Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair

Visitors were introduced to Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission. (SPA)
Visitors were introduced to Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission. (SPA)
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Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair

Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair
  • Bassam Al-Bassam: Saudi Arabia’s participation in the fair achieved its strategic goals of enhancing international cultural exchange

LONDON: Saudi Arabia has concluded its participation in the London Book Fair 2025, which took place in London, from March 11 to 13.

Visitors were introduced to Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission. Several other cultural entities also participated, including the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the King Fahad National Library, and the Publishing Association.

Bassam Al-Bassam, general manager of publishing at the Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, said the Kingdom’s participation in the fair achieved its strategic goals of enhancing international cultural exchange, showcasing Saudi literary movements, and supporting Saudi authors in reaching a global audience.

He noted that this participation aligns with the commission’s ongoing efforts to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global cultural destination.

 


Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with Biennale Nights

Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with Biennale Nights
Updated 6 min 25 sec ago
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Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with Biennale Nights

Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with Biennale Nights
  • Held at the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz Airport, the event offers visitors a cultural and spiritual experience

JEDDAH: The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has unveiled Biennale Nights, a special Ramadan program at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah.

Held at the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the event runs until May 25, offering visitors a cultural and spiritual experience that celebrates the holy month while showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich Islamic heritage.

Under the warm glow of Ramadan nights, visitors at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah come together to celebrate faith, art, and tradition. (Supplied)

During Ramadan, visitors can take part in workshops featuring Arabic calligraphy and traditional craftsmanship, as well as interactive experiences exploring the artistic expressions associated with the holy month.

Sharing his experience, Ahmed Ramadan told Arab News: “This was my first time visiting the Islamic Arts Biennale, but I had planned to go for a while. When they announced the Ramadan events, I got even more excited. I feel that there is a strong connection between Ramadan activities and Islamic arts. I came with a group of friends, and we found many activities that suited young people.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Guests can explore an array of international cuisines, indulge in specialty delicacies like dates, honey and chocolates, and enjoy traditional beverages such as Karak and Arabic coffee.

• The market also features henna art, storytelling sessions for children and game wagons, creating an engaging atmosphere for families.

He added: “We played some group games, enjoyed a variety of food, including traditional Saudi dishes and Ramadan sweets popular in the western region. Honestly, it was a wonderful experience.

The Islamic Arts Biennale serves as a global platform for dialogue and exploration of Islamic arts. (Supplied)

“The timing, in the middle of Ramadan, was ideal, after the initial days of the month, which are usually packed with family gatherings and invitations. It was a great opportunity for my friends and me to come together in such a unique place.”

Running from March 6-15, the Ramadan Market welcomes visitors daily from 8 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., offering a vibrant mix of activities and attractions.

Under the warm glow of Ramadan nights, visitors at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah come together to celebrate faith, art, and tradition. (Supplied)

Guests can explore an array of international cuisines, indulge in specialty delicacies like dates, honey and chocolates, and enjoy traditional beverages such as Karak and Arabic coffee.

The market also features henna art, storytelling sessions for children and game wagons, creating an engaging atmosphere for families.

Under the warm glow of Ramadan nights, visitors at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah come together to celebrate faith, art, and tradition. (Supplied)

Adding to the festive spirit, live music and cultural performances take place, while visitors can find unique Ramadan-themed gifts at the Biennale Design Store.

For many, the Ramadan Market has been a memorable experience.

Walaa Ali, a visitor from Jeddah, said: “The venue offered a diverse range of activities specifically designed for the holy month of Ramadan. What made these activities special was how well they aligned with the spirit of the month, covering various disciplines and formats — some were workshops, others were entertainment spaces and some featured food.”

Rowa Haddad from Makkah said: “I found it to be the perfect place to visit with my family. The venue offers a variety of activities that cater to all family members, and what makes it even more special is the spiritual Islamic theme that fits both the location and the essence of this holy month. That’s why visiting this place was an excellent choice for us.”

In partnership with the Red Sea Film Foundation, the biennale also presents a curated selection of film screenings, delving into themes of resilience, faith and identity from across the Islamic world.

These experiences offer visitors a meaningful way to engage with art, culture and heritage, blending traditional Islamic aesthetics with contemporary artistic expression.

The Ramadan Market offers iftar and suhoor options, including curated iftar menus for pre-booked gatherings featuring dishes inspired by Saudi and Middle Eastern cuisines.

The Islamic Arts Biennale serves as a global platform for dialogue and exploration of Islamic arts. It is held at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, an award-winning architectural site that has long served as a gateway for pilgrims traveling to Makkah and Madinah.

