Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission in The Hague

By Roy Lie A Tjam.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia inaugurated a Cultural Mission under the direction of Dr. Moneer M. AL-Otalbi, Cultural Attaché.

After a pioneering phase, the office was opened in October 2014. A sparkling cultural show at Louwman Museum marked the inauguration of the cultural mission. The mission is temporary located on Koninginnegracht The Hague. Later on it will relocate to a prestigious historical edifice on Alexanderstraat, in Den Haag.

The Saudi Arabian Cultural Missions are to administer programs and policies to meet the educational- and cultural needs of Saudis studying abroad. The missions also functions as the intermediary between the host countries educational institutions and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in issues pertaining to culture, education and science.

The mission in The Hague is part of the Saudi Embassy which is under the leadership of H.E.  Ambassador Abdulaziz A. Abohalmed. However in terms of administration, finance and student affairs, the mission is under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education.

The vision and mission of the cultural bureau is none political. The focusing is on education, academics, cultural and education exchange schemes between the two Kingdoms. Also looking after the 500 plus Saudi students in the Netherlands. Many students have chosen medicine. The aim is to get a more diverse lot including technical and other majors.

Exchange programs for (research) professors, lecturers will be put in place to further the cooperation between universities.

Saudi students are to be found mainly in Maastricht and Groningen. The bureau is encouraging student to also opt for other universities such as Rotterdam, Leiden and Nyenrode. Saudi students should were possible benefit fully from the advance level of the Dutch in certain domains. Dr. Moneer M. Al-Otabi is grateful for the support he is receiving and hopes to receive from Dutch institutions. He stated ‘education is the cement in a good relationship between nations’

The Dutch Ambassador in Ryadd, H.E. Mr. Laurens Westhoff, paid a courtesy visit to the Cultural Mission a few weeks ago, Ambassador Westhoff was in The Hague for the biannual meeting of heads of missions.