Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission Inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair
The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission inaugurated the Kingdom's pavilion at the Muscat International Book Fair 2025, which is taking place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center on April 24-May 3, with the participation of 35 countries and 674 publishing houses.
The commission is leading the Kingdom's participation in the fair with several prominent cultural and educational bodies, including the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, and Taibah University.
This is part of the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen cultural relations with the Sultanate of Oman and promote investment opportunities, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
SLS Expo 2025 propels Vision 2030 infrastructure goals
The three days of Saudi Light and Sound Expo 2025 reinforced the event's position as a central platform for advancing Saudi Arabia's professional lighting, sound, and AV technology sector. With broad international participation and a focus on actionable business outcomes, SLS Expo continues to support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals by accelerating infrastructure development and building strategic industry capabilities. Global and regional stakeholders convened to explore new solutions and partnerships essential to Saudi Arabia's growing live event production market. The exhibition featured 127 exhibitors from 21 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US, China, and Italy, showcasing technologies designed for high-performance venues, immersive experiences, and large-scale productions. Several significant agreements were signed, contributing to Saudi Arabia's infrastructure and capability-building objectives. The MoU signing between Saudi Entertainment and Events Management Academy and IPS marked the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing talent development in the live events sector in Saudi Arabia, aligning its goals with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Additional MoUs formalized as the event progressed, reflecting the Kingdom's broader strategy to attract global expertise, foster local skills development, and support the execution of major national projects. At the heart of the show's programming was the SLS Summit, supported by sponsors IPS, Shure, Procom, Venuetech, Proloab, RST, SONOS, ShowPower and Media Pro. More than 40 international speakers delivered expert-led sessions across topics including smart production, sustainable AV, immersive design, and next-generation venue infrastructure. One of the standout sessions, Stadiums 2.0, explored how integrated AV systems and architectural design are enabling a new era of live event experiences. 'What we saw at SLS Expo was not just about momentum, it was focused, results-driven engagement that's shaping the sector's future,' said Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president at dmg events. 'The MoUs already confirmed, and those in development, speak to the depth of commitment across the public and private sectors.' Hands-on features such as the Shure Wireless Workshop provided live audio professionals with opportunities to deepen their technical capabilities and engage in peer learning through practical demonstrations and real-time troubleshooting. SLS Expo is supported by the Kingdom's General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia. The event continues to serve as a strategic business environment where government entities, technology providers, integrators, and venue operators align around a shared vision for growth. Co-located with the Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo, SLS offers a complete ecosystem for live event professionals seeking to connect, collaborate and contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia's AV and production sectors.
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi carrier flynas to expand operations across 4 hubs, official says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's low-cost carrier flynas is set to expand operations across its four main hubs — Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam — as part of an ambitious growth plan, according to a top official. In an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah, Waleed Ahmed, the company's official spokesperson, said that flynas holds the largest aircraft order in the Kingdom and one of the biggest in the Middle East, with a total of 280 aircraft set to be received. This follows a major deal signed in July with Airbus to acquire 160 new aircraft — including 30 wide-body A330neo and 130 single-aisle jets across A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR models. The airline has seen a sharp rise in passenger traffic, with volumes climbing from around 11 million in 2023 to more than 14.7 million in 2024, reflecting the low-cost carrier's rapid expansion in line with Saudi Arabia's push to position itself as a leading global hub for tourism and business. 'These numbers reinforce the company's role in supporting Vision 2030, which aims to increase the number of passengers to 330 million and attract more than 150 million international passengers by that year.' Ahmed said, as quoted by Al-Eqtisadiah. He also highlighted that, as part of its ambitious strategic plan, flynas has expanded its summer schedule by launching four new destinations for the first time: Krakow in Poland, Geneva in Switzerland, Milan in Italy, and Rize in Turkiye, in addition to its usual summer routes. Last week, flynas finalized its initial public offering at SR80 ($21) per share — the top of its indicated price range — following strong demand from both institutional and retail investors. The pricing values the airline at an estimated market capitalization of SR13.6 billion at listing. The offering followed the company's announcement last month of its intention to float 30 percent of its share capital on the Saudi Exchange, making flynas the first airline in the Kingdom to go public and the first Gulf airline IPO in nearly two decades. In line with its ongoing fleet expansion, flynas recently took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320neo of 2025, bringing the total number of A320neo aircraft in its all-Airbus fleet to 57. The current fleet includes 63 aircraft — 57 A320neo, four A320ceo, and two A330neo wide-body jets.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Eyes Tourism as Key Economic Pillar by 2030
Saudi Arabia is positioning its tourism sector to rival oil as a cornerstone of the national economy by 2030, targeting a 10% contribution to GDP. This ambitious goal is part of the Kingdom's broader Vision 2030 plan to diversify income sources and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. To achieve this goal, Saudi Arabia is developing a comprehensive tourism ecosystem. This includes mega-projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, alongside nationwide infrastructure upgrades spanning major cities, villages, and remote areas. These efforts are already bearing fruit: the Kingdom surpassed 100 million visitors well ahead of schedule, prompting an upward revision of its target to 150 million tourists by the end of the decade. Tourism revenues have surged, growing more than 148% in 2024 compared to 2019. The sector's contribution to GDP has doubled to 5%, also generating thousands of new jobs and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's presence on the global tourism map. Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the Kingdom's rapid progress in establishing tourism as a foundational economic sector. He credited sweeping reforms, a pro-investment regulatory framework, and a robust national tourism strategy for the industry's momentum. The transformation includes major legislative and operational milestones: the rollout of a new tourism law, streamlined e-visa procedures, the establishment of training programs for Saudi talent, and the introduction of tech-driven visitor experiences. These initiatives aim to enhance both competitiveness and sustainability. Industry experts say Saudi Arabia's geographic, climatic, and cultural diversity gives it a strong edge. From the mountains of Asir and the historic sites of AlUla to the beaches of the Red Sea, the Kingdom offers varied attractions catering to a broad range of travelers. Nasser Al-Ghailan, a tourism investor and partner in Amla Tourism Group, said these natural advantages have been transformed into strategic assets. He pointed to infrastructure improvements, expanded airport capacity, and new airline routes connecting the Kingdom to the region and the world. 'Combining modern infrastructure with digital innovation and high service quality has made Saudi Arabia a rising player on the global tourism stage,' he said, noting growing interest from investors. In the Asir region, Abdullah bin Ahmed, Vice President of the Tourist Guide Club, emphasized the importance of community engagement and local workforce development. He sees tour guides as cultural ambassadors who can convey the richness of Saudi heritage to international audiences. 'People are the heart of the tourism experience. Empowering them is key to long-term success,' he said. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, Saudi Arabia led the G20 in tourism growth in 2024, with a 69% rise in international arrivals compared to 2019. With strategic investments and a clear vision, Saudi Arabia is on track to become a premier global destination, delivering unique travel experiences while maintaining a delicate balance between economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.
