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Saudi Arabia opens pavilion at Doha International Book Fair 2026 (Photography: SPA) DOHA, May 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission inaugurated the kingdom’s pavilion at the Doha International Book Fair 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The exhibition runs from May 14 to 23 and reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in publishing and the regional and global cultural landscape. Commission CEO Dr. Abdullatif Al

Princess Haifa bint Faisal tours the Qassim archives center's date exhibition, engaging in a guided discussion about the displayed artifacts. BURAIDAH, May 12 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Princess Haifa bint Faisal bin Abdulaziz visited the Documents and Archives Center at Qassim Region Governorate and the “Aqdaa Bil Tamr Afdal” exhibition in Buraidah, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Princess Haifa, chairperson of Zahra Association and chairperson of the Saudi Cancer Socie

RIYADH, May 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The UAE National Orchestra brought Dubai Opera to standing ovation during “Sing for the Nation”, a concert that saw audiences join the orchestra and choi in singing the UAE’s most beloved patriotic songs across generations, in a shared celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE Armed Forces. The evening’s defining moment came with an unannounced appearance by renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, w

ROME, May 7 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission concluded the Marvels of Saudi Orchestra concert in Rome under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The concert, held at the Colosseum, featured a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. It brought together 32 musicians from the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir and 30 musicians from an Italian orchestra in a joint performance

Photography | Courtesy of SPA DIRIYAH, May 3— The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled “In Interludes and Transitions,” closed on May 2, 2026, after bringing together 68 artists from more than 37 countries at JAX District near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif. Organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the exhibition featured more than 25 new commissions across 12,900 square meters of exhibition halls, courtyards and terraces, with scen

RIYADH, April 30 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission said the 11th stop of its “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” world tour will be held in Rome in May and will feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The event will include performances by the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, as well as Saudi performing arts presented by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the commission said. The concert will feature Saudi, Italian and international works perfo

📷 | SPA RIYADH, April 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Art Basel Awards has named the Diriyah Biennale Foundation as a medalist in the Museum and Institution category in its 2026 cycle, recognizing the foundation as a "key platform for regional artistic development" and acknowledging its contribution to contemporary and Islamic arts globally. "The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has been committed to bringing together artists, communities, and ideas across geographies. This

SPA TABUK, April 16 — A cultural evening was held in Tabuk to mark World Art Day, bringing together people interested in visual arts and culture in the region. The event, titled “The Alphabet of the Brush… When Color Becomes a Universal Language,” was organized by the Cultural Club in Tabuk, the literary partner of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission. Discussions during the evening focused on visual art as a tool of cultural expression and its role in docume

SPA RIYADH, April 15 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture opened the first edition of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday with a session focused on culture as a form of soft power and the role of the nonprofit sector in shaping the future, state news agency SPA reported. The opening session, held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre under the title "Culture as Soft Power: Redefining the Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Shaping the Future," featured Prince Tu

The museum has launched an open call for the sixth edition of Art Here 2026, inviting artists from the GCC and India to submit proposals under the theme “Confluences.” WAM Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced an open call for proposals for the sixth edition of its flagship contemporary art initiative, Art Here 2026, and the Richard Mille Art Prize, with submissions open until 31 May 2026 through the museum’s website. The 2026 edition expands to India alongside the GCC, reflecting t

SPA MAKKAH, April 6 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District is showcasing a rare copy of the Holy Quran dating back to the 19th century, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The manuscript reflects the reverence historically shown by Muslims toward the Holy Quran as well as the care devoted to its artistic and decorative presentation. The copy is adorned with intricate decorations, gilding and floral motifs across its opening, middle

ASSEN, Netherlands, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two other ancient Romanian treasures stolen from a museum in the Netherlands were recovered after suspects in custody provided information that led investigators to them, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday. The artefacts, linked to Geto-Dacian communities, were presented at a press conference at the Drents Museum in the northern Dutch city of Assen, where they had been on loan

SPA MAKKAH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A rare Quran manuscript preserved in Saudi Arabia is drawing attention in Makkah after the Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District highlighted a copy written in the form of a ship, an example of historic Islamic manuscript design and calligraphic innovation. The piece is believed to date to the 11th century CE, or the 5th century AH, placing it among early surviving works that illustrate how Quranic manuscripts

SPA ALULA, March 27, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Hegra in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to rock-cut Nabataean tombs dating back to the first century A.D. and now also highlights the story of Hina bint Wahb, whose face has been reconstructed using modern techniques. According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, the archaeological site contains around 141 rock-cut tombs, 93 of them with carved façades decorated with geometric motifs and

SPA Madinah, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The qibla wall of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah represents one of the mosque’s prominent architectural elements, reflecting the artistic precision and aesthetic traditions of Islamic architecture. The wall features intricate vegetal ornamentation that decorates its surfaces, forming a unified decorative composition that highlights the craftsmanship and design traditions developed throughout the mosque’s historical expansi

SPA Riyadh, March 5, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – An open-air exhibition featuring works from the Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium is welcoming visitors in Riyadh during Ramadan, offering a public art experience along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street. The exhibition is one of the outcomes of the seventh edition of the Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium, part of the Riyadh Art Program supervised by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. The display incl

SPA Madinah, March 5, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The lighting system at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah includes 138,650 units designed to enhance the site’s architecture and support a tranquil atmosphere for worshippers, according to information released by the authority overseeing the mosque. The network includes 297 chandeliers and 8,219 column-mounted units to provide visibility across corridors. It also includes 10,546 units engraved with the name of Allah, amon

SPA Jeddah, February 26, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Al Balad, Jeddah’s historic district, has become a focal point for residents and visitors during Ramadan nights, offering heritage settings and cultural activities linked to Hijazi identity. After Taraweeh prayers, narrow alleys fill with foot traffic under lanterns and traditional lighting, illuminating coral-stone buildings and carved wooden windows known as rawasheen, some dating back more than five centuries. Vi

SPA Riyadh, February 22, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Historical accounts show that the imams of the Saudi state placed strong emphasis on religious observance and charitable giving during the month of Ramadan since the nation’s founding. Records indicate they prioritised congregational prayers, encouraged fasting and reinforced the importance of Zakat as a pillar of Islam and a mechanism for social solidarity. Support was extended to religious study circles, scholars,

SPA Brand Dubai launches Ramadan recipes guide with chefs and venues from Proudly from Dubai network Dubai, February 21, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has launched a Ramadan recipes guide featuring dishes developed with chefs, restaurants and cafes from the “Proudly from Dubai” network as part of the citywide Ramadan in Dubai programme. The “Ramadan Recipes Guide” includes about 40 recipes spanning m