DQ Living

The Diplomatic Quarter is once again bringing cultures and stories together through cinema as the fifth Ibero-American International Film Festival opens at the Embassy of India.

The festival brings together countries from across Ibero-America, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Spain, India, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela, alongside Saudi participation.

Each participating country brings its own stories, traditions and perspectives to the screen, offering Riyadh audiences an opportunity to discover the richness and diversity of Ibero-American cinema.

The Dominican Republic and Venezuela are among the countries contributing their distinctive voices to this year’s cultural gathering, strengthening the exchange between Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, India and Saudi Arabia.

For Panama, this edition marks its first participation. The Embassy presented the story of Panamanian football legend Rommel Fernández, a story that goes beyond football and speaks to humble beginnings, ambition and the power of a dream as Ambassador Candice Williams De Roux stated.

Hosted by the Embassy of India through October 8, the festival reflects the Diplomatic Quarter’s growing role as a meeting point for international culture, creativity and dialogue.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia

Marking the 66th Independence Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo hosted a reception in cultural palace in DQ, bringing together members of the diplomatic community, representatives of the Saudi Government, international organizations, and the Nigerian community in the Kingdom.

In his remarks, Ambassador Gambo reflected on Nigeria’s journey since independence, highlighting the resilience, diversity, creativity and aspirations of the Nigerian people. He noted that Nigeria’s remarkable diversity of ethnic groups, languages, cultures and traditions remains one of the country’s greatest strengths and continues to enrich its contribution to global culture.

The Ambassador also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing economic transformation, with emphasis on investment, industrial development, job creation, infrastructure, technology and human capital. He expressed hope for greater engagement between Nigerian and Saudi business communities and increased investment between the two countries.

Turning to Nigeria–Saudi Arabia relations, Ambassador Gambo emphasized the longstanding friendship between the two countries, rooted in history, faith, mutual respect and people-to-people connections. He highlighted growing opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, technology, tourism, education and human capital development, expressing confidence that bilateral relations would continue to enter an increasingly dynamic phase.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia

The IDRA World Congress 2026 is set to bring together more than 100 government, development finance, and corporate leaders in Riyadh.

The Congress’ thematic program’s first confirmed speakers represent MEWA, the Saudi Water Authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank Group, IFC, Global Water Organization, the Public Investment Fund, UN Water, UN agencies, National and Regional Sovereign Funds, and corporate leaders. 

That is the standard of influence and experience at the IDRA World Congress 2026 in Riyadh.

📍King Faisal Congress Center at the InterContinental Hotel
📅 1-5 November 2026

To know more and purchase your Congress Pass, visit their website at idraworldcongress.org.

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The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Djibouti, H.E. Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama, hosted a farewell reception in honour of the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Muktar Kedir Abdu, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic tenure in the Kingdom.

The reception brought together ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, colleagues and friends to bid farewell to H.E. Dr. Muktar Kedir Abdu and acknowledge his contributions to strengthening Ethiopia–Saudi Arabia relations across political, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

In his farewell remarks, H.E. Dr. Muktar Kedir Abdu expressed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Bamakhrama for his leadership, friendship and support, as well as to the diplomatic community and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their cooperation and hospitality. He described his years in Saudi Arabia as a rewarding chapter marked by professional achievements, lasting friendships and memorable experiences.

Ambassador Bamakhrama conveyed his appreciation to the departing Ethiopian Ambassador and wished him continued success, while the gathering reflected the spirit of friendship, cooperation and mutual respect that characterizes the diplomatic community in Riyadh.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia

🇸🇦 Happy 96th Saudi National Day!

Celebrating years of pride, heritage, and the spirit of the Kingdom.💚

Marking a significant milestone in Mexico's modern history, H.E. Guillermo Gutiérrez Nieto, Chargé d’Affaires of Mexico to KSA, welcomed distinguished guests at the DQ Cultural Palace to celebrate the 216th anniversary of Mexico's Independence, with the guest of honor, H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh, joining the celebration.

The occasion offered an opportunity to reflect on the values that have shaped Mexico since 1810, particularly liberty, equality & sovereignty, while looking ahead to the country's international partnerships. "Liberty, equality, and sovereignty" are not merely historical references, the Chargé d’Affaires emphasized, but principles that continue to guide Mexico's actions & diplomatic bridges with the world.

Gutiérrez Nieto highlighted Mexico's ongoing political, social, economic & institutional transformation, noting its commitment to state sovereignty while fostering open, peaceful & productive relations with the international community. He also underscored Mexico's foreign-policy principles, including respect for international law, equality among states, peaceful settlement of disputes & international cooperation.

Turning to Mexico-Saudi relations, the Chargé d’Affaires emphasized the significance of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027. He highlighted their shared experience as regional leaders undergoing economic transformation & facing common challenges related to technology, energy transition & sustainable growth.

The Chargé d’Affaires noted that bilateral trade has increased substantially, from around $400 million in 2022 to approximately $1 billion in 2025. He also highlighted growing tourism, business cooperation, academic exchange, artistic collaboration, & cultural understanding as important foundations of the relationship. Looking ahead, Mexico confirmed its participation in Expo 2030 Riyadh, while the Chargé d’Affaires stressed that meaningful global engagement, mutual understanding, & human connections remain central to strengthening the Mexico-Saudi partnership.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia

Cameroon’s 54th National Day was marked in Riyadh with H.E. Iya Tidjani, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcoming guests, including H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh, to the Residence of Cameroon for the celebration.

The occasion highlighted Cameroon’s national unity and development, while also reflecting on the friendship and expanding cooperation between Cameroon and Saudi Arabia.

“National Unity: Backbone of our Defence System, Bedrock of Cameroon’s development,” was the theme of this year’s celebration, commemorating the reunification of West and East Cameroon into a unitary state in 1972.

Ambassador Tidjani underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1966, with cooperation expanding across political, economic, cultural, and security fields.

He highlighted the General Cooperation Agreement concluded in 2021 and the operationalization of the Air Services Agreement, expected to facilitate interaction between businesses and institutions in both countries.

The Ambassador also drew attention to Cameroon’s Vision 2035 roadmap and invited business leaders to participate in the fifth Cameroon Investment Forum, scheduled for November 18 - 20, 2026, in Yaoundé. The forum will focus on investment opportunities in agri-industry, mining, energy, the digital economy, logistics, and transport.

He expressed appreciation for Saudi support through the Saudi Fund for Development and the annual Saudi medical caravan, as well as strengthening military cooperation and Cameroon’s participation in the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Turning to broader international relations, Ambassador Tidjani emphasized shared views between Cameroon and Saudi Arabia on international issues, including peace and security.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia

The Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia, together with the Embassies of ItalyinKSA, Czechia, Malta, Austrian Embassy Riyadh, and Cyprus Embassy in Riyadh, brought the sounds and spirit of Europe to Riyadh through the 3rd European Music Week.

With performers arriving from across Europe, the event brought together diplomats, music lovers, and members of the international community, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange and dialogue. Music once again demonstrated its unique ability to connect people, transcend borders, and deepen mutual understanding between Europe and Saudi Arabia.

A wonderful celebration of culture, creativity, friendship, and the growing people-to-people connections between Europe and the Kingdom.

Written by Alexander Woodman Saudi Arabia