity, which successive generations have preserved despite the harsh transformations the country has undergone, he said.

Al-Eryani added that it is the result of a joint national effort involving the Ministry of Culture and the Hadhramaut Foundation for Culture, alongside the prominent role played by Jumaih in following up on the issue within UNESCO.