JEDDAH/RIYADH: As the sun went down on Friday evening, people gathered at Jeddah Art Promenade to enjoy the Saudi National Day celebrations.
The nation’s dark green-and-white flag could be seen everywhere, and many children were dressed in clothes to match. Some women wore crystals on their faces while others dressed in abayas to complement the theme. Men wore wigs and carried flags.
A parade began as the sun went down and the city cooled, its start announced by a distant thrumming of drums that invited visitors to get to their feet.
People enjoy during an event at Jeddah Art Promenade. (AN photo)
The small band that paraded the length of the Jeddah Waterfront was dressed in mostly white. Graceful dancers led the way, followed by drummers who helped to awaken people’s spirits. In the center was a man walking on stilts and dressed in the classic Saudi attire of a thobe and head wrap, or “igaal.”
“It always awakens a sense of patriotism when I visit events like these happening on National Day,” Mariam Mohammad, 24, told Arab News.
“I dragged my family out of the house today. The crowd and the traffic were what was stopping them but we get just one night of the year to celebrate and I was not going to let it slip away,” she said.
Aitzaz Zayn, a Pakistani expat living in Jeddah, said: “I am not from Saudi Arabia but I still like going out and participating in the celebrations. There is something very beautiful about people coming together and celebrating their country.”
The parade in Jeddah was just one of many events held throughout the day.
The Royal Saudi Navy parade took place at Jeddah’s corniche on Friday and large crowds gathered to cheer it on as part of the 92nd Saudi National Day celebrations.
The fun began with an HZ-MS16 helicopter flying over the waterfront as spectators were told all about it via a commentary played through loudspeakers.
Saudi security forces hold military parade marking Saudi National Day. (SPA)
One of the Royal Navy’s most powerful aircraft, the helicopter is designed for use in search and rescue operations as well as having anti-submarine capabilities.
A number of ships designed for surveillance, search and rescue and assistance operations were also on the waterfront for people to see.
Salha Al-Shamrani and her daughter Hind visited the show together and were impressed with what they saw.
“This was such an interesting National Day event this year,” Al-Shamrani told Arab News.
Saudi Arabia marks 92nd National Day with massive airshow. (SPA)
“We learned so much through the live audio and watching the tanks and boats. The kids learned a lot too.
“There’s nothing like the Saudi Royal Navy. My husband is an instructor there, so we are familiar with how rescue operations are carried out,” she added.
Hind also found the event informative.
“It was such a beautiful and rich participation that I learned so much from. The parade was a lot of fun too,” she said.
“We got to see the ships, the tanks, the submarines and the like. I learned about their types and what each one is used for.”
A spectacular lineup of activities is on offer at Prince Majid Park in Jeddah to mark Saudi National Day.
The fun started on Wednesday and runs through Saturday, with visitors treated to a host of family and community events to celebrate the Kingdom’s culture and diversity. These include folk dances, amazing roaming performances, a musical fountain show, heritage-focused commercial and craft booths, and lots of delicious food.
People enjoy during an event at Jeddah Art Promenade. (AN photo)
Amr Alyamani, assistant site manager, said: “We are trying to enhance the National Day experience for everyone across the weekend. Our goal is to create as much joy and excitement for visitors to be mesmerized by the attractions and the musical fountain being played every 30 minutes.
“The stage performances will also reflect the rich history and will captivate audiences with a memorable performance centered on diversity and togetherness,” he added.
“This year, we aim to signify our national journey by recognizing our past, rejoicing the present and, together, look positively toward our future.”
Alexia Tashbaeva, a coach at the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation, took part in the celebrations.
Youth can learn and become closer to their heritage and culture during Saudi National Day celebrations. (AN photo)
“We are here in the park to have kids discover the sport. This way we encourage younger generations to come and play with us,” she said.
“As a foreigner, these festivals depict the strength of unity and provide an opportunity to bring people together to share our love for sport with the residents.”
Saeed Baqar, a flute player said: “Celebrating this special national occasion is an affirmation of our role as inspiring and creative artists to showcase traditional Saudi music in a contemporary manner.”
