Latest News from CairoScene
CairoScene
4 hours ago
- Business
- CairoScene
China Offers 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Saudi Travellers
Starting June 2025, all GCC countries will have some form of visa-free access to China. China will implement a one-year visa-free entry policy for travellers from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, beginning on June 9th, 2025, and continuing through June 8th, 2026. Under the new arrangement, passport holders from the four Gulf nations will be permitted to stay in China for up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, visiting family and friends, cultural exchange, or transit. With this decision, China now grants visa-free access to all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Reciprocal visa exemption agreements have already been in effect with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar since 2018. Saudi Arabia had previously been granted Approved Destination Status by China, a bilateral agreement that took effect on July 1st, 2024, enabling group travel between the two countries. The new visa-free policy expands that access, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which seeks to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by the end of the decade.
CairoScene
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Eid Lunch Goes Nikkei at Chotto Matte Riyadh
Chotto Matte Riyadh marks Eid Al-Adha with a four-course Nikkei lunch, live entertainment, and themed décor, running daily from 12 to 4 PM. Chotto Matte is offering a limited-time four-course lunch to coincide with Eid Al-Adha, combining Japanese-Peruvian flavours with themed décor and live performances in Riyadh's KAFD. Available from the first day of Eid, the midday menu will be accompanied by DJ sets, laser shows, and percussion performances. The space will also feature seasonal décor, a dedicated photography area, and printed keepsakes provided by a professional photographer. Two private dining rooms are available for those marking personal milestones such as birthdays or graduations. The set menu incorporates ingredients associated with Eid, interpreted through Chotto Matte's Nikkei culinary style. The offering begins with a Chotto Summer Salad, followed by a selection of three starters: Short Rib Tostada, Wagyu Foie Gras Maki, and a Wagyu Beef Spring Roll. The centrepiece of the meal is a Miso Lamb Shank, slow-cooked and served with truffle sticky rice—a contemporary homage to Eid's culinary traditions. The meal concludes with a Sticky Date Pudding served warm with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce. The menu is served daily from 12 PM to 4 PM throughout Eid and is priced at 199 SAR per person.
CairoScene
4 hours ago
- Health
- CairoScene
Ministry of Health Launches World Health Survey 2025
The nationwide data-gathering initiative will help to define the Kingdom's health priorities and services. The Ministry of Health has begun field visits as part of the World Health Survey 2025, a nationwide effort to collect data that will inform the development and improvement of health services across the country. Using the World Health Survey Plus (WHS+) methodology, the survey targets a nationally representative sample of both citizens and residents. Participants will complete detailed questionnaires covering personal and family demographics, health status, behaviors, risk factors, and experiences with the healthcare system. The survey will reach over 14,000 individuals and families across all 13 administrative regions in the Kingdom. Its findings will help strengthen Saudi Arabia's health information systems, define national health priorities, and provide a comprehensive overview of the population's well-being. Additionally, the data will support early detection of chronic diseases, help track progress toward Sustainable Development Goals, promote healthier lifestyles, and ensure that healthcare services are better aligned with the community's evolving needs.
CairoScene
4 hours ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Red Sea Souk Opens Submissions for Film Projects & Works-in-Progress
Submissions are now open for the Red Sea Souk's Project Market and Work-in-Progress programmes, supporting Arab, African, and Asian filmmakers during the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival. The Red Sea Souk, the industry platform of the Red Sea International Film Festival, has opened submissions for its Project Market and Work-in-Progress programmes, taking place during the festival's fifth edition from December 4th to the 13th in Jeddah's historic Al-Balad district. Running from December 6th to 10th, the Red Sea Souk gathers filmmakers, producers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world to support emerging voices and foster international co-productions. The Project Market is accepting applications until June 20th. Eligible entries include narrative, animated, and documentary films in development or production, led by directors from Arab, African, or Asian countries, or of Arab origin. Selected projects will receive tailored mentorship and the chance to pitch directly to distributors, programmers, and producers. The Work-in-Progress programme, open for submissions until July 29th, supports feature films in post-production. Participants will benefit from private industry screenings, expert feedback, and direct access to sales agents, festival representatives, and potential financiers. Both initiatives aim to elevate talent from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, while enhancing international visibility and collaboration. The Red Sea International Film Festival continues to grow as a regional hub for cinematic exchange and creative industry development.
CairoScene
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Exclusive: The Egyptian Designer Behind Mo Salah's Adidas Boots
Exclusive: The Egyptian Designer Behind Mo Salah's Adidas Boots Mo Salah's Custom Boots weren't made for walking. They were made for history. And they were made by an Egyptian. Remember those custom boots Mohamed Salah wore for his final game with Liverpool? The ones Adidas gave him to mark the end of an era at Anfield: gold-striped, hand-sketched, and never-for-sale? Well, turns out they weren't just made for a game. They were made for history. And they were made by another Egyptian. Enter Abdu Galal. A designer born in Cairo, now based in Nürnberg, and maybe the most important name you haven't heard yet. Because when the Egyptian King stepped onto the pitch on May 25, it wasn't just his name that was going down in Premier League lore, it was Galal's too. And we've got the exclusive first look at the original sketches that brought Salah's final-match boots to life. When he sat down to design the final boots of his favourite footballer, he wasn't designing for a client, nor even for a person, he was designing for a myth. 'I thought I'd be overwhelmed,' he wrote on Instagram. 'I've followed every match, every goal, every celebration. So how do you separate being a fan…from being a designer?' You don't. That's the point. These boots were designed for Salah's feet, yes, but also for every Egyptian watching from afar. These boots may never sit on a store shelf, or behind auction glass; they represent something more than commercial value. They mark a moment of connection: from one Egyptian legend to another in the making. 'This wasn't a product launch,' Galal explains . 'It was a love letter. From one Egyptian to another. From fan to hero. From story to legacy.' And then came the moment. Final game. Final goal. Final boots. Salah equalised in the 84th minute, a record-matching 29th goal of the season. One last magic trick from the magician. And at the centre of it all? At the source of the legacy-consolidating feat? Galal's boots. The designer's own story is its own kind of odyssey. A graduate of Miami Ad School Europe, Galal has brought his hybrid eye to projects with Facebook, IKEA, and now Adidas, where he's been full-time since 2022. His work has been recognised by everyone from The One Show to the Webby Awards. Yet, this task felt less professional, and entirely personal. In the hand-sketched fuzziness of the sketches, this love shines through. "There was something different about this project," Galal wrote. "It wasn't just a boot. It was a thank you. A visual celebration of his records, his roots, and his bond with the fans."
