Former Saudi national guardsman adds string to bow with archery medals

Former Saudi national guardsman adds string to bow with archery medals
During the course of his rigorous training, Al-Shami shot 1,000 –1,200 arrows per day to improve his accuracy and technique. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 January 2023

Former Saudi national guardsman adds string to bow with archery medals

Former Saudi national guardsman adds string to bow with archery medals
  • Mohammed Al-Shami picked up the sport of archery after losing his right hand in a terrorist attack in 2007 that forced his retirement

RIYADH: A former soldier in the Saudi Arabian National Guard has become a professional archer, winning a number of competitions and awards despite competing with a disability sustained in a terror attack.

Mohammed Al-Shami picked up the sport of archery after losing his right hand in a terrorist attack in 2007 that forced his retirement.

He was treated at King Saud Medical City and was sent to the Rehabilitation Hospital at King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh.

But Al-Shami’s physical disability failed to dent his positive outlook on life.

Ambition cannot stop in the face of “minor problems,” he told Arab News. Instead, Al-Shami believes that problems can give purpose and make people stronger.

Every day, Al-Shami, who usesa prosthetic hand, wakes up with a smile and spreads positivity.

His journey in archery commenced when he registered for the Kingdom Marathon at King Saud University.

“Captain Mishaal Al-Otaibi was explaining to visitors how to shoot … so I went to him and told him I wanted to try it. He looked at me and said ‘come later,’” Al-Shami said.

After waiting for three hours, Al-Shami again went to the captain, who told him to return once more after two hours.

When Al-Shami went back for the second time, he asked the captain: “Can handicapped people throw arrows or not?”

Al-Otaibi then gave a bow and arrow to the former guardsman and told him: “Go ahead, shoot.”

Al-Shami said: “I put the bowstring between my teeth, pulled it and threw it hard, and it settled in the middle of the target, in the bullseye. The captain was impressed. He then taught me how to develop my abilities.”

During the course of his rigorous training, Al-Shami shot 1,000 –1,200 arrows per day to improve his accuracy and technique.

He took part in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics for People with Disabilities at the Dubai Club for People of Determination, winning a gold medal.

Al-Shami also won gold and silver medals at the Sheikh Fazza Championship in the UAE in 2019.

His determination earned him third place in archery in the Kingdom’s My Disability Distinguishes evemt in 2022.

Al-Shami said that archery is the only sport that gives him determination and strengthens his focus.

In the future, he aspires to establish a charitable sports center for archery and taekwondo, where people of all ages can learn the basics of the sports and build bright futures for themselves.

“My biggest professional project is to help put Vision 2030 into action by building the biggest and most ambitious investment and charitable sports center. This will be a one-of-a-kind project with the goal of spreading and graduating professional teams in archery and taekwondo.”

Al-Shami hailed a 2019 decision by the Saudi Paralympic Committee to promote archery for people with disabilities around the Kingdom.


Red Sea Global organizes local, regional meetings in bid to expand partnerships

Red Sea Global organizes local, regional meetings in bid to expand partnerships
Updated 30 March 2023

Red Sea Global organizes local, regional meetings in bid to expand partnerships

Red Sea Global organizes local, regional meetings in bid to expand partnerships
  • First regional meeting in Doha attracts over 100 businesses
  • Contracts worth about SR25bn are being sought by the Saudi tourism development company

RIYADH: Red Sea Global has organized a series of local and regional meetings highlighting projects being developed along the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, as well as partnership opportunities with the company, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The first regional meeting, held in Doha, reviewed details of the Saudi sustainable tourism development company’s projects and shed light on investment opportunities available to regional partners. It attracted over 100 businesses. 

Red Sea Global announced that contracts worth SR27 billion ($7.2 billion) and SR13 billion were awarded for its projects The Red Sea and Amaala this year. Other contracts worth about SR25 billion are also being sought by the company.

In 2023, 70 percent of existing contracts were awarded to Saudi companies.

Mohammed Al-Fardan, executive director of procurement at Red Sea Global, said that expanding partnerships at the local and international levels is a critical step in developing new relationships with Saudi Arabia’s private sector. 

Ben Edwards, group head of cost, commercial and procurement, highlighted opportunities in construction work for Red Sea Global destinations, including building infrastructure, marine and civil engineering, plumbing and furnishing. 

Edwards said that the company is also looking for partners with global experience in tourism, such as food and beverages and other hospitality services.

The Red Sea project is set to open its first three resorts this year, and its Red Sea International Airport is nearing the first phase of completion.

 


Ministry of Hajj and Umrah wins performance excellence award

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah wins performance excellence award
Updated 30 March 2023

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah wins performance excellence award

Ministry of Hajj and Umrah wins performance excellence award
  • The ministry said that the award was the result of its efforts in supporting innovation in institutional performance and preparing guides for Hajj and Umrah operations
  • It also stressed its digital transformation, an awareness of responsibility, integrity, justice and transparency, and its encouragement of employees to participate in community activities

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has taken first place in the excellent corporate performance category at the Madinah Award Foundation’s ceremony.

The event, which was held at Taibah University’s Conference Hall on Wednesday, was attended by Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, and Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.

The ministry said in a press statement that the award was the result of its efforts in supporting innovation in institutional performance and preparing guides for Hajj and Umrah operations, which included follow-up procedures to achieve performance indicators.

It also stressed its digital transformation, the spreading awareness of responsibility, integrity, justice and transparency, and its encouragement of employees to participate in community activities and volunteer work.

Some 26 entities had applied for the award for the best government-performing organization.

Al-Rabiah expressed his appreciation to Prince Faisal for organizing the award, which he said aimed to encourage departments to achieve excellence.

He added that the ministry would not have achieved the distinction had it not been for the directives of its leadership which sought to help worshippers on their journeys to the holy places.


Ramadan District in Riyadh showcases heritage through artisanal crafts

Ramadan District in Riyadh showcases heritage through artisanal crafts
Updated 30 March 2023

Ramadan District in Riyadh showcases heritage through artisanal crafts

Ramadan District in Riyadh showcases heritage through artisanal crafts
  • Vibrant decorations welcome visitors to Al-Nada Garden to live out a unique cultural experience and get a taste of authentic Saudi traditions
  • Two shops specialize in weaving — a Sadu shop featuring colorful, hand-embroidered goods, and a wicker shop, offering a variety of accessories

RIYADH: For the entire month of Ramadan, local shops are bringing heritage crafts to Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park in Riyadh for the Ramadan District event.

Vibrant decorations welcome visitors to Al-Nada Garden to live out a unique cultural experience and get a taste of authentic Saudi traditions.

Two shops specialize in weaving — a Sadu shop featuring colorful, hand-embroidered goods, and a wicker shop, offering a variety of accessories.

In 2020, wicker weaver Razan Jaber and Sadu weaver Aisha Fakhaihi took training courses with the Herfa Organization as part of an initiative aimed at preserving heritage crafts through workshops and events.

“I have been practicing Sadu for three years now, and I hope to create new things in the future. Herfa has helped me a lot with personal development and my hobby,” Fakhaihi said.

“The event has been nice. Kids are getting exposure to new things, and they are curious about where these things come from. It has been beautiful,” Jaber said.

Saudi psychologist Ahmed Al-Shehri was taking his daily stroll when the rosary shop caught his eye.

“I was taking my daily walk when I came across a rosary shop that grabbed my attention. It was great seeing a young Saudi man creating rosaries, which is not usually typical,” he said.

“I also noticed that there are other shops with traditional ways of handmaking crafts such as the Sadu and wicker weaving. Where I’m from, weaving is very well known, and seeing that the new generation and kids are getting to know what it is makes this a beautiful initiative,” Al-Shehri said.

Visitors are spoiled for choice with all the food and refreshment options from Saudi-owned home kitchen Tuwaiq Kitchen and the Black Stamp coffee shop, which offers a special hibiscus tea for Ramadan.

Operated by Saudi women, Tuwaiq Kitchen has an exclusive menu for the month of Ramadan filled with traditional dishes such as the Saudi national dish jareesh and basboosa for dessert.

Ramadan District is one of the events under Ramadan Season, a series of cultural experiences organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture across Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.

The event will take place for 30 days during the holy month, from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. in Al-Nada Garden and Al-Hezam Park.


Direct flights launched between Saudi Arabia, Venice

Direct flights launched between Saudi Arabia, Venice
Updated 30 March 2023

Direct flights launched between Saudi Arabia, Venice

Direct flights launched between Saudi Arabia, Venice
  • Wizz Air flights between Jeddah and Italy’s most popular tourist destination will be twice a week
  • Airline manager: ‘Our expansion into Saudi Arabia from Italy began only a few months ago and has already proved to be a success’

ROME: The first direct flight between Saudi Arabia and Venice, Italy’s most popular tourist destination, took place on Wednesday.

Flights with low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air between the historical lagoon city and Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city Jeddah will be twice a week, operating all year round.  

The new direct flights follow a memorandum of understanding that Wizz Air signed with the Saudi Investment Ministry aimed at enhancing the development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector in line with the Vision 2030 reform program.

Wizz Air launched other direct flights between Italian and Saudi cities in recent months — including from Rome to Dammam and Riyadh, and from Milan to Jeddah — as part of 23 new routes from Europe to the Kingdom.

The departure of the first Venice-Jeddah flight was saluted with a ceremony at Marco Polo Airport in Venice attended by a representative of the mayor.

Tamara Nikiforova, corporate communication manager at Wizz Air Malta, said: “We are happy to continue our expansion into Saudi Arabia from Italy, which began only a few months ago and has already proved to be a success.”

She added: “This new and unique connection to Jeddah will allow all passengers departing from Venice Marco Polo Airport to benefit from the immense historical, artistic and cultural heritage this city offers.”


Saudi leaders congratulate UAE president on new leadership appointments

Saudi leaders congratulate UAE president on new leadership appointments
Updated 30 March 2023

Saudi leaders congratulate UAE president on new leadership appointments

Saudi leaders congratulate UAE president on new leadership appointments
  • Bahrain and Qatar’s leaders also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on new appointments
  • Newly-appointed officials received messages of congratulations from the rulers of the rest of the emirates

RIYADH: King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Al-Nahyan on new leadership appointments.

On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed appointed his eldest son Sheikh Khaled as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and his brother Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan as vice president of the UAE.

He also named his other brothers Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al-Nahyan the deputy rulers of Abu Dhabi.

In their cable of congratulations, the Saudi leaders wished the newly appointed officials success in serving the people of the UAE towards further progress and prosperity. They also reiterated the deep historical ties that unite both countries, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.  

Bahrain and Qatar’s leaders also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on the new appointments.

In a phone call with the UAE president, Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said he hoped the new appointments would “provide a strong impetus for the country’s development and progress,” reported Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The newly-appointed officials received messages of congratulations from the rulers of the rest of the emirates early Thursday.