Arab News, Dhahran

• The annual FIKR 17 conference begins today at the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).

The Arab Thought Foundation has organized the four-day event in collaboration with Ithra in Dhahran. The theme of this year’s conference is “Outlining a New Arab Vision.”  Around 60 leading literary figures and decision-makers are scheduled to attend the event.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also the chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Prof. Henry Uwait, the foundation’s director, will also attend the conference.

The foundation aims to invite leading thinkers to come up with innovative solutions to social issues and to enrich Arab thought in light of the modern global challenges.

Ithra Director Fatmah Al-Rashid explained that Ithra’s participation in the conference is in line with its vision to develop innovation in the fields of literature and culture. Al-Rashid also emphasized that Ithra promotes the importance of meaningful dialogue and an exchange of ideas.