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Mid East Info
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Mid East Info
Diriyah Welcomes U.S. President Trump to the Birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Middle East Business News and Information
President Donald J. Trump experiences 300-years of Saudi history and heritage during visit to At-Turaif The visit emphasizes Diriyah's growing global status and its pivotal role in hosting key international moments of political, economic, and cultural significance Diriyah – May 2025 – His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcomed U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday evening in Diriyah. The President toured the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, the historic birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the capital of the First Saudi State, and the ancestral home of the Al Saud Royal family during his official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on his second presidential term. Diriyah is located adjacent to the capital city of Riyadh and is a transformative destination contributing to Vision 2030, with At-Turaif standing as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's rich heritage and a symbol of its ambitious future. During the visit, President Trump was briefed on the significance of At-Turaif, and enjoyed a traditional Saudi Samri performance, before posing for a commemorative photo in front of Salwa Palace, one of Diriyah's iconic historical landmarks and once the seat of government during the era of the First Saudi State. Commenting on the visit, Jerry Inzerillo, GCEO of Diriyah Company said: 'It was a tremendous honor for us in Diriyah to have hosted President Trump on his visit to At-Turaif, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ancestral home of Al the Saud Royal family – a place where we celebrate the past and are building the future. It was also a unique opportunity to present our future vision for Diriyah and to share with the President the three centuries of history echoing through the palaces and passageways of At-Turaif. President Trump expressed his admiration for what he saw and experienced during this exceptional visit to Diriyah.' This marks President Trump's first visit to At-Turaif and the Diriyah project. The site was under restoration during his first official visit to Riyadh during his initial presidential term. He now joins a distinguished list of world leaders who visited Diriyah in the past year, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and His Majesty the King of Bhutan. About Diriyah: Diriyah, Saudi Arabia's premier historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination, is a key component of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision. A short 15-minute drive from Riyadh's city center, this 14-square-kilometer development holds historical significance as the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dating back to 1727. Currently being developed by Diriyah Company, Diriyah is undergoing a transformation into an authentic Najdi-style mixed-use urban community. Diriyah's centerpiece is At-Turaif, the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2010, showcasing the ancient adobe capital city of the First Saudi State, dating back to 1766. Upon completion, Diriyah will host more than 100,000 residents, workers, students, and visitors, offering a diverse range of cultural, entertainment, retail, hospitality, educational, and residential spaces. The first of those spaces include Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh's new premium dining hub with over 20 global and local restaurants and cafes that enjoy uninterrupted views of At-Turaif. Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel is the first hospitality offering in Diriyah, providing a tranquil experience with panoramic views of Wadi Hanifah. Diriyah's development provides a dynamic environment that celebrates Saudi Arabia's rich cultural history. About Diriyah Company: Diriyah Company was launched in January 2023 and joined the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) portfolio of giga-projects. The Company is responsible for developing the Diriyah project, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its foremost historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination. A dynamic mixed-use developer, Diriyah Company is redefining urban planning to develop Diriyah, 'The City of Earth', while adhering to the highest design, development, and preservation standards. The company ensures Diriyah's cultural landmarks are complemented by world-class retail offerings, fine-dining experiences, and leading hospitality brands. As a PIF company, Diriyah Company's mission focuses on opportunities in development, hospitality, investment, retail, and office leasing, along with strategic asset management, underscoring the commitment to ensuring successful business outcomes and sustainable growth under the strategic direction of Vision 2030. The Diriyah Company actively forges long-term partnerships to realize its vision of establishing Diriyah as one of the world's greatest gathering places.
Arab News
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Diriyah Season's celebration of culture and heritage comes to an end
RIYADH: Diriyah Season 2024-25 concluded on Friday evening after more than 100 days of exhibitions, interactive experiences, live performances, and more. The event boosted cultural tourism and fostered cultural exchanges with visitors from around the world. The season featured 10 main programs across various locations, based around history, arts, culture, architecture, design, poetry, storytelling, performing arts, and culinary arts. It began with 'Enduring Resilience,' an audio-video exhibition celebrating 200 years of the Second Saudi State and the life of its founder, Imam Turki bin Abdullah. Samri dance events added an authentic cultural touch, and allowed visitors to join performances of this ancient art, creating a unique interactive experience. The Minzal program invited visitors on a luxury glamping trip in Diriyah's stunning nature, where they could enjoy local markets, traditional folk tales, and live music performances. The 850 Interactive Experience allowed visitors to explore Diriyah's history and landmarks through engaging activities. The Diriyah Storytelling Festival brought together writers and storytellers, publishers and bookstore owners for cultural activities, literary evenings, and panel discussions featuring more than 150 speakers. The TYN Festival celebrated mud-brick architecture and its relevance to modern innovation. Dragone introduced the Souq Wonders experience for the first time during Diriyah Season, with live performances featuring music, magic, trampolining, and tightrope walking. Although the season may have ended, Diriyah's historic At-Turaif district — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and Bujairi Terrace will continue to welcome visitors to the area.
