Saudi, Kuwaiti women embark on quest of a lifetime

Haya Al- Samari and Fai Al-Omran are making their way through the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey they hope will establish Arab women as a powerhouse in the world. (Photo/Instagram/ mykindofridays)
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Haya Al- Samari and Fai Al-Omran are making their way through the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey they hope will establish Arab women as a powerhouse in the world. (Photo/Instagram/ mykindofridays)
Saudi, Kuwaiti women embark on quest of a lifetime
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They are aiming to finish the PCT by the end of September or in the beginning of October by averaging 32 km per day. (Supplied)
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Updated 13 July 2023
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Saudi, Kuwaiti women embark on quest of a lifetime

Saudi, Kuwaiti women embark on quest of a lifetime
  • The 2 friends are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 4,265 km of the US

JEDDAH: Saudi Haya Al-Samari and Kuwaiti Fai Al-Omran are longtime friends who believe their once-in-a-lifetime adventure hiking the Pacific Crest Trail will inspire others and play a critical role in establishing Arab women as a leading powerhouse in the world of adventure.

Well known in the Gulf region for their enthusiasm for activities like running, freediving, surfing, skydiving, hiking and camping, the two women are now taking on the PCT, one of the world’s longest thru-hikes spanning the west coast of the US from the Mexican to Canadian borders.

The hike will take five to six months to complete and will cover 4,265 km, 26 national forests, seven national parks, five state parks and 33 federally mandated wildernesses. They are aiming to finish the PCT by the end of September or in the beginning of October by averaging 32 km per day.




Haya Al- Samari and Fai Al-Omran are making their way through the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey they hope will establish Arab women as a powerhouse
in the world. (Photo/Instagram/ mykindofridays)

Going from Mexico to Canada through the states of California, Oregon and Washington, the Pacific Crest Trail is regarded as the second-longest of the Triple Crown long trails. In search of a challenge, adventurous hikers travel the high route via the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, passing through some of the most picturesque and diverse landscapes in the US, from scorching deserts to snowy mountains.

Like many others, Al-Samari and Al-Omran began their adventure at the Campo Trail near the US-Mexico border, on the first of April.

Sports and nature are my life, my passion and my form of stress relief ... I’ve been through some rough situations that required extreme mental and physical grit to get through. But what really sets the Pacific Crest Trail apart is that it’s a long-term project that requires a complete mindset shift.

Haya Al-Samari, Saudi adventurer

The duo are documenting their hike on their social media platforms including Instagram, where Al-Samari, @mykindoffridays, has more than 63,000 followers and Al-Omran, @laughwithfai, has over 11,000. They share details of their life on the trail, creating content about everything, from how they sleep to what they eat, and the surprises and beautiful scenes of nature along the way.




Haya Al-Samari, Saudi adventurer

The female hikers said that they had received “loads of encouragement” from friends and family before they set off.

While the two are on the adventure of a lifetime, it is not their first trip together as they have undertaken various long journeys over the past seven years.

Speaking about the origins of their PCT quest, Al-Samari said: “Fai is a great travel partner; she’s always up for an adventure. I was dreaming of doing the Pacific Crest Trail for almost 10 years now, but never had a timeline for it. One day Fai and I talked about it and realized we both share this crazy dream.




Haya Al- Samari and Fai Al-Omran are making their way through the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey they hope will establish Arab women as a powerhouse in the world. (Photo/Instagram/ mykindofridays)

“So when things got serious from my end, I threw the idea and Fai was more than ready to receive it … travel, for me, means adventure.”

Al-Samari and Al-Omran told Arab News that when they reached Mount Shasta and Mount Etna in California they wanted to go on the next adventure.

Al-Samari, who loves extreme adventures said: “I’ve been hiking for more than 10 years now. I love hiking and trail running. I love challenging my physical body surrounded by nature, feeling the freedom on my skin. Sports and nature are my life, my passion and my form of stress relief.”




Haya Al- Samari and Fai Al-Omran are making their way through the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey they hope will establish Arab women as a powerhouse in the world. (Photo/Instagram/ mykindofridays)

Speaking about the trail, she added: “I’ve been through some rough situations that required extreme mental and physical grit to get through. But what really sets the Pacific Crest Trail apart is that it’s a long-term project that requires a complete mindset shift.

