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- Two Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes were decorated with the logo of the 鈥榊ear of Arabic Calligraphy鈥�
- The activities also included musical performances at the Riyadh and Jeddah airports to celebrate the occasion
RIYADH: Saudia installed special liveries on two of its aircraft ahead of events in Jeddah and Riyadh in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture for its 鈥淵ear of Arabic Calligraphy鈥� project.
The Jeddah event took place at King Abdul Aziz International Airport on Wednesday, ahead of a flight to Dubai in the UAE.
Razan Shaker, a media specialist for the airline鈥檚 corporate communications department, told Arab News: 鈥淭oday, we are celebrating the 鈥榊ear of Arabic Calligraphy,鈥� an initiative under the Ministry of Culture. This initiative showcases and celebrates the intricate designs and the beautiful art of Arabic calligraphy.鈥�
She said one of the goals of this initiative is to show Arabic calligraphy to the world, 鈥渁nd for that reason, we have two aircraft designed with the intricate livery of the 鈥榊ear of Arabic Calligraphy鈥�.鈥�
As a souvenir, calligraphers at King Abdul Aziz International wrote the names of passengers on mock boarding passes in intricate fonts. Saudia also arranged for onboard giveaways for passengers.
A group of renowned Arabic calligraphers was also stationed at the airport鈥檚 executive lounge, Al-Fursan lounge, and boarding area. In addition, there were two musicians performing on traditional Arabic instruments, the Oud and Qanun.
Saudi calligrapher and carver Shareefa Al-Ghamdi participated in the event. She said she was proud to share this cultural art with the world.
She also participated at events in Norway and Indonesia with the Saudi Embassy. 鈥淚 always try to present this art one way or another in society; I teach all age groups any topic related to this art,鈥� Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.
She added: 鈥淚t is such an amazing feeling to be one of the people in this field and present this type of art. The Holy Qur鈥檃n is written in calligraphy. I鈥檓 proud to share this field through education programs, lectures, meetings workshops.鈥�
Capt. Hassan Al-Ghamdi flew one of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners decorated by Saudia. 鈥淭he decorations have been made on a few airplanes on the fleet to celebrate Arabic calligraphy and the cooperation between Saudi airlines and the Ministry of Culture,鈥� he told Arab News.
As a proud Saudi pilot, he said he wished Arabic speakers could share their language everywhere they go.
One passenger on a flight to Dubai, Moayad Ghulam, said it brought him pride to see Saudi calligraphers share their talents.
He told Arab News flying after a year of being deprived due to coronavirus disease restrictions made him feel like he was flying for the first time.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to travel again, it鈥檚 actually my first time in Jeddah鈥檚 new international airport, it鈥檚 a strange feeling,鈥� he added.