Across the globe, people know the iconic Statue of Liberty, a colossal neoclassical sculpture standing tall on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, in the United States. The copper statue was a gift from the people of France, dedicated on October 28, 1886 to the people of the US. Well, this week, a replica of the renowned statue was sighted on the seaside of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, causing a stir online.
#Saudi_Arabia builds a replica of the statue of liberty in Jeddah city, only 40 miles away from the holy city of Makkah, for the purpose of "sharing American heritage to visitors". pic.twitter.com/rZ5YytBw22
— On the Ground News (@OGNreports) 4 juillet 2019
According to Gulf News, many photos and videos have been circulating on social media of the statue, “causing confusion and prompting the municipality to respond.” The news site reported that Jeddah Municipality released statements that were quickly followed through Arabic media channels, all clarifying that the statue was part of the ongoing Jeddah Seasons festivities.
وضع تمثال الحرية في جدة الان
— ناصر (@PhNasser_) 3 juillet 2019
Statue of Liberty in jeddah - Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/Ly9IoPQshn
A statement published in Saudi Arabian publication Ajel claimed that the statue is actually part of a temporary activation designed to share American heritage with visitors to the festivities. It went viral just in time for July 4, which is the Independence Day of the US, and will only be around for a week. According to the Twitter account @HashKSA, “The statue of Liberty, currently located on Al Hamra Corniche, is part of a temporary event and will be removed as soon as it ends. (Urgent).”
Jeddah Season announced earlier this year an impressive 150-plus events and activities scheduled to run from June 8 to July 18, taking place across five main destinations around the city, including Obhur, Historic Jeddah (Al Balad), Alhamra district, Jeddah Waterfront and King Abdullah Sports City. Jeddah Season falls under Saudi Seasons, a series of events and programs aimed at transforming the Kingdom into one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.
