RIYADH, 10 September: Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan inspected the second phase of the King Fahd Cultural Center’s development project in Riyadh, set to open in April 2025.
The project involves renovating exhibition halls, theaters, offices and a restaurant, as well as developing the external area and green spaces, following the completion of the first phase last April.
Prince Badr toured the sections restored and developed in the first phase, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The first phase launched a major theater with 2,750 seats. It hosted the debut of Zarqa Al-Yamama Opera, Saudi Arabia’s first and the largest Arabic opera globally, produced by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission.
The center also hosted the fourth National Cultural Awards on Monday, honoring cultural pioneers from various fields under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Badr also visited the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language in Riyadh, where he reviewed the academy’s initiatives in language planning, computational linguistics, educational and cultural programs.
He praised the academy’s efforts in promoting the Arabic language locally and internationally, and highlighted the importance of collective efforts in advancing the language.
The minister toured the Arabic Language Exhibition for Children, which features interactive tools designed to teach Arabic.
He also visited the Abjad Center for Teaching Arabic, which offers advanced curricula for non-native speakers, and met students from various countries.
Prince Badr concluded his visit at the Arabic Intelligence Center, where he was briefed on AI tools for Arabic-language processing and preservation in the digital space.