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Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh received Sudan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali Othman, in his office in Riyadh on Thursday.
Al-Asheikh wished the ambassador well in his duties and efforts to strengthen relations between the people of the two nations.
The two officials discussed issues of common interest during the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
RIYADH: An international boomerang tournament is being held in Hail in commemoration of a recent discovery of evidence showing that the hunting implement may have been invented in Arabia.
“The Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad International Boomerang Tournament” begun on Thursday and brings together competitors from the US, Europe and Brazil, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Boomerang Club.
Saudi researcher Mishari Al-Nashmi recently published findings of rock engravings in the mountains of Al-Masma, Joba and Arnan, depicting hunting scenes from the Neolithic era using curved tools resembling the Australian boomerang.
In collaboration with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, a Saudi archaeologist based in Australia, it was confirmed that these engravings date them as older than the Australian boomerang models, which were previously believed to be the original source.
Al-Nashmi said: “Together with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, we successfully gathered comprehensive insights into the Australian boomerang.
“Our extensive research led to a groundbreaking discovery: This tool was not exclusive to Australia, but was, in fact, known in the Hail region for millennia.
“The rock engravings, which depict various forms of the boomerang, serve as undeniable evidence that the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula possessed knowledge of this tool long ago.”
“The repeated discovery of boomerang models in various regions such as Europe, Australia and Saudi Arabia indicates that this tool was used for multiple purposes in ancient cultures.
“It is clear that the diverse uses of the boomerang required the development of different shapes, designs and sizes, suited to specific purposes such as hunting, games, music and digging,” Al-Nashmi said.
Al-Nashmi, who also vice president of the Boomerang Club in Hail, added: “It is also likely that these designs did not transfer between different peoples but were locally crafted within each region, maintaining similar goals.”
“We are confident that this discovery underscores the profound depth of civilization and the storied history of the Hail region,” Al-Nashmi said.
Professor Al-Turkiye added: “The rock engravings portray skilled hunters wearing masks shaped like birds or ibexes, using hunting tools that flew with remarkable precision to capture deer, birds, and even wild cattle.
“These details underscore that the Arabian boomerang was not just a hunting instrument, but a significant component of a highly developed culture.”
The tool is globally known as the “boomerang,” a term derived from the Dharuk language of one of the Australian indigenous tribes, the Turuwal people.
However, Saudi researchers revealed that its linguistic roots trace back to the Akkadian word “taqntu/taqttu,” meaning to kill or hunt, which appears in cuneiform inscriptions dating to the fourth millennium BCE.
The Arabic name “Al-Arjoon” refers to the tool’s curved shape, reminiscent of the frond of a palm tree, giving it a local identity that has redefined its global recognition.
The event unfolds over four days under the patronage of the governor of Hail, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, and includes tests of accuracy, distance and technique.
Athletes challenge one another to throw the boomerang in a way that ensures it returns with a precise curve, drawing inspiration from the techniques of ancient hunters.
The championship also coincides with a rock art exhibition at Rata, one of the archaeological sites in the Hail region, featuring rare specimens of a range of ancient boomerangs.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad said that the event was “a tribute to a profound human legacy.”
“Hail once again confirms its status as the cradle of civilizations, demonstrating its ability to revive its heritage in a manner that resonates globally.”
The prince embraced the idea of turning the discovery into a living heritage, establishing the Hail Boomerang Club, led by Nasser Al-Shammari, who designed a boomerang specifically for the championship.
In collaboration with the International Federation of Boomerang Associations, the event was co-organized by world champion Logan Broadbent from the US and Roger Perry, president of the Boomerang Association of Australia.
Perry said: “The world will discover that this sport is not just a game, but a story of humanity using nature to craft its tools, and Hail has written a new chapter in this story.”
MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance on Wednesday held an open day for the third group of participants in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visitation.
The group included 250 pilgrims from 18 African countries.
The open day involved a range of cultural and recreational competitions.
Attendees expressed their gratitude and appreciation to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their hospitality, asking God to reward them for their services to Islam and Muslims.
They also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, and said that the program followed the highest standards.
The program enables visitors to perform Umrah and visit religious, cultural and civilizational monuments in Makkah and Madinah.
Its executive director, Ali bin Abdullah Al-Zughaibi, welcomed the visitors, and said that the program is part of the leadership’s keenness on communicating with Muslims and spreading the spirit of Islamic brotherhood.
RIYADH: New investment opportunities have been announced by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.
These focus on recycling reclaimed firewood from logging violations and managing invasive plant species by converting them into alternative economic products, said a press statement released on Thursday.
The aim is foster public-private collaboration in addressing environmental challenges, generate economic value from reclaimed wood and invasive trees, and drive innovative solutions that support both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
The initiative will also contribute to the long-term preservation of forests, rangelands and natural ecosystems while creating job opportunities.
Associations, companies and government entities specializing in recycling, craftsmanship, manufacturing, organic products, construction and transformative industries are invited to apply via the NCVC website.
Applications are open until mid-February. Investors must adhere to environmental regulations and executive bylaws on logging violations which prohibit the direct use or resale of firewood as fuel.
“As part of its commitment to sustainable development, the center continues to offer both long term and seasonal investment opportunities to expand vegetation cover, support afforestation projects, conserve natural resources and enhance quality of life,” said the press release.
RIYADH: The first “Open Talk” of the year saw the Saudi Museums Commission launch its agenda for transforming the Kingdom’s museums sector.
The virtual event, held via Webex, also highlighted the commission’s roles, responsibilities, achievements and future prospects.
Mona Khazindar, adviser to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, underlined the commission’s pivotal role in documenting and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage for future generations, and its commitment to creating impactful museum experiences that educate and inspire.
Khazindar also emphasized the commission's dedication to supporting local artists and placing Saudi art on the global stage.
The talk was facilitated by Jana Jabbour, communication and media director at the Museums Commission, and included key presentations detailing the organization’s strategic initiatives.
Ibrahim Al-Sanousi, general manager of the Museums and Cultural Assets Development Department, unveiled the roadmap for museum development, featuring five operational museums and 19 currently under construction across the Kingdom.
Khaled Baassiri, general manager of the Partnerships and Business Development Department, presented innovative strategies for public-private and nonprofit partnerships to enhance visitor experiences and foster sustainable growth within the sector.
Perihan Kutbi, manager of the Licensing Department, clarified the procedures and requirements for licensing private museums, paving the way for increased private sector engagement in the cultural landscape.
Taghreed Al-Saraj, director of the Education and Talent Development Department, highlighted comprehensive education and talent development programs, ensuring the future of the museum sector was secured by skilled and enthusiastic professionals.
Established in 2020 and operating under the Ministry of Culture, the Museum Commission aims to cultivate a vibrant and evolving cultural landscape.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince sent cables of condolences on Thursday to US President Donald Trump after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with an army helicopter on Wednesday.
At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the jet late Wednesday as it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, officials said.
King Salman offered his condolences to Trump, the families of the victims, and the American people. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a similar cable separately.
The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. At a press conference at the White House, Trump said that there were no survivors from the crash.
The plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water and the helicopter wreckage was also found.
