Latest news with #Badr
CairoScene
17-05-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Mayada Badr is Mapping a Past & a Future For Saudi Culinary Heritage
Mayada Badr is Mapping a Past & a Future For Saudi Culinary Heritage Cordon Bleu graduate, founder of Pink Camel and now CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission, Mayada Badr is answering a question that has rarely been asked before - how to enact a culinary renaissance? When Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture set about creating 11 new cultural commissions, they imagined something unprecedented: a body dedicated to preserving, codifying, and celebrating the nation's culinary heritage. There was no blueprint to follow. No global precedent. It required a leader with a rare combination of imagination, resilience, and deep cultural grounding. It required someone like Mayada Badr. Badr's path was anything but traditional. A Parsons School of Design graduate with a passion for culinary creation, she spent her lunch breaks experimenting in the kitchen before formally training at Le Cordon Bleu. After interning in French restaurants, Badr returned home to Saudi Arabia, determined to give back. There, she founded Pink Camel, a fusion patisserie blending classic French technique with local flavours. Think kunafa macarons and Um Ali croissants. As her business grew, so did her influence, leading to government consulting work abroad. Then one day, the Ministry of Culture called - not to simply consult, but to lead. 'I wanted to make sure this was for the industry,' Badr tells SceneNowSaudi. 'I was just happy to talk, to be able to suggest how the culinary industry could be fixed.' When Badr reflects on her greatest milestone, she points not to a singular project, but to the Commission itself. Culinary arts, she notes, are an endangered industry. Across the globe, traditional foodways are eroding. In Saudi Arabia, the Culinary Arts Commission is racing to document, preserve, and revitalise them before they are lost. 'Preservation is a major pillar of our strategy,' Badr shares. 'We wanted to know what Saudi cuisine is, what our heritage is. We were uncovering our culture.' Under Badr's leadership, the Commission spent two and a half years conducting a monumental survey. Across all 13 regions of the Kingdom, researchers visited homes, learnt from the oldest families, listened to oral histories, consulted poetic sources, historic texts, and travel writings. The result? A living archive of 1,300 recipes and heritage ingredients, meticulously mapped and recorded. The work did not stop at documentation. In collaboration with UNESCO's intangible heritage initiatives, Badr spearheaded a Food Atlas project - a platform enabling nations to catalog and preserve their culinary traditions. Saudi cuisine, long overlooked internationally, is now not only entering the global stage, but it's supporting a global movement. 'Food truly has no borders,' Badr asserts. Saudi chefs now participate annually in festivals like Taste of London and Taste of Paris, introducing global audiences to the complexity and richness of Saudi flavours. At the same time, domestic initiatives like Irth - a restaurant-shop-training-centre hybrid staffed entirely by Saudis - and the Saudi Feast Food Festival, which offers visitors an all-day, one-stop taste of all thirteen regions, ensure that culinary traditions continue to thrive at home. Through documentary films, television series, open-access recipe archives, and dynamic food events, Badr's Commission is leading a content-driven cultural renaissance - one that sees cuisine as a critical avenue for national storytelling in an international narrative. And yet, even Badr has to admit that Saudi's greatest asset to global gastronomy isn't their dishes - and no, it's not their dates either - it's people. 'You don't train Saudis to smile, to be hospitable. We take our kindness for granted, but it is rare.' In every project she undertakes, the focus remains clear: give back to the culture that shaped her. This pride shines through every initiative, and it's starting to catch on. Saudis at home and afar are beginning to rediscover their culinary heritage now that it has been articulated. The private sector is picking it up - now it's time perhaps for Mayada Badr to step back and admire the view. To Mayada Badr, however, that future looks like three words: "Innovation. Discovery. Sustainability." With a multi-hyphenated background which bridges disciplines, cultures, and borders, Mayada Badr embodies the versatility and passion needed to navigate uncharted territory. Under her leadership, Saudi cuisine is not just being preserved; it is being reimagined as a living, evolving force.
Daily News Egypt
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily News Egypt
Third 'Empower Her Art Forum' to launch at Grand Egyptian Museum
The third edition of the Empower Her Art Forum, organised by the Art Today Foundation for Arts, will take place at the Grand Egyptian Museum from 16 to 20 May. The event will feature female artists from around the world, alongside ambassadors, diplomats, public figures, and art, media, and culture icons. The international forum, which celebrates the artistic achievements of women, is held under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministries of Environment, Social Solidarity, Culture, Youth & Sports, Tourism and Antiquities, and The Egyptian Tourism Authority. The forum aims to highlight art's role in women's empowerment through a visual art exhibition, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and live painting sessions. Organisers say the event seeks to foster cultural exchange and promote values of peace, justice, and equality. This year's edition will feature over 200 female artists from more than 35 countries. The opening ceremony is expected to be attended by dignitaries, diplomats, and artists. Artist Sherine Badr, Founder and CEO of Art Today Foundation, stated that the forum is 'a true platform for transformation and empowerment.' Badr said, 'We are not only celebrating creativity, we are striving to empower female artists and give them the recognition and visibility they deserve by shedding light on their inspiring journeys.' She added that this year's edition includes lectures and discussions on modern art evolution, alongside hands-on workshops led by international female artists. The forum will also focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in the artistic process and as art appreciators. A cooperation protocol will be signed between Art Today Foundation and the Women's Museum in Bonn, Germany, which will include travel grants for five Egyptian female visual artists. The forum will be open to art enthusiasts, aiming to embody the convergence of civilisations through art and reflect its mission of empowering women. EHAF 2025 (referring to the 2024 event) is supported by institutions including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Social Solidarity, UNHCR, UN Women, the Spanish Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, and the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre. Additional support comes from Rosa Flowers, Sanad Foundation, and Fresh Farm, with EgyptAir as the official carrier.
