Saudi Arabia, UNESCO to bridge cultures through translation

Saudi Arabia, UNESCO to bridge cultures through translation
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Updated 20 March 2024
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Saudi Arabia, UNESCO to bridge cultures through translation

Saudi Arabia, UNESCO to bridge cultures through translation
  • King Faisal Center and UNESCO establish chair to revive legacy of knowledge exchange

RIYADH: The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies recently signed an agreement with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to establish the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures.

The agreement was signed by the secretary-general of the center, Princess Maha bint Mohammed Al-Faisal, and the director general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay.

The chair will be established with the support of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission of Saudi Arabia and will be directed by Dr. Moneera Al-Ghadeer.

It will help meet a growing need for interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences, inclusive and equitable education, and cultural diversity. Its thematic concerns will pave the way for innovative research in translating cultures by supporting collaborations between scholars specializing in translation, culture, intangible heritage, the humanities, and artificial intelligence at the local, regional and international levels.

Al-Ghadeer said: “The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures is initiated with generous support of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, striving to go at the same speed as the flourishing translation movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures recalls translation movements that took place in the multilingual and multicultural societies of the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, as well as the Andalusian era. These civilizational periods oversaw some of the greatest translation projects in history, namely the translation of cultural and scientific works from the ancient languages of the East into Arabic.”

Al-Ghadeer added: “Cultural relations between the countries of the South also crystallized in this early period, through which knowledge was transferred from the Greeks to the Arabs and then returned to Europe, contributing to the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. We can say that this intellectual lineage of translation has changed the world in fundamental ways.”

To formulate a future vision, the UNESCO chair will draw on ancient Arab civilizational heritage, Al-Ghadeer said. The chair views translating cultures as an ongoing process that includes translation, transmission, communication within and between cultures, and the dissemination of knowledge, she added.

“It will reconsider knowledge transformations as well as translation strategies and technology in the 21st century. By adopting a global rather than Eurocentric perspective, the UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures will embrace theoretical and philosophical thinking from an array of cultural perspectives, in addition to geo-linguistic diversity.”

A Translating Cultures Lab has also been established. The entity will produce comparative theoretical research in the translation of cultures, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.

“It will likewise explore cultural interactions between countries of the Global South in relation to the chair’s themes and its different languages,” Al-Ghadeer said.


Makkah hosts 10th international military Qur’an contest

Makkah hosts 10th international military Qur’an contest
Updated 7 sec ago
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Makkah hosts 10th international military Qur’an contest

Makkah hosts 10th international military Qur’an contest
  • 179 participants from 32 Islamic countries to compete, promote moderate Islamic values

MAKKAH: The 10th International Military Qur’an Memorization Competition launched on Saturday in Makkah, attracting 179 participants from 32 countries.

Organized by the General Administration of Religious Affairs of the Armed Forces under the patronage of Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the event promotes the significance of the Qur’an, encourages its memorization, and highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in serving Islam’s holy book and as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites.

The competition features six categories: full Qur’an memorization; 20-part, 10-part, five-part, and three-part memorization; and a special category for recitation and tajweed (proper pronunciation).

Parallel activities include a Qur’anic forum for religious affairs directors and imams, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s efforts in Qur’an printing, translation, and distribution.

The forum also discusses the Qur’an’s moral values, the Kingdom’s contributions through its ministries, and the impact of tajweed on understanding the Qur’an.

Additionally, the General Administration of Religious Affairs offers training programs for religious affairs personnel across the armed forces, focusing on Qur’anic teaching methods and enhancing the skills of instructors and competition judges.

Maj. Gen. Mesfer Al-Issa, director of the General Administration of Religious Affairs and competition supervisor, described the event as a significant initiative to honor the Qur’an.

Al-Issa emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to hosting this event, reflecting the leadership’s dedication to serving the Qur’an.

In an interview with Arab News, he highlighted the event’s profound impact on participants, especially as it takes place in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Issa said that the Qur’an guides soldiers, shaping their character and values, and encouraging psychological, behavioral, and spiritual stability.

Soldiers grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah are more balanced and resilient, contributing to the development of morally and spiritually strong armed forces, he said.

The 14-day event will include 10 days in Makkah before moving to Madinah for four days, where participants will visit the Prophet’s Mosque and other Islamic landmarks.

Judges, including imams from the Two Holy Mosques and Qur’anic scholars, use an advanced electronic evaluation system called “Insaf” (Fairness) for transparent scoring.

Contestants receive immediate feedback on memorization, pronunciation, tajweed, and error rates.

Al-Issa said that soldiers are selected through year-long national competitions to identify top military memorizers.

The competition also serves as a platform for military personnel from Islamic nations to promote moderate Islamic values and a proper understanding of the Qur’an through scientific forums.

Al-Issa said that the competition strengthens the Qur’an’s role in Islamic armed forces, supporting efforts to memorize, recite, and reflect on its teachings.

This helps build a generation of soldiers rooted in Islamic knowledge and guided by noble values, he added.


Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts

Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts
Updated 46 min 2 sec ago
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Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts

Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts
  • Event organized by Royal Institute of Traditional Arts and held under patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan
  • Featured Saudi and Brazilian traditional performances

RIYADH: Highlighting the shared artistic heritage of Saudi Arabia and Brazil, Eltiqa once again captured hearts in the Kingdom’s capital this weekend.

Organized by the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, and held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event featured Saudi and Brazilian traditional performances and arts at the King Fahd Cultural Center.

“I wanted to see the mix (of cultures) that they have done between Saudi and Brazilian culture,” said Abdulaziz Al-Ansari, one of the visitors at Eltiqa. “It’s honestly amazing. I didn’t even 1 percent imagine it would be this good.”

The event highlighted the harmony between the two countries through five performances from each side and a combined dance performance that merged the traditional arts of Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

Asma Al-Sayyari, a social media influencer and visitor, described the event as “magical.” She added: “What I liked the most was they brought 100 percent Saudi culture, 100 percent Brazilian culture, then they mixed the two very beautifully.”

The cultural center also displayed a collaborative artwork titled “Harmony” by a Saudi artist and a Brazilian artist, as well as 15 cultural events such as movement activities, art pieces, and workshops to connect people and introduce the visual arts of both countries.

“Extraordinary … I salute Saudi Arabia and I salute the Brazilian people,” said Samar Abdullah, a Saudi model and visitor at Eltiqa.

Eltiqa is one of many Wrth initiatives that aims to promote global cultural exchange between the Kingdom and other countries, as well as create a platform to link traditional arts locally and internationally.

Through such events, the center hopes to present Saudi Arabia’s traditional arts as part of Saudi Vision 2030’s objective to preserve and enhance cultural heritage.

“You can’t imagine how full I am with beautiful energy. I feel very, very good,” said Yusha Al-Sayyari, another visitor.


Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
Updated 01 February 2025
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Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites

JEDDAH: The third group of guests from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, visited the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba kiswa.

They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The guests also visited the Revelation Exhibition in the Hira Cultural District, where they explored the story of the Qur’an’s revelation.

The group includes 250 Umrah performers from 18 African countries, the SPA reported.

Guests praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life.

They acknowledged development projects enhancing the experience for Umrah performers, pilgrims and visitors, according to the SPA.


Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals
Updated 01 February 2025
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Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals

RIYADH: The final phase of the 15th annual National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, will be held from Feb. 3-6 at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh.

The event is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba.

The olympiad will feature 200 research and innovation projects submitted by students from 22 scientific fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The projects were selected from more than 23,000 entries received during earlier stages of the competition, the SPA added.

Sixty-eight winners will be chosen to represent Saudi Arabia at international and regional competitions, including the International Science and Engineering Fair in the US.

The olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in South Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.


Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week
Updated 01 February 2025
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Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,564 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 13,883 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,668 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,013 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,477 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 55 percent were Ethiopian, 41 percent Yemeni, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 90 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 18 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years and a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000).

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.