Saudi Gazette report

Moscow — Russian visitors to the Saudi cultural exhibition were taken on a virtual journey to the Kingdom’s past when it was a desert country.

The exhibition is underway in Moscow on the sidelines of the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to Russia.

Using Arabic, English and Russian languages, the virtual journey with the help of augmented reality takes viewers to ancient city of Al-Diriyah, capital of the first Saudi state, the two holy cities of Makkah and Madina, and Madaen Saleh.

The visitors also enjoyed a plastic arts exhibition, displaying a collection of 54 works of art by more than 34 Saudi female and male classic and modern artists.

Talking to SPA, Aisha, a Russian woman who last visited Saudi Arabia in 2010, said the view is now quite different and fast developing.

Seva, a female physician, was absolutely impressed by the plastic arts exhibition, and expressed the wish to visit the Kingdom soon.

Yuvkenya, 77, was impressed by a drawing of the Prophet’s Mosque.

Russians also enjoyed three Saudi movies shown as part of the Saudi cultural week.

The three films were Shakwa (Complaint) by female director Hana Al-Omair, Al-Mughadiroon (The Departing) by Abdul Aziz Al-Shallali, and It’s a Virtue to be a non-entity by Badr Al-Hamoud.

The Saudi cultural week in Russia was co-opened by the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Rosteslavovich and attended by a host of intellectuals, thinkers and media representatives from the two countries.

Meanwhile, a number of Saudi and Russian intellectuals held a symposium titled “The potentials of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia” as part of the Saudi cultural exhibition.

The speakers highlighted the new development in the Saudi-Russian relations, expressing belief that the ties will be further boosted to the benefit of the two governments and peoples.