Latest news with #TurkiAlSheikh
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Riyadh Season 2025: Comedy festival with Dave Chappelle, WWE Royal Rumble, Boulevard World and more
Blockbuster comedians, tennis champions, wrestling stars and concerts featuring regional artists are part of the upcoming Riyadh Season 2025. Running from October to March, the seasonal festival in the Saudi capital will take place across venues throughout the city, with programming spanning entertainment, sport, culture, food and retail. Launched in 2019, the festival is now a major attraction, hosting exclusive events and steadily expanding its offerings. While the full programme is yet to be revealed, Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said the season's concert line-up will have 'a strong presence of Saudi and Gulf content, in addition to a notable participation of Syrian artists in theatrical performances and concerts'. With more to be announced soon on Riyadh Season's social media channels, here is what we know so far about the event. 1. Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and more to headline comedy festival Could this be the best comedy festival line-up of the year? Launching as the official prelude to the festival from September 26 to October 9, it will involve more than 50 international and regional comedians performing across venues at Boulevard City, one of Riyadh's main entertainment districts. With the line-up still to be fully revealed, some of the names already confirmed are Dave Chappelle (date to be revealed soon); Kevin Hart (September 28); Russell Peters (October 2 to 4); Louis C.K. (October 6); Sebastian Maniscalco (October 9); Chris Tucker (October 2) and Aziz Ansari (September 28). 2. WWE Royal Rumble and Benavidez – Yarde fight WWE's Royal Rumble will take place this January at King Saud University Stadium. It will be the first time that the marquee event, which is broadcast live and watched by millions, is held outside the US. Exact dates are to be announced soon. Boxing fans can also look forward to The Ring IV on November 22 at ANB Arena in Boulevard City, featuring a headline bout between David Benavidez and Anthony Yarde, alongside three additional world title fights. 3. Boulevard World returns more than a dozen cultural zones A bigger Boulevard World is on the horizon as part of Riyadh Season, with organisers confirming an expanded layout. As in previous years, culture remains at the heart of the sprawling entertainment zone, with more than a dozen country pavilions set to return – each offering food, performances and crafts from across the globe, in a format reminiscent of Dubai's Global Village. With the 2023 site reportedly stretching 1.2km – and last year's capacity increased by 30 per cent – the venue is massive, featuring attractions such as a life-size replica of the Egyptian pyramids. A three-minute cable car will once again connect Boulevard World to Boulevard City – the adjacent hub for live entertainment and fine dining. While specific dates are yet to be announced, the zone is expected to open daily throughout the winter. 4. Khaleeji artists and Saudi theatre take the spotlight Riyadh Season 2025 will place a strong emphasis on Gulf and Syrian performers across its music and theatre programming. While an official line-up is yet to be announced, organisers can be expected to schedule performances by Khaleeji pop-stars and traditional music ensembles across multiple zones. On the theatre front, new Saudi plays are likely to be shown in venues such as Boulevard City and Al Suwaidi Park. International acts may still appear in limited categories – including sport and comedy, but the cultural focus this year will remain regional. 5. Top zones to visit: Via Riyadh, Boulevard City and more Riyadh Season is spread across various areas of the city in 14 themed zones, each offering its own distinct atmosphere and tailored programme. While Boulevard City and Boulevard World remain the major drawcards, several other zones are worth a visit. Via Riyadh caters to luxury seekers with high-end retail and fine dining outlets. The Groves, styled like a European riverside town, features food vendors and evening cultural events. At Souq Al Awaleen, visitors can browse an open-air market selling oud, textiles, cookware and traditional clothing. Some zones are ticketed, others free to enter. 6. Djokovic, Alcaraz and Sinner to compete at Riyadh's Six Kings Slam Half a dozen tennis champions will hit the courts as part of The Six Kings Slam championship, running at ANB Arena from October 15 and 18. The exhibition event features six top-ranked players: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Jack Draper. Tickets will go on sale soon. .
Leaders
3 days ago
- Sport
- Leaders
Saudi Billiards, Snooker Federation Unveils New Logo for World Masters
The Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation has introduced its new official logo, reflecting a move toward modernization and alignment with global sports branding standards. The logo was unveiled Thursday evening during the Roundtable Conference at the Media Center in the Green Halls of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah. Additionally, the event took place on the eve of the World Masters Snooker Championship, one of the sport's four major tournaments, running from August 8 to 16, 2025. Attendees included Federation President Naif Al-Jaweini, World Snooker Tour CEO Simon Brownell, former world champion Ken Doherty, and Saudi national team player Ziyad Al-Qabbani. The new logo showcases a sleek, modern design featuring symbolic elements such as a stylized map of Saudi Arabia—underscoring the federation's national identity and forward-looking vision. Al-Jaweini described the rebrand as a key milestone in the federation's development, aiming to establish a strong, internationally recognized visual identity that aligns with its strategic goals and the Kingdom's growing presence on the global sports stage. Related Topics : Turki Al Sheikh provides opportunities for talented youth in Riyadh season 2 Egypt's Minister of Culture Meets Mr. Turki Al Sheikh Saudi wise leadership is keen on maximizing Qur'an reading during Ramadan: Sheikh Al-Sudais Short link : Post Views: 34 Related Stories
Gulf Insider
30-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
From Mecca To Medina: Saudi Arabia Recreates The Prophet's Migration For Visitors
Saudi Arabia will welcome 300,000 visitors this November for an unprecedented cultural and spiritual experience tracing Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH) historic migration route from Mecca to Medina. The ambitious project, 'In the Prophet's Steps,' has already attracted over one million registrations globally, with 300,000 selected for the inaugural season by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). GEA Chairman Turki Al Sheikh said the overwhelming response reflects the deep global interest in this immersive initiative, which aims to bring to life one of the most significant events in Islamic history. Using advanced technology, the project reconstructs the 470-kilometre Hijrah route, 305 kilometres of which are walkable, allowing visitors to follow the Prophet's footsteps through restored landscapes and historical sites. Forty-one landmarks along the route have been rehabilitated, supported by eight stations and five interactive hubs narrating key moments of the migration. A dedicated Migration Museum will further enrich visitors' understanding. To enhance the overall experience, the route includes 30 restaurants and 50 shops, with capacity to host up to 12,000 visitors per day. 'This project is a testament to our leadership's commitment to preserving Islamic heritage,' said Turki Al Sheikh. 'It offers an opportunity to explore the landmarks of the Hijrah and reflect on its enduring lessons.' Interest has been especially strong in Indonesia, with international rollouts planned for Malaysia, Turkey, and India. By 2030, the initiative aims to welcome five million visitors annually. To ensure comfort and safety along the rugged terrain, specially designed 4×4 vehicles will transport visitors, while new technology has reduced the journey to the Cave of Thawr—a key Hijrah site—from a strenuous two-hour climb to just three minutes. Combining historical authenticity, immersive storytelling, and modern amenities, In the Prophet's Steps offers a deeply moving and accessible experience of the Prophet's migration, illuminating its profound spiritual and human values for a global audience.
Al Bawaba
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Turki Al-Sheikh confirms The Blue Elephant 3 with Karim Abdel Aziz: 'It Will Be Fire!'
