Abdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also the chairman of the Supreme Supervisory Committee for Souk Okaz, commended the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) for supporting the seventh round of the souk. He said SABIC is among the most prominent partners supporting Souk Okaz. Prince Khaled expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SABIC Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thunayyan for the support Souk Okaz gets from the corporation. Prince Khaled said the sponsorship is not uncharacteristic of SABIC, which supports national festivals as well as cultural and national forums. In a previous statement, Prince Saud Bin Thunayyan had confirmed that SABIC takes the initiative in supporting national cultural events due to its sense of national duty in the social, cultural and heritage fields and in implementation of its social responsibility strategy. He valued the sincere efforts being exerted by Prince Khaled to restore to Souk Okaz its important cultural status, highlight its rich heritage and reach the reputable status that this cultural event in the Kingdom deserves. Souk Okaz has received wide world and Arab attention by the cultural and information circles and authorities. It has attracted many visitors who are concerned with culture, poetry, literature and heritage from different parts of the world. Souk Okaz has become one of the grand cultural festivals that depict the true cultural aspects of Saudi society and the Kingdom's heritage throughout history. The souk is held annually through the cooperation of the Makkah governorate with the ministries of education, higher education and culture and information besides the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). During its seventh session it will witness numerous activities including the launching of a center and chair for poetry besides symposiums in which litterateurs from Arab countries will participate. The souk will also include exhibitions for plastic arts, photography, heritage shows, camel riders' procession, handicrafts shows and the traditional market.
