logo
Athar Festival 2025 announces Amy Roko as Maheerah Programme Ambassador

Athar Festival 2025 announces Amy Roko as Maheerah Programme Ambassador

Zawya3 days ago
This year's edition expands to three days with a new industry-wide networking event
Riyadh – Saudi Arabia: Athar Festival 2025 has teamed up with Saudi creative icon and influencer, Amy Roko, who will take centre stage as ambassador of the third edition of the widely popular Maheerah Programme. This women empowerment initiative returns this year with new momentum, new faces, and a bold new direction, while introducing an extended three-day format.
Known for her fearless voice and strong presence, Amy's appointment marks a new chapter for Maheerah Programme, as she embodies the values of authenticity, ambition, and community that lay at the heart of Maheerah. As ambassador, she will play a key role in amplifying the programme's mission, supporting women in the industry, and growing the reach of the network.
Highlighting the significance of this new chapter, Bassel Kakish, Chief Executive Officer of Publicis Groupe Middle East & Turkey said, 'Maheerah has grown into something truly special. What began as a program has become a real platform, bringing women together to learn, connect and grow. As we continue building a supportive community of like-minded women within the Kingdom's creative industry, this year marks an exciting new chapter. With a bigger and bolder program ahead, and Amy Roko joining us as ambassador, we're amplifying everything Maheerah stands for. We can't wait to meet the inspiring women joining us this year.'
Commenting on these latest developments, Kamille Merchant, Athar Festival Director, said: "Maheerah has become one of the most meaningful initiatives at Athar Festival, growing from a programme to a network in just three years, marking a significant step in its evolution. Together, we are deepening our commitment to empowering women across every level of the creative industry. This is fittingly reflected by the appointment of Amy Roko as ambassador, which we are confident will bring new energy and more visibility to the programme."
Reflecting on her appointment as the new Maheerah Programme Ambassador, Amy Roko, said: 'It's refreshing to be part of something that actually gets what it means to be a woman in this space: loud, ambitious, real, and unapologetically herself. Maheerah creates a space where women can be heard, supported, and celebrated for who they truly are, and I'm proud to be contributing to that kind of movement.'
Applications for this year's Maheerah Programme officially open on 22 July and will run until 10 September. For the first time, the programme will run across three days during Athar Festival 2025, featuring enhanced content and a new industry-wide networking event open to all women in the Maheerah Network. Just as the festival itself prepares to return bigger, bolder, and more dynamic, so too will this year's Maheerah Programme, offering a deeper, more connected, and more impactful journey for participants.
Maheerah Programme is part of the Maheerah Network, an initiative by Athar Festival and powered by Publicis Groupe. For more information and to apply to the programme, visit https://atharfestival.com/maheerah-programme-4/
-Ends-
About Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity
Athar - Saudi Festival of Creativity, presented by Motivate Media Group and TRACCS, is Saudi Arabia's foremost creative marketing event. Aligning with Saudi Vision 2030, Athar sets the stage for leaders, decision-makers, and emerging talent to connect, share insights, and drive creative endeavours across the Kingdom's burgeoning sectors.
For more information, please visit:
www.atharfestival.com
https://www.instagram.com/atharfestival.sa/
https://www.facebook.com/atharfestival.sa
https://www.linkedin.com/company/atharfestival-sa/about/
https://twitter.com/Atharfestivalsa
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Huda Kattan and Saint Levant donate $210,000 from Palestine-inspired lip oil to Gaza medical relief
Huda Kattan and Saint Levant donate $210,000 from Palestine-inspired lip oil to Gaza medical relief

The National

time3 minutes ago

  • The National

Huda Kattan and Saint Levant donate $210,000 from Palestine-inspired lip oil to Gaza medical relief

Huda Kattan and Saint Levant have redirected all proceeds from their recent Huda Beauty product campaign to support emergency medical relief in Gaza. In a statement released on Friday, the two said the full amount raised, $210,000, will be donated to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) due to the worsening humanitarian situation and the need for life-saving aid on the ground. 'From the start of this partnership, we committed to donating 100 per cent of all sales from this collaboration to support the preservation of Palestinian agriculture,' they wrote. 'However, as the crisis in Gaza continues to worsen – with food and aid blocked – support on the ground has become even more crucial. 'As a result, we've made the decision to redirect the full amount of $210,00 to MSF (Doctors Without Borders) to support their life-saving medical work. 'At a time where we are witnessing genocide in Gaza, we are trying to find a way to make impact where we can. Please continue to use your platforms to spread awareness – you are making a difference.' Shift after backlash The pair recently launched a new shade of Huda Beauty 's Faux Filler Lip Oil and named it Kalamantina – a reference to Palestinian clementine oranges. A promotional photoshoot featured Kattan and Saint Levant posing in front of a car overflowing with the fruit. Pulitzer Prize-winning Palestinian writer Mosab Abu Toha publicly criticised the campaign's messaging, questioning the decision to use clementine oranges, while people in Gaza endure starvation and continued Israeli attacks. 'Do you really care about Gaza?' Abu Toha wrote in a widely shared Instagram comment, which has since been removed. 'My people are being killed while trying to get food.' While some fans praised the campaign for its cultural messaging and commitment to Palestine, others echoed Abu Toha's concerns. They called out the imagery as 'tone deaf'. The Kalamantina release, named after Saint Levant's single of the same name, was described by Kattan's brand Huda Beauty as a tribute 'for the homeland'. The announcement stated that a donation would be made to organisations supporting 'Palestinian agriculture and cultural preservation'. The brand did not, however, specify the amount or whether it would reflect a percentage of the product's proceeds. Friday's announcement marks a shift from cultural investment in the occupied West Bank to direct humanitarian response in Gaza. MSF has been active in the enclave throughout the Israel-Gaza war, operating under difficult conditions with limited supplies and damaged facilities. The pair's statement did not directly address Abu Toha's comments, which came as suffering in Gaza ' reaches new depths ', according to more than two dozen countries. At least 59,587 Palestinians have been killed and 143,498 wounded since the war began in October 2023. According to a report by Unicef in May, more than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in the enclave. Saint Levant (real name Marwan Abdelhamid) has Palestinian roots and has long been a vocal advocate for Palestine, including during a widely praised Coachella performance last year. Kattan donated $1 million to aid efforts in Gaza in 2023. Both reiterated the importance of public pressure. 'Please continue to use your platforms to spread awareness,' they wrote. 'You are making a difference.'

Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani, son of Fairuz, dies aged 69
Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani, son of Fairuz, dies aged 69

Khaleej Times

time2 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani, son of Fairuz, dies aged 69

Lebanese famous songwriter and composer Ziad Rahbani, son of the country's diva Fairuz, has died aged 69, Lebanese News Agency (NNA) said on Saturday. Rahbai is considered one of the most influential innovators in Lebanese music and satirical political theatre. He began his artistic career in the early 1970s with his first acclaimed play 'Sahriyyeh' ("An Evening Gathering"), and later wrote and composed timeless songs for his mother Fairuz, including 'Kifak Inta' and 'Bala Wala Shi.' His works were known for their sharp social and political critique, expressed through plays such as 'Nazl Al-Sourour,' 'A Long American Film,' and 'Bema Inno.' He was also recognised for blending oriental music with jazz and classical influences.

Final countdown: Last chance to make July unforgettable with Big Ticket
Final countdown: Last chance to make July unforgettable with Big Ticket

Khaleej Times

time4 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Final countdown: Last chance to make July unforgettable with Big Ticket

There's a first time for everything. First job. First trip. First car. But what if this July marked your first million? Big Ticket is closing out July with its biggest prizes yet, and this is your final chance to take part in a promotion that's already brought smiles to so many faces all month long. Whether you're in it for the dream lifestyle, the cash rewards, or the cars, there's still time to step into something unforgettable. At the heart of it all is the Dh20 million grand prize, set to be announced during the live draw on August 3 in Abu Dhabi. But that night won't just crown one winner, six more participants will walk away with Dh50,000 each, making it a celebration of multiple firsts. And while the grand reveal is just around the corner, the winning hasn't stopped yet. Big Ticket's weekly e-draws have already named twelve winners, each walking away with Dh50,000, but there's one final weekly draw to go. This week, another four names will be drawn, and they could include yours. To those feeling extra lucky, participants who purchased two or more cash tickets in a single transaction between 1–24 July are already entered into the Big Win Contest, an exclusive experience where four finalists will be invited to attend the grand draw in person. Each of them is guaranteed to win between Dh20,000 and Dh150,000, and the finalists will be announced on August 1. Luxury car fans haven't been forgotten either. This month's Dream Car draw features a Range Rover Velar, with the winner to be revealed on 3rd August. And coming right after: a BMW M440i draw on September 3. To make the final days of July even more rewarding, Big Ticket is running bundle promotions at all ticket counters and online: Buy 2, get 1 free (online only) Buy 2, get 2 free (Big Ticket) and Buy 2, get 3 free (Dream Car) at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport counters. With only days to go, July is still packed with possibility. It could be the summer you'll always remember as the one where you took a leap and saw your name on the winner's list. Tickets are available online at or at counters located in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport. For all the latest news and updates on upcoming draws, everyone is encouraged to follow Big Ticket's social media platforms. The weekly E-draw dates:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store