The first biennale welcomed more than 600,000 visitors, and the second expands on this success with an even richer program.

The Ramadan events are open to all biennale visitors. Registration is available through the official website at biennale.org.sa.

 


Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair

Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair
Updated 47 sec ago
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Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair

Saudi literature commission participates in London Book Fair
  • Bassam Al-Bassam: Saudi Arabia’s participation in the fair achieved its strategic goals of enhancing international cultural exchange

LONDON: Saudi Arabia has concluded its participation in the London Book Fair 2025, which took place in London, from March 11 to 13.

Visitors were introduced to Saudi culture, arts, and heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission. Several other cultural entities also participated, including the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the King Fahad National Library, and the Publishing Association.

Bassam Al-Bassam, general manager of publishing at the Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, said the Kingdom’s participation in the fair achieved its strategic goals of enhancing international cultural exchange, showcasing Saudi literary movements, and supporting Saudi authors in reaching a global audience.

He noted that this participation aligns with the commission’s ongoing efforts to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global cultural destination.

 


Royal Commission for Yanbu signs animal welfare deals

The first deal signed with the Rahma Association for Animal Welfare focuses on the running of a veterinary clinic. (SPA)
The first deal signed with the Rahma Association for Animal Welfare focuses on the running of a veterinary clinic. (SPA)
Updated 4 min 19 sec ago
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Royal Commission for Yanbu signs animal welfare deals

The first deal signed with the Rahma Association for Animal Welfare focuses on the running of a veterinary clinic. (SPA)
  • The first deal, signed with the Rahma Association for Animal Welfare, focuses on the running of a veterinary clinic, the provision of training and certification programs, and campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of animal welfare

YANBU: The Royal Commission for Yanbu has signed two agreements that will promote animal welfare and environmental protection.

The first deal, signed with the Rahma Association for Animal Welfare, focuses on the running of a veterinary clinic, the provision of training and certification programs, and campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of animal welfare.

The second, signed with the Yanbu Environmental Association, will see the establishment of community partnerships with non-profit organizations, including the organization of events, workshops and school visits to raise environmental awareness, and the creation of opportunities for residents to actively contribute to the preservation of their environment.

 


Fasting on the frontline: Karachi ambulance driver navigates chaos to save lives during Ramadan

The Edhi Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities, operates nearly 1,800 ambulances. (Supplied)
The Edhi Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities, operates nearly 1,800 ambulances. (Supplied)
Updated 28 min 13 sec ago
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Fasting on the frontline: Karachi ambulance driver navigates chaos to save lives during Ramadan

The Edhi Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities, operates nearly 1,800 ambulances. (Supplied)
  • For Ghulam Nabi and hundreds of other Edhi ambulance drivers, Ramadan does not change their daily duties
  • Nabi says his iftar often consists of just dates and water, eaten on the road between emergencies

KARACHI: In Karachi, where traffic is relentless and sirens are a constant, 63-year-old Ghulam Nabi has spent the past 14 years behind the wheel of an Edhi Foundation ambulance, responding to emergencies in a city where every second can mean the difference between life and death.

The Edhi Foundation, one of the world’s largest charities, operates nearly 1,800 ambulances, including over 200 in Karachi, where it was founded by the late veteran philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who passed away in July 2016. Nabi is one of the hundreds of drivers keeping the wheels of these ambulances going.

Even during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, he remains committed to his duty. Often, his iftar — the evening meal to break the fast, which most people share with their families at home — happens on the road, between dispatches.

“Whether it’s sunny, hot, stormy, rainy, Ramadan or Eid, no matter what, we have to do our duty and serve humanity,” he said in a recent conversation with Arab News.

Living in an old apartment in the city’s historic Kharadar area, he begins his day by walking to the Edhi headquarters nearly a kilometer away. From there, his shift unfolds unpredictably, sometimes requiring him to attend to road accidents, rush cardiac arrest patients to hospitals or transport the deceased to their final resting places.

“Just yesterday, it was time to break the fast. Five-to-ten minutes before iftar, we were informed that an accident had occurred on Mai Kolachi Road,” Nabi recalled, adding that he had to leave iftar and rush to the spot.

“On the way, someone gave us dates, and we broke our fast with them,” he added.

Nabi recalled that at one point during Ramadan, he was asked to pick up a corpse from a house where it had remained unattended for nearly a week. As he reached the place, he realized it was decomposed and in such a condition that no one wanted to go near it.

But Nabi handled it, giving it to the relatives in a casket after completing the required legal procedures.

“We had to carry the body while fasting,” he said.

