An Exciting Catmosphere In Diriyah.

DGDA Hosts  Global “ Catwalk” Initiative

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority “ DGDA “ organized Catwalk, a mass participation walk that seeks to raise awareness of endangered species of big cats and their habitats. Catwalk is a global initiative launched by Catmosphere, a foundation established in 2021 by Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, to help raise awareness about interconnected well-being through the narratives of Big Cat conservation.

The event aims to attract more than 1100  participants, who will enjoy a scenic walk along a seven-kilometer route through the historic city of Diriyah. Catwalk aims to raise awareness of the importance of jaguars, cheetahs, leopards, snow leopards, lions, tigers, and pumas, while at the same time promoting outdoor physical activity and its many advantages for physical and mental health.

The DGDA’s hosting of Catwalk comes as part of its efforts to foster community engagement in major national and global events, and further bolsters the Authority’s contribution to highlighting the importance of protecting wildlife and the environment. It also aims to promote walking as a means of maintaining fitness, with the goal of enhancing the community’s overall health and well-being.

HRH Princess Reema said “The multitude of challenges we face globally are making it increasingly apparent that the wellbeing of humanity, wildlife, and the environments on which we depend are all intrinsically intertwined. Catmospere was founded to highlight these interdependencies, helping to raise awareness for the plight of the Big Cats and demonstrate how all of our well-being is interconnected. We amplify aspects of the concept of One Health, advocated by multiple UN agencies, whose message we wholeheartedly support.

We were thrilled that the inaugural Catwalk in 2021 received such overwhelming support, showing a huge appetite for our message and support for action to conserve the iconic Big Cats throughout the world. In 2022 we are building on this success, with the public increasingly engaged post-pandemic and with the ever-more apparent effects of climate change highlighting the urgency of the situation. The international profile of Catwalk, supported by inspirational and like-minded partners, is the epitome of our central message that, through collaboration, benefits can be achieved for individuals and the collective.”

Jerry Inzerillo, Group Chief Executive Officer of the DGDA, stated that the Authority was delighted to host the Catwalk initiative, one of a broad range of nationwide sporting, cultural, and social events and initiatives that have proven extremely popular across Diriyah’s local community. The DGDA’s overall strategy, he explained, seeks to deepen the positive impression these events leave on the community and bolster public awareness of the environment, public health, and culture, all of which come together to enhance the quality of life, one of the key objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.