Media Centre

King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) hosted the inauguration of the 4^th edition of the Art of Jeddah 21,39 exhibition titled “Safar” meaning “Travel”. The exhibition is organized by the Saudi Art Council over a three-month period, and features more than 50 cultural and artistic works. The exhibition was opened on Friday, February 3, at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC).

“We are proud to be partnering with the Saudi Art Council to host Safar,” said Mr. Fahd Al-Rasheed, KAEC Group CEO and Managing Director. “The annual Saudi Art Council event has become an important focal point for the artistic community, bringing together local talents and promoting community interaction with the arts and cultural scene in the Kingdom.”

Attending the opening ceremony was H.E. Shiekha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifah, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities accompanying the Head of the Saudi Art Council Her Royal Highness Princess Jawaher bint Majed bin Abdulaziz, as well as a number of VIPs and local and international art enthusiasts. The opening was also attended by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath who curated this unique exhibition.

The Safar exhibition represents the Kingdom’s future, while the two previous exhibitions represented the past and present.

Safar showcases a number of audio-visual works by international artists, shown for the very first time in the Middle East. The works portray the integration of KAEC’s innovative lifestyle as part of a civilized society. Each piece displays the concept of travel from a different, unique perspective ranging from personal journeys to chronological boundaries.

The exhibition is being held at KAEC for three months, open during Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week, starting February 4 and until next May. KAEC will organize private visits for schools, art groups and companies interested in this field. Attendance of the exhibition requires online registration through visit.kaec.net.

The 4^th edition of Safar is supported by the General Authority for Entertainment, as well as UBS, the strategic partner of the Saudi Art Council. This year, the non-profit initiative includes a number of artistic, cultural and social galleries and seminars.

“At KAEC we aspire to become a sustainable incubator for different social, artistic and cultural events and activities and a supporter of local talents by attracting international events that bring the highest standards of art to the Kingdom,” said Fahd Al-Rasheed.  “This event is a valuable addition to our journey, complementing the prestigious artistic and cultural events we hosted in the past and presaging the ones we will host at KAEC in the future.”

About Art of Jeddah 21,39

Art of Jeddah 21, 39 is an annual initiative held in Jeddah that includes a number of artistic displays infusing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The title 21,39 derives from the city’s geographical coordinates.

The current edition sheds light on the history and future of modern and contemporary movements in the Kingdom, with the increased encouragement of investments by private and public sectors and institutions, as well as the support of Saudi art and artists through a diverse selection program and a comprehensive understanding of the nature of intra-cultures.. Events include an exclusive agenda of exhibitions, educational workshops and seminars with unique, renewed schemas.

The exhibition is led by Her Royal Highness Princess Jawaher bint Majed bin Abdulaziz and organized by the Saudi Art Council, with the participation of: Ms. Aya Ali Reda; Mr. Abdullah Al Turki; Mrs. Basma Al Soliman; Mr. Eissa Bouqri; Mr. Faisal Tamr; Mr. Hamsa Serafi, Ms. Hayah Shobokshi; Mr. Muhammed Hafez; Mrs. Mona Al Khazindar; Mrs. Nadia Al Zuhair; Mr. Nawwaf Al Nassar; Ms. Sara Ali Reda; Mrs. Sara Bin Laden; Mrs. Sherifa Al Sudeiry; and Ms. Raneem Farsi.

For more information, please visit 21,39.com.

About King Abdullah Economic City

King Abdullah Economic City is one of the biggest privately owned and run projects in the world. Its centerpiece is a comprehensive, 181-square-kilometer city on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, just north of Jeddah. The city is home to seaside neighborhoods that offer a variety of residential solutions to suit various levels of income, as well as the King Abdullah Port, which is set to be one of the largest seaports in the world. The Hijaz District has one of the stations of the Haramain High Speed Rail Project, and the 55km² Industrial Valley continues to attract top national and international corporations. Listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul,) Emaar Economic City, the primary developer of the city, is a publicly traded Saudi corporation established in 2006.