Andrea Bocelli Stars in Opera Night at Saudi’s Winter Tantora Festival

Tenor Andrea Bocelli. (Reuters)
Tenor Andrea Bocelli. (Reuters)
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Andrea Bocelli Stars in Opera Night at Saudi’s Winter Tantora Festival

Tenor Andrea Bocelli. (Reuters)
Tenor Andrea Bocelli. (Reuters)

Tenor Andrea Bocelli held on Friday his first-ever concert in Saudi Arabia as part of the Winter at Tantora festival that is underway in the al-Ula region.

The sold-out concert was conducted by Marcello Rota at the head of a 140-piece orchestra.

The concert featured a variety of performances by Bocelli and his companions, soprano Maria Aleida Rodriguez, violinist Anastasiya Petryshak and guest singer Ilaria Della Bidia.

Bocelli performed several of his acclaimed hits and during one of the segments, appeared on stage dressed in traditional Saudi garb much to the delight of the audience.

Hosted by the residents of al-Ula, the festival runs from December 20, 2018 until February 9, 2019.

During a series of themed weekend events, festival visitors experienced a range of activities including a celebration of the winter planting season, weekly cultural events, a spectacular Fursan equine experience and premiere musical performances from some of the world’s greatest musicians.

They included music performances by Mohamed Abdo, Majida El Roumi and Renaud Capuçon.

Fans are in store for a concert by Kadim Al-Saher and Ilham al-Madfai on February 15.

On February 22, the festival will honor Abdul Karim Abdul Qader with performances by Majid al-Muhandis and Rashed Al-Majed.



KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award
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KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) Organ Transplant Center of Excellence (OTCoE) has received the Innovation Award in the Regional Institute Category at the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) 2025, in recognition of its pioneering contributions to transplant innovation and regional impact on patient care. Consultant of Transplant, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery Dr. Yasser Al Nemary accepted the award on behalf of OTCoE during the ADGHW ceremony held at the ADNEC Center in Abu Dhabi.
Since 2011, OTCoE has performed more than 6,600 organ transplants, including kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas procedures, reaching a record high with 1,096 organ transplants. It has also achieved several surgical firsts, including the world's first fully robotic liver transplant and the region's first robotic pancreas transplant performed on a type 1 diabetes patient, SPA reported.
With over 5,000 kidney transplants completed and 500 successful paired kidney exchanges under its pioneering Kidney Paired Donation Program, OTCoE is a regional and global reference for multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered innovation.
"This award affirms our drive to transform organ transplant through innovation and precision, powered by a team relentlessly committed to advancing patient care," said OTCoE Executive Director Dr. Dieter Broering.
The ADGHW Innovation Awards celebrate transformative achievements in healthcare, spotlighting institutions that improve patient outcomes, expand access, and drive progress through innovation.
For the third consecutive year, KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world's top 250 Academic Medical Centers. According to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings, it is recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East. Additionally, it was included in Newsweek magazine's World's Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025.