The King Fahd Academy held a Reception Party on Tuesday evening within the framework of the celebrations to mark naming Riyadh as the Arab Cultural Capital for 2000. The function was attended by a number of members of the Arab diplomatic corps, members of staff at the Saudi Embassy in London and the Saudi community. Also attending were a number of educationists, academicians and media personnel, as well as parents of the academy’s students. Speaking on the occasion, on behalf of Saudi Ambassador to Britain Dr Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, Director of the Academy Dr Ali Al-Ghamidi highlighted the strides made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in various spheres.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Dr Al-Ghamidi said naming Riyadh as the Arab Cultural Capital for 2000 by UNESCO was recognition of the significant progress attained by Riyadh in the cultural sphere. He described the tent erected on the occasion as part of the Saudi heritage and a symbol of Arabian life: 'The tent stands as a representation of the Arab spirit and morale’, he said, and added: 'The Arabs came from the desert and presented to the world a civilization of which we are proud.'

The tent was set up in collaboration with the Saudi Information Centre, the British Museum and London-based King Fahd Academy. Dr Al-Ghamidi pointed out that the Saudi Information Ministry initiated the idea of the tent, which will be erected in a number of cities in Britain and elsewhere. The tent displays a number of Saudi handcrafts, textiles, clothes, potteries, copper pots and other utensils that are used in the desert regions, dates and popular dishes.