Who’s Who: Saudi exec Faisal Al-Zahrani wins new term as board member of international PR group

Faisal Al-Zahrani. (Supplied)
Faisal Al-Zahrani. (Supplied)
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Updated 16 March 2023

Who’s Who: Saudi exec Faisal Al-Zahrani wins new term as board member of international PR group

Faisal Al-Zahrani. (Supplied)

Faisal Al-Zahrani was recently re-elected to the board of the London-based International Public Relations Association for the Middle East.

Al-Zahrani, a Saudi computer engineer, worked in various related posts in Saudi Aramco for more than 20 years, joining Aramco’s public relations department in 2006.

He also served as an engineering consultant, an assistant to executive heads, a performance improvement consultant, and a director of the continuing excellence department.

For four consecutive terms, he was elected president of the International Public Relations Association’s Gulf Chapter, where he served from 2008 to 2015.

During his tenure, he hosted the Public Relations World Congress in Dubai in 2012 for the first time in the Middle East and the Public Relations Golden World Awards in Doha in 2014, also for the first time in the region.

He also served as general director of media and public relations at the Saudi Ministry of Health, former adviser to the ministry, and official spokesman for the ministry from 2015-2016.

Al-Zahrani received the Public Relations Excellence Award from Abdullah Badawi, former prime minister of Malaysia, in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to public relations services.

During his high school days, Al-Zahrani feared public speaking and avoided any engagement where he might have to speak to a group.

In 1999, however, he joined Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills.

Within six months of joining, not only he had overcome his fears of public speaking, but he also won the first-place award in a speech contest at the annual Toastmasters convention in Manama, Bahrain, before a large audience.

Following this achievement, he served as an MC, a moderator of Saudi Aramco corporate events, and a speaker at several local, regional and international conferences.

Al-Zahrani holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, US.

 

 


Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
Updated 11 sec ago

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
  • Sarah Battal: I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself

RIYADH: With only a few days until Ramadan, Saudis were making changes to their plans to celebrate Mother’s Day on Tuesday.

Each year, mothers vow not to go overboard with Ramadan preparations, but can still be found lining up in stores to buy decorations and table settings, or busy in the kitchen preparing for the celebrations.

Their unmatched strength is one of the reasons Saudis celebrate their mothers.

“I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself. It is the unconditional love we have for our children that moves us to do this, and not think of how or why,” said Sarah Battal, a mother of three young boys.

“So, I made it a tradition to treat my mother and myself to a much-needed pampering at a spa treatment center.”

Mother’s Day can be tricky for Saudis — fail to remember the special day and mothers will remind them by sharing how others celebrated. But if one does remember, their mother may well say that every day should be Mother’s Day.

“To be fair, they are not wrong. Every day should be a Mother’s Day,” said Naif Abdulaziz, a father of two.

“I don’t know how hard it is to be a mom, but I can get a sense of how that might feel like watching my mom take care of us growing up, and watching how wonderfully my wife is doing as a mother.”

For those living in Riyadh, there are many ways to show appreciation for mothers on this special day, including a reservation for tea at the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton’s Chorisia Lounge or at Oplaisir.

“This year, I am making a surprise visit to my mom as she lives in another city, and I am taking her to buy spices from the old markets in Riyadh. This is her favorite thing to do,” said Abdullah Ibrahim, a Saudi chemical engineer based in Dhahran.

For those living in other cities, a quick and easy way to show love and appreciation is to send a colorful bouquet of flowers with a special note.

Online flower stores that offer a same-day express delivery in the Kingdom include Floward, Lamuda, Little Flora and Gifto.


Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart
Updated 19 min 29 sec ago

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from Pakistani counterpart
  • During the call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday.

During the call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them to serve common interests.

The ministers also discussed the most prominent regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them.


Sri Lanka to send skilled workers to Saudi Arabia under new scheme

Sri Lanka to send skilled workers to Saudi Arabia under new scheme
Updated 21 March 2023

Sri Lanka to send skilled workers to Saudi Arabia under new scheme

Sri Lanka to send skilled workers to Saudi Arabia under new scheme
  • Skill Verification Program aims to improve professional competence of Saudi labor market
  • Agreement expected to give a boost to Sri Lanka’s manpower exports to Kingdom

COLOMBO: Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka signed on Tuesday a new agreement on the employment of workers, opening up more opportunities in the Kingdom for professionals from the crisis-hit island nation. 

The Skill Verification Program aims to improve the professional competence of employees in the Saudi labor market, easing the recruitment process of skilled workers from Sri Lanka.  

The agreement, signed by Sri Lanka’s Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and Saudi Arabia’s Takamol, which operates under the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, covers 23 professions, including electricians and auto mechanics. 

“This is good news to all Sri Lankans,” TVEC Director Dr. Lalithadheera K. Arachchige said during the signing ceremony in Colombo. “Their skills can be officially identified by the concerned Saudi authorities to provide them with suitable jobs.” 

The deal is expected to give a boost to Sri Lanka’s manpower exports to the Kingdom.

“Under Vision 2030 of the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia needs a variety of skilled workers who would fit into various projects,” Khalid Hamoud Nasser Al-Dasam, the Saudi ambassador in Colombo, told Arab News on the sidelines of the event. 

“This is going to be a major development in the annals of Saudi-Lanka bilateral relations.” 