ALBAWABA - Karim Abdel Aziz returns in The Blue Elephant 3 as Turki Al-Sheikh promises cinematic brilliance. Following the release of a picture of His Excellency, Counselor Turki Al-Sheikh, with the Blue Elephant film crew on his official Facebook page, there was a tremendous deal of public discussion. His remark, "The Blue Elephant will be fire," made it apparent that formal preparations for the third installment of this film—which is regarded as one of the most popular in Egyptian cinema—had begun. This action further demonstrates His Excellency's dedication to promoting Arab filmmaking and broadening its worldwide reach. He earlier expressed his wish to showcase The Blue Elephant 3 in a unique manner that surpasses audience expectations in an interview with Amr Adeeb, saying, "We seek to make The Blue Elephant go beyond its usual boundaries." Since this project is a profitable investment for all parties, we wholeheartedly support it. We anticipate that Blue Elephant 3 and 4 will set a new global standard, and there are presently agreements to fully support the fourth phase as well." It is important to remember that the first installment of the movie, which combined mystery, drama, and psychological suspense, was released in 2014 and was a giant hit with both audiences and critics. After a five-year break, psychiatrist Yehia Rashed returns to work at Abbasiya Hospital in the movie. Several tense events are set in motion when he becomes involved in assessing the mental health of a criminal who subsequently turns out to be an old buddy. Karim Abdel Aziz Instagram profile Critics did, however, express some disagreement with the movie. The Blue Elephant and the 2007 New Zealand movie The Tattoo share some dramatic lines, according to historian Mahmoud Kassem. Ahmed Murad, the original novel's author, acknowledged that the novel's and the movie's endings differed and that the latter was changed for the film's benefit to appeal to a larger audience.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dana White becomes hero to fight fans with major Canelo-Crawford news as UFC promoter moves into boxing
Boxing fanatics weren't necessarily sold on UFC promoter Dana White when his involvement in the upcoming Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford bout was announced back in March. After all, his experience is primarily in mixed-martial arts and a fledgling slap-fighting circuit, so there was some natural skepticism about his capacity to win over the boxing audience. But on Tuesday, along with Saudi Boxing Federation president and Riyadh Season promoter Turki Al-Sheikh, White did just that by revealing Canelo-Crawford bout will be on Netflix and not pay per view. And according to another boxing promoter, that decision could make the highly anticipated September 13 bout historically popular. '#CaneloCrawford, streaming on @netflix, NO PPV, is a huge opportunity and showcase for #boxing,' veteran promoter and former HBO executive Lou DiBella wrote on X. 'It's also going to create proper momentum for the new Saudi/TKO promotion. Well done by Dana and all; re-securing Netflix was key. This will be one of the most watched fights EVER.' TKO is the conglomerate created by Endeavor as part of the highly publicized merger between the WWE and UFC parent company Zuffa. In March, the newly formed company announced a partnership with Al-Sheikh to launch a new boxing league next year which is being modelled after the UFC. Like DiBella, fans were understandably excited about the absence of any PPV fees: 'Crawford vs Canelo on Netflix at no additional cost?' one wrote, adding, 'Sign me up!' Not everyone was thrilled with the news about Netflix, particularly given the streaming giant's lackluster performance for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul farce in November. Fans on both sides of the Atlantic faced poor image quality, prolonged buffering and spotty audio throughout the undercard. Meanwhile, hundreds online complained of error messages, while '#unwatchable' began trending on X. 'This unprecedented scale created many technical challenges, which the launch team tackled brilliantly by prioritizing stability of the stream for the majority of viewers,' Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone wrote to employees afterwards, as reported by Bloomberg. Despite the problems, Netflix saw the event as a success after claiming as many as 65 million households were viewing at one point. White does have some experience promoting boxing events, including the wildly profitable and utterly disappointing 2017 snoozefest between Floyd Mayweather and converted UFC fighter Conor McGregor. He's also promoted fight cards involving Ireland's Callum Walsh, which were streamed on UFC Fight Pass. A year ago, White predicted his involvement in boxing would only grow in 2025, and on Tuesday, he laid out the vision he shares with Al-Sheikh. 'Turki wants to make the biggest fights that the fans want to see in boxing and this is right up my alley,' White said in quote he posted on X. 'Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I'm going to get to promote is Canelo vs. Crawford? 'It's literally a once in a lifetime (sic) fight. Live on Saturday, September 13, streaming globally on Netflix, two of the GREATEST boxers in the sport will meet in a historic fight from Las Vegas.' A venue has not been named, but the city does have options ranging from the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium to the Golden Knights' T-Mobile Arena. It will be a huge task for Crawford given Canelo has never lost a fight at super middleweight. Crawford, who has a 41-0 record with 31 knockouts, will come up from 154 pounds to 168 pounds for the September showdown, having fought only once over 147 pounds in his entire career. What's more, he would be out of action for 13 months by the time he steps in the ring with Canelo. It will be a huge task for the American given Canelo has never lost a fight at super middleweight. The 34-year-old Alvarez is a four-weight world champion and entered his last fight against William Scull with the WBA, WBC and WBO titles at 168 pounds. He was previously stripped of the IBF belt last July when he declined to make a mandatory defense against Scull.
