Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, is sponsoring one hundred students from the Ambassador of Peaceful Dialogue Program in partnership with King Abdulaziz Centre for National Dialogue (KACND) in Saudi Arabia to engage in a three-week intensive cultural program based at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

The Program will run from July 2 to 22.


The Saudi participants will take English language courses and participate in a series of activities in the city of Edinburgh with local university students, engage with Scotland's history on a treasure hunt at the National Museum of Scotland, and play a football match against the Edinburgh Spartans. They will also watch the Junior Highland Games, an important part of Scotland’s national history.

Local Scots will learn a thing or two about Saudi culture, too. Arabic language and cultural workshops have been planned, along with an “Ask a Saudi” initiative designed to help foster understanding and build lasting friendships between East and West.

AP has also given the students from King Saud University (KSU) the opportunity to join the trip by competing in a filming competition in which 3 students won. The three winners were awarded with filming equipment along with joining the 3 week program to document it.

Princess Lamia Bint Majid AlSaud, secretary general of Alwaleed Philanthropies, said:  “Edinburgh is home to one of the six-world class Prince Alwaleed academic centres around the globe. This innovative exchange brings together two central pillars of Alwaleed Philanthropies’ work: empowering young people, and fostering increased awareness and understanding between those from different nations and cultures. We want to bring together young Saudis and Scots to help break down these barriers and teach them that, despite their differences, they have much more in common than that which divides them.”

Professor Hugh Goddard, director of the HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World at the University of Edinburgh, said: "We are very pleased to be supporting this venture to help the next generation of Saudi students develop their inter-cultural understanding of the contemporary world.

“Edinburgh is a truly global University, firmly rooted in Scotland, and we are dedicated to enhancing our international links. This three-week programme, with its range of inventive and enjoyable activities, promises to be a valuable way to increase understanding between young people from different backgrounds and cultures." – TradeArabia News Service