International Obesity Day aims to encourage healthy lifestyles
International Obesity Day aims to encourage healthy lifestyles/node/2262396/saudi-arabia
International Obesity Day aims to encourage healthy lifestyles
Saudi ministry is working with health and sports authorities to raise awareness of the importance of nutritional balance and maintaining a healthy weight. (Shutterstock)
International Obesity Day aims to encourage healthy lifestyles
Obesity’s main causes are unhealthy eating habits and a lack of regular physical activity. It is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, reportedly affecting more than 2 billion people
Updated 04 March 2023
Arab News
JEDDAH: March 4 is annual International Obesity Day, during which the international community strives to raise awareness of, and establish programs to prevent, obesity, including the promotion of healthy dietary patterns and regular exercise.
Adults with a body mass index of more than 30 are generally classified as obese. Obesity’s main causes are unhealthy eating habits and a lack of regular physical activity. It is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, reportedly affecting more than 2 billion people.
For this year’s International Obesity Day, the theme of which is “Changing Perspectives: Let's Talk About Obesity,” the Saudi Ministry of Health has launched programs including meals that use high-quality ingredients and following up with patients on a regular basis to help them improve their quality of life by changing their lifestyle.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the ministry’s goal is “to reduce the prevalence of obesity, promote balanced nutritional behaviors and increase physical activity, in addition to providing preventive and curative services for obese citizens.” The ministry is also working with health and sports authorities to raise awareness of the importance of nutritional balance and maintaining a healthy weight.
Rheumatologist Dr. Dhiya Houssien told SPA that obesity increases the risk of arthritis, and that physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of becoming obese.
He stressed the importance of raising public awareness of the causes and risks of obesity, ways to prevent it, and of encouraging early detection.
Houssien also noted that individuals become obese due to an imbalance between the calories they consume and those they burn.
He said that obesity is a serious disease, as it can increase the likelihood of contracting a number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, liver and kidney problems, back and joint pain, as well as shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping, in addition to psychological issues.
Ramadan meet, greet initiative launched for Makkah pilgrims, umrah visitors
Greeting points will be set up at the Haramain train station and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah
Nada Al-Malki: The pilgrims are warmly welcomed at the designated train station, and a set of gifts are presented to help them perform their rituals with ease
Updated 14 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Grand Mosque in Makkah has launched a welcome initiative for pilgrims and umrah visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia.
The scheme has been initiated by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques represented by its media affairs, public relations, and women’s exhibitions agency.
Greeting points will be set up at the Haramain train station and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Agency official Nada Al-Malki said: “The pilgrims are warmly welcomed at the designated train station, and a set of gifts are presented to help them perform their rituals with ease.”
The initiative was started last year at the railway station with senior management greeting pilgrims and distributing information on digital services, and gift packages including a prayer rug, umbrella, and Zamzam water.
On Sunday, the presidency, represented by the agency responsible for libraries and cultural affairs, launched its Ramadan program in the Grand Mosque library which will include scientific and cultural meetings and seminars.
The first evening session looked at various aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers to meet during Ramadan
Updated 27 March 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, have agreed to meet during the month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Monday.
The diplomats also discussed in a phone call a number of issues amid the trilateral agreement signed in China.
The Kingdom and Iran agreed on March 10 to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies within two months following years of tensions.
Saudi crown prince, French president discuss cooperation
Updated 27 March 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed bilateral relations and cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Monday.
During a phone call, the officials also reviewed efforts towards regional and international developments to enhance security and stability.
Saudi Arabia’s traditional souqs exude Ramadan vibes
Bustling with tourists and residents, souqs are the beating heart of Saudi cities
Updated 27 March 2023
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: Souqs are the best place to buy Ramadan essentials — food, decoration or fashion — and to experience the hustle and bustle of the holy month.
Souq, meaning market in Arabic, is a modern shopping destination but with an old-world charm.
May AlSheikh, reservoir geoscientist at Aramco, spoke with Arab News to explain the importance of souqs in the Middle Eastern culture.
AlUla’s Old Town is a serene marketplace with a beautiful view of mountains. (Supplied)
“Souqs are historical shopping and trading scenes that have been around for thousands of years. I strongly believe they remain an essential component for preserving culture and identity in Saudi Arabia, on the local scale, and the Middle East region as a whole,” Alsheikh said.
Alsheikh believes the souq is a place where tourists can indulge in culture and get a taste of tradition.
“I work in a company that is a cultural melting pot with people coming from all walks of life, and I always recommend my expatriate colleagues to visit souqs — they love it! It’s a great tourist attraction and a pleasant activity, where they enjoy the traditional ambiance while purchasing traditional goods and foods,” she said.
AlKhobar’s Al-Swekit Souq
One of the oldest souqs in the Eastern Province, Al-Swekit Souq, is a hub for affordable gold jewelry and abayas.
AlUla’s Old Town is a serene marketplace with a beautiful view of mountains. (Supplied)
AlSheikh visits the Al-Swekit Souq during the month of Ramadan to buy all sorts of things for herself and the family.
Souqs are historical shopping and trading scenes that have been around for thousands of years ... they remain an essential component for preserving culture and identity in Saudi Arabia, on the local scale, and the Middle East region as a whole.
May AlSheikh, Reservoir geoscientist at Aramco
“Shopping in Swekit market is fun, especially around this time of the year with the holy month of Ramadhan fast-approaching. The shops in Swekit usually sell a variety of traditional merchandise and local produce. I personally love buying abayas, spices and customary festive attire for myself and the kids,” she said.
Jeddah’s Al-Balad Souqs
Al-Balad is Jeddah’s oldest neighborhood, founded in 7th century AD, and is home to a plethora of some of the oldest traditional markets: Souq Al-Badu, Souq Qabil, Souq Alawi, Souq Nada, Souq Al-Khaskeya, Souq Bab Makkah and Souq Bab Shareef.
The souqs have a variety of shops to explore, selling gold, textiles, honey, spices and much more. Some of these markets have been around for decades and hold a special place in the hearts of locals.
AlUla’s Old Town is a serene marketplace with a beautiful view of mountains. (Supplied)
“It is a lively, enjoyable, and unpretentious social activity where you see people from different backgrounds and economic classes shop and interact together. And, quite frankly, that’s the beauty of it! It breaks social norms, shrinks the social and economic classes’ gap, and promotes a healthy, inclusive society. In addition to that, souqs give thrive to small-scale businesses which feed into the overall economic growth,” AlSheikh said.
Just make sure to put your bargaining hats on to show off some negotiation skills.
AlUla’s Old Town Souq
Julian Ryall, Japan correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, visited The Old Town Souq in AlUla, where community locals set up clothing shops, fruit stands, pottery and crafts, and cafes amid a beautiful view of the mountains.
“Any foreign visitor who comes to Saudi Arabia is going to want to visit a souq. It has to be one of the most important elements of a trip, as important as drinking tea on a trip to England,” Ryall said.
He added: “I loved the hustle and bustle of market, of the stall-holders calling out to passers-by, of being encouraged to haggle on prices and just the items that were available,” Ryall said.
“The local gold shop was the perfect place. I was embarrassingly bad at haggling so the owner took pity on me and gave me a discount anyway. I think I’ll tell my wife I did haggle the price down when I give her the earrings.”
Riyadh’s Almaigliah Souq
Established in 1986, Almaigliah Souq is the first wholesales traditional market in Riyadh located next to Al-Masmak Fort.
The complex consists of four buildings, each specializing in a genre of shopping: gold, women’s clothing, men’s apparel, and perfume.
Almaigliah is best known for their great deals on the best Arabian ouds perfume, spices and women’s abayas.
For almost three decades, this souq has attracted tourists from all over the world and continues to be a retail destination for locals.
Who’s Who: Abdulrahman K Justaniah, first Saudi partner at global strategy consulting firm Kearney
Updated 27 March 2023
Arab News
Abdulrahman K Justaniah is the first Saudi to become a partner at the elite global strategy consulting firm Kearney.
Justaniah joined in January 2022 while being part of the strategic operations practice and supporting the firm’s growth in the region. He has been part of many of the transformational projects in the Kingdom supporting clients as a trusted adviser.
Previously he had several public and private sector leadership roles. The most recent was vice-president of strategy and excellence at the Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority in 2021.
The authority was established in 2017 to support Saudi Arabia’s efficiency, project execution, operations and maintenance for all spending through the public budget.
He joined the authority as the fifth employee during the startup and served in multiple leadership roles.
Before his vice-presidency role, he held the same position for strategy and shared services from 2020 to 2021, and was executive director of strategy and organizational excellence from 2019 to 2020.
He also worked as executive director of the strategic procurement unit from 2017-2019 and led the establishment of the strategic procurement unit to increase government efficiency, and led the organizational design, developed processes, and set up governance with more than 450 government entities across the Kingdom.
Before that Justaniah worked with Procter & Gamble as manufacturing director in Dammam from 2015 to 2017 and led part of Dammam’s manufacturing operations.
He has also worked with P&G as regional supply chain director/IMEA demand planning leader in Cairo, transition and startup director, market planning senior manager, project manager and supply planning manager.
Justaniah obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. He also completed leadership courses, pathways to leadership process, GROW Coaching, situational leadership and emerging leaders.
