Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills

Special Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
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Omar Al-Ansari with tourists in Al-Balad, Jeddah. (Supplied)
Special Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
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Omar with his favorite player, Al-Hilal’s Carrillo. (Supplied)
Special Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
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Omar with Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb in Al Aula. (Supplied)
Special Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
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Omar with his sister and father. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 March 2023

Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills

Saudi boy amazes tourists with his communication skills
  • Al-Ansari’s story began when he and his father were captured in a video posted by a Peruvian journalist that later went viral in Qatar during the World Cup
  • His ability to speak English well has resulted in Al-Ansari deciding to promote tourism to Saudi Arabia as he continues his studies

JEDDAH: A 13-year-old boy named Omar Al-Ansari has become an internet celebrity in Saudi Arabia after appearing in several viral videos speaking in eloquent English and showing groups of foreign tourists the cultural sites of AlUla and the historical areas of Jeddah.

Al-Ansari’s story began when he and his father were captured in a video posted by a Peruvian journalist that later went viral on social media in Qatar during the World Cup.

Al-Ansari told Arab News: “We went to Qatar to support our national team but we couldn’t get tickets, so we went to a restaurant to watch the game and we met a Peruvian journalist who sat with us to watch the match between Saudi Arabia and Argentina.

“The journalist started asking us about our national football team and our culture and I explained to him the richness of our culture and our great hospitality we offer to foreign visitors.”

The journalist’s friend recorded the conversation and posted it on a social media platform, but Al-Ansari did not expect the video to spread. It was translated into Arabic, and the video was viewed more than 800,000 times.

Al-Ansari and his father returned home after a few days in Qatar to find the video going viral.

It had also caught the eye of Saudi Football Federation officials who took Al-Ansari and his father back to Qatar to resume their support of the national team.

His ability to speak English well has resulted in Al-Ansari deciding to promote tourism to Saudi Arabia as he continues his studies.

He told Arab News: “I belong to Saudi Arabia and my aim is to give the best service for all people wishing to visit my country and provide them with information on tourism.”

Meeting tourists will improve Al-Ansari’s language skills as he imparts his knowledge of the cultural and historical sites in the Kingdom.

He is making the most of his passion for history — and his distinctive style — to serve his country in a positive way, and has become a guide who introduces foreign tourists to the culture and history of the AlUla region.

He said: “The idea came to me during a visit to the AlUla region with my father. I suggested to him that we explore the opinions of foreign tourists in the region following the significant increase in visitors, thanks to the government’s efforts to develop the area.”

His AlUla videos, and consequent fame, caught the attention of Saudi Arabia’s minister of tourism, who praised his role in promoting the country.

Al-Ansari added: “I was very happy to meet the minister of tourism [Ahmed Al-Khateeb] and he encouraged me to do more videos with tourists.”

Al-Ansari admits he has been amazed by the public’s support and positive reaction to his videos.

Viewers have been impressed by his ability to speak English well, and the way he conducts his interviews. They are encouraging him to post more videos.

And having taken the internet and media world by storm, his ambition is now set on becoming an ambassador for tourism to the Kingdom.

Al-Ansari, who is currently studying in the third intermediate grade in Jeddah, revealed the secret of his mastering of the English language.

He said: “I learned it while I was traveling with my father when he was studying in the United States on scholarship in 2014. I was 5 years old.”

Al-Ansari’s 8-year old sister Jolan said: “I have been enjoying seeing my brother getting all the attention from viewers and media and hope one day I will become like him.”

Al-Ansari said: “What I am doing is delivering a message to the world of the important sites the Kingdom contains, whether in the tourism, cultural or sports fields.”

His father, Essam Al-Ansari, told Arab News of his pride in his son, and the hope that one day Omar will assume a prestigious position while serving his country.


KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 
Updated 01 June 2023

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 

KAUST signs MoU with nonprofit global health group to develop healthcare services 
  • The two will boost cooperation in the public health sector

RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) signed a memorandum of understanding with PATH, a nonprofit global health organization, to develop healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.

The MoU aims to boost cooperation between the two institutions in the public health sector by utilizing digital services and sharing expertise

Under the agreement,  PATH will provide expertise to assist KAUST in manufacturing vaccines, developing digital health systems and running a research center at the university. 

 

 
 


Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement

Saudi Islamic affairs minister and Azerbaijan’s SCWRA sign agreement
  • The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in boosting Islamic moderation

JEDDAH: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Abdullatif Al-Asheikh signed an agreement on Thursday in the field of Islamic affairs with Mubariz Gurbanli, Azerbaijan’s head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two brotherly countries in boosting Islamic moderation, and tolerance and confronting extremist ideology and terrorism.

According to the agreement, the two countries will exchange information and expertise in Islamic affairs within the regulations and systems in force.
 


Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired

Saudi, Malaysian Red Crescent launches training courses for visually impaired
  • Over 500 trainees took part in a week-long series of courses

RIYADH: The Saudi Red Crescent, in cooperation with the Malaysian Red Crescent, organized an “Ambassador of Life” course for visually impaired beneficiaries and a training course for teachers at the Saudi Schools in Kuala Lumpur. 

Over 500 trainees took part in a week-long series of courses. 

The Saudi Red Crescent has recently implemented a number of local and international programs aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s worldwide humanitarian standing and promoting human dignity.
 


Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan
Updated 02 June 2023

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

Eleventh Saudi relief plane lands in Sudan

PORT SUDAN: An 11th Saudi relief plane on Thursday landed at Port Sudan New International Airport carrying 30 tons of food baskets and medical supplies.

The latest aid flight is part of the Kingdom’s air bridge initiative, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, to help the people of Sudan.

Khartoum and other parts of Sudan have been gripped by warfare between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Meanwhile, the UN said on Thursday more than 100,000 Sudanese refugees had fled to neighboring Chad since the conflict in Sudan broke out over six weeks ago, bringing the tally to more than half a million.

“The number of new refugees has passed the 100,000 mark” since fighting broke out on April 15, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said, as it appealed for emergency support.

Up to 200,000 others could be forced to flee to Chad in the next three months, the agency’s representative in Chad, Laura Lo Castro, said in a statement.

With the rainy season approaching, UNHCR said it needed “massive logistical support” to move refugees from border areas for their safety.


Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

Saudi foreign minister participates in BRICS Friends meeting 

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is participating in the ministerial meeting of BRICS Friends, which is called “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.”

The meeting, which is being attended by foreign ministers of several countries, is taking place on June 1-2, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Prince Faisal will highlight key issues and latest developments in the international arena, and aim to boost multilateral action to achieve global prosperity, in addition to holding a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts.