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.


Students join handicrafts week to create, promote traditional crafts

Students join handicrafts week to create, promote traditional crafts
Updated 2 min 55 sec ago

Students join handicrafts week to create, promote traditional crafts

Students join handicrafts week to create, promote traditional crafts
  • Royal Institute of Traditional Arts stages special carving workshops
  • Saudi International Handicrafts Week runs until Monday

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts staged several workshops this week as part of the activities of Saudi International Handicrafts Week.
The events focused on the carving of wood, gypsum and clay and sought to highlight and preserve some of the Kingdom’s traditional arts.
The wood carving workshop challenged participants to produce pieces inspired by the traditional doors found in different parts of the country, each of which is made from a particular type of wood, such as tamarisk, teak or juniper.
The gypsum carving event sought to produce pieces influenced by the historic houses of Jeddah, while the clay workshop aimed to create works inspired by the wall paintings of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri.
Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is an art form practiced exclusively by women and deeply rooted in the identity of the Kingdom’s southern region. It can be seen decorating the interior walls of guest rooms in Asiri homes.
In 2017, UNESCO added Al-Qatt Al-Asiri to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Students from the institute also sold traditional fashion items, jewelry, wooden crafts and Al-Qatt Al-Asiri products at the event.
The Saudi International Handicrafts Week is organized by the Heritage Authority and runs until Monday at the Riyadh Front.


Kaaba kiswa raised in preparation for Hajj

Kaaba kiswa raised in preparation for Hajj
Updated 19 sec ago

Kaaba kiswa raised in preparation for Hajj

Kaaba kiswa raised in preparation for Hajj
  • Every year, on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dul Hijjah, the black silk cloth is removed and a new kiswa is draped in its place

RIYADH: In keeping with tradition, the lower part of the kiswa — the black cloth covering the Kaaba in Makkah — has been raised about three meters and the area beneath has been covered with white cotton fabric, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The same procedure is repeated annually before Hajj season in order to protect the kiswa, as some pilgrims touch it when circling the Kaaba.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, was present when the kiswa was raised.

Sultan Al-Qurashi, assistant to the president general for the affairs of the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, exhibitions, engineering, technical, and operational affairs, said that “raising the lower part of the kiswa serves to preserve its cleanliness and (integrity) and preventing tampering.” He added that the kiswa is also raised to prevent some pilgrims’ practices “based on false beliefs.”

Every year, on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dul Hijjah, the black silk cloth is removed and a new kiswa is draped in its place.


Riyadh to host international project management forum

Riyadh to host international project management forum
Updated 56 min 22 sec ago

Riyadh to host international project management forum

Riyadh to host international project management forum
  • The two-day forum’s title is “Project Management Ecosystem: The Journey to Excellence” is an initiative intended to support sustainable development in Saudi Arabia
  • The event will also include the announcement of the winners of the Global Project Excellence Awards

RIYADH: The Project Management Institute will host the second Global Project Management Forum in Riyadh on June 12.
The two-day forum’s title is “Project Management Ecosystem: The Journey to Excellence” and, according to a press release, is an initiative intended to support sustainable development in Saudi Arabia.
Participants include Areej Naqshbandi, senior director at the Public Investment Fund, and Park Joon-yong, South Korean ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who is this year’s guest of honor.
Besides a number of workshops and talks, the event will also include the announcement of the winners of the Global Project Excellence Awards.
Badr M. Burshaid, president of the PMI’s Saudi chapter, said in a statement: “The forum provides an opportunity for institutions and companies to showcase their services, tools, and technologies that support and empower the project ecosystem, as well as to talk about the best practices and the latest technology and research in the field of project management.”
He added that the forum is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to boost economic growth and diversity through non-oil sectors in the Kingdom.
“The forum will also explore giga-projects from a different perspective in the ecosystem, such as governance, value-chain economics, and sustainable social impact,” Burshaid said.


Drug dealers, smugglers arrested across Kingdom

Drug dealers, smugglers arrested across Kingdom
Updated 10 June 2023

Drug dealers, smugglers arrested across Kingdom

Drug dealers, smugglers arrested across Kingdom
  • Preliminary legal procedures have been completed, and all seized narcotics were handed over to the authorities

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have reportedly arrested a number of people across the country for drug-related offenses in recent days.

On Saturday, Border Guard patrols in the Al-Aridhah governorate of Jazan arrested five Yemenis system for smuggling the narcotic plant, qat, having previously thwarted an attempt to smuggle in 100 kilograms of qat. In Al-Rabwa in Asir, the Border Guard arrested 27 Yemenis attempting to smuggle qat into the Kingdom.

The General Directorate for Narcotics Control announced that it had arrested a citizen in Tabuk for dealing amphetamine, methamphetamine and hashish, and another person in Hail for dealing amphetamine.

Jeddah police announced that they had arrested Yemeni residents for hashish dealing, and Al-Khurma police arrested three citizens in Makkah for the same offense.

Preliminary legal procedures have been completed, and all seized narcotics were handed over to the authorities. All those arrested have been referred to the Public Prosecution.

Members of the public can report suspected smuggling or other violations of the customs system in strict confidence via email — [email protected] — or through the designated number for security reports: 1910 from within the country, +966114208417 from overseas. A financial reward is offered if the information leads to discovery of a crime.


Saudi Arabia welcomes Libya’s agreement on electoral laws

Saudi Arabia welcomes Libya’s agreement on electoral laws
Updated 10 June 2023

Saudi Arabia welcomes Libya’s agreement on electoral laws

Saudi Arabia welcomes Libya’s agreement on electoral laws
  • Saudi Arabia praised Morocco’s efforts in facilitating dialogue between rival Libyan factions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the agreement reached by the Libyan 6+6 Joint Committee on presidential and parliamentary election laws, the foreign ministry said.
The committee, which is made up of MPs from the House of Representatives and members of the High Council of State, held talks in Morocco to draft legislations that would eventually serve as the legal framework for holding elections in the country. On June 7, the 6+6 Committee unanimously voted in favor of the laws during meetings in Morocco’s Bouznika.
Saudi Arabia, in a foreign ministry statement, praised Morocco’s efforts in facilitating dialogue between rival Libyan factions and reaching an agreement to achieve a political settlement in Libya.

 


“The Kingdom hopes Libyan parties would formally sign the electoral laws as an important step to end the crisis and enhance security and stability in Libya,” said the foreign ministry.
The ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s support for efforts to strengthen Libya’s status as an influential state in the Arab region and the world, and achieve the aspiration of its people for stability and prosperity.