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A collection of 59 posts

Special Features

How to Stay Soft in a Hard World

CreativeMornings x Al Jalees, at The Cultural House The World Could Use More Softness The world feels hard in so many ways. Staying soft doesn’t mean being fragile, it means having the courage to live without carrying an armor. When things fall apart, let’s learn patience and let

Health And Wellness

The Power of the Previvor Mindset, by Rana Hajjar

With the power of prevention, this piece explores the mindset of the previvor, proving that strength begins not in treatment, but in the choice to know, to act, and to live with intention. Read part 2/2 of our Voices of Hope articles.

Knowing Your Genes: Understanding BRCA and the Power of Early Awareness

Through science and compassion, this piece explores the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, the stages of breast cancer, and the life-saving power of early detection—part one of Al Jalees’s October series, Voices of Hope.

Emon Shakoor on What It Takes to Blossom

In an exclusive interview following the Blossom talk on CreativeMornings Riyadh, Emon Shakoor shares with Al Jalees 'What it Takes to Blossom'. Read the full article below..

What Should I Read Next?

With so many books to choose from, finding your next read can be tricky. In this Al Jalees feature, we explore how readers pick their books and remind you that the best one is simply the story that keeps you turning the page.

Books Zone

Klara and the Sun Book Review

Al Jalees reviews Klara and the Sun

When Crimes Become Stories

Author and criminal analyst Mohammad Al Shaybani meets with Al Jalees to talk about storytelling, crime investigation and literature. Read the full article now!

Saudi National Day Through Different Lenses

Al Jalees Culture Club is an organization founded in 2014 that aims to connect people across Riyadh and Jeddah, and create a safe space for sharing stories As we prepare for the upcoming 95th Saudi National Day, Al Jalees Culture Club decided to explore the holiday from three different perspectives:

The Nomad Spirit, with Abdulhadi Azouz

The Nomad Spirit: Lessons from AZ Aerials at CreativeMornings Riyadh CreativeMornings Riyadh welcomed a thought-provoking speaker last Saturday: Abdulhadi Azouz, who spoke on this month’s global theme, Nomad. At Al Jalees, we view and journal these talks through a literary lens as cultural reflections, intersections of creativity, and reminders

Art And Creativity

Building Creative Communities

Building Creative Communities: A collaboration between Peter Gould’s Like-Hearted Community, Writers in Riyadh, and Huna Last Saturday, I attended an event that explored Creative Communities, co-organized by Writers in Riyadh and Peter Gould — founder of Like-Hearted — who flew in all the way from Australia to be part of this

Special Features

Not All Who Advise Are Wise

Exploring the Fine Line Between Wisdom and Misguidance in the Mentoring Journey. How to Tell If Guidance Serves You.. We all seek advice. But how often do we ask if it truly serves us? This month’s CreativeMornings Riyadh session opened that very door. 1. The Problem with Well-Meaning Wisdom

Five Must Read Books This Summer!

In light of our Summer Reading Challenge, Al Jalees proudly presents five essential reads for the season — stories chosen not only for their literary intensity, but for their ability to encourage deep thought and meaningful dialogue. Al Jalees believes that reading is your ticket to a path to empathy, depth,

Gigi Arabia & The Rise of Saudi Alternative Music

CreativeMornings Riyadh recently hosted an event exploring Saudi Arabia’s emerging punk and alternative music scene, a cultural space still largely underground and not widely recognized. The session introduced lead speaker Gigi Arabia — musician, entrepreneur, and founder of Heavy Metal Entertainment — to shed light on this growing creative movement. Gigi,

Books Zone

Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

What Does it Take To Stand For What’s Right Even if No One Else Does? Written By Niharika Arun, and Rana Hajjar Table of Contents 1. Standing for what's right 2. To Kill a Mockingbird summary 3. Al Jalees summer reading challenge 1. Standing for what'

Books Zone

A Riyadh Pen in London’s High Society

Meet Mariana De’ Carli, the Riyadh-based author behind The Knightsbridge Crowd A bold debut uncovering the world behind London’s luxury Table of Contents 1. Author Spotlight: Mariana De’ Carli 2. Inside The Knightsbridge Crowd 3. Q&A with Author Mariana De’ Carli 4. Purchase Your Copy 5. Final

Special Features

Revival Reimagined: Culture, Literature, and the Self

Table of Contents 1. The CreativeMornings Talk 2. A Global Conversation: 249 Cities and One Theme 3. Speaker Spotlight: Moath Bin Nujifan 4. Culture & Revival: Why Context Changes Everything 5. Revival in Literature & Philosophy 6. From Maycomb to Riyadh: Reflecting on To Kill a Mockingbird 7. Your Turn:

Special Features

Crossroads: Trusting the Road You Cannot See

Dear Ambitious Readers, When we hear the word crossroads, we often imagine a moment of choice: a life-defining decision, a pivotal turn, a silent pause before an uncertain path. But crossroads are rarely neat or simple. They can be messy, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Is there a prerequisite to a Crossroad

Cultural Events

Lyrics and Literature

Dear inspiring readers, Some words we read, others we hear, some we feel, and some remain in our memories forever. Last Wednesday, Beast House opened it’s doors to us as we hosted an inspiring creative pop-up event; Lyrics and Literature. We dove into how music and books intertwine, and

Books Zone

What Happens When We Stop Thinking

Our literary social club in Riyadh gathered to discuss Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The thoughts exchanged were powerful, sparking reflection on our daily habits, choices, and long term dreams. We highly recommend this book! Here is our analysis on this thought provoking read. In Bradbury’s imagined world, attention

Special Features

Are You Living in Parallel?

Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that don’t intersect—but echo each other. Whether it’s lives unfolding in different places, or voices telling similar truths in vastly different ways, parallelism reveals the invisible threads that connect us. In art, cinema, and literature, parallels explore identity, contrast

Cultural Heritage

The Month of Resolutions

Resilience in Ramadan The Holy Month of Commitment, Spirituality, and Resolutions Last night, we explored Grit by Angela Duckworth, a book that sparked deep conversations on perseverance, passion, and resilience. It was inspiring to hear insights from a diverse group of readers—both Saudis and expats—who shared personal experiences

Books Zone

Grit and Growth

Grit and Growth The Power of Perseverance   Angela Duckworth's exploration of grit emphasizes that passion and perseverance are key to achieving long-term goals. In her 2013 TED talk and book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, she posits that passion is not a fixed trait but one

Special Features

Layers and Identity

Literary Analysis

We Survived January

Special Features

Journey: A Creative Exploration