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Pioneering Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour has been appointed to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors, the Red Sea Film Foundation announced on Instagram.
“As one of three newly named governors-at-large, Al-Mansour will represent the Directors Branch and bring her singular voice, vision, and global perspective to the Academy’s leadership for the 2025–2026 term and beyond,” they captioned the post.
“An incredible milestone for one of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated filmmakers. We’re proud to see her continue shaping the future of cinema on a global stage.” In 2012, Al-Mansour made history as she released her first feature film “Wadjda.” It was the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom and the first feature-length film made by a female Saudi director.
Over the years, Al-Mansour has also become one of the most in-demand television directors in Hollywood, helming episodes of hit series including “Archive 81,” “City of Fire,” “Tales of the Walking Dead,” and “Bosch: Legacy.”
In 2019, Al-Mansour’s feature film “The Perfect Candidate” was submitted as Saudi Arabia’s official entry for the International Feature Film Award at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
The author, imprisoned without charge since 2001, was chosen to share the PEN Pinter prize by 2020’s winner Linton Kwesi Johnson.
The Eritrean poet Amanuel Asrat, who was arrested in 2001 and is believed still to be detained in a maximum security prison, has been named International Writer of Courage by Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Johnson won the PEN Pinter prize earlier this year, for his “political ferocity” and “tireless scrutiny of history”. Accepting the prize last night, the Jamaican dub poet named Asrat, a poet, critic and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Zemen, as the International Writer of Courage winner with whom he will share his prize. This award goes to a writer who has been persecuted for speaking out about their beliefs, with previous recipients including the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano.
“Keeping a citizen incarcerated, incommunicado, without charge or trial for nearly 20 years is the kind of egregious brutality that we associate with totalitarian states and dictatorships,” said Johnson. “As a gesture of solidarity from a poet of the African diaspora, I have chosen the Eritrean poet, songwriter, critic and journalist Amanuel Asrat.”
Asrat’s writing looks at the daily life of the underprivileged, exploring themes of war and peace, and the negative side of conflict. He was arrested on 23 September 2001, along with the editors of all privately owned newspapers, as part of the Eritrean government’s campaign to silence its critics, and has not been heard from since.
According to English PEN , Asrat and his fellow writers are believed to have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including lack of access to medical care, while detained in the purpose-built maximum-security prison Eiraeiro. The free speech organisation, which awards the PEN Pinter prizes in memory of the late Harold Pinter, said that it was unknown whether charges have been brought against them or if they have ever been brought to trial.
“Amanuel [has been] suffering under the harsh conditions of the Eiraeiro dungeon for 19 years and counting. His whereabouts are not known. We don’t even know whether he is alive or dead,” said Asrat’s brother, Daniel Mebrahtu. “We wish Amanuel was aware of this prize and honour somehow. We ask the international community to intervene in his case and other prisoners of conscience in Eritrea, and demand their immediate release.”
English PEN has just launched a year-long letter-writing campaign asking people around the world to send messages of solidarity to writers of courage, with Asrat the first featured writer. “We remain hopeful that this year will finally see him released and reunited with his family after almost two decades apart,” said PEN’s Cat Lucas. “In the meantime, we hope that our PENWrites campaign will provide an opportunity to raise greater awareness of his situation, to amplify calls for his release, and to continue to show our support for him and his family.”
source/content: theguardian.com (headline edited)
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Gesture of solidarity … Linton Kwesi Johnson holds a portrait of Amanuel Asrat. Photograph: George Torode
Under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, witnessed a formal and cultural celebration that reinforced the values of loyalty to creative figures and affirmed their status.
The event was held as part of the 23rd edition of the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum, organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture in cooperation with the Mauritanian Ministry of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament.
Four prominent figures of Mauritanian literature were honoured in recognition of their contributions to enriching cultural life: poet Mohamed Fall Abdel Latif, linguistics academic Dr Yahya Al Hashemi, language researcher Dr Mohamedou Ameen, and poet Mohamed Al Hafiz Ould Ahmedou.
