Saudi Arabia: Qiddiya City Unveils Groundbreaking Performing Arts Center

The first cultural asset of the newly announced Qiddiya City, the center is poised to receive over 800,000 visitors each year. SPA
The first cultural asset of the newly announced Qiddiya City, the center is poised to receive over 800,000 visitors each year. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: Qiddiya City Unveils Groundbreaking Performing Arts Center

The first cultural asset of the newly announced Qiddiya City, the center is poised to receive over 800,000 visitors each year. SPA
The first cultural asset of the newly announced Qiddiya City, the center is poised to receive over 800,000 visitors each year. SPA

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has announced an innovative Performing Arts Center to enrich Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape and enhance the array of attractions within Qiddiya City.

The first cultural asset of the newly announced Qiddiya City, the center is poised to receive over 800,000 visitors each year.

“Qiddiya City is more than just the home of entertainment and sports, but a leader in the preservation and promotion of Saudi culture. For this reason, we are thrilled to announce the addition of the Qiddiya Performing Arts Center to Qiddiya City,” said QIC Managing Director Abdullah Aldawood.

He said the center “will be a beacon of creativity and innovation that will elevate Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape to new heights.”

With its ground-breaking modern design, pioneering technology, and commitment to nurturing talent, the center embodies the spirit of Qiddiya City as a place where imagination knows no bounds,” added Aldawood.

The center will host over 260 indoor and outdoor performances and events every year. Over 3,000 seats are spread across three theaters, each offering a 360° experience merging physical and digital elements. A cantilevered amphitheater offers breathtaking views of the City’s lower plateau while a fully adaptable 500-seat venue is suspended from above.

Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Artificial Intelligence, the Center will host groundbreaking productions that push the boundaries of traditional theater.

Moreover, it will serve as an incubator for young Saudi talent, providing educational opportunities and resources to nurture the next generation of writers, producers, and actors.

The Performing Arts Center is set to create thousands of career opportunities across more than 100 job categories in the creative and cultural sectors.

A rooftop sky garden, art galleries, and green spaces will extend the cultural experience, while the Centre's iconic architecture will serve as a symbol of civic identity.

The dramatic setting of the building is a tribute to the performances it will host. The promenade walk extending across the Tuwaiq cliffs will lead to a shaded section beneath the center offering a viewing platform across the City.

This section will act as an extension of the center’s microclimate that begins with a waterfall in the Center’s lobby and cools the surrounding neighborhood.



OIC Cultural Festival Commences in Azerbaijan

The festival will run until December 11 - SPA
The festival will run until December 11 - SPA
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OIC Cultural Festival Commences in Azerbaijan

The festival will run until December 11 - SPA
The festival will run until December 11 - SPA

The OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week 2025 launched Monday in Azerbaijan.

Organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, the festival will run until December 11. It is attended by several high-ranking officials and ministers of culture from OIC member states, with over 5,000 dignitaries and guests from around the world participating in the event, SPA reported.

This international festival offers a diverse program that includes panel discussions, presentations, and professional networking sessions across a wide range of creative fields, including film, design, music, animation, technology, and digital media.

The festival aims to foster cultural dialogue among OIC member states and beyond by promoting creativity and innovation in multiple disciplines.

The event seeks to enhance cooperation among member states in culture, heritage, cinema, creative industries, and digital media, while strengthening communication, mutual understanding, and cultural exchange. Baku Creative Week also highlights Azerbaijan’s growing role on the international cultural stage and supports its efforts to promote the values of multiculturalism, dialogue, and cooperation.


AlUla Named World’s Cultural Tourism Project 2025

AlUla named world’s cultural tourism project 2025. SPA
AlUla named world’s cultural tourism project 2025. SPA
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AlUla Named World’s Cultural Tourism Project 2025

AlUla named world’s cultural tourism project 2025. SPA
AlUla named world’s cultural tourism project 2025. SPA

AlUla’s status as a global hub for culture, heritage, exploration, and discovery has been further strengthened following its designation as the World’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025 at this year’s World Travel Awards.

AlUla secured the most prestigious honor at the annual awards, regarded as the industry’s highest accolade, after receiving the highest number of votes from international experts, senior executives, specialist travel buyers, leading tour operators, and reputable travel agents, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards celebrate excellence across the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries and are recognized globally as the pinnacle of achievement.

The awards feature numerous highly contested categories, ranging from best hotel, airline, travel experience, and more.

AlUla’s latest accolade comes after the ancient city was named as the Middle East's Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025, Middle East's Leading Festival and Event Destination 2025, and Saudi Arabia's Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025 at the recent regional edition of the World Travel Awards.

A place where desert landscapes meet ancient heritage, AlUla is home to some of the region's and the world’s most significant cultural landmarks, including Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features a collection of remarkably preserved Nabataean tombs.

With a rich story spanning 200,000 years of human history and 7,000 years of continuous civilization, AlUla's past comes to life through the Royal Commission for AlUla's calendar of immersive experiences.


Red Sea International Film Festival Held Amid Wide Participation from Film Stars, Creators

The festival runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators
The festival runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators
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Red Sea International Film Festival Held Amid Wide Participation from Film Stars, Creators

The festival runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators
The festival runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators

The fifth annual Red Sea International Film Festival is being held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan at Culture Square in Historic Jeddah under the theme "In Love with Cinema.”

It runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators.

In his opening speech, the minister welcomed the festival's guests, saying "Here in the beautiful city of Jeddah - alive with creativity, culture, and the arts - I am pleased to welcome those who have joined us in previous successful editions, as well as those attending for the first time to experience an event that reflects the energy of our youth and the richness of our culture.”

With the generous support of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the minister noted that the cultural sector has witnessed an unprecedented renaissance, positioning culture as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's future.

The minister pointed out that over the past seven years, the Ministry of Culture has worked to preserve the Kingdom's diverse heritage and build a thriving cultural landscape encompassing the arts, language, music, handicrafts, and the film sector, affirming that cinema is one of the most powerful tools of cultural influence globally and plays a pivotal role in strengthening understanding among peoples.

He added that the Red Sea Film Foundation embodies the Kingdom's vision of empowering youth, supporting creatives, and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's presence as a promising cinematic destination.

The festival opened with the film "Giant" in its Middle East and North Africa premiere.

Red Sea Film Foundation Chief Executive Officer Faisal Baltyuor explained that the choice of opening film reflects the festival's vision of supporting voices and stories from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and bringing them to global audiences.

Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for Red Sea Film Foundation Jomana Alrashid stated that the foundation has, over five years, helped build an effective ecosystem that enables filmmakers from Arab, Asian, and African countries to lead their projects.

She noted that seven films supported by the "Red Sea Fund" were nominated for the Oscars, and that this year's edition features 111 films from more than 70 countries, highlighting 38 female directors.

This year, the festival offers a diverse cinematic program featuring selected global screenings and Arab works shown for the first time, in addition to an official competition that attracts films from five continents, and a series of panel discussions and talent-support programs designed to empower new voices and strengthen Arab presence in the international cinematic landscape.