“It’s not a quick adventure that lasts a day or two. It’s a journey that lasts weeks and weeks on end. Nothing even comes close to the extreme nature of this adventure.”

Meanwhile, Al-Omran, who calls herself a lover of the sea and a child of the desert, told Arab News that she had many adventures in the past but this is her first thru-hike: “I’ve always had a love for the outdoors, from being in the sea to camping in the desert, to hiking through forests. Each adventure has its charm and connecting with nature has always been a big part of my life.




It takes the average thru-hiker five months to complete the Pacific Crest Trail. (Supplied)

“Despite all the challenges, the Pacific Crest Trail has always been an adventure that I aspired to go on one day. For me, going on a thru-hike is just taking my hobby to the next level.”

Before setting out on the trail, the two spent countless hours meticulously preparing. They agonized over what gear to bring and pored over route descriptions and reports from other hikers.

On what it took to prepare themselves, Al-Omran said: “Research. Lots of research and listening to others’ experiences. And going into the trip with a sense of surrender to mother nature. Whatever happens, on the physical side, I tried be more active and prepare my body for what is to come.”

The 33-year-old Al-Samari added: “I’m an avid runner. Having a couple of marathons and ultras under my belt gave me the confidence of knowing that my legs could carry me over long distances. Leading up to the hike, I adjusted my strength program to focus on my core and back muscles so that it would be easier for me to handle the weight of my backpack.”




It takes the average thru-hiker five months to complete the Pacific Crest Trail. (Supplied)

Unfortunately, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reported that it is the second snowiest season since 1946. Many of the trail’s sections have been closed due to dangerous and hazardous conditions.

The two friends had to wait until the snow melted to continue their hike. “This year, the weather has been a number one challenge. It’s a big snow year and a big part of our journey is managing how to continue on, stay safe and enjoy our trek,” said Al-Omran.

Asked what part of the trail she was most looking forward to, Al-Samari picked the Sierra Nevada section, which spans a little over 628 km and has total elevation gain of 57,888 feet. It is one of the highlights and the most magnificent sections of the trail.

“Some people can’t handle the altitude. I hope that not the case with our bodies. It’s the most remote, the highest altitude, the most snow, the most rivers, bears, etc. I know I’ll be the happiest, most proud and breath-taken after going through the Sierras,” she added.

However, the 28-year-old Al-Omran picked another region: “Every part is exciting to get to because of how diverse the trail is. But if I had to choose, it would be the high desert right before Sierra. Because it’s a terrain that I have never seen and gone through before.”

As they are gearing up to continue their long adventure with more than 1,600 kilometers left, both Arab women believe that their journey is not just about having epic adventures, but also about inspiring others to leave their comfort zones and learn more about themselves and the world.

 

Decoder

What is the Pacific Crest Trail?

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the world’s longest thru-hikes spanning the west coast of the US from the Mexican to Canadian borders. Best friends Haya Al-Samari of Saudi Arabia and Fai Al-Omran of Kuwait have taken on the challenge to hike the 4,265-km trail, which will take them through mountains, forests, wildernesses and parks in the states of California, Oregon and Washington.


Saudi National Housing Co.’s Al-Qassim projects launched

Saudi National Housing Co.’s Al-Qassim projects launched
Updated 29 September 2023
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Saudi National Housing Co.’s Al-Qassim projects launched

Saudi National Housing Co.’s Al-Qassim projects launched

RIYADH: The National Housing Co. launched the Azyan Buraydah project in Al-Qassim, Buraydah.

The project is part of a series of plans being developed by the company in cooperation with the Bin Jarallah Co. for Trading and Contracting.

NHC aims to establish additional residential projects with comprehensive development for the purpose of meeting the aspirations of families and contributing to increasing home ownership.

The new project consists of 185 villas of 289 to 346 square meters each, on a total area of more than 59,906 square meters. Each villa has its own design, creating a unique lifestyle in a vibrant and integrated environment. As such, beneficiaries can enjoy a wide range of products to suit their needs.

More details of the units are posted on the Sakani website and application.

The NHC is an enabler of the real estate development sector. It is also the largest developer of suburbs and residential areas. Ensuring quality of life is one of the aims the company seeks to achieve, in addition to increasing the real estate supply in the Kingdom and providing diverse housing options as part of the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program, which plans to raise the rate of residential ownership among Saudi families to 70 percent.


Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid University ranks among top 600 globally

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid University ranks among top 600 globally
Updated 29 September 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid University ranks among top 600 globally

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid University ranks among top 600 globally

ABHA: Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid University has improved 300 places to rank among the top 600 seats of higher learning around the world, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In the International Dimension Rankings, it ranked 117th globally and sixth locally among the top 200 international universities.

According to Hamid Al-Qarni, vice president of postgraduate studies and scientific research, the university has achieved a significant milestone and the progress is in line with the Kingdom’s plan to achieve global recognition of its universities.

Sami Al-Shehri, director of the international classification unit, said the magazine’s rankings were based on five areas: education, research environment, quality of research, international dimension and industry.

The classification also includes 18 performance indicators that are professionally evaluated to ensure a balanced ratio for all academic and research aspects of universities.

This year’s rankings covered more than 1,900 universities in 120 countries.


UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight

UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight
Updated 54 min 23 sec ago
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UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight

UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight
  • Decision seen as recognition of Kingdom’s commitment to protecting and maintaining natural ecosystems and cultural heritage
  • Inscription of the reserve on UNESCO World Heritage List comes more than 30 years after it was designated a protected zone

LONDON: Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve has become the first natural site in Saudi Arabia to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, joining the six man-made heritage locations in the Kingdom that were previously inscribed.

In the words of Prince Badr bin Abdullah, the Saudi minister of culture, when he announced the organization’s on September 20, the addition of the site “contributes to highlighting the importance of natural heritage on a global scale and reflects the outstanding value of the reserve.”

But the Kingdom’s dedication to the protection of its natural environment is far from a new phenomenon. The recognition by UNESCO reflects a long-running commitment by Saudi Arabia to the preservation of a diverse and internationally important natural environment that stretches back almost four decades.

Spanning 12,765 square kilometers, Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve lies on the western edge of the Empty Quarter, the world’s largest continuous sand sea. The desert’s diverse topography creates a variety of wildlife habitats. (Supplied)

The listing of the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve, on the edge of Rub Al-Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, comes more than 30 years after the area was designated a protected zone.

But it was not the first such site afforded protected status. That honor went to Harrat Al-Harrah, a 13,775 square kilometer volcanic plateau in the north of the country, which was designated as a reserve in 1986 — 37 years ago.

Uruq Bani Ma’arid joined the list in 1992 and since then the flora and fauna of the reserve have been sensitively reintroduced and protected, a commitment that has transformed what was once a near-barren landscape of more than 12,500 square kilometers into a haven of diversity.

In 1994, by which time 10 areas had been accorded protected status, a paper published in GeoJournal recorded the sorry state of Uruq Bani Ma’arid, an area that had once been rich in wildlife.

Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve contains habitats vital to the survival of many species. (Supplied)

It was, for example, here that the Arabian oryx, by that time extinct in the wild, had last been sighted. In fact, as the paper — titled “Protected Areas in Saudi Arabia: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources” — noted, “Uruq Bani Ma’arid used to have many animal species that are now extinct.”

The problem, which had prompted the official intervention in the area in 1992, was that the age-old balance of sustainable use of natural resources had been upset by the rapid growth of the human population in the Kingdom and the incursion of roads and other infrastructure into once-remote areas, upsetting entire ecosystems in the process.

“People still remember vividly the diversity of fauna that the area had, and the tales of their hunting are still related,” Abdullah Alwelaie, of the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University’s Department of Geography in Riyadh, wrote in the 1994 GeoJournal paper.

FASTFACT

Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve has taken its place alongside six other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia.

The slopes of Jabal Tuwayq in the west of the reserve were once home to ibex, while the wadis, desert plains and sand dunes had teemed with Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, and Arabian ostrich.

“They are now all extinct in the wild in this area,” wrote Alwelaie, who offered some consolation when he noted that some wild species continued to hold out, including the Arabian wolf, sand fox, wild cat, sand cat, and honey badger.

Almost 30 years later, many of these species and more besides are once again thriving in the reserve — and, indeed, across the other 13 reserves in Saudi Arabia. These 14 special landscapes account for about five percent of the Kingdom’s territory — a total area of more than 82,000 square kilometers.

