A major new arts event has been added to the regional calendar.
Ad Diriyah Biennale Foundation for Contemporary Art, to be held in Saudi Arabia from 2021, will operate with interchangeable themes.
The inaugural event will be dedicated to contemporary art, while Islamic art will be highlighted in 2022.
The news was announced by the kingdom's Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan, who also leads the board of directors of the recently established Thunaiyat Ad Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
Through the biennale and other planned initiatives, the organisation aims to evolve Saudi Arabia's contemporary arts scene and position Ad Diriyah as a regional and international hub for culture.
The biennale was announced via Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media twitter account.
Where is Ad Diriyah?
Home to Unesco-listed 15th-century site of At-Turaif, Ad Diriyah is regarded as the "pearl of Saudi Arabia" and is the centrepiece of the kingdom's tourism strategy. Located on the outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, the town holds particular significance to the kingdom as it is the site of the first Saudi state and the original seat of Saudi Arabia's Al Saud family.
Through a $17 billion (Dh62.43bn) development, the city will host luxury resorts and more than 100 dining and entertainment options. The first hotel is due to open late in 2021.
The location has already hosted a number of high-profile events, including the Formula E Diriyah E-Prix race in addition to the Ad Diriyah Season of concerts, which last year hosted the likes of hip-hop stars Lil Wayne and Future in addition to singers Pitbull, Shaggy, Don Omar and American rockers Imagine Dragons.
More art from Saudi Arabia
The announcement of Ad Diriyah Biennale should be welcomed by the kingdom's arts community, which saw a number of planned events and exhibitions cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In order to keep the scene active, the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture recently launched the Ithra Connect Season. The online initiative features more than 30 arts programmes, activities, courses and podcasts.
In an interview with Arab News, Rania Biltagi, a spokeswoman for the season, said the initiative aims to keep artists and audience engaged while remaining indoors.
"With the public indoors amid a time of global closures and social distancing, Ithra Connect was designed to bridge the physical distance between our audiences and offerings – ensuring constant access to new and engaging programming and content.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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CREW
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FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5