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Saudi Culture Ministry Relocates to New Headquarters in Diriyah

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
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Saudi Culture Ministry Relocates to New Headquarters in Diriyah

The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities
The Saudi Culture Ministry will oversee the national pavilion with participation from several entities

Diriyah Company has announced the completion of the relocation of the Ministry of Culture to its new headquarters in Diriyah’s Northern District, developed as part of the company’s integrated urban masterplan. The move underscores the growing presence of national cultural institutions within Diriyah, reinforcing its role as a fully integrated destination for culture, governance, and contemporary living.

The relocation follows the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Culture and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in mid-2022. The agreement laid the foundation for collaboration between the Diriyah Project and the Ministry of Culture to encourage coordination, development, and the delivery of cultural projects, initiatives, and events in line with Diriyah’s master plan.

Commenting on the occasion, Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo said: “We are pleased that the Ministry of Culture has chosen Diriyah as its headquarters, and we are proud of our partnership with the Ministry in developing its new headquarters. This milestone reflects the pace at which we are advancing Diriyah as a fully integrated urban destination for living, working, and visiting. The relocation of the ministry marks an important step in delivering world-class work environments and office spaces, aligned with our vision to position Diriyah as a vibrant global urban hub.”

Ministry of Culture spokesperson Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa affirmed that the ministry’s relocation to its new headquarters in Diriyah embodies the connection of Saudi culture to its deep historical roots. He noted that “this relocation is an extension of the ministry’s vision to entrench Saudi culture as a pillar of national development, and to strengthen its integration with historical sites of civilizational value, contributing to highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural depth and enhancing Diriyah’s standing as a global cultural and historical center.”

The new headquarters is the largest standalone office building in Diriyah to date, with a total built-up area of 33,168 square meters. It has been designed to accommodate the ministry’s teams and operational requirements, offering an integrated work environment supported by advanced digital infrastructure, tailored office layouts, and high-quality facilities.

The project has been awarded by LEED, the world's widely recognized green building rating system obtaining LEED Gold–certified under LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell Development and a Gold Commercial certification under the national green building rating system, Mostadam, reflecting its sustainable approach across energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and health and wellbeing, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

The development also reflects Diriyah Company’s broader commitment to thoughtful urban planning and its long-term vision to establish Diriyah as a leading center for culture, education, arts, and entertainment, anchored by its unique setting that includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and a growing collection of cultural and historical destinations

As part of its wider development program, Diriyah Company is delivering a $63 billion integrated urban project that has attracted more than five million. Several key destinations opened in 2024, including Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel and Zallal, a vibrant mixed-use district combining dining, retail, and office spaces in a traditional setting.

Development works are continuing, with the project targeting more than 50 million visitors annually by 2030, the creation of 180,000 jobs, and accommodation for around 100,000 residents.

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Culture

Kerala’s Snake Boat Racers Keep Tradition Afloat in Face of Floods and Financial Challenges

Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Kerala’s Snake Boat Racers Keep Tradition Afloat in Face of Floods and Financial Challenges

Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Rowers from the United Boat Club train on the Pamba river in preparation for the Nehru Trophy snake boat race, near Kainakary, Kerala, India, August 7, 2026. (Reuters)

This weekend around 20 wooden boats, 100-foot long and powered by about 100 rowers each, will slice through Kerala's backwaters to compete for the most prestigious trophy in the centuries-old sport of "vallam kali", or snake boat racing.

Thousands will cheer on from the shore and houseboats as the slender vessels, whose raised sterns give them a cobra-like appearance, race for village pride on a 1.4 km course at Punnamada Lake.

As well as the splashing of hundreds of oars hitting the water in unison over 90 times per minute, the rowing is accompanied by a cacophony of chants and whistles as well as the thunderous beat of thick wooden poles pounding on the deck.

The Alappuzha district, which used to be known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of the proliferation of paddy fields, contains some of the lowest lying land in India and is prone to flooding during the ‌monsoon rains.

But while ‌most villagers check the swollen Pamba River each monsoon morning with trepidation, Vakkachan Theverkkat sees ‌opportunity -- ⁠another chance to ⁠train his roster of 150-odd rowers.

Vakkachan is a former senior oarsman with a lot of experience of racing the massive boats that compete across a three-to-five month season, including Saturday's prestigious Nehru Trophy.

"It runs in my family," said Vakkachan, the leading captain of the Kainakary-based United Boat Club (UBC), which has been competing for the Nehru Trophy since 1963 and won it 12 times.

"Our club has won the Nehru Trophy the most times and also lost it the most times," he told Reuters with a smile.

Deadly floods killed 28 people and displaced thousands across Kerala this month and parts of Kainakary were also affected.

Several roads became inaccessible as houses and buildings stood half-submerged, surrounded by ⁠paddy fields that had swollen into lakes.

Yet UBC's rowers -- mostly locals but including oarsmen from ‌distant states like Uttarakhand and Manipur -- maintained their rigorous practice schedule, often twice ‌daily.

UBC are rated a decent chance for a 13th triumph as they have been hired to row "Veeyapuram", the boat which won the Nehru Trophy ‌and the Champions Boat League last season in the hands of the Village Boat Club.

"VICIOUS VEERU"

Like most Chundan Vallam, or ‌snake boats, Veeyapuram is community-owned and belongs to a village of the same name some 30 km (19 miles) south of Kainakary.

