“The biennale goes beyond just being a simple exhibition for inanimate objects from distant lands and distant centuries and presents a key opportunity to widen cultural understanding, inspire new perspectives, set trends, and initiate conversations around the Islamic arts.”
Farida Alhusseini, Director, Islamic Arts Biennale Islamic Arts Biennale: Saudi Arabia Puts a Spotlight on Global Islamic Art [Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington]
“I spotted this man as I was pulling out of a service station on one of the huge roads leading to Riyadh, the Saudi capital. It was late morning and it wouldn’t have been much below 40 degrees. This was early in my trip and I wasn’t sure how he would respond. I’d been told photography wasn’t always welcome in the country, so it took me a while to pluck up the courage.”
James Deavin, photographer, discussing the story behind what he views as his best photograph: a hitch-hiker in the Saudi desert. See the image here. [The Guardian]
“The Four Seasons in Riyadh is basically Palo Alto.”
Silicon Valley VCs tour Middle East in hunt for funding [Financial Times]
“Continuing the Kingdom’s efforts to end the Yemeni crisis, and in support (of) the Saudi Initiative of 2021 to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, I visit Sanaa along with a delegation from the brotherly Sultanate of Oman to stabilize the truce and ceasefire.”
Mohammed Al-Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen. [Arab News]
“We’re not saying that we’re perfect, but what I’m trying to say is that these things help us to achieve a better future for our population.”
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports. 60 Minutes [CBS News]
“The two sides emphasised the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and its activation in a way that expands mutual trust and the fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region.” In a joint statement released after talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. [The New Arab]
“Not everything between the U.S. and China has to be a zero-sum game. I don’t know why we would perceive there to be a downside to de-escalation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Middle East panel. [Politico]
“I’ve lived in world cities from New York, to London, Paris and Dubai … it’s up there with the best, if not surpassing, in terms of local food entrepreneurship, trendy food concepts, incredible interiors, and exceptional service and hospitality. Attention to detail, as well as the love and positive embrace of the new, and a burgeoning night-time economy all add to that vibrancy.”
Ciara Philips, a British cultural strategist who moved to Riyadh at the end of 2020, Could Riyadh be the Middle East’s next culinary capital? [Arab News]
Saudi Arabia intends to become “the main digital hub connecting the three continents Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as leading the largest share of internet exchange and data traffic in the region.”
Fahad Alhajeri, CEO of Center3, a subsidiary of the Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi Arabia’s digital dream: Silicon Valley for the Middle East [Middle East Eye]
“Saudi Arabia is moving from disengagement towards engagement to allow it to focus on pushing ahead on Vision 2030.”
Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center [Reuters]
