KSA: Al Musawara From Terror Hideout to Cultural Hub

Saudi cultural center in Al Musawara neighborhood in Al-Awamiyah town,Eastern Province , Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al Awsat
Saudi cultural center in Al Musawara neighborhood in Al-Awamiyah town,Eastern Province , Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al Awsat
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KSA: Al Musawara From Terror Hideout to Cultural Hub

Saudi cultural center in Al Musawara neighborhood in Al-Awamiyah town,Eastern Province , Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al Awsat
Saudi cultural center in Al Musawara neighborhood in Al-Awamiyah town,Eastern Province , Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al Awsat

Within a year of the Saudi government’s decision to reform and develop Al Musawara neighborhood in Al-Awamiyah town nestled in the Eastern Province, the locality has been transformed from a springboard for terror assaults against security servicemen to a cultural center meant to advance provincial stability.

Saudi security forces have successfully routed terrorist groups that were holed up in the neighborhood that has become home to one of the country’s greatest cultural and development projects achieved in under 12 months.

Mayor of the Eastern Province Fahd Bin Mohammed Al-Jubeir confirmed that the project’s construction works were accomplished.

Speaking to Asharq Al Awsat, Jubeir said that the total cost of the project stood at $64 million dollars (SAR 239 million riyals) and was finished in the remarkable period of eight months.

The educational center is one of the development projects that are designed to preserve the urban and cultural identity in the eastern region, combining heritage and tradition with modern day architecture and development.

Considered a regional milestone in development for the Eastern Province, the center spans over an area of 180,000 square meters and provides a number of multi-cultural, tourist and commercial services to both locals and visitors.

More so, Jubeir reaffirmed that the Eastern Region Secretariat is working rapidly to wrap up the finishing touches on the project for a timely delivery without undercutting construction quality and safety standards.

Last October, the project’s completion rate was 70 percent. The project will include commercial stores, a cultural center, a public library, a sports complex, cafes, restaurants, men’s and women’s halls, a shopping mall, a women’s club, a kindergarten, and a car park.

The center will also host landmark heritage towers built on an area of 866 square meters.



Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Chinese President 

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Message from Chinese President 

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)
The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Sunday a written message from China’s President Xi Jinping on bilateral relations between their two countries.

The message was received by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Riyadh during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi and Director General of the General Department for Asian Affairs Nasser Al-Ghannoum.


Fifth Session of Political Committee under Saudi-Chinese Joint High-Level Committee Held in Riyadh 

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
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Fifth Session of Political Committee under Saudi-Chinese Joint High-Level Committee Held in Riyadh 

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)
The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met in Riyadh on Sunday for talks on the comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries.

They praised the level of relations across all fields, including the economic, trade, investment, and energy sectors.

They underscored that the visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and China, which have witnessed significant development and alignment of vision.

The ministers held the fifth session of the Political Committee under the Saudi-Chinese High-Level Joint Committee to discuss ways to bolster cooperation across all sectors.

They stressed their keenness to provide mutual support on matters related to the vital interests of both countries. They underlined their support for measures that achieve security, stability, development, and prosperity in both nations, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the leadership of both countries.

The Saudi side reaffirmed its adherence to the One-China policy, recognizing the Chinese government as the sole legitimate government representing all of China, stressing that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

The Chinese side expressed its support for the development and strengthening of Saudi-Iranian relations and praised the Kingdom’s leadership role and efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability.

It lauded the economic developments taking place in the Kingdom under Saudi Vision 2030. It commended the outcomes of the Arab-China Riyadh Summit for Cooperation and Development hosted by the Kingdom in December 2022.

Saudi officials expressed their support for China hosting the second China-Arab Summit and the second China-GCC Summit in 2026.

Chinese officials also expressed Beijing's readiness to participate in the World Expo 2030 Riyadh.

The two parties exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, expressing their readiness to boost communication and coordination on these matters.

They underscored their support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the two-state solution, international resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Both sides also signed an agreement on the mutual waiver of visas for holders of diplomatic, private, and service passports.


'Sakan' Begins First Phase of Housing Unit Handovers Under Saudi Crown Prince's Directives 

A general view of Riyadh on August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh on August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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'Sakan' Begins First Phase of Housing Unit Handovers Under Saudi Crown Prince's Directives 

A general view of Riyadh on August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
A general view of Riyadh on August 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan) announced on Sunday the launch of the first phase of housing unit handovers to beneficiaries across Saudi Arabia, in implementation of directives by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The announcement follows the Crown Prince's generous personal donation of SAR1 billion to the foundation through the Jood Eskan initiative to support homeownership for eligible families and beneficiaries, reflecting his firm commitment to ensuring a decent quality of life for citizens.

In line with his directives to complete designated housing projects within a period not exceeding 12 months, while adhering to the highest standards of quality and governance across all operational processes, Sakan has adopted an implementation plan that enables immediate handover commencement.

The plan includes six phases covering all regions of the Kingdom by selecting completed housing units developed by national developers and companies in accordance with approved technical specifications, ensuring a swift and tangible developmental impact.

Sakan will also, in coordination with the Kingdom's principalities, implement a monthly handover plan covering two regions per phase, aimed at streamlining beneficiary access and boosting the efficiency of handover operations.