‘The warmth, the goodness’: From Shahrukh Khan to Messi, global celebrities all praise for Saudi Arabia

DUBAI: Over the years, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to celebrities and stars from around the world as the kingdom has made its presence known in the global entertainment space. Here are 10 superstars who visited Riyadh and were impressed by the Saudi capital.

Sofia Vergara

The US-Colombian actress, best known for her role in Modern Family, is no stranger to Saudi Arabia and also brought her trademark glamor to a promotional video for luxury destination VIA Riyadh in the Saudi capital earlier this year .

She also shone on the red carpet of the Joy Awards 2023 in Riyadh in January. “I would like to dedicate the award to all the great women in the Kingdom and all women in the Middle East who are building a better future for all women. “Your dreams can and will come true if you use the two most important things: your mind and your culture,” Vergara said after accepting the Personality of the Year award.

Lionel Messi

While there has been an influx of international soccer stars joining the Saudi Pro League this year, the Argentine sensation – who plays for Inter Miami – visited Riyadh for a sightseeing tour this summer along with his wife and children.

“The best thing about vacation is spending quality time with our loved ones,” he wrote on Instagram to his 480 million followers. “Reflective of my visit to Riyadh, where I played local games and made crafts with the warmest Saudi people.”

“If you are still planning your vacation, go to the cool mountains of (Asir) and relax in 17°C,” he advised his fans.

In the pictures the soccer player can be seen with his sons and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.

He also shared a picture of the scenic mountains of Asir.

Messi visited the kingdom in May and visited At-Turaif, the 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site in Diriyah, and also explored some of Riyadh’s more modern attractions.

He also took a tour of Diriyah and dined at Al-Bujairi Terrace.

Jason Momoa

Back in 2017, “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa visited Saudi Arabia as part of the pop culture convention Comic Con Arabia.

“The food in Saudi Arabia is good. I missed Thanksgiving at home, so this was a real replacement,” he told Arab News.

Mada Abdelhamid, WWE star and Momoa’s trainer, posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Momoa posing in front of a huge plate of traditional Saudi delicacies Kabsa and Mansaf.

“The before and after. That’s what I call a CELEBRATION!!!!! Eat like kings here in Saudi Arabia. We literally couldn’t move after that…but we couldn’t stop eating either. Very fitting that we were here on Thanksgiving. Our stomachs felt like home #FeastForABeast,” Abdelhamid wrote.

Momoa also took to social media to write about his visit to the famous Najd village in Riyadh: “Mahalo Saudi Arabia, you treated me like a king. Aloha to the fans and new friends. I had so many great experiences. I will be back very soon. Mahalo omar for filling me up, the food here is amazing @najdvillagesa aloha j,” he wrote, using the Hawaiian words for thanks (mahalo) and love (aloha).

As part of the same visit, the actor also visited Al-Thumamah National Park.

Steve Aoki

US-Japanese DJ Steven Hiroyuki Aoki surprised fans at the 2019 MDLBEAST music festival in Riyadh with a special remix of tunes by Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu.

“I love collaborating across cultures, it’s my favorite thing in the world,” Aoki told Arab News at the time.

Aoki, who also performed at the Jeddah World Fest earlier this year, said he “loves” the people of Saudi Arabia and was unaware that he had a huge fan base in the kingdom.

“It’s surprising and incredible… to see so many fans in Saudi Arabia… everyone is so loving and friendly. They are just beautiful people,” he said, adding that he would like to return to the country for future performances.

“People want it. You can feel the energy in the audience, they want this kind of music here,” he said.

Aoki also recently performed at a Gamers8 concert in Riyadh and gushed about his experience afterwards. “I love the Saudi audience. I’ve been playing here since 2019… I’ve been to Jeddah three times and to MDLBEAST. And the Saudi audience is full of life. They are an explosion of energy, passion and excitement. And that’s what an artist dreams of… that fans can really express themselves,” he said.