‘FRONTLINE HEROES’

Muhammad Amin, who oversees the Karachi Control Room at the Edhi Foundation, holds his team, particularly Nabi, in high esteem.

“He is an excellent driver, and all the qualities required in his job are found in him,” he told Arab News. “From keeping the ambulance clean to its general upkeep, following driving protocols and handling emergencies, Ghulam Nabi excels in all these aspects.”

Amin noted Ramadan always brought unique challenges to the drivers since their workload never decreased.

“There was a fire near Chakar Hotel on the Super Highway (yesterday), where our team, which included the drivers, went,” he said. “The drivers were fasting, but they worked through the fire and performed their duties.

“If you look at it, these drivers can truly be called our frontline heroes,” he added.

Nabi said his entry into this line of work was unexpected. He used to run a small business that suffered losses, forcing him to shut it down. As he started looking for employment opportunities, a friend referred him to Edhi in 2010.

“Since that day, I have been engaged in humanitarian work,” he said.

‘SAVING HUMANITY’

Karachi, a megacity with over 20 million people, suffers from broken roads, congested streets and widespread disregard for traffic rules. These conditions significantly increase the challenges of Nabi’s job, making him fear that he might not be able to reach people in need on time.

Despite such hardships, he said he was proud of his work and found fulfillment in transporting patients and the injured to hospitals for treatment.

“Whoever saves a life, saves all of humanity,” he said, his eyes shining.

To Nabi, his work is a continuation of the legacy of Abdul Sattar Edhi, the late humanitarian whose foundation has provided free ambulance services for decades.

“Here, we are carrying forward Edhi Sahib’s mission,” he said. “Humanitarian work will never stop.”

As dusk falls and families across Karachi gather for iftar at home, Nabi finds himself away from his loved ones.

“Our hearts also long to break our fast with our children, but our iftar is often on the road or in the ambulance, and we have to break our fast with dates or water,” he said, as he ended his fast with the evening prayer call while sitting on a roadside bench in a Karachi street.

 


Germany recall Goretzka and Adeyemi for Italy Nations League tie

Germany recall Goretzka and Adeyemi for Italy Nations League tie
Updated 30 min 27 sec ago
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Germany recall Goretzka and Adeyemi for Italy Nations League tie

Germany recall Goretzka and Adeyemi for Italy Nations League tie
  • Nagelsmann, who coached him at Bayern, said: “Leon is in a very good phase from a sporting perspective“
  • Adeyemi has not pulled on a Germany senior shirt since 2022 and this is the first time Nagelsmann has selected him

BERLIN: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday recalled the in-form Leon Goretzka and Karim Adeyemi to his squad for the two-legged Nations League quarter-final tie with Italy.
Injuries to key players including Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fuellkrug and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen necessitated several changes as Germany look to reach the final four of the Nations League for the first time.
Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka last played for Germany in 2023 but has regained the form of a few years ago.
Nagelsmann, who coached him at Bayern, said: “Leon is in a very good phase from a sporting perspective.”
Adeyemi has not pulled on a Germany senior shirt since 2022 and this is the first time Nagelsmann has selected him.
Appointed Germany manager in September 2023, Nagelsmann has repeatedly selected on form rather than reputation, having regularly left big names out of the squad.
On Thursday, Nagelsmann said he selected “players who play regularly for the club” and added he wanted players to be “on fire (and) show their spirit even if they don’t play from the start.”
Midfielder Nadiem Amiri has been chosen for the first time in five years as he benefits from Mainz’s rise to third spot in the table.
Inter Milan center-back Yann Aurel Bisseck, 24, is the only debutant.
“We’ve got great respect for him,” Nagelsmann said of Bisseck, adding “he’s got a lot of talent and brings plenty to the table.”
Manchester City back-up Stefan Ortega joins Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann and Stuttgart’s Alexander Nuebel, on loan from Bayern, as the goalkeepers.
Nagelsmann did not indicate which of the three would play but said he would opt for the same player for both games.
The coach complained about the scheduling of the Bundesliga, with seven members of the national squad involved when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen and last season’s runners-up Stuttgart play on Sunday.
Nagelsmann said he would now have “the shortest training period” he has ever had as Germany coach.
They face Italy in Milan on March 20 before hosting the Italians in the return leg in Dortmund on March 23.
Italy eliminated Germany with two goals in extra time at the same venue in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup.
Germany had never beaten Italy at a major tournament until winning on penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart), Stefan Ortega (Manchester City/ENG)
Defenders: Yann Aurel Bisseck (Inter Milan/ITA), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstaedt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Ruediger (Real Madrid/ESP), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)
Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz), Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)