Hundreds of villagers raised around 9 million Indian rupees ($94,300) to launch the boat -- nicknamed "Vicious Veeru" -- in 2019.

Funding each season costs nearly 7 million rupees ($73,000), with the boat owners earning back only a fraction from sponsors and prize money.

While the Kerala government often uses snake boat races to promote tourism, shareholder Manikanthan ‌Nair TM said the boat-owning communities get little help as they battle financial hardship and natural disasters to keep the sport alive.

Kamarudeen KA, the secretary of the Veeyapuram ownership group, ⁠however, said they would not ⁠give up the tradition despite the challenges.

"As long as we're here, we'll keep (this boat) running," he said.

"People speak of it proudly and with admiration. We feel proud that this boat has given us that recognition and identity."

Originally designed as battle canoes in the 13th century, the snake boats have become unlikely symbols of unity in a culturally diverse state.

"There's no barrier like religion or caste when it comes to the boat ... we all pray for its success," said Robin Varghese, a Christian priest and member of the Veeyapuram committee.

"This is our blood and culture," said UBC secretary Sajimon B.

Boats can compete for decades. The Karichal snake boat, launched in 1970, narrowly beat Veeyapuram to win the 2024 Nehru Trophy.

Culture

Diriyah Art Futures Launches CONTINUUM 26

CONTINUUM 26 runs from September 3 to November 7. (SPA)
CONTINUUM 26 runs from September 3 to November 7. (SPA)
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Diriyah Art Futures Launches CONTINUUM 26

CONTINUUM 26 runs from September 3 to November 7. (SPA)
CONTINUUM 26 runs from September 3 to November 7. (SPA)

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), an asset of Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission under the Ministry of Culture, announced on Tuesday the lineup for CONTINUUM 26, an exhibition celebrating the creative output of the participants in its second Emerging New Media Artists Program.

The first New Media Arts center in the Middle East and North Africa, DAF is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of art, science and technology. The exhibition reflects DAF's efforts to combine arts, research and education to empower the next generation of artists, foster new forms of creative expression and expand Saudi Arabia's creative ecosystem in line with the ambitions of the Museums Commission as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

Running from September 3 to November 7, in Diriyah, Riyadh, CONTINUUM 26 is the second installment in an annual exhibition series spotlighting innovative voices shaping the future of new media and digital art in the region and beyond.

CONTINUUM 26 showcases the artists' major new works developed during a year-long educational program at Diriyah Art Futures with support from across DAF's Education, Production, and Exhibition departments.

Working under the mentorship of acclaimed mentor-artists Louis-Philippe Demers and Rick Treweek, the participants explored new forms of creative expression spanning immersive and multimedia installations, light, sound, moving image, virtual reality, mixed reality, and AI-generated projects.

The title CONTINUUM speaks to the ever-evolving nature of creative inquiry that defines the Emerging New Media Artists program. It represents a dynamic process in which divergent artistic trajectories converge around shared thematic inquiries. This continuum reflects both the developmental journey of the participating artists and the fluid boundaries of the topics explored: worlds between reality and artificial reality, organic and synthetic, and human and artificial intelligences.

The exhibition is structured around four key thematic pillars that bridge technological experimentation with deeply human questions. Memory as a living process explores personal, collective, environmental, and cultural remembering. Systems of power and optimization examine technology as an extension of human decisions, desires, and control. The Body, perception, and presence shift focus toward embodiment, interspecies relationships, and immersive sensory environments. Repetition, rhythm, and collective experience explore the choreography of automated systems, labor, and human endurance.

Culture

Jeddah Cultural Centers Offer Quality Programs to Support Arts, Creativity

Jeddah is witnessing growing cultural activity, reflected in the programs and events offered by cultural centers and institutions. (SPA)
Jeddah is witnessing growing cultural activity, reflected in the programs and events offered by cultural centers and institutions. (SPA)
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Jeddah Cultural Centers Offer Quality Programs to Support Arts, Creativity

Jeddah is witnessing growing cultural activity, reflected in the programs and events offered by cultural centers and institutions. (SPA)
Jeddah is witnessing growing cultural activity, reflected in the programs and events offered by cultural centers and institutions. (SPA)

Jeddah is witnessing growing cultural activity, reflected in the programs and events offered by cultural centers and institutions throughout the year, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

These include art exhibitions, creative workshops, literary and knowledge-based gatherings, performing arts shows, and initiatives targeting children and youth, providing talents with spaces to learn, experiment, and express themselves while strengthening interaction between creatives and audiences.

The importance of these programs lies in their ability to discover talent and develop creative skills. They provide practitioners and enthusiasts with opportunities for training, networking, and the exchange of expertise, while opening avenues for young artists to showcase their work and reach audiences.

Jeddah's cultural scene derives its distinctive character from the city's identity and historical diversity. For centuries, the city has remained a meeting point for people from diverse cultures, which has influenced its arts, architecture, and social heritage, giving the contemporary cultural scene a rich foundation that draws inspiration from the past and presents it in a modern language combining the authenticity of place with contemporary creative trends.

Cultural programs also help build bridges between generations by presenting local heritage in contemporary forms and giving children and young people opportunities to discover and practice the arts in stimulating environments. This supports the sustainability of cultural knowledge and raises awareness of the value of heritage and national identity.