World

AlUla Moments features exciting calendar of events with concerts, festivals, sports

The AlUla Moments unveiled its exciting calendar of events for the 2023/24 season that features performances by world-renowned artists, wellness and cultural festivals, sporting tournaments, and more.

The AlUla Moments calendar features a “rich tapestry of authentic experiences coming up for this year and the next,” according to Rami al-Mouallim, Vice President, Destination Management and Marketing at The Royal Commission for AlUla.

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“Our diverse offerings reinforce AlUla’s standing as a world-class, year-round destination where visitors are captivated by awe-inspiring landscapes, ancient heritage and a thriving arts and cultural scene,” he said in a press release.

“AlUla is quickly reasserting itself as the vibrant hub for creative and immersive encounters that it was thousands of years ago. From ancient wonders to contemporary festivals and events, the upcoming season at AlUla offers a transformative journey that will leave a lasting impression on every visitor,” al-Mouallim added.

Here’s the full calendar of events for the upcoming season:

AZIMUTH (21-22 September)

The new season will start with the highly anticipated two-day AZIMUTH festival that will see regional and international stars kick off celebrations ahead of Saudi National Day.

Parov Stellar performing at AZIMUTH 2022. (Supplied)

The star-studded lineup includes Jorja Smith, Shkoon Live, Thievery Corporation, Âme & Dixon, Tinariwen, Chet Faker, and Dope Lemon.

AlUla Wellness Festival (October 19 – November 5)

Following AZIMUTH, the AlUla Wellness Festival will bring together the world’s best practitioners of yoga, meditation and more alongside local talent to deliver a holistic wellness experience.

AlUla Wellness Festival. (Supplied)

The Sanctuary Five will return with immersive sensory-based wellness experiences, including yoga, meditation, and mindfulness sessions, running daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the festival. Visitors can take advantage of art therapy, Ayurveda, and sound-healing from world-class experts, as well as inspirational talks with leading experts in their fields, including Anas Bukhash and Hala Kazim.

Eco-gardening and voluntourism experiences will also provide visitors with opportunities to be at one with nature and give back to the AlUla environment as part of the 2023 event schedule.

Ancient Kingdoms Festival (November 17 – December 3)

The Ancient Kingdoms Festival will return for its second edition, presenting journeys of wonder and discovery inspired by the ancient world.

Ancient Kingdoms Festival, AlUla. (Supplied)

The rich mix of events will present an entertaining journey through time informed by history, ranging from after-dark experiential immersions to family-friendly hands-on activities.

In the coming edition, Hegra – the iconic archaeological site at the heart of the Incense Road – will act as the epicenter of festivities as the Nabataean masterpiece celebrates its 15th anniversary as Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic heartland will host special performances, innovative tours, and imaginative discovery programs.

Winter at Tantora (December 21 to January 21, 2024)

Combining music, art, sport and cultural festivities, Winter at Tantora returns as the festival that started it all.

Winter at Tantora 2022. (Supplied)

Authentic AlUla celebrations allow visitors to experience the wonders of AlUla over four themed weekends filled with geological explorations, art exhibitions, musical performances, and cutting-edge fashion.

Amongst the highlights of Winter at Tantora is the Citrus Festival – taking place during the peak of the harvest season – as well as sporting events such as the epic AlUla Trail Race, which invites athletes, amateur runners, and children alike to participate.

A high fashion event is also on the schedule.

AlUla Citrus Festival. (Supplied)

Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo (January 17-20, 2024)

The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo will also be returning to AlUla as one of the most exclusive, exciting, and visually stunning annual events to take place in Saudi Arabia, with international teams, including St Tropez and La Dolfina, showing off their horsemanship set against the backdrop of desert mountains and lush oasis.

RMA Desert Polo AlUla. (Supplied)

AlUla’s desert polo is an evolution of one of the world’s oldest sports, delivering unbridled luxury alongside sheer sporting theatre on AlUla’s ancient sands.

AlUla Arts Festival (February 8 – March 2, 2024)

The AlUla Arts Festival will once again welcome global art enthusiasts to interact with the dynamic creative spirit of AlUla.

AlUla Arts Festival. (Supplied)

The festival will immerse visitors in a vibrant celebration of contemporary visual and public art, design, curated cinema, art tours, and artist residencies.

AlUla’s mixed-use creative hub, Madrasat Addeera, will host hands-on workshops on crafts such as palm weaving, pottery, jewelry, geometry, 3D strictures, textiles, and much more.

Desert X AlUla

Returning for a third edition in 2024, the renowned international art in the landscape exhibition will captivate visitors with its large-scale site-responsive installations set against AlUla’s stunning backdrop.

Desert X AlUla. (The Royal Commission of AlUla)

In addition, a new contemporary art exhibition curated explicitly for the Maraya Hall will launch during the AlUla Arts Festival 2024.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup (February)

An established fixture on the world equestrian stage, the fifth edition of the prestigious Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup will take place in February 2024, welcoming the world’s best endurance riders to AlUla as they compete in a 120-kilometer equestrian challenge.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, AlUla. (Supplied)

AlUla Skies Festival (April 10-20, 2024)

The AlUla Skies Festival will allow visitors to experience the beautiful scenery of AlUla from a one-of-a-kind perspective.

AlUla Skies Festival. (Supplied)

Fans can explore the skies of Saudi Arabia’s ancient city through hot air balloons, helicopter tours, drone shows, stargazing and much more.

AlUla Camel Cup (April 2024)

As the pinnacle of the Saudi Arabian camel racing season, the AlUla Camel Cup will return with a specially built venue offering authentic entertainment, retail and dining from AlUla and a crowd of fashionistas to witness the excitement.

AlUla Camel Cup. (Supplied)

Desert Blaze

The Desert Blaze is an extraordinary event that pushes the boundaries of physical endurance to the extreme.

AlUla race trail. (Supplied)

Taking place amid soaring temperatures that reach up to 42°C, the second edition of Desert Blaze promises an unparalleled challenge for athletes and adventurers alike.

Featuring an array of races including 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km distances, the event presents routes that meander through AlUla’s timeless ancient monuments and vast sandstone canyons. This unique experience promises participants not just a physical trial but an unforgettable journey through history and nature as well.

Inaugural AlUla Desert Blaze all set to challenge endurance racers

‘We Dream and We Achieve’: Saudi Arabia unveils new identity for 93rd National Day

Original Article

World

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

World

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.

World

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