Sri Lanka has been seeking foreign employment opportunities for its professionals as it is facing its worst financial crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and is in desperate need of foreign currency. Only on Monday, the International Monetary Fund approved a $3 billion bailout loan for Colombo, but it will take time for the country to recover.

Many professionals from the South Asian country are currently working in Saudi Arabia without recognition of their professional certification, often enrolled in jobs below their skills. But that will change under the skill verification deal, as Saudi employers will recognize certificates issued by Sri Lanka’s TVEC. 

“It will give them due recognition and due salary and due position,” Pakeer Mohideen Amza, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News. 

“It’s a long-felt need, and it’s going parallel to the objective of Sri Lanka to shift from quantitative employment to qualitative employment…This really will help to increase our foreign remittances.” 

Around 150,000 Sri Lankan expats are employed in Saudi Arabia, about 70 percent of whom are unskilled. 

Saudi Arabia is the job market with the most potential for Sri Lankans, according to the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies, which welcomed the latest development. 

“Everyone knows that Sri Lanka is only famous for the unskilled people, not for skilled (workers), but we know that there are very skilled people,” ALFEA Secretary Mohamed Farook Mohamed Arshad told Arab News. 

“The Skill Verification Program is very useful for that…We can market our skilled laborers to Saudi Arabia when this is implemented.” 


Saudi General Entertainment Authority approved 14 projects for Entertainment Business Accelerator

Saudi General Entertainment Authority approved 14 projects for Entertainment Business Accelerator
Updated 21 March 2023

Saudi General Entertainment Authority approved 14 projects for Entertainment Business Accelerator

Saudi General Entertainment Authority approved 14 projects for Entertainment Business Accelerator

Riyadh: The General Entertainment Authority has approved 14 projects for the first Entertainment Business Accelerator, which aims to provide support for entrepreneurs interested in the sector.

The plan is to provide entrepreneurs with guidance and training, and link them with project management experts and a network of investors.

The approval process began with the first stage in February which saw the registration of 260 projects, of which 60 qualified for the initial interviews. Thereafter 22 projects were nominated for presentation to the jury. The process concluded with the approval of 14 projects.

The training programs consist of weekly workshops, and individual consulting sessions between entrepreneurs and specialized consultants. In addition, the new entrepreneurs will be linked with successful business owners in the sector.

The training program involves guidance and support of participants weekly through their mentors, including helping them to prepare for pitching their ideas to investors.

Mentors are expected to have a hands-on role, to advise the budding entrepreneurs on product development, and link them with appropriate consultants.

Mentors will set weekly goals for projects and business, which will be used to determine performance.


Saudi firm aiming to establish Kingdom as top 3 global gaming country

Saudi firm aiming to establish Kingdom as top 3 global gaming country
Updated 21 March 2023

Saudi firm aiming to establish Kingdom as top 3 global gaming country

Saudi firm aiming to establish Kingdom as top 3 global gaming country
  • CEO of Savvy Games Group wants to make Saudi Arabia ‘world-class entertainment destination’

Riyadh: A games and esports company is aiming to help establish Saudi Arabia as one of the top three gaming countries in the world.

Brian Ward, the chief executive officer of Savvy Games Group, said his firm’s strategy was designed to contribute toward gross domestic product and create more jobs in the Kingdom.

He told Arab News: “The gaming and esports sector will unlock economic contribution of more than SR50 billion ($13.32 billion) to the Kingdom’s economic prosperity by 2030.

“We are investing in our citizens and gamers to create over 39,000 jobs in development, publishing, infrastructure, and other professions by 2030,” he said.

In September, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the Savvy Games Group’s strategy, which will see an investment of SR142 billion across four programs.

SR50 billion will be used toward the acquisition and development of a leading game publisher; SR70 billion will be spent on minority stakes in key companies that support Savvy’s game development agenda; SR20 billion will be pumped into mature industry partners capable of adding expertise to Savvy’s portfolio; and the remaining SR2 billion will go toward industry disruptors that will grow early-stage games and esports companies.

Ward noted that one of Savvy’s visions was to establish Saudi Arabia as a “world-class entertainment destination for citizens, residents, and visitors.”

Wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, one of the key factors of the company’s strategy is to drive growth by investing in the video games industry and esports using long-dated capital.

In turn, this is expected to create more opportunities for participation and strengthening partnerships in the games industry, as well as improving user experience.

“(Savvy Games Group’s) contribution to the development of the gaming and esports sector aims to cultivate elite gaming athletes, in addition to establishing global recognition for the Kingdom as one of the top three countries in esports pro gaming,” Ward added.

Savvy’s strategy comes in three phases. The first aims to drive growth by investing in games and esports through deploying significant capital over long-term horizons.

Stage two will involve creating opportunities through growth and progression across the games community, while the third phase will be based on partnerships in the gaming community and improving user experiences across products and services.

Ward pointed out that one of the missions of Savvy was to foster the gaming community in the Kingdom through multiple stages such as the “development of high-tech infrastructure, including venues for KSA gamers to socialize and compete on both local and global scales.”

He said: “This will help nurture and upskill new and existing game creators into high-profile AAA publishers that are globally recognized, as well as provide support by way of advisory and investment or acquisition.”

By 2030, Ward envisions Savvy playing a contributing role in the Kingdom’s growing economy along with being a major player in the global gaming community.

He noted that the national gaming and esports strategy was a comprehensive investment to develop the entire gaming and esports value chain.

“The strategy will foster new career and business opportunities and will make Saudi Arabia a global hub of gaming and esports by 2030,” he added.