Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women

Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women
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Amy Roko, Maha Jaafar, and Hadeel Marei come together to solidify their friendship, face their fears, and entertain their audience. with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt in their backgrounds. (Supplied)
Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women
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Amy Roko is also the Creative Director of Insomnia Records; she has 1.6 M followers on Instagram. (Supplied)
Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women
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Maha Jaafar, the content creator who also happens to be a Unicef goodwill ambassador for Sudan. (Supplied)
Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women
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Egyptian Hadeel Marei has 1.2 M followers on Instagram. (Supplied)
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Updated 16 October 2022

Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women

Desert test brings out the best in ‘warrior’ women
  • Three friends feel the heat in reality show with AlUla as a backdrop

JEDDAH: Three young women from different backgrounds have had their friendship tested in dramatic fashion as part of a reality show filmed amid the striking landscapes and scalding heat of AlUla.

Saudi Amy Roko, Egyptian Hadeel Marei and Sudanese Maha Jaafar have been friends for years, but were forced to face individual challenges under extreme conditions in “Dare to Take Risks,” which is due to stream on Discovery+ on Oct. 18. 

The show is set against the backdrop of different Middle Eastern countries, with Dala Najjar, one of the producers, saying: “MENA’s fast-growing industry inspired us to do something related to this region. Warner Bros. is committed to further bringing its presence in MENA by increasing its resonance with the regional audience.”

Nahla Elmallawany, another producer, said that the choice of locations plays a big part in the show.

“We wanted to have unique locations in the Arab world that have their character, so here it was. We wanted to bring all the elements together — it should be adventurous, beautiful, and interesting. If we could get a visually beautiful place, then the content will also be beautiful and will attract the audience.”

The show follows Roko and Marei, who are given a certain amount of money, while Jaafar set out to make their journey through the challenges as difficult as possible. They are asked to solve puzzles and face their fears — and if they fail to complete a task, Jaafar takes away the money.

The puzzles are organized so that each leaves a clue to the next stage of the game.

“We started the planning process with one thing in mind, where we wanted the girls to reach in the end,” Aimane Zaimi, the designer behind the puzzles, told Arab News.

“The approach wasn’t of an escape game; it was a treasure hunt.”

The puzzles were also tailored to make use of the environment and landscapes in which the show was filmed.

The Arab News team saw the production unit at work during the shooting of one puzzle in which Marei and Roko searched through clues in a bid to find a mystery object.

Zaimi said that the process of designing the game took almost four months.

“Emotions were at the backdrop of each puzzle; they were designed in a way that certain emotions were prompted out of the participants. We also tried to create puzzles that would enhance something in their personality or push them to do something which was not the norm for them,” he said.

Zaimi described it as the best experience he has ever had, adding: “When I work with shows, my presence is not required. This is the first time I am traveling with them. It is a big show, so it is all new and I am learning a lot.”

Mahmoud Abdallah, the show’s director, said that filming with real personalities can be more challenging than working with professional actors.

“You never know what reactions you will get or what conversations will happen. These can take the show in a very different direction, and you will have to be agile in adapting to keep it authentic,” he said.

Abdallah said that the challenge is the “unpredictability and not having complete control over what is coming next.”

Despite the physical and mental challenges, the three young women emerged from filming saying their friendship had only been strengthened. 

Jaafar, who is also a UNICEF goodwill ambassador for Sudan, said that “Dare to Take Risks” has had an “extremely positive” effect on their relationship.

Marei and Roko also praised each other’s contributions “in the face of fear.”

Roko said: “For me, it’s just that every single day we spend together, we learn something new about each other. But if there is something that got solidified and crystalized in front of my eyes is that Hadeel is a warrior. Her burning passion for bringing the right energy to the set made me realize how lucky I am to have a friend like that, and that inspired me.”

The three also discussed the individual challenges they faced.

“For me, it was coming down with the ropes, I never thought I would be able to do that,” Marei said.

“I don’t see a lot of representation of plus-size people doing these things; it is always the athletic, fit adrenaline junkies. I never thought that my body could withstand that kind of a challenge.”

Jokingly, she added: “Would I do it again, though? That is a question.”

Roko said that being authentic, remembering their core values, and being respectful and accepting of each other’s cultures helped their friendship survive the test in the desert.


Lebanese interior minister: We are following the kidnapping of Saudi citizen in Beirut

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi. (File/AFP)
Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi. (File/AFP)
Updated 10 sec ago

Lebanese interior minister: We are following the kidnapping of Saudi citizen in Beirut

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi. (File/AFP)
  • “With an iron fist, we work to liberate any citizen who is exposed to any harm on Lebanese soil,” Mawlawi tweeted

RIYADH: Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said he has been following the kidnapping of a Saudi citizen in Beirut with internal security forces since Sunday.

A Saudi citizen was kidnapped on the road to Beirut airport after midnight on Saturday, Lebanese media reported on Monday.

Mawlawi said he is also in contact with the Kingdom’s ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari regarding the incident.

“With an iron fist, we work to liberate any citizen who is exposed to any harm on Lebanese soil,” Mawlawi tweeted.

“What happened affects Lebanon’s relationship with its brothers, and the perpetrators will be punished harshly,” he added.


Mishkat kicks off ‘Renewable’ energy event 

Mishkat kicks off ‘Renewable’ energy event 
Updated 18 min 33 sec ago

Mishkat kicks off ‘Renewable’ energy event 

Mishkat kicks off ‘Renewable’ energy event 
  • Center launched ‘Renewable’ on May 26 in Riyadh, one of a series of activities that come as a part of Mishkat Evenings
  • Mishkat was established in April 2010 with the goal of leading the drive for sustainable energy

RIYADH: The Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy is hosting an event with the aim of educating visitors on the importance of renewable energy, energy science, and Vision 2030’s sustainable development goals, which intend to supply the Kingdom with clean energy sources.

The center launched “Renewable” on May 26 in Riyadh, one of a series of activities that come as a part of Mishkat Evenings. The center opens its doors from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the event will last until June 1.

Mishkat is an initiative of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, an independent scientific, research, and governmental organization led by the Saudi Ministry of Energy. It was established in April 2010 with the goal of leading the drive for sustainable energy.

Abeer Al-Rasheedi, a public relations specialist at Mishkat, said that the goal of “Renewable” is to raise community awareness about the “importance of renewable energy and how it affects the Kingdom.”

Other similar events that took place at the center included “Zero,” also dedicated to sustainability, which highlighted the importance of sustainable energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.


Al-Zamazameh Co. launches e-platform for home delivery of water

Al-Zamazameh Co. launches e-platform for home delivery of water
Updated 29 May 2023

Al-Zamazameh Co. launches e-platform for home delivery of water

Al-Zamazameh Co. launches e-platform for home delivery of water
  • Users of the service will receive a confirmation message when their order has arrived

RIYADH: The Al-Zamazameh Co. has launched an electronic platform to provide and deliver Zamzam water bottles to pilgrims’ homes, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Addresses will be registered on the Zamzam platform and data verified with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s official platform for Hajj season.

Users of the service will receive a confirmation message when their order has arrived.
 


Saudi FM speaks to Brazilian counterpart on telephone

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira. (File/AFP)
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira. (File/AFP)
Updated 29 May 2023

Saudi FM speaks to Brazilian counterpart on telephone

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira. (File/AFP)

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke to his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira over the phone on Monday.

During the call, Prince Faisal and Vieira discussed Saudi-Brazilian relations and ways to enhance and develop them in various areas of cooperation.

They also discussed the importance of intensifying bilateral and multilateral work to serve common interests, and exchanged views on regional and international issues.


Saudi Mission to US celebrates graduation of Saudi scholars

Saudi students are celebrated after they complete courses at top universities in the US.
Saudi students are celebrated after they complete courses at top universities in the US.
Updated 29 May 2023

Saudi Mission to US celebrates graduation of Saudi scholars

Saudi students are celebrated after they complete courses at top universities in the US.
  • The program boosts what it refers to as “human capital” in new and promising sectors, by sending scholars to prominent educational institutions

RIYADH: Saudi students have been praised for their success as they completed courses at top universities in the US with the help of a Vision 2030 scholarship program.

The deputy head of the Kingdom's Mission to the US, Prince Musab bin Mohammed bin Fahd, and the cultural attache in Washington, Dr. Fawzi Bukhari, watched the graduation of students studying under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Prince Musab praised their achievements at prestigious institutions, while Bukhari said the scholarship program, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year, had already begun to bear fruit.

The program boosts what it refers to as “human capital” in new and promising sectors, by sending scholars to prominent educational institutions, as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

"The crown prince had launched the fourth phase of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, which includes four pillars, the first of which is the pioneer phase, to enroll students in the 30 best universities in various disciplines to tackle Vision 2030 programs," Bukhari added.

The president of the Saudi Club at Harvard University, Walid Siddiq, said the presence of the and the cultural attache had motivated the 49 students who graduated.

The number of graduates from global education institutions adds to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program series. Harvard University leads the Shanghai global university rankings, while MIT is top of the QS table.

There are a further 103 Saudi students enrolled at both institutions.