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‘The heat, the goodness’: From Shahrukh Khan to Messi, world celebrities all reward for Saudi Arabia
DUBAI: Over time, Saudi Arabia has opened its doorways to celebrities and stars from the world over because the Kingdom made its presence identified within the world leisure area. Listed below are 10 superstars who’ve visited Riyadh and had been left in awe of the Saudi capital.
Sofia Vergara
The US-Colombian actress, most well-known for her position in “Trendy Household,” isn’t any stranger to Saudi Arabia and likewise introduced her trademark glamor to a promotional video for the VIA Riyadh luxurious vacation spot within the Saudi capital earlier this 12 months.
She additionally dazzled on the purple carpet of the 2023 Pleasure Awards in Riyadh in January. “I wish to dedicate the award to all of the superb ladies within the Kingdom and to all the ladies within the Center East who’re constructing a greater future for all the ladies. Your desires can come true, and they’re going to for those who use the 2 most vital issues: your thoughts and your tradition,” Vergara stated after accepting the Character of the 12 months Award.
Lionel Messi
Whereas there was an inflow of worldwide soccer stars becoming a member of the Saudi Professional League this 12 months, the Argentine sensation — who performs for Inter Miami — visited Riyadh this summer season, alongside along with his spouse and youngsters, for a sightseeing journey.
“The most effective factor about holidays is spending high quality time with our family members,” he wrote to his 480 million followers on Instagram. “Flashback to my go to to Riyadh, enjoying native video games and making crafts with the warmest Saudi folks.”
“In case you are nonetheless planning your holidays, head to the cool mountains of (Asir) and chill at 17°C levels,” he suggested his followers.
The photographs function the footballer enjoying along with his sons and spouse Antonella Roccuzzo.
He additionally shared a picture of the picturesque mountains of Asir.
Messi visited the Kingdom in Could and went to At-Turaif, the 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Website in Diriyah, and likewise explored a few of Riyadh’s extra modern sights.
He additionally went on a guided tour in Diriyah and dined out at Al-Bujairi Terrace.
Jason Momoa
Again in 2017, “Recreation of Thrones” and “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa visited Saudi Arabia as a part of the pop-culture conference Comedian Con Arabia.
“The meals in Saudi Arabia is sweet. I missed Thanksgiving at residence, so this was a real substitute,” he informed Arab Information.
Mada Abdelhamid, WWE star and Momoa’s coach, posted a photograph of himself and Momoa on Instagram, posing in entrance of an enormous plate of conventional Saudi delicacies kabsa and mansaf.
“The earlier than and after. Now that is what I name a FEAST!!!!! Consuming like kings over right here in Saudi Arabia. We actually couldn’t transfer afterwards … however we couldn’t cease consuming both. Very becoming that we had been over right here throughout Thanksgiving. Our stomachs felt proper at residence #FeastForABeast,” Abdelhamid wrote.
Momoa additionally took to social media to put in writing about his expertise visiting Riyadh’s iconic Najd Village: “Mahalo Saudi Arabia you handled me like royalty. Aloha to the followers and new buddies. I had so many superb experiences. I’ll be again very quickly. Mahalo omar for fattening me up, the meals right here is superb @najdvillagesa aloha j,” he wrote, utilizing the Hawaiian phrases for thanks (mahalo) and love (aloha).
The actor additionally visited Al-Thumamah Nationwide Park throughout the identical go to.
Steve Aoki
US-Japanese DJ Steven Hiroyuki Aoki shocked followers on the MDLBEAST music competition in Riyadh in 2019 with a particular remix of tunes by Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu.
“I like collaborating throughout cultures, it’s my favourite factor on the planet,” Aoki informed Arab Information on the time.
Aoki, who additionally carried out earlier that 12 months at Jeddah World Fest, stated he “loves” the folks of Saudi Arabia and that he didn’t notice he had an enormous fan base within the Kingdom.
“It’s stunning and unimaginable … to see so many followers in Saudi Arabia … everyone seems to be so loving and so type. They’re simply lovely folks,” he stated, including that he was eager to return to the nation for future performances.
“The folks need it. You are feeling the vitality within the crowd, they need this sort of music right here,” he stated.
Aoki additionally just lately carried out in Riyadh for a Gamers8 live performance and gushed about his expertise afterwards. “I like the Saudi crowd. I’ve been enjoying right here since 2019… I did Jeddah, I did MDLBEAST thrice. And the Saudi crowd, they’re lively. They’re an explosion of vitality and fervour and pleasure. And that is what an artist desires to have… For followers to essentially categorical themselves,” he stated.
DJ Khaled
Famend artist and producer DJ Khaled made a shock look at XP Music Futures in Riyadh in December 2022, forward of his headlining efficiency on the area’s largest music competition, MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM.