DJ Khaled

Renowned artist and producer DJ Khaled made a surprise appearance at XP Music Futures in Riyadh in December 2022 before headlining the region’s largest music festival, MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM.

When he first came to the region, he experienced the culture and people differently than anyone else, he said. The artist liked the quality of life and the all-encompassing excitement. “As we were driving here and I was looking around, I stuck my head out the window and someone yelled ‘Khaled!’ and I appreciate the love and said, ‘Joe, man, the people here are just happy,'” he told Arab News.

Katie Holmes

The popular US actress visited the kingdom in 2018 on a trip with British actor Idris Elba and retired French footballer Thierry Henry.

Holmes took to social media to share several snaps from her trip to Riyadh. In a caption for one photo, she gushed about the architecture and for another image, she revealed that she was “so grateful for this amazing and inspiring time.” During her visit, Holmes, along with Elba and Henry, also had lunch with Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud.

She also talked about her trip and said the country was “so beautiful.” “It was a long journey but I really enjoyed it. I love the women I’ve met.”

“It was really inspiring to see these women enjoying the new freedoms they now have and a sense of creativity emerges,” she added.

John Travolta

American actor John Travolta, best known for his starring roles in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, made his first appearance in Saudi Arabia in 2017 to discuss his career at a two-day gala event.

Travolta answered questions from fans in the Saudi capital. “Since my arrival, I have been completely touched by everyone’s warmth and openness,” the actor said at the event titled “A Night with Travolta,” organized by the Saudi Entertainment Authority.

Jackie Chan

Acclaimed actor and martial artist Jackie Chan was in Riyadh in 2019 to accept a Joy Excellence Award and said he was looking forward to making films in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s my first time in Saudi Arabia and I know it’s a big country. After just a few hours of traveling here and looking at locations, I know there’s a good place for chases, explosions and action; So I hope to come back with my crew next time,” Chan said.

The film legend, who also visited Jeddah for the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2022, thanked Saudi Arabia for inviting him to the country and expressed hope that the kingdom would become a leading center of regional film and television production.

Shah Rukh Khan

The Bollywood superstar – who most recently shot his upcoming film Dunki in Saudi Arabia – visited the kingdom for the first time in 2019 to accept a Joy Excellence Award.

“We talked about the hospitality, the warmth, the kindness and the love that was shown to us… and for most of us, it is our first trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Khan said at the event.

“Inshallah, we are all waiting with bated breath because the cinema has opened here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You have so many new stories to tell and we as a world look forward to helping you in any way we can.”

Idris Elba

The British actor – known for his roles in “Luther” and “The Wire” – first visited Saudi Arabia in 2018 to help launch the $35 billion “Quality of Life” program with cultural, sports and and entertainment initiatives.

“Saudi Arabia gave me the opportunity to shoot my film here. In an economic model, it made sense,” Elba said at the event. “I would definitely be here – why not?”

“Saudi Arabia has a great opportunity to spread its culture through filmmaking,” he added.

The actor also later reflected on his time in Saudi Arabia in a podcast.

“If I’m honest, I found Saudi Arabia to be surprisingly warm and welcoming,” the actor said during the opening episode of a talk show produced by the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra.

He further explained that it was “surprising because I wasn’t sure if my work had ever been well received in Saudi Arabia.”

Naomi Campbell

British supermodel Naomi Campbell visited Saudi Arabia in 2019 and appeared at several events, including the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah and a panel discussion titled “Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry” in Riyadh.

“I actually had to pinch myself and say I’m in Saudi Arabia for the Red Sea Film Festival, the first ever, historic event,” Campbell said at the time.

“It’s really about the change that’s happening around the world. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and I’m really honored and lucky to still be here in business… and see the change.”

During the fashion panel in Riyadh, the model spoke about her love of humanitarian work, which began in Africa in 1993 with Nelson Mandela, and the resulting cultural influences she has experienced.

“There is a bridge between Saudi Arabia and Africa,” she said. “There are so many similarities and I really believe that Africa can teach the Middle East textiles and the Middle East can teach Africa crafts.”