This, however, is just a start. Under the wide-ranging Saudi Green Initiative, a “whole-of-society initiative” launched in 2021 “to combat climate change, improve quality of life and protect the planet for future generations” as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, Saudi Arabia has pledged to protect 30 percent of its terrestrial and marine landscape by 2030. The initiative is also committed to planting 10 billion trees across the country in the coming decades.

In the meantime, Uruq Bani Ma’arid has taken its place among the six other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia. These include the Hegra Archaeological Site in AlUla (which was the first to be inscribed, in 2008), At-Turaif District in Diriyah (added to the list in 2010), Historic Jeddah, Gateway to Makkah (2014), Rock Art in the Hail Region (2015), Al-Ahsa Oasis — An Evolving Cultural Landscape (2018), and Ḥima Cultural Area (2021).

In January this year, Saudi Arabia was elected chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee by a unanimous vote among the 20 other member states that are party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

This month, Riyadh hosted the 45th annual session of the committee. It was, as the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to UNESCO tweeted, “a new chapter in our evolving history.”

The extent to which Saudi Arabia is focused on its natural and cultural heritage, which is apparent in its careful development of historic sites as AlUla and Diriyah as global tourism destinations, is also reflected in the list of 14 sites that have been registered on UNESCO’s “Tentative List” of locations that states intend to consider for nomination to the main list.

Six of these sites were added to the Tentative List this year alone. They include a collection of prehistoric stone structures discovered at 10 locations across the Kingdom; ancient dams that tell the history of water management; a collection of five sites that together are representative of Saudi Arabia’s oil-industrial heritage, including the famous “Well Number 7” in Dammam, and Tapline, Aramco’s 1,648-kilometer Trans Arab Pipeline that between 1950 and 1976 carried oil from Qaisumah on the Gulf coast to the Mediterranean port of Sidon in Lebanon.

Two of the recently submitted sites, however, could join the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve as natural sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

One is the “Bioclimatic Refugia of Western Arabia,” a series of mountain crests, woodlands and wetlands that harbor the surviving relics of ancient plant and animal species.

The other is “the rural cultural landscapes of the Sarawat Mountains,” a collection of seven landscapes along the southernmost stretch of the Hijaz Mountains, prized for their “unique geographic characteristics and dramatic mountain setting (which) offered a secure and defensible environment for human settlement, protected agriculture, and fortified trade halts.”

These projects feed directly into the ambitious aims of the SGI, the third annual forum of which will take place this year during the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, at Expo City in Dubai on Dec. 4.

As Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund and chairman of Saudi Aramco, said last year during the second SGI forum, held during COP27 in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, the initiative represents “a turning point in green efforts” that has “already changed both the conversation and the facts, and promises a green future anchored around Saudi Arabia’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, turning national ambitions into real actions that positively impact the world.”

On the ground in Saudi Arabia, that ambition is symbolized by the rapidly growing and spectacular list of protected environments, including its newly internationally recognized flagship, the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve.

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Saudi Arabia strongly condemns ‘cowardly terrorist attacks’ in Pakistan

Saudi Arabia strongly condemns ‘cowardly terrorist attacks’ in Pakistan
Updated 43 min 8 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia strongly condemns ‘cowardly terrorist attacks’ in Pakistan

Saudi Arabia strongly condemns ‘cowardly terrorist attacks’ in Pakistan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday said it strongly condemned and denounced the “cowardly terrorist attacks” that struck a number of provinces in Pakistan, killing and injuring several people.

A suspected suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of people celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing at least 52 people and wounding nearly 70 others, authorities said, in one of the country’s deadliest attacks targeting civilians in months.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s firm stance on renouncing violence and terrorism, expressing full solidarity with Pakistan and its people.

The ministry expressed the Kingdom’s sincere condolences to the families of the victims, the Pakistani government and people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery, it said in a statement.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Mastung, a district of Baluchistan province.

The second attack, in neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed five people at a mosque, according to rescue officials. The roof collapsed trapping about 30 to 40 people under the rubble.

The attack involved two explosions, one of which was at the mosque gate and the other in the compound, an official said.

(With AP and Reuters)


Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris

Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris
Updated 29 September 2023
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Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris

Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris
  • Representatives from member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions and global experts attended the seminar
  • