Saudi Arabia welcomes EA, Starbreeze and Funcom make layoffs, and Xbox Game Pass unravels - Patch Notes #25

It has been a struggle this week. Video games have finally pushed me over the edge. It feels like I have been smashing my cranium against a brick wall for eternity without making such much as a dent. Each wobbly step forward only results in...

Saudi minister of health holds talks with Syrian minister of culture

Yassin Saleh, the Syrian minister, given a tour of MOH's Seha Virtual Hospital command and control center The virtual hospital has facilitated access to specialized medical consultations for the Syrian health ministry Arab News RIYADH: Saudi...

Saudi Arabia Leads High-Level Panel on Advancing Peace at Munich Leaders Meeting

In a significant step toward fostering dialogue and addressing one of the world’s most protracted conflicts, Saudi Arabia hosted a high-level panel discussion in the historic city of al-Ula on Thursday, focusing on pathways to peace between Israel...

Mondiacult ends with promises and pledges to spread peace through culture

Mondiacult, the world's largest conference on cultural policy and sustainable development, held its 2025 edition in Barcelona this week with thousands of participants and more than 150 ministers of culture, gathered to set the global agenda for...

Dave Chappelle makes free speech a joke at Saudi Comedy Festival, fans and critics react

Comedy met controversy over the weekend as Dave Chappelle took the stage at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, a country often criticized for its human rights record. Before an audience of 6,000 on Saturday, the legendary comedian didn’t...

AI, digital payments and youth fueling Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce boom

Miguel Hadchity RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce sector is poised for unprecedented growth, with the market projected to surge to $708.7 billion by 2033, nearly triple its current size. In its Saudi Arabia E-commerce Market Report, market...

Ministry of Culture collaborates with Google Arts & Culture to launch Jeddah Historic District on its platform

The Saudi Ministry of Culture today announced a collaboration with Google Arts & Culture to launch an official page dedicated to Historic Jeddah, one of Saudi Arabia’s sites registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This step aims to utilize...

Beyond the desert: Why Saudi is the next big travel story

To start off, the country is gearing up for an ambitious sporting calendar. Already home to the competitive Saudi Pro League, Saudi is fast becoming a magnet for global tournaments: Formula 1 night races in Jeddah, LIV Golf in Riyadh, and the UFC...

Dave Chappelle jokes it’s ‘easier to talk’ in Saudi Arabia than back home in America at Riyadh Comedy Festival

Dave Chappelle at Riyadh Comedy Festival/ Image: (Getty Images via The Independent) At Saudi Arabia’s first global comedy festival, Dave Chappelle used his stage time to weigh in on the volatile state of free speech in America. With irony at the...

Italian furniture fair Salone del Mobile is coming to Riyadh

Salone del Mobile, arguably the world's most important furniture fair, is coming to Saudi Arabia, announced Maria Porro, president of Salone del Mobile Milan, and Sumayah Al-Solaiman, chief executive of Saudi Arabia's Architecture and Design...

BMA-Riyadh hosts successful Milan 2025

By: Press release Riyadh – The Bhatkal Muslim Association (BMA) Riyadh hosted its annual event, Milan 2025, at the Crown Plaza Hotel, bringing together community members, families, and well-wishers for an evening of unity, recognition, and...

Pakistan-Saudi defence pact to evolve into ‘Muslim NATO’: Ishaq Dar

Published on: October 3, 2025 3:30 PM ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s defence pact with Saudi Arabia is not a sudden deal. Speaking in the National Assembly, he said the agreement is the first...

Trump's Gaza plan not in line with Muslim countries' proposal, says Pakistan

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -The 20 points that U.S. President Donald Trump announced this week under his plan to end the war in Gaza were not in line with a draft presented to him by a group of Muslim-majority countries, Pakistani Foreign...

Dave Chappelle Jokes on How ‘It’s Easier To Talk’ in Saudi Arabia Than America

Dave Chappelle recently addressed the subject of free speech while performing abroad. He responded directly to questions about the boundaries of expression in the United States. The comedian, best known for his stand-up and Netflix specials,...

MENA Digest: UAE firms Upfront, Climaty AI, Saudi's DOO, others get funding

Credit: Reuters Early-stage startups led funding activity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region this week, with at least seven firms securing capital. These include UAE-based fintech Upfront, which raised an eight-digit pre-seed...

Dave Chappelle Says ‘It’s Easier to Talk’ in Saudi Arabia Than the U.S.

The controversial comedian used his set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to comment on free speech Dave Chappelle ironically used a Saudi comedy event to talk about freedom of speech. According to The New York Times, Chappelle — who has been under...

Saudi Engages Indian Market with Three-city Roadshow, to Drive Strategic Growth Across Leisure, MICE, and Weddings

As Saudi continues to expand its global outreach of tourism, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) held its latest three-city India roadshow from 15th to 19th September 2025 across Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. The effort highlights STA’s growing...

Saudi: Diriyah launches Faena Residences Wadi Safar with 20 ultra-luxury villas

Diriyah Company has announced its latest world-class branded residential offering with the launch of the Faena Residences Wadi Safar, featuring 20 villas inspired by luxury hospitality brand Faena’s unique art-driven philosophy. These residences...

Dave Chappelle said he has more 'free speech' in Saudi Arabia than the US as comedian takes jabs at Charlie Kirk during Riyadh Comedy Festival

Dave Chappelle was blasted for saying he had more 'free speech' to make jokes in Saudi Arabia while performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. 'Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you'll get canceled,' the...

Bill Burr sells out to the Riyadh Comedy Festival: “One of the top three experiences I’ve had”

For a man who is not afraid to call people out, Bill Burr sure caved quickly for a paycheck. Burr is one of the comedians who performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival and now he’s defending the choice. Just say you wanted the money, man. On his...