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Ƶ unveils lineup for 5th Winter at Tantora

Winter at Tantora has become the region’s premier event, blending culture, art, and music against the backdrop of AlUla’s stunning desert landscapes. (Supplied)
Winter at Tantora has become the region’s premier event, blending culture, art, and music against the backdrop of AlUla’s stunning desert landscapes. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 November 2023

Ƶ unveils lineup for 5th Winter at Tantora

Ƶ unveils lineup for 5th Winter at Tantora
  • Rami Al-Moallim told Arab News: “What makes Winter at Tantora festival so special is its ability to create a magical atmosphere where culture, music, sports, arts, and dining blend together”

JEDDAH: As winter approaches, anticipation is building for the fifth Winter at Tantora, a month-long cultural extravaganza presented by AlUla Moments.

Running from Dec. 21 to Jan. 27, the festival has become the region’s premier event, blending culture, art, and music against the backdrop of AlUla’s stunning desert landscapes.




AlUla Moments unveils the lineup for the fifth Winter at Tantora, a one month festival with an array of diverse activities and events. (Supplied)

The event has something for everyone, featuring a wide range of entertainment, fashion, music and sports activities, with six themed weekends providing an abundance of things to discover inside the historic city of AlUla.

FASTFACT

The fifth Winter at Tantora, presented by AlUla Moments, will run from Dec. 21 to Jan. 27.

Rami Al-Moallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, emphasized the festival’s lasting appeal as the longest-running event of its kind in the Middle East.




Rami Al-Moallim, Vice president of destination management and marketing, Royal Commission for AlUla

He told Arab News: “What makes Winter at Tantora festival so special is its ability to create a magical atmosphere where culture, music, sports, arts, and dining blend together.”

From Dec. 22-31, the celebration will begin with the immersive “Tantora Celebrations.” With roots in centuries-old cultural traditions of AlUla, the celebration heralds the start of the winter planting season under the shadow of a sundial in AlUla Old Town.




AlUla Moments unveils the lineup for the fifth Winter at Tantora, a one month festival with an array of diverse activities and events. (Supplied)

“Tales After Dark,” an exclusive after-dark series featuring light projection shows in four locations across AlUla, will captivate visitors until Jan. 21, 2024.

Among the opening weekend’s headline events is the “Jamil and Bouthaina” musical, showcasing enchanting live performances of poems and stories at Maraya.

What makes Winter at Tantora festival so special is its ability to create a magical atmosphere where culture, music, sports, arts, and dining blend together.

Rami Al-Moallim, Vice president of destination management and marketing, Royal Commission for AlUla

For sports enthusiasts, the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo returns from Jan. 15-20, 2024. This unique event is the world’s only modern polo tournament staged in a desert environment, attracting the best players globally to compete in this extraordinary setting.

On Jan. 11 and 12, the AlUla Trail Race will challenge international athletes, amateur runners, and children alike with a range of categories, including a 100-km ultramarathon, a 50-km marathon, a 25-km half marathon, a 10-km fun run, and a 1.4-km kids’ race.




AlUla Moments unveils the lineup for the fifth Winter at Tantora, a one month festival with an array of diverse activities and events. (Supplied)

The festival’s closing weekend will feature a fashion show presenting collections from Givenchy and Tiffany & Co., along with other experiences in the world of fashion. It will also coincide with the ongoing AlUla Moments concert series.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly to create a state-of-the-art roster of events that are now ready to be shared,” Al-Moallim said.

For more information and to explore the full AlUla Moments calendar of events, visit experiencealula.com.


Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
Updated 24 sec ago

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
  • Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.

The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Ƶ, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.

The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Ƶ. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.

Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.

The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.

The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.

The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Ƶ’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.

CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Ƶ.”

Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”

The collaboration highlights Ƶ’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.


Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen
Updated 4 min 27 sec ago

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Ƶ’s Project Masam removed 614 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included three anti-personnel mines, 36 anti-tank mines, 574 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 469,576 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services
Updated 20 min 46 sec ago

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services
  • The initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience
  • The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders

RIYADH: The Digital Government Authority has launched the Platform Code, a national framework for designing and developing government platform interfaces in Ƶ.

Unveiled during an event in Riyadh, the initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience.

The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders.

Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, said that the Platform Code aligns with local and global digital standards.

He described it as a critical step toward comprehensive digital transformation, enhancing compliance, and fostering efficient and impactful services aligned with Ƶ’s strategic digital goals.

The Platform Code, an open-source design system, integrates coding frameworks, design tools, and community guidelines, enabling rapid development of unified user experiences. It allows designers and developers to address specific needs using pre-built assets.

The authority also unveiled the Saudi Digital Strategy, focused on growing the digital economy and expanding opportunities for public and private sector products.

Other initiatives included the Digital Transformation Ambassador program, fostering an integrated digital community, and the Scene Program, promoting holistic user experiences locally and globally through advanced frameworks and tools.

Committed to advancing digital governance, the authority aims to position Ƶ as a global leader in innovative digital services.

It leverages cutting-edge technologies like AI and emerging tech while offering consultancy programs and fostering leadership in digital transformation.

These efforts contribute to Vision 2030’s goals of enhanced service quality and economic growth.


KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia

KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia
The initiative is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian and relief efforts conducted through KSrelief. (SPA)
Updated 18 November 2024

KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia

KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia

RIYADH: Hundreds of shelter kits have been distributed to people in Afghanistan and Somalia by Saudi aid agency KSrelief, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Over the weekend, 200 kits were handed out as part of a project to help Afghan returnees from Pakistan and those affected by floods.

The project will provide 4,882 in total containing tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other essential supplies to almost 30,000 people in need across 13 Afghan provinces.

In Somalia, 1,000 shelter kits, 1,000 clothing parcels, and 80 tents were given to displaced people in the Banadir region, benefitting 6,000 people.


KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria

KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria
The aid is part of the ongoing assistance provided by KSrelief to some of the world’s most in need. (SPA)
Updated 18 November 2024

KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria

KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered more aid to those most in need in Lebanon, Chad and Syria, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

In Chari-Baguirmi, Chad, the agency delivered 1,600 food parcels that benefitted 9,600 people. A further 333 food aid parcels and 333 hygiene kits were distributed in the Idlib region of Syria to help 1,998 individuals from 333 families who were affected by last year’s devastating earthquake.

And in Lebanon, winter clothing vouchers were given to 300 orphans and people with special needs in Akkar governorate. These will help them buy clothing for the forthcoming winter.