Economic Key
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Key
Third Edition of "Empower Her Art Forum" Kicks Off at the Grand Egyptian Museum
The third edition of the Empower Her Art Forum, organized by Art Today Foundation for Arts, will take place at the Grand Egyptian Museum from May 16 to 20. The event will bring together a distinguished group of female artists from around the world, alongside ambassadors, diplomats, prominent public figures, and icons from the fields of art, media, and culture from Egypt, the Arab region, and beyond. The Empower Her Art Forum is an international gathering that celebrates the artistic achievements of women from all over the world. This year's edition is held under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministries of Environment, Social Solidarity, Culture, Youth & Sports, Tourism and Antiquities and The Egyptian tourism Authority. The forum focuses on highlighting the pivotal role of art as an effective tool for women's empowerment, offering a multi-activity platform that includes a visual art exhibition showcasing outstanding works, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and live painting sessions. The event aims to foster cultural exchange and promote the values of peace, justice, and equality through creativity. This year's edition will spotlight the artistic brilliance of women, featuring over 200 female artists from more than 35 countries. The opening ceremony will witness the attendance of notable dignitaries, diplomats, and artists from Egypt and abroad. The event includes several professional-led workshops and insightful panel discussions centered on the role of art. Artist Sherine Badr, Founder and CEO of Art Today Foundation, emphasized that the forum goes beyond being an art event to become a true platform for transformation and empowerment. Badr stated, 'We are not only celebrating creativity, we are striving to empower female artists and give them the recognition and visibility they deserve by shedding light on their inspiring journeys.' She added that this year's edition features a rich program of lectures and discussions on the evolution of modern art, along with hands-on workshops led by a select group of international female artists. The forum also pays special attention to the inclusion of people with disabilities both in the artistic process and as art appreciators reflecting the foundation's belief that art is a universal and inclusive language. A cooperation protocol will be signed between Art Today Foundation and the Women's Museum in Bonn, Germany. As part of the agreement, travel grants will be awarded to five Egyptian female visual artists.' Over several days, the forum will welcome all art enthusiasts to engage with its powerful human message, creating a scene that embodies the convergence of civilizations through art and reflects the forum's core mission of empowering women and amplifying their voices both regionally and globally. EHAF 2025 is supported by several prominent institutions and organizations, including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, UNHCR, UN Women, the Spanish Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, and the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center. The event is also supported by Rosa Flowers, Sanad Foundation, and Fresh Farm. EgyptAir is the official carrier. تم نسخ الرابط
Saudi Gazette
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi, Italian culture ministers meet in Venice to discuss advancing cultural cooperation
Saudi Gazette report VENICE — Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah met his Italian counterpart Alessandro Giuli in Venice on Thursday. Prince Badr reached Venice to attend the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. During the meeting, the ministers underscored the deepening cultural ties between the two countries and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to sustained collaboration in the cultural sector. Prince Badr and Giuli commended the joint efforts to monitor and implement bilateral cultural initiatives, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Culture. The meeting also highlighted a number of recent cultural initiatives between Saudi Arabia and Italy across multiple disciplines. These included the collaboration between the Saudi Museums Commission and the Triennale Milano to develop a design museum in Saudi Arabia, the collaboration between the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission and Salone del Mobile to have an exhibition in Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi ministry's cultural activities in Venice during 2025. The meeting reaffirmed the profound cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Italy, highlighting culture as a deep-rooted bridge of understanding, creativity, and enduring collaboration between the two nations.
Arabian Business
18-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai property market shifts as global investors seek permanent homes: Report
Dubai's property market is experiencing a transformation as international investors increasingly view the city as a place to settle rather than simply invest, according to industry experts. The shift comes amid global economic uncertainty, with a reported 37 per cent rise in German investors considering emigration. Dubai has positioned itself beyond a tax-efficient investment destination to become a permanent home for the global elite. 'Dubai's real estate market has evolved beyond bricks and mortar and is now creating genuine living spaces where people feel a true sense of belonging,' Elio Badr, Sales Director at QUBE Development said. Dubai's real estate evolution Current buyers prioritise developments offering community features, sustainability elements, and wellness-focused amenities. This marks a departure from previous trends when properties were purchased primarily as temporary investments. QUBE Development's Arisha Terraces project exemplifies this market evolution. The development incorporates smart home systems, a hydroponic rooftop garden, and filtered drinking water throughout all units and common areas. ' Arisha Terraces was purposefully designed to reflect this shift, blending nature, smart technology and a strong sense of community to offer residents not just a home, but a lifestyle rooted in connection and comfort to enhance everyday life,' Badr added. Energy efficiency features prominently with solar panels, while community spaces include a two-level centre with shared workspaces, a library, cinema lounge, and padel courts. Industry observers note these amenities reflect the changing demands of international buyers who seek both investment returns and enhanced quality of life, signalling what some call a new era in luxury real estate.