Tickets for the event cost SR30 ($8) and visitors can also pick up National Day memorabilia and dine at the food stalls.
Grassy Park in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter hosted lots of National Day activities on Friday, including horse shows, carnival games and giveaways.
Nabil Cho, a South Korean working in the Kingdom, was among those to enjoy all the fun on offer.
“I never expected an event like this to happen on a National Day,” he told Arab News. “This is my first time visiting here and I’m really excited and really enjoying my time here. It’s nice, it’s wonderful.”
People gathered at Majid park in Jeddah during Saudi National Day celebrations. (AN photo)
Cho said he heard about the National Day festivities online and invited some of his South Korean friends and colleagues to join him.
Olivier Pierre, a tourist from France, was in Grassy Park with his wife and friends.
“I think this event is very interesting because I am just discovering the Saudi culture. Today is National Day and I am very interested to know more about the cultural dances and the music, so this is why I am here and it is above my expectations,” he said.
“My wife is also very interested in discovering Saudi culture. She discovered this place in Saudi group events chats.”
As well as the action-filled activities, food stalls and boutiques sold traditional dishes and products for visitors, many of whom dressed in festive outfits.
All of the activities at Grassy Park are open to the public from 5 p.m. until midnight on Saturday.
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz on Saturday met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah where he begins a two-day tour of the Gulf region.
A German official announced that Schulz will discuss several economic and political matters of interest to the region with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The German Chancellor's will also visit the UAE and Qatar.
Schulz, who will return to Berlin on Sunday evening, is accompanied by a large delegation that includes representatives of several economic sectors.
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia has an exciting array of experiences on offer on the first day of the opening of Japan Tourism expo.
At, Tokyo Big Sight, the Saudi booth is providing visitors with a glimpse of its own unique cultural and landscape heritage through hands on experiences.
The expo is held as Japan hopes to revive the tourism industry which has been sluggish since the pandemic and the strict policy of closed doors to all foreigners, and only recently allowing a very limited number to enter.
At the Saudi Arabia booth, visitors are warmly invited to discover the mysterious charms of the country such as the city of Jeddah, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exhibitors in national costume invite visitors to stay for a moment of relaxation with tea served in the traditional way.
Visitors can also take selfies in front of a virtual landscape that they will have previously selected using a QR code available on the stand, and imagine that they are standing in the desert.
Nouf Alhasoun, Assistant Manager of Asia Pacific at the Saudi Tourism Authority told Arab News Japan that it was now possible to organize special trips to the Medina city for Japanese tourists.
The organizers of the show hope to welcome more than 150,000 visitors over three days.
RIYADH: The truce in Yemen must be extended, but the actions of the Houthi militia seem to indicate they do not want to lengthen the ceasefire beyond its expiry, the Saudi foreign minister said on Friday.
“We think it must be extended. However, the signs are not positive at this point,” said Prince Faisal bin Farhan. “Unfortunately, the indications we are seeing from the Houthis are that they do not intend to cooperate in an extension.”
He said the Iran-backed militia had failed to fulfil the commitments of the current agreement, and have now put forward demands that are unreasonable.
“I am very concerned by these developments because we will lose the momentum,” he added. “We are fully engaged with the UN representative and with others who are trying to convince the Houthis to extend the truce. Right now, the indications are worrying.”
A truce between the Houthis and the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen was brokered by the UN in April and is set to end on Oct. 2.
The truce has brought a semblance of normality for Yemenis, and has enabled the government to begin providing more services to the public.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said diplomacy has been wasted on the Houthis, who have repeatedly disregarded their treaty commitments.
Prince Faisal said the truce had created the possibility for wider peace in Yemen. “We have an opportunity here to build on a truce to work towards a permanent ceasefire, towards political dialogue. It is hard for me to understand why the Houthis would turn this down,” he said, adding that the militia’s proposals indicate “that they are looking for an excuse.”
The build-up of armaments as well as probing attacks on the frontlines by Houthi fighters indicate that they are seriously considering not renewing the truce, he told France 24 in New York.
When asked if war was back on the horizon in Yemen, he said: “Unfortunately, this seems to be what the Houthis want.”
