RIYADH, 25 February 2007 — The Harley Owners Group of Saudi Arabia is seeking government support for dozens of bikers from the UK, Germany, Denmark and Ireland to participate in the National Saudi Rally, scheduled to be held in Jeddah on Oct. 24.
The rally will take place in Durrat Al-Aroos, a resort located 40 km from Jeddah. Over 200 Harley Davidson owners and their families are expected to participate
“We are also inviting people from Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait to participate,” said Amer Al-Khaledi, rally coordinator.
Al-Khaledi said that many Harley Davidson owners from outside the Middle East were willing to participate and attend the rally, driving their motorbikes from their respective countries to Jeddah.
“Our only concern is how these international participants can enter the Kingdom on a visit visa,” he said.
Al-Khaledi said the group was seeking the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme Commission for Tourism to help in this manner.
The three-day event will begin with a parade starting at the Sheraton Hotel along the Corniche to Durrat Al-Aroos. Local police cars and Saudi Red Crescent vehicles will escort the bikers.
Al-Khaledi said the rally would help promote local tourism in one of the Kingdom’s main tourist attractions, Jeddah. “We wanted to do something for our country,” he said.
Harley Davidson Riyadh earlier participated in various tours around the world, the last of which was a 7,000-km drive from Riyadh to Ireland to participate in an international event there.
The rally in the Kingdom is family-oriented. Several contests that illustrate skills and techniques will take place and there will be special competitions for children.
As part of its program of social responsibility, members of the Harley Davidson Riyadh group were asked by the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital to take part in a meeting for children.
The children were both hospital patients and the children of staff. “Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when they asked us many questions made my day,” said Hatim Al-Sanei, a member of the group.
He said he and his colleagues also explained to the children various things about motorbikes and safety measures.
Unlike other bikers, Harley owners take pride in driving slowly. Usually, the slowest rider is the most talented, balancing his motorbike and maintaining speed throughout a journey.
According to Al-Khaledi, there are 700 Harley Davidson owners in Saudi Arabia and there are three Harley Davidson groups — one each in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
