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From hot air balloons to helicopter rides: AlUla Skies Festival wows guests


The AlUla Skies Festival is offering visitors a unique chance to explore the skies of Saudi Arabia’s ancient city through a range of activities including hot air balloons and helicopter rides.

The festival will take place from April 26 to May 13 in one of the Kingdom’s most touristic destinations.

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The oasis city in northwestern Saudi Arabia is home to hundreds of historic monuments and natural attractions that date back to more than 200,000 years including Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

AlUla Skies Festival will feature day and night activities, providing guests a wide variety of experiences to choose from.

The day activities are:

1. AlUla Hot Air Balloons

Considered a highlight of the AlUla Skies Festival, this experience allows guests to ride in one of the dozens of hot air balloons that will take to the skies of the historic city. Visitors will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of AlUla’s mesmerizing landscape.

Visitors can also explore Alula by hot air balloon. (Supplied)

Visitors can also explore Alula by hot air balloon. (Supplied)

2. AlUla Kites

Hundreds of colorful kites will be taking to the air for sky-themed celebrations throughout the festival, offering the public a chance to watch as expert fliers sail and twirl their kites through the air before trying out their own kite-flying skills.

3. Helicopter tour

Another highlight of the AlUla Skies Festival is the thrilling helicopter tour of the magnificent city. Guests will soar over some of AlUla’s most famous landmarks and heritage sites.

A helicopter tour over AlUla. (Experience AlUla)

A helicopter tour over AlUla. (Experience AlUla)

4. Giant Swings

Only the seventh in the world, the 70-meter swing provides an adrenaline-rushing experience. Anyone brave enough to sign up can leap from a mountain’s edge and fly between the canyon walls, taking in the views as they fly through the air.

The Giant Swing experience in AlUla. (Experience AlUla)

The Giant Swing experience in AlUla. (Experience AlUla)

5. AlUla Stairway

The 45-meter suspended ladder allows visitors to climb up a canyon before jetting down in a 150-meter zipline to the valley floor.

With minimal light pollution and a unique location, AlUla has some of the darkest night skies on Earth – the perfect conditions for stargazing and other celestial activities.

The night activities at the AlUla Skies Festival are:

1. Astro-photography

Visitors will join an expert on a journey to learn more about the constellations, followed by a session on how to capture their splendor on camera in a spot known for its night skies.

2. Drone Show

Forming an array of illuminated patterns and shapes, a choreographed collection of drones is expected to delight crowds with a free nightly show from 7:45 p.m. to 8p.m.

AlUla Drone Show. (Experience AlUla)

AlUla Drone Show. (Experience AlUla)

3. Glow Show

While anchored to the ground, dozens of hot air balloons will glow in a colorfully synchronized spectacle accompanied by atmospheric music.

The experience is free and open to all Thursday through Saturday, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm.

The Glow Show featuring hot air balloons. (Experience AlUla)

The Glow Show featuring hot air balloons. (Experience AlUla)

4. AlUla Outdoor Cinema

Movie lovers can enjoy the classic outdoor cinema experience with AlUla’s blockbuster-led program and family-friendly activity full of fun, vintage touches set against the backdrop of ancient canyons.

5. Journey through the stars

The stargazing activity allows visitors to lose themselves in AlUla’s clear skies, and explore the cosmos with a local expert through the art of storytelling.

6. Harrat Viewpoint

Set atop an ancient mountain, the viewing deck offers guests a chance to enjoy AlUla’s night sky from above.

7. Planet-tinyum

The Planet-tinyum, the world’s smallest planetarium, takes visitors on a journey into the cosmos and our place within it.

Read more:

Traveling to Saudi Arabia: Your guide to visiting the stunning ancient city of AlUla

First hotel in ancient city of Hegra in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla to open Q4 2023

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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