Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity
TT

Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Marvels of Saudi Music’ Initiative Showcases Saudi Creativity

Under the patronage of Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Minister of Culture, the Music Commission, with the participation of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission (TPAC), organized a musical evening entitled "Marvels of Saudi Music" at the National Auditorium in Mexico City.

The event was attended by Mexican Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Saudi Ambassador to Mexico Haitham bin Hassan Al-Maliki, TPAC CEO Sultan Al-Bazai, Music Commission CEO Paul Pacifico, ambassadors of the GCC member states and other Arab countries accredited to Mexico, Mexican cultural figures, and music lovers.

On behalf of the Saudi Minister of Culture, the CEO of the Music Commission delivered a speech in which he said: “I am pleased to welcome you to the ‘Marvels of Saudi Music’ initiative, in a wonderful concert, in which the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, the Mexican Carlos Chavez Orchestra, and performing arts groups from the two countries participate”

“Saudi music has been painted since ancient times, an immortal painting, taking it past its initial starting point to the future in a journey of continuous and endless development. Its mainstay was the creative Saudi man, who lives today in a prosperous age under the Saudi Vision 2030, which considers supporting culture and empowering intellectuals an essential part of a development project that is the largest in the country’s history,” the CEO of the Music Commission added.

The concert included the participation of 33 musicians, 39 singers from the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, 40 performers from the Performing Arts Ensemble, in addition to 57 musicians from the Mexican Carlos Chavez Orchestra and the Mexican Folkloric Ballet of Fulcorette de Amelia Ensemble.

During the concert, the Saudi Ambassador Al-Maliki, and Theater and Performing Arts Commission CEO Sultan Al-Bazai presented an oud musical instrument as a souvenir gift to the Mexican Minister of Culture, in appreciation of the great hospitality and interest that the Saudi delegation participating in this ceremony received.

The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir are among the initiatives launched by the Music Commission to celebrate Saudi musical creativity, share it with the world, and promote international cultural exchange through music.

The Mexico concert comes as part of the global tours of the “Marvels of Saudi Music” initiative organized by the Music Commission and the TPAC out of their belief in the importance of music and performing arts and their role in enhancing communication between peoples.

It also comes with the aim of achieving the goal of international cultural exchange, which is one of the strategic goals of the Ministry of Culture, which seeks to realize them under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030.



Jazan Festival 2026 Kicks Off Thursday with Grand Parade

his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
TT

Jazan Festival 2026 Kicks Off Thursday with Grand Parade

his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA
his year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity - SPA

The Jazan Festival 2026 will launch on Thursday in a carnival anticipated by thousands of visitors from within the region and beyond.

The festival will open with a grand celebratory parade starting at 3:45 p.m. along the Jazan city waterfront, signaling the start of an entertainment and cultural season that will extend for several months, according to SPA.

This year’s festival offers an unprecedented experience that brings together the charm of the region’s unique geographic diversity, from its towering green mountains and golden beaches to its picturesque islands, alongside the authenticity of its rich heritage, complemented by modern touches in entertainment programs designed to meet the aspirations of all age groups.

Performing arts inspired by local folklore will add an authentic dimension, while moving installations will flow in harmonious rhythm.

Completing the visual spectacle, integrated light and sound shows will create an enchanting atmosphere before the festivities conclude with a dazzling fireworks display lighting up the Jazan sky in vibrant colors.


UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures Hosts Lectures on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
TT

UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures Hosts Lectures on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA
The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application - SPA

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), with support from the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, organized a training course and a series of specialized lectures on the translation and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, SPA reported.

The program was presented as an advanced knowledge initiative that combined theoretical perspectives with practical application, opening space for in-depth discussion of the challenges of translating intangible heritage as a living, evolving form of culture closely tied to its cultural, social, and performative contexts.

The course and lectures adopted a comprehensive approach that views translation as a cultural tool for preserving oral memory and building bridges between local specificity and the global sphere.

This approach was reflected through applied models, field experiences, and contemporary conceptual frameworks.


Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s Boat Is Being Reassembled in Public at Grand Egyptian Museum

People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
TT

Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s Boat Is Being Reassembled in Public at Grand Egyptian Museum

People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.
People walk next to King Khufu's boat gem, also known as the Solar Boat, as work to restore the second solar boat has started with wooden planks part of the 1,650-piece structure being installed on a metal frame through Egyptian-Japanese cooperation with two Japanese universities, marking the start of preparations for the second boat's public display at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), near the Giza Pyramid Complex, in Giza, Egypt, December 23, 2025.

A boat belonging to an Egyptian pharaoh is being assembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s exhibition hall.

Staff began piecing together the cedarwood boat, one of two that were found that belong to King Khufu, Tuesday morning as dozens of visitors watched.

The assembly of the 42-meter (137-foot) -long vessel, which sits next to its already-assembled twin that has been on display, is expected to take around four years, according to Issa Zeidan, head of restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum. It contains 1,650 wooden pieces.

King Khufu ruled ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

“You’re witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy, who attended the event.

The $1 billion museum, also known as GEM, was touted as the world’s largest when it was lavishly inaugurated last month. It's home to nearly 50,000 artifacts, including the collection of treasures from the tomb of the famed King Tutankhamun, which was discovered in 1922. The museum, located near the pyramids at the edge of Cairo, is expected to boost Egypt’s tourism revenues and help bolster its economy.

The boat was one of two discovered in 1954, opposite the southern side of the Great Pyramid. The excavation of its wooden parts began in 2014, according to the museum’s website.

The exact purpose of the boats remains unclear, but experts believe they were either used to transport King Khufu’s body during his funeral or were meant to be used for his afterlife journey with the sun god Ra, according to the museum.