Arab News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Tales of Founding Day come to life at Diriyah celebrations
RIYADH: A tale as old as time, Diriyah, heart of the Kingdom and the setting of its first chapter, celebrated Founding Day with an array of musical performances, shows and historical exhibits that ended on Sunday. Families and guests of all ages and nationalities were welcomed at Diriyah to learn all about the establishment of the First Saudi State. History lessons were available through shadow theater performances, Kahoot quizzes, interactive screens and palace-side projections displaying the Kingdom's journey. Guests were tailed by musical groups singing traditional and cultural songs walking around Diriyah, carrying with them the songs of battles fought and won. Vincent Pomer, a visitor from Boston in the US who is visiting a friend in the Kingdom, told Arab News: 'I feel kind of a sense of contentment and peace, seeing how everybody is respectful of their past. 'I will equate it to, as me being American, the Fourth of July. We celebrate Fourth of July not so much as our freedom but it is our short-lived history … Founding Day is the equivalent here for Saudi Arabia.' One of the highlights of the celebrations was a Samri show, a Bedouin dance and music that originated in Najd. About 300 years old, Samri was traditionally performed when families gathered on desert nights. Two lines of men would kneel, swaying and clapping while singing poetry and beating on a Daf drum. The celebrations also included workshops for children and families on various skills, such as perfumery, sketching, painting and bracelet making. Arab News spoke to Umar Sial, a Pakistani national who has lived in Saudi Arabia for the past six months, to ask about the highlights of his visit to Diriyah with his family. 'This is our first time here. We visited Bujairi Terrace and Al-Turaif area and I think it's very interesting, especially the old heritage they are showcasing' he said. 'Culturally, it's very enlightening for newcomers.' Sial's favorite attraction was seeing what the old houses were like in Salwa Palace and how people used to live, in addition to the singers and dancers presenting throughout the event. According to Sial, foreign nationals could greatly benefit from attending such events to strengthen their cultural ties to the Kingdom. 'These (events) are very important to understand how things work here, especially if you want to integrate into their culture, you see how they are raised, how they speak, what their songs are like, how they eat, how their family systems work, you see their families are all around them. 'I think these are very important if you want to understand how culture works in Saudi Arabia,' he said. Saudi Arabia is known for being proud of its food and this was showcased by real Saudi families on every route. Each of these families had their own booth and had prepared traditional dishes like saleeg, foul and more, given out freely to the wandering guests. Historical figures such as Imam Mohammed bin Saud, the founding father of the First Saudi State, and his wife Princess Modi bint Khalid Al Saud were given center stage as their stories were told through performances during the Diriyah Remembrance segments of the evening, detailing Imam Mohammed bin Saud's full journey in solidifying the early days of the Kingdom. Melissa Sarawi, a guest from the Philippines in Saudi Arabia with her family, told Arab News that the most exciting aspects of Saudi culture for foreign nationals to see were the food and the people. Sarawi said that as a Muslim it had been fascinating to learn about Islam from its birthplace and its historic associations with Saudi Arabia. 'Coming here and experiencing Founding Day is very good, it's very new to me. I am a Muslim in nature and by birth, and learning more about these things in Riyadh, like learning about the history of Islam and all these historical places … (it's) refreshing to know about these things.' Contestants from the Rawi Al-Diriyah competition, a storytelling competition produced jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority for school students reciting historic Diriyah stories, were also featured during these narratives. Other activities included a horse show and showcasing the Arabian horse, presenting traditional Najdi dress and live poetry sessions.
