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From Riyadh to the world, Saudi TikTokers drive creative growth

The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)
The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)
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Updated 17 sec ago

From Riyadh to the world, Saudi TikTokers drive creative growth

From Riyadh to the world, Saudi TikTokers drive creative growth
  • The report found that TikTok advertising tools generated SR3 billion in additional revenue for SMBs, with 61 percent of Saudi businesses on the platform reporting improved brand visibility

RIYADH: Saudi content creators took center stage at a TikTok event in Riyadh’s JAX Beast House, where the platform highlighted its role in supporting the Kingdom’s creative economy.

The gathering featured panel discussions with local content creators Yasmeen Al-Shafai and Fareed Al-Shahrani, alongside presentations on how TikTok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ.




The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)

“The way we are impacting doing business in Ƶ is by bridging companies with creators and getting them to work with one another,” Shadi Kandil, TikTok general manager of global business solutions for the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa, Central and South Asia, told Arab News.

“We found through research that creator content has the maximum impact on user engagement.”

FASTFACTS

• TikTok unveiled the findings of its ‘TikTok Effect Report,’ produced with Redseer Strategy Consultants.

• According to the study, more than 1 million creators and 170,000 small and medium-sized businesses are active on TikTok in the Kingdom.

During the event, TikTok unveiled the findings of its “TikTok Effect Report,” produced with Redseer Strategy Consultants, which measured the platform’s economic contribution to Ƶ.




The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)

According to the study, more than 1 million creators and 170,000 small and medium-sized businesses are active on TikTok in the Kingdom.

In 2024, the platform contributed SR3.9 billion ($1.04 billion) to the Saudi gross domestic product and supported over 25,000 jobs.




The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)

The report also found that TikTok advertising tools generated SR3 billion in additional revenue for SMBs, with 61 percent of Saudi businesses on the platform reporting improved brand visibility.

It noted that 55 percent of SMBs believe TikTok encourages youth entrepreneurship, while nearly a quarter of Saudi female entrepreneurs said it inspired them to start their ventures.




The Riyadh event featured panel discussions with local content creators and presentations on how tiktok is shaping opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Ƶ. (Supplied)

“TikTok’s impact in Ƶ extends well beyond entertainment. The platform fosters entrepreneurship, enabling job creation and strengthening cultural identity,” said Hatem Samman, TikTok executive director of government relations and public policy in the Kingdom.

“We are encouraged by the rapid growth of content creation and digital innovation in the Kingdom, which are paving the way for new industries and economic opportunities,” he added.

The study further showed that TikTok influenced SR110 billion in consumer spending last year and boosted the Kingdom’s global image in areas such as tourism, sports, and culture, with 30 percent of surveyed international users stating that Saudi content inspired them to visit.


Ƶ at prosecutors’ conference in Singapore

Ƶ at prosecutors’ conference in Singapore
Updated 36 sec ago

Ƶ at prosecutors’ conference in Singapore

Ƶ at prosecutors’ conference in Singapore
  • Discussions covered best practices for international cooperation in combating transnational offenses, especially cyber and financial crimes, forensic science, and psychological profiling

RIYADH: Ƶ’s Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Mujib is leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the 30th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors in Singapore.

The four-day conference, from Sept. 7 to 10, includes senior officials from international organizations examining how criminals are exploiting technology and artificial intelligence. 

The participants have been discussing how prosecutors can use modern technological tools in investigations and court cases. (SPA)

The participants have been discussing how prosecutors can use modern technological tools in investigations and court cases, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. 

Discussions covered best practices for international cooperation in combating transnational offenses, especially cyber and financial crimes, forensic science, and psychological profiling.

On the sidelines of the gathering, Al-Mujib held meetings with counterparts from participating countries, the SPA reported. 

The Kingdom’s participation highlights its active role in strengthening international cooperation to fight criminal networks worldwide.

 


Makkah catering contest to enhance pilgrim services

Makkah catering contest to enhance pilgrim services
Updated 42 sec ago

Makkah catering contest to enhance pilgrim services

Makkah catering contest to enhance pilgrim services
  • The ministry wants to attract distinguished Ƶ chefs who can develop innovative catering solutions that improve service quality and reflect the spiritual experience of Hajj and Umrah

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a catering challenge in Makkah to enhance services for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to foster a creative and competitive environment, boost safety in line with global standards, and optimize food preparation and distribution. 

The ministry wants to attract distinguished Ƶ chefs who can develop innovative catering solutions that improve service quality and reflect the spiritual experience of Hajj and Umrah.

The challenge is a flagship program of the ministry’s Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, aimed at collaborating with businesspeople and startups to transform promising ideas into viable projects. 

This initiative is a part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to provide pilgrims with compelling experiences aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the SPA reported.