The foreign minister reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to finding a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, but said his country will do what is needed to defend its people if the Houthis return to hostilities.
“We are of course committed to a resolution of this conflict. We are committed primarily to a truce but, of course, if we have to defend ourselves we will,” he said.
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US officials discussed energy security on Friday.
Brett McGurk, US National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, and Amos Hochstein, senior advisor for energy security, met the crown prince in Jeddah. They also discussed “investment in the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. They and US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking also discussed the latest developments in Yemen. The US officials thanked the crown prince for his mediation efforts that resulted in the release of two Americans captured by Russia during the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, mediation sponsored by the crown prince led to the release of 10 prisoners from various countries as part of an exchange of captives. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the mediation was part of the crown prince’s efforts to adopt humanitarian initiatives toward the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed on Friday that the crown prince had engaged directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure the prisoners’ release.
ALULA: Local and international artists took to the stage at one of the Kingdom’s most distinctive venues in celebration of Saudi Arabia’s 92nd National Day during the second AlUla Azimuth festival on Friday.
Engulfed in the mountainous terrain of the historic AlUla, Saudi nationals and international visitors welcomed a lineup composed of DJ and performances that lit up the stage in vivid light and fire shows.
While the event was to celebrate the establishment of the Kingdom, it was important for both the Royal Commission for AlUla and MDLBEAST to feature international artists to create greater opportunities for cultural exchange and audience attraction.
“It’s a chance for us to communicate with other artists and other talents and bring in what the local audience wants. It’s a matter of understanding what kind of flavors can we bring in every time to change it up.
“Being a part of it as the Saudi talent is great for us, for our national pride. We get to play on the same stage together with wonderful artists around the world,” said Ahmed Alammary, chief creative of MDLBEAST, and known for his music as DJ Baloo.
Azimuth’s National Day lineup also includes performances by DJs Kayan, Biirdperson, Cosmicat, Disco Misr, Parov Stelar, Jason Derulo, Anmarz, Baloo, and BKR.
The Azimuth concept was first created by the AlUla commission, but this year’s programming happened in collaboration with the leading entertainment company and record label MDLBEAST. The two entities created a production and design experience unlike any other, featuring projections on the valley mountains and laser shows that captivated the audience.
“The spaces here and the landscape are so beautiful, you look at it and you want to enhance it with something and music is the perfect complement for beautiful scenery. AlUla presents a really great space for music venues — beyond one, there’s hundreds of them,” Alammary told Arab News.
The night ascended with Saudi DJs Durar and Solskin playing back-to-back, warming up the audience for the night ahead. Next was Canadian RnB duo artist and frequent Drake collaborator Majid Jordan, who subbed their usual mellow vocals with a distinctive DJ set.
Acclaimed American singer Kelis, known for her popular song “Milkshake” was up next, setting the stage up for crowd-favorite DJ Snake, bringing back pop classics such as “Middle and “All I Need Is Your Love Tonight.”
The crisp autumn air filled the desert scene. At this point the crowd was enjoying the eccentric tunes of the French-Algerian DJ.
To follow up, Saudi duo Dish Dash, composed of brothers Hassan and Abbas Ghazzawi, performed at what they describe as a “magical” place.
“It’s a dream come true for us to actually have the power to influence and show the world what Saudi is and how we actually come together and enjoy our time in such locations, in places like these. It’s a blessing for us to be part of the leading people showing this to the world,” Hassan told Arab News.
The duo have traveled the world performing at festivals and cities, most notably Tomorrowland and MDLBEAST, but said that the AlUla experience is distinctive because of its cultural narrative. For them, it is the perfect location to share their music with the world on Saudi National Day.
“To see how much history is in this place (makes) it even more unique and to have this setup happening here, with this magnitude and all of these ideas are like a natural background of our everyday lives,” Abbas said.
Vinyl Mode took to the stage next to bring a patriotic set to the crowd, which erupted in unison singing, as Nomad ended the night.
Azimuth’s National Day lineup also includes performances by DJs Kayan, Biirdperson, Cosmicat, Disco Misr, Parov Stelar, Jason Derulo, Anmarz, Baloo, and BKR.