Coming to the area for the primary time, his expertise of the tradition and other people was not like another, he stated. The standard of life and overarching pleasure appealed to the artist. “After we had been driving over right here and I used to be trying round, I put my head out the window and anyone screamed ‘Khaled!’ and I respect the love, and I stated ‘Joe, man, folks listed below are simply completely satisfied,’” he informed Arab Information.
Katie Holmes
The favored US actress visited the Kingdom on a visit with British actor Idris Elba and retired French footballer Thierry Henry in 2018.
Holmes took to social media to share a number of snaps from her journey to Riyadh, waxing lyrical concerning the structure in a caption for one {photograph}, and revealing, for an additional picture, that she was “so grateful for this superb and galvanizing time.” Throughout her go to, Holmes additionally had lunch with Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, together with Elba and Henry.
She additionally opened up about her journey, saying the nation was “so lovely.” “It was an extended journey, however I actually loved it. I like the ladies that I met.”
“It was actually inspiring to see these ladies having fun with the brand new freedoms they now have and there’s a sense of creativity that’s taking place,” she added.
John Travolta
US actor John Travolta, finest identified for his starring roles in “Saturday Night time Fever” and “Grease,” made his first-ever look in Saudi Arabia in 2017 to debate his profession, throughout a two-day gala occasion.
Travolta answered questions from followers within the Saudi capital. “I’ve been fully touched by the heat and embracing nature of everybody since I’ve arrived,” stated the actor on the occasion titled, “A Night time with Travolta,” organized by the Saudi Leisure Authority.
Jackie Chan
The celebrated actor and martial artist Jackie Chan was in Riyadh in 2019 to simply accept a Pleasure Excellence award, and stated that he was trying ahead to filming films in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s my first time in Saudi, and I do know it’s a giant nation. After only some hours (travelling) right here and areas I do know there’s a superb place for automotive chasing, explosions, motion; so, subsequent time, I hope to come back again with my crew,” Chan stated.
The film legend — who additionally visited Jeddah for the Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition in 2022 — thanked Saudi Arabia for inviting him to the nation, and expressed hopes the Kingdom would grow to be a number one middle of regional movie and tv manufacturing.
Shah Rukh Khan
The Bollywood celebrity — who most just lately shot his upcoming movie “Dunki” in Saudi Arabia — visited the Kingdom for the primary time in 2019 to simply accept a Pleasure Excellence award.
“We now have been speaking concerning the hospitality, the heat, the goodness and the love that has been showered upon us … and for many of us, it’s our first journey to the Kingdom of Saudi,” Khan stated on the occasion.
“Inshallah, all of us wait with bated breath as a result of cinema has opened up right here within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You might have so many new tales to inform, and we because the world look ahead to being of assist in any which method we will be of assist.”
Idris Elba
The British actor — identified for his roles in “Luther” and “The Wire” — first visited Saudi Arabia in 2018 to talk on the launch of the $35 billion “High quality of Life” program of cultural, sports activities and leisure initiatives.
“Saudi Arabia gave me a possibility to make my movie right here. It made sense on a cheap mannequin,” Elba stated on the occasion. “I might positively be right here — why not?”
“Saudi Arabia has an superior alternative to unfold its tradition via filmmaking,” he added.
The actor additionally mirrored on his time in Saudi Arabia later in a podcast.
“I discovered Saudi was heat and welcoming to me, in a stunning method, if I’m sincere,” the actor stated through the inaugural episode of a chat present produced by the King Abdul Aziz Middle for World Tradition, or Ithra.
He went on to elucidate that it was, “stunning as a result of I wasn’t positive if my work had ever resonated in Saudi.”
Naomi Campbell
British supermodel Naomi Campbell visited Saudi Arabia in 2019, showing at a number of occasions together with the Pink Sea Worldwide Movie Competition in Jeddah and a panel dialogue titled “Variety and Inclusion within the Trend Trade” in Riyadh.
“I needed to truly pinch myself and say I’m in Saudi Arabia on the Pink Sea Movie Competition, the primary one ever, this historic occasion,” stated Campbell on the time.
“It’s actually concerning the change that’s taking place world wide. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and I’m actually honored and completely satisfied to be right here, nonetheless, within the enterprise … and to see the change.”
Through the style panel in Riyadh, the mannequin mentioned her love of humanitarian work, which started in 1993 in Africa with Nelson Mandela, and the ensuing cultural influences she has skilled.
“There’s a bridge between Saudi Arabia and Africa,” she stated. “There are such a lot of similarities and I actually imagine that Africa can train the Center East (about) textile and the Center East can train artisan work to Africa.”
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