 


New calligraphy courses to preserve Arab artform

The courses, focusing on the Naskh, Ruq’ah, Diwani and Thuluth scripts, will be held in Madinah from October to December. (SPA)
The courses, focusing on the Naskh, Ruq’ah, Diwani and Thuluth scripts, will be held in Madinah from October to December. (SPA)
Updated 49 sec ago

New calligraphy courses to preserve Arab artform

The courses, focusing on the Naskh, Ruq’ah, Diwani and Thuluth scripts, will be held in Madinah from October to December. (SPA)
  • The initiative seeks to provide systematic training in letter formation and script rules

RIYADH: The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, a Ministry of Culture initiative, has launched four specialized courses to enhance the skills of practitioners and preserve this vital aspect of Arab and Islamic culture. 

The courses, focusing on the Naskh, Ruq’ah, Diwani and Thuluth scripts, will be held in Madinah from October to December, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Led by experienced calligraphers, the courses are open to beginners and professionals. The aim is to position the center as a leading authority in granting calligraphy licenses. 

The initiative seeks to provide systematic training in letter formation and script rules, the SPA added. 

It underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to preserving this art form, to establish the center as a global reference, as well as foster talent and community engagement.

 


Prince Faisal co-chairs Saudi-Tunisian committee to enhance political cooperation

Prince Faisal co-chairs Saudi-Tunisian committee to enhance political cooperation
Updated 09 September 2025

Prince Faisal co-chairs Saudi-Tunisian committee to enhance political cooperation

Prince Faisal co-chairs Saudi-Tunisian committee to enhance political cooperation
  • Relationships and common issues between Riyadh and Tunis discussed
  • Memorandum of understanding signed between the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the Diplomatic Academy in Tunisia
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Tunisian President Kais Saied at Carthage Palace

LONDON: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Ƶ’s minister of foreign affairs, co-chaired the fourth session of the Saudi-Tunisian Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee with his Tunisian counterpart, Mohamed Ali Al-Nafti, in the capital Tunis on Tuesday.

The meeting discussed relationships and common issues between Riyadh and Tunis, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two sides emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration and coordination on key regional and international issues to promote peaceful solutions and enhance security, stability, and prosperity.

A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in diplomatic training was signed between the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the Diplomatic Academy in Tunisia by Abdulaziz Ali Al-Sager, the Saudi ambassador to Tunisia, and Riadh Dridi, the director general of the academy.

On Tuesday, Prince Faisal met with Tunisian President Kais Saied at Carthage Palace. The discussion focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, as well as their joint efforts to enhance regional security and stability, according to SPA.


Crown prince leads Saudi, Arab condemnation of Israel’s ‘criminal’ Doha attack

Crown prince leads Saudi, Arab condemnation of Israel’s ‘criminal’ Doha attack
Updated 09 September 2025

Crown prince leads Saudi, Arab condemnation of Israel’s ‘criminal’ Doha attack

Crown prince leads Saudi, Arab condemnation of Israel’s ‘criminal’ Doha attack
  • Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Qatar’s Emir, reaffirming Kingdom’s ‘full solidarity’
  • Foreign ministries of UAE, Qatar and Jordan also condemn ‘blatant and cowardly’ attack

RIYADH: Ƶ on Tuesday strongly condemned what it described as a “brutal Israeli aggression” against Qatar following an attack on the capital Doha, which Israel said was a strike targeting Hamas officials in the city.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the strike as “a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter” and warned it would further destabilize the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The Kingdom warned of the dire consequences resulting from Israel’s persistence in its criminal violations and its blatant violation of the principles of international law and all international norms.

Ƶ called on the international community to condemn this heinous aggression and put an end to Israeli violations that undermine the security and stability of the region.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, reaffirming the Kingdom’s “full solidarity” with Qatar after the “blatant Israeli attack on the State of Qatar, which constitutes a criminal act and a flagrant violation of international laws and norms,” SPA reported.

He pledged to place “all capabilities” at Qatar’s disposal to support any measures taken to protect its security and sovereignty.

The UAE also denounced the attack, with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan calling it a “blatant and cowardly” violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law.

He reaffirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with Doha, urged an immediate halt to military escalation, and warned that unchecked Israeli actions risk dragging the region into dangerous instability with grave consequences for global security, the Emirates News Agency reported.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said it would not “tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour, the ongoing tampering with regional security and any action targeting Qatar's security and sovereignty.”

 

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates also strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of Doha, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, and a blatant attack on Qatar’s sovereignty and security.”

Ministry spokesperson Fuad Majali said the attack risked pushing the region toward “further violence and conflict” while threatening both regional and international stability, the Jordan News Agency reported. 

Majali reaffirmed Jordan’s “full support and solidarity with brotherly Qatar” and urged the international community to compel Israel to halt its escalation and adhere to international law and humanitarian norms.

King Abdullah, in a call with Emir Al-Thani, condemned the attack and said “Qatar's security is Jordan's security.”

Egypt said the attack set a “dangerous precedent and rejected development,” adding that escalation “undermines global efforts for de-escalation in the region.”

The Gulf Cooperation Council and Muslim World League also condemned the attack.