Hail, April 30, 2025 (2 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1446H):

Hail Space Observatory held a cultural evening this evening titled "Culture and National Identity," attended by Prince Badr bin Fahd bin Faisal, President of the Saudi Amateur Radio Society and Chairman of Hail Space Observatory, along with a number of Hail University academics and figures interested in cultural affairs, at the observatory's headquarters in Mishar Park.

Building a grounded national identity

The evening was presented by Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Fraih, a former member of the Shura Council and cultural advisor to the Saudi Amateur Radio Society, who addressed the importance of culture as a unifying framework for values, traditions and identity; national identity as a concept reflecting belonging to the homeland and loyalty to its heritage and principles; and the interactive relationship between culture and identity in building society and strengthening stability and national cohesion.

Multiple scholarly themes

The evening covered several intellectual and cultural themes, including defining culture linguistically and terminologically and analyzing its meaning in the social sciences; a review of Edward Tylor's concept of culture and its influence on modern studies; an analysis of the components and distinctive characteristics of national culture; and a study of national identity and its relationship to belonging and social loyalty.

The role of literature, the arts and national vision

The evening also spotlighted the role of literature and the arts in shaping Saudi society's cultural identity, culture as a tool for achieving Saudi Vision 2030's goals within the framework of sustainable development, and a discussion of the relationship between civilization and culture — complementary or contradictory?

A national message reinforcing cultural thinking

The evening affirmed that cementing national identity through culture is a fundamental pillar of social cohesion, and strengthens the Kingdom's ability to preserve its heritage while engaging confidently with the world on firm foundations.