Haramain railway transports over 1.3m visitors so far during Ramadan

JEDDAH: After successful events in Alkhobar and Riyadh, the much-anticipated Food Culture Festival is taking place at Jeddah’s Wonder District from Feb. 12 to 16.

Organized by the Culinary Arts Commission in partnership with the Quality of Life Program, the event showcases a rich blend of local and international culinary experiences.

The festival in Jeddah features four zones, each offering a different aspect of the culinary world.

In the food exhibitors’ area, attendees can savor various cuisines, from traditional Saudi dishes to international delicacies, allowing them to embark on a gastronomic journey around the world without leaving the city.

Leo Wen, CEO and co-founder of Whoa Tea, which offers authentic Chinese drinks and sweets like Tang Hu Lu (candied fruit snack) and coconut cubes, said: “It’s exciting to introduce these unique flavors through this festival, and the response has been overwhelming.

“Our goal is not only to provide a delicious experience but also to share the rich heritage behind these drinks and desserts, showcasing the diversity of Chinese culinary traditions.”

Noura Abdullah, founder of Soma, a Saudi brand known for its signature grape leaves, as well as dishes like grape leaves fatteh, musakhan, kibbeh, and fresh juices made from carefully selected ingredients, said: “Everything we serve is homemade, with our signature dish, the grape leaves, being particularly popular.

“I started in Alkhobar, then expanded to Riyadh, and now, by participating in this festival in Jeddah, I’m exploring the possibility of franchising Soma.

“The positive feedback from visitors has been incredible, especially (for) the grape leaves. Their response has been very encouraging and motivates me to bring Soma to even more people.”

Ahmed Imran, owner of My Makan, the only Malaysian restaurant in Jeddah, told Arab News: “Festivals like this bring together diverse cultures, and food is the perfect medium to unite people from all walks of life.

“It’s truly amazing to see such a celebration of global cuisines, and I’m excited to introduce authentic Malaysian dishes to the visitors. It’s also heartwarming to witness the positive response from the community towards Malaysian cuisine.”

The festival also welcomes food truck owners, offering them an opportunity to showcase their food and attract new customers.

Al-Baraa Yahy, who owns Protein Dose, a food truck based in Al-Safa district, said the festival has given her the opportunity to introduce her products to a wider audience.

“I’m grateful for the chance to showcase my offerings through such a fantastic platform,” she said.

For those eager to enhance their culinary skills, the workshops area offers hands-on experiences with activities such as sushi making, food decoration, pasta crafting, and even food photography, with a special focus on the flavors of Singapore.

Live cooking demonstrations will also allow guests to witness the magic of food preparation firsthand.

Sadellah Zakaria, an Italian chef, and Mokhtar Mahdy, an Egyptian chef, teach festivalgoers how to make pasta like fettuccine and ravioli from scratch with their workshop.

“These workshops are a great way for attendees to not only learn valuable culinary skills but also connect with the craft of making fresh pasta. Even children can join and enjoy this immersive experience,” Zakaria said.

The festival’s theater area features live performances, from guitar and vocal acts to Arabic music bands and Indian Bharatanatyam dancers.

Additionally, roaming performances like living statues, an interactive parade, and a Chinese dragon dance add to the event’s festive atmosphere.

The kids’ area offers a chance for children to get involved in cooking workshops and farm activities, participate in friendly competitions, and unleash their creativity in a safe and educational environment.

Mohammed Hussein, who came along with his family said: “It’s great that the workshops let kids get involved and try things out for themselves. Plus, the festival has this cool passport challenge where you get a stamp every time you visit a different zone.”

Ghadeer Abdullah, a visitor from Makkah, said: “The best part of the festival is definitely the weather. It’s so pleasant that we’re enjoying all the zones. The kids’ zone is especially engaging. My children spent almost an hour completing the workshop, and they loved every minute of it.”

RIYADH: The second Saudi Arabian Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers — Hamza — will be held on Sunday.

It will be administered by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, in collaboration with a number of Saudi universities in-person.

The inaugural Hamza test in September was intended as a step toward creating a standardized Arabic proficiency test.

Building on this, the second event is set to broaden its reach both locally and internationally, offering in-person and remote testing in collaboration with the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, or Qiyas.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, spoke about how the Hamza test serves as a benchmark assessment accredited by the academy.

“The test evaluates four key language skills — listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and speaking — over 155 minutes, comprising 75 questions. Designed to meet the highest international standards, it aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,” Al-Washmi said.

The test fulfilled the requirements of certain employers that mandate language proficiency assessments for job applicants, he said.

Through the “Hamza” test, KSGAAL aims to strengthen the academic prominence of the Arabic language regionally and globally.

By offering a precise and reliable assessment of linguistic competence, the test enables educational institutions to effectively evaluate Arabic learners and non-native Arabic instructors, ensuring accurate placement and skill development.

The test has now been administered in person to more than 2,000 candidates across Saudi Arabia and multiple other countries, encompassing more than 60 nationalities.

As part of its commitment to advancing the Arabic language, KSGAAL continues to refine and expand the test, leveraging educational and technological resources to enhance accessibility for non-native speakers both within the Kingdom and beyond.

Mansoor Almalki, director of Linguistic Testing at KSGAAL, told Arab News that collaborating with 19 Saudi universities to administer the Hamza test marked a significant step in expanding its adoption and solidifying its status as a trusted benchmark for Arabic language proficiency in academic institutions.

“This partnership ensures the test meets the evolving needs of educational institutions while reinforcing its role as a standardized assessment tool for non-native Arabic speakers,” he said.

“The integration between higher education institutions and KSGAAL, as the primary authority for Arabic language learning, teaching and assessment in the Kingdom, plays a crucial role in developing Arabic language curricula based on rigorous scientific standards.”

Almalki said that partnering with universities expanded the research database on Arabic as a second language assessment, paving the way for more effective educational strategies.

On international expansion, he revealed a strategic plan to strengthen partnerships with global universities and educational institutions, particularly in countries witnessing a growing interest in learning Arabic.

These efforts aimed to enhance the test’s international recognition and ensure its broader adoption worldwide.

“The standardized assessment model plays a crucial role in advancing research on Arabic language education. Test results provide analytical data that drive the development of more effective teaching methods,” Almalki said.

He said that the diverse nationalities of test-takers served as a strong indicator of the global success of Hamza as an international test.

“Such diversity underscores the trust that learners and academic institutions place in KSGAAL, as well as the test’s reliability as a precise standardized measure of linguistic competence,” Almalki said.