The forum reflects the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah to honour literary figures who have contributed to contemporary Arab culture. This marks the fourth time the forum is held in Mauritania, where it has previously recognised 12 Mauritanian creatives over past editions.
The award ceremony took place at the Conference Hall in Nouakchott, in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; El Houssein Ould Meddou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament in Mauritania; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the department; the Governor of Nouakchott-West on behalf of the Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina Municipality; as well as a large audience of Mauritanian intellectuals, academics, writers, and the honourees’ families.
In his speech, Abdullah Al Owais highlighted the significance of the sustained cultural collaboration between Sharjah and Mauritania, saying, “We are pleased to meet today at this distinguished cultural event, which continues the journey of cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Ministry of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament. This partnership has led to numerous cultural activities that support Arab culture and reinforce the role of thought and creativity in our Arab societies.”
El Houssein Ould Meddou welcomed the attendees and expressed his sincere thanks and deep gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, saying, “I am honoured to be with you today at this distinguished cultural gathering, celebrating this radiant forum and noble initiative. At the outset, I am pleased to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah – this cultured leader who has dedicated his efforts, intellect, and time to serving the Arabic language and its literature, and to supporting the cause of culture and intellectuals throughout our Arab world.”
The honourees expressed their deep gratitude for the recognition, which they considered a badge of pride and an acknowledgment of their cultural and creative journeys. They noted that the Sharjah Cultural Honouring Forum represents a civilised model for celebrating Arab intellectuals and affirms the Emirate’s unwavering commitment to supporting thought and creativity across the Arab world.
They praised the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah in establishing culture as a pillar of development and identity. They emphasised that this recognition is not merely a personal honour, but a celebration of Arab culture and its creative figures across various fields. WAM
The Rare Manuscripts exhibition in annex 204 of the southern courtyards, which is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., showcases “historical manuscripts, documents, and inscriptions that trace the evolution of Islamic writing”
The corridors and courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque feature “unique sites and exhibitions that enrich the visitor experience, offering historical and cultural insights that reflect Islamic heritage and Madinah’s hospitality,” according to an article published by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
A key attraction is the Architectural Evolution of the Prophet’s Mosque exhibition, located on the southern courtyard opposite exits 308 and 309, which uses interactive displays to highlight the mosque’s architectural development. It is open daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Opposite exits 306 and 307 is the International Exhibition of the Prophet’s Biography. Open from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, it offers “a contemporary presentation of Prophet Muhammad’s life and teachings.”
The Rare Manuscripts exhibition in annex 204 of the southern courtyards, which is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., showcases “historical manuscripts, documents, and inscriptions that trace the evolution of Islamic writing.”
The mosque’s library, at gate 10 on the western side, is open 24 hours a day and includes sections on manuscripts, rare books, audio archives, and art collections.
Near Uthman Gate, the Manuscripts and Rare Books Department serves researchers and enthusiasts. It houses more than 4,000 original manuscripts, nearly 60,000 digital copies, 4,600 photocopies, and 450 different editions of the Qur’an. It operates in two shifts: 8 a.m.–noon and 4–8 p.m.
“Together, these exhibitions and centers enhance the cultural and educational value of visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, offering pilgrims a more enriching experience,” the SPA stated.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The exhibitions enrich the visitor experience with historical and cultural insights reflecting Islamic heritage. (SPA)
The estimated budget expenditures of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for the current year 2025 amounted to USD 542.1 billion, while the estimated government revenues reached USD 487.8 billion, while the estimated deficit reached USD 54.3 billion, according to data issued by the GCC-Stat.
The GCC-Stat indicated that government revenues in the GCC countries are directly affected by the movement of global oil prices, as oil revenues constitute the largest proportion of financial resources. Countries follow a conservative approach in calculating the break-even oil price to estimate their general budgets to avoid international economic fluctuations and fluctuations in global oil prices.
Government revenues are expected to remain relatively stable, with oil prices remaining at moderate to high levels.
Most GCC countries have projected an increase in their spending in 2025 compared to their 2024 estimates. Increased spending is a determinant of growth in the GCC economies in general, directed toward completing infrastructure projects and stimulating growth in certain economic sectors, with the aim of implementing strategic development plans. Meanwhile, GCC countries plan to finance budget deficits through drawing on reserves and domestic and foreign borrowing.
Rami Al-Ali has become the first Syrian designer to join France’s prestigious Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode as a guest member, giving him the chance to showcase his Autumn/Winter 2025 collection on the official haute couture calendar.
The invitation signifies Al-Ali’s entry into fashion’s upper echelons — to qualify, fashion houses must meet rigorous “haute couture” or “high fashion” standards and the title is legally protected under French law.
Al-Ali joins the likes of Chanel, Dior, and Schiaparelli on the official calendar next month. His latest collection will be presented on July 10, according to the provisional calendar.
It is a “historical milestone, celebrating a lifelong devotion to craftsmanship, culture, and creative expression, rooted in heritage and elevated by vision,” the fashion house posted on Instagram.
Originally from Damascus, Al-Ali honed his fashion skills in Dubai and Beirut before founding his label, Rami Al-Ali Couture, in 2001.
His creations have been worn by a variety of celebrities, including Amal Clooney, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Chastain.
Al-Ali’s work has been praised for seamlessly blending his Middle Eastern heritage with Western sensibilities. He is known for designing flowing silhouettes adorned with intricate, playful embellishments—creations that are both timeless and runway-worthy.
Al-Ali is one of just a handful of Arab designers on the official haute couture calendar. The lineup also includes Lebanese designers Georges Hobeika, Elie Saab, and Zuhair Murad, as well as Saudi couturier Mohammed Ashi.
Ashi, founder of Paris-based label Ashi Studio, became the first designer from the Gulf region to join the exclusive group in 2023 as a guest member. His designs have also been worn by global celebrities such as Beyonce, Anna Kendrick, and Jennifer Hudson.
“This appointment is the highlight of my career,” Ashi said in a statement posted on Instagram when the announcement was made in 2023. “I will honor it in the memory of the great couturiers who came before me and whom I now join in the pursuit of this grand tradition of excellence in creativity and savoir-faire.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Rami Al-Ali has become the first Syrian designer to join France’s prestigious Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode as a guest member. (Getty Images)
The Benghazi Department of Antiquities is preparing to begin restoration and display work on a whale skeleton belonging to the baleen whale group, previously discovered in the Qasr Al-Sahabi area, approximately 100 kilometres south of Ajdabiya.
The department stated that it has formed a scientific team tasked with cleaning and reinforcing the skeleton to preserve its structure ahead of a scientifically sound and safe relocation to its permanent exhibition site.
Officials noted that the discovery will be a significant addition to the city’s future museum and will help raise environmental and scientific awareness among visitors and enthusiasts.
The fossilized skeleton is estimated to be around five million years old, dating back to the Miocene epoch, making it one of the rarest geological discoveries in the region.
The Egyptian composer is once again working with Marvel Studio following his score on ‘Moon Knight’.
News of a second season of ‘Moon Knight’ may be scarce, but it doesn’t mean Marvel Studios has stepped away from tapping Egyptian talent to tune up their work. Award winning composer Hesham Nazih has been selected to write the score for Marvel Studios’ newest animated series ‘Eyes of Wakanda’.
Nazih’s score for the 2022 live action series ‘Moon Knight’ received international attention for incorporating elements of Egyptian musical heritage into a modern orchestral framework, and has received multiple nominations and awards, including Best Original Score for a Television Series at the 2023 International Film Critics Award.
He also composed the music for Egypt’s Pharaohs’ Golden Parade in 2021, and has worked on a number of Egyptian blockbusters including ‘Kira & El Gin’, ‘Welad El Rizk’, ‘The Blue Elephant’, ‘The Originals’, and ‘Ibrahim Labyad’. He was the first composer to have ever received the Faten Hamama Excellence Award by the Cairo International Film Festival in 2018.
‘Eyes of Wakanda’ is part of Marvel’s animated expansion and is a spin-off from the Black Panther franchise. The series follows Wakandan warriors throughout history as they search for vibranium artefacts across the globe, and is scheduled for release on August 6th, 2025 on the Disney+ streaming platform.
Al-Dahas highlighted the significance of Namirah Mosque in Arafat, where the Prophet delivered his sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage.
In Makkah, the holiest city in Islam, spiritual significance extends far beyond the Grand Mosque. Scattered throughout the city are historic mosques that witnessed pivotal moments in Islamic history.
Yet, amid the dense crowds and the rapid pace of modern development, many pilgrims and Umrah performers remain unaware of these sacred sites, quietly tucked away within the city’s expanding urban landscape.
Fawaz Al-Dahas, professor of history at Umm Al-Qura University, said that Makkah is home to several mosques of profound historical and religious value, yet they remain largely overlooked, receiving neither the media attention nor the organized religious visits they merit.
Al-Dahas highlighted the significance of Namirah Mosque in Arafat, where the Prophet delivered his sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage. He said that this mosque was not merely a physical structure, but a sacred site where the foundational principles of Islam were proclaimed. He also referenced the Bay’ah Mosque in Mina, which commemorates the pivotal moment when the Ansar pledged allegiance to the Prophet, paving the way for the Hijrah and the establishment of the Islamic state.
According to Al-Dahas, the importance of these mosques transcends their geographic locations, reflecting their profound political and religious significance in Islamic history.
Al-Dahas shed light on Al-Rayah Mosque: “Located in the Jarwal neighborhood, where the Prophet’s banner was raised on the day of the Conquest of Makkah, a powerful symbol of victory tempered by forgiveness.”
He also drew attention to Al-Hudaibiya Mosque, situated west of Makkah, where the historic Bay’at Al-Ridwan pledge took place, an event referenced in the Holy Qur’an. He said that while the mosque still stands on the original site of the Treaty of Hudaibiya, it remains largely unknown, with few visitors aware of its exact location.
Mohammed Al-Joud, a Hajj and Umrah specialist, said that these mosques were not merely historical structures, but vital educational landmarks that enrich a pilgrim’s understanding of the deeper spiritual dimensions of Hajj. He pointed to Al-Khayf Mosque in Mina, where the Prophet and prophets before him are believed to have prayed, as a powerful symbol of the continuity of prophethood: “Yet, many pilgrims remain unaware of its significance outside the Hajj season.”
Al-Joud also highlighted Al-Mashar Al-Haram Mosque in Muzdalifah, which is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, emphasizing that awareness of such sacred sites bridges the rituals of Hajj with their Qur’anic and historical roots, enhancing the spiritual journey.
Al-Joud also drew attention to Al-Kabsh Mosque in Mina, linked to the story of the sacrifice of Ismail. He explained that the mosque symbolizes the values of sacrifice and obedience, yet remains largely overlooked in media coverage and excluded from most pilgrimage programs. He described it as an essential part of a broader, interconnected network of sacred sites that trace the prophetic journey — from revelation to migration, and from peace to conquest.
Al-Dahas underscored the importance of launching awareness initiatives to shed light on these mosques and restore their rightful standing. He said that safeguarding Makkah’s Islamic heritage was not limited to preserving its prominent landmarks, but also required reviving these historically significant mosques, which once stood as pivotal markers along the journey of the prophetic message.
He said that reconnecting pilgrims with these sacred sites revived the educational and historical depth of Hajj, enriching the journey with a more profound, informed, and spiritually immersive experience.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Scattered throughout the city are historic mosques that witnessed pivotal moments in Islamic history. (SPA)
On 25 April, Egyptian author Mohamed Samir Nada was awarded the 2025 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) for his novel The Prayer of Anxiety, a darkly allegorical tale set in a secluded village in Upper Egypt.
This marks the third time an Egyptian writer has won the prestigious literary award, following Youssef Zidan’s Azazel in 2009 and Bahaa Taher’s Sunset Oasis in 2008.
Nada’s novel, published by the Tunisian press Masciliana, was chosen from a six-title shortlist.
In a televised interview earlier this year, Nada revealed that he had turned to Masciliana after three Egyptian publishers declined to print the manuscript.
Set in the fictional hamlet of Nag’ Al-Manassi — literally “the village of forgetfulness” — the novel unfolds in a reality suspended in misinformation and fear.
Its inhabitants believe a minefield surrounds them and are still at war with Israel decades after the 1967 conflict.
Their only contact with the outside world is Khalil Al-Khoja, a local authority figure who produces the village newspaper, controls access to goods and maintains the illusion of unending war.
When a mysterious object falls from the sky, triggering an illness among villagers, the local sheikh responds by creating a new ritual prayer—The Prayer of Anxiety.
The plot evolves against the backdrop of national icons, culminating in the 1977 death of Abdel-Halim Hafez, a singer synonymous with the era of Gamal Abdel-Nasser.
Told through eight character “sessions,” each beginning with a nightmare and dreamlike awakening, the novel functions as both a dystopian fable and a meditation on collective delusion.
Nada’s characters offer confessional narratives haunted by guilt and helplessness. The result is a richly layered text that explores how fear and propaganda can distort memory and shape reality.
Mona Baker, chair of this year’s IPAF judging panel, praised the novel for “transforming anxiety into an aesthetic and intellectual experience that resonates with the reader and awakens them to pressing existential questions.”
Yasser Suleiman, Chair of the IPAF Board of Trustees, highlighted the novel’s “gripping poetic language” and its “clever use of symbolism,” calling it a powerful reflection on life under tyranny and the mechanisms that uphold it.
Yet the novel’s success has not gone without controversy.
Some critics have criticized its handling of Egypt’s modern history, especially its allusions to Abdel-Nasser’s legacy.
Literary critic Reda Attiya publicly dismissed The Prayer of Anxiety as “poorly structured” and accused the prize committee of rewarding a novel that “takes aim at Nasser,” calling it a “conspiracy against Egypt.”
Others pushed back. Novelist Mohamed Mawafai likened such attacks to the 1994 stabbing of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz by a young man who admitted to never reading his work.
“Both are acts of incitement,” Mawafai said. “There is no difference between one and the other.”
Nada’s novel joins a growing wave of dystopian fiction in the Arab world.
In a recent study of the genre, Syrian novelist and critic Shahla Al-Ogaily argued that dystopian literature has gained traction in post-2011 Arab societies to confront painful political and social realities.
“This genre represents the inability to forgive,” she wrote, “and a confrontation with the hallucinations and phobic fears that emerged after the revolutions failed to deliver on their promises.”
Al-Ogaily traced the rise of Arabic dystopian writing to the translation of authors like Franz Kafka and George Orwell, whose works explored the horrors of surveillance, repression, and modernity.
The influence is evident in Nada’s novel — from Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, echoed when a village sheikh wakes up to find his head missing, to Orwell’s 1984, in the depiction of total narrative control and a fearful, manipulated public.
At its heart, The Prayer of Anxiety critiques political, religious, and media-driven systems that manufacture obedience and stifle thought.
Through poetic language and surreal events, Nada lays bare the quiet complicity that enables authoritarianism.
One of the novel’s characters voices the core dilemma:
“How many shooting stars must fall before we gain a new memory? How many men must die in war for old women to tell a different story?”
Despite occasional tonal inconsistencies—particularly between the elevated language and the characters’ rural backgrounds—the novel’s literary ambition, conceptual depth, and striking imagery have resonated widely.
The IPAF, launched in 2007 with support from the Emirates Foundation, awards $50,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each shortlisted author. This year’s judges included Said Bengrad, Maryam Al Hashimi, Bilal Orfali, Sampsa Peltonen, and chair Mona Baker.
With The Prayer of Anxiety, Nada has delivered a novel that provokes, unsettles, and — crucially — invites deeper engagement with the structures of power that shape the Arab world’s past and present.