Leaders
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
LIVE: Celebrating Saudi Arabia's Founding Day - A Nation Honors Its Heritage
Leaders-Mena magazine is providing a live coverage of Saudi Arabia's Founding Day celebrations across all the regions. 12:00 Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mark Donovan, took to X on the occasion of #FoundingDay, writing: 'Founding Day is a truly wonderful celebration of Saudi culture and history 7.' He extended his congratulations to His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and all Saudi citizens and residents, wishing everyone a Happy Founding Day! #FoundingDay is a very enjoyable great celebration of Saudi culture and history. Congratulations to HM the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH the Crown Prince and all our Saudi friends. Happy Founding Day! MD🇦🇺🇸🇦 — Mark Donovan (@AusAmbKSA) February 22, 2025 11:30 The Saudi Embassy in Syria holds celebration to mark Founding Day. السفارة السعودية في سوريا تحتفل بمناسبة #يوم_التأسيس. – — أخبار السعودية (@SaudiNews50) February 21, 2025 11:00 The Founding Day celebrations featured an exceptional musical evening with a performance by the esteemed Arab artist Mohammed Abdu at Riyadh's Mohammed Abdu Arena on Friday. The event provided a unique experience showcasing top-tier national performances and timeless classic songs. Named Suhail Night in tribute to the Suhail Star, which historically served as a guiding beacon for travelers and wayfarers, the evening was truly memorable. ليالي التأسيس | ليلة سهيل فــــوق 🇸🇦 هـــــام 🇸🇦 السحب 🇸🇦 #يوم_بدينا_1727 #يوم_التأسيس — يوم التأسيس (@SAFoundingDay) February 21, 2025 10:00 Saudi Founding Day was established in 2022 by royal decree of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz, marking the 295th anniversary of the founding of the First Saudi State in 1727. Designated as an official public holiday, it is observed annually on February 22, aligning with the Gregorian calendar. The occasion stands among the Kingdom's three non-religious national holidays, alongside Saudi National Day (23 September) and Flag Day (11 March), reflecting the nation's historical legacy and unifying identity. 09:00 In celebration of the Founding Day, renowned artist Majid Al-Mohandes will host an enchanting musical evening titled 'Asfar Night' (The Night of Journeys) at Riadh's Mohammed Abdo Arena. The event will feature a curated selection of patriotic anthems and iconic classical compositions, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom. 08:00 Saudi Arabia commemorates its Founding Day today, February 22, marking the establishment of the First Saudi State in AD 1727 (1139 AH) under the leadership of Imam Mohammed bin Saud in Diriyah. This historic occasion honors the vision, unity, and resilience that laid the foundation for the Kingdom's enduring legacy, shaping its journey into a modern, prosperous, and unified nation. Short link : Post Views: 134
Saudi Gazette
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia celebrates Founding Day on Saturday, marking three centuries of a proud legacy
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will celebrate Founding Day on Saturday, February 22, commemorating the establishment of the First Saudi State in AD 1727 (1139 AH) by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in historic occasion embodies the deep-rooted heritage and sovereignty of the Saudi state, which has upheld Islam as its foundation and the Qur'an and Sunnah as its constitution, a legacy that continues to this national celebration is a testament to the Kingdom's enduring history and the strong bond between its people and leadership, spanning three its establishment, the Saudi state has prioritized stability, development, and social security, creating a solid foundation that has allowed it to withstand challenges and remain take pride in their rich historical legacy, first laid by Imam Mohammed bin Saud, whose leadership shaped the political, social, economic, and cultural landscape of the Arabian journey continued under Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud, the founder of the Second Saudi State, and later culminated in the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al vision and leadership paved the way for the Kingdom's remarkable growth, which was carried forward by his successors, leading to the Kingdom's current status as a prominent regional and global under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia continues on its path of progress, modernization, and international Day serves as an opportunity to reflect on three centuries of history, filled with defining moments and milestones that have shaped the Saudi state was not established by chance, but rather through centuries of political and social development, reinforcing the foundations of governance, prioritizing the security and well-being of society, and ensuring the protection of the Two Holy its history, Saudi Arabia has faced numerous challenges, yet national unity and resilience have always been the driving forces behind its continued mark this national occasion, cities across the Kingdom will host cultural and artistic events that highlight the country's rich heritage and unwavering celebrations will showcase the depth of Saudi history through immersive displays and performances, illustrating the evolution of the Saudi state from the First Saudi State to the Second Saudi State, and finally, to the modern Kingdom of Saudi every stage of its history, national unity has remained a defining characteristic of the relationship between the Saudi people and their the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformational era, marked by ambitious developments in all sectors. The Kingdom continues to move forward with its Vision 2030, which aims to drive economic diversification, enhance social prosperity, and reinforce Saudi Arabia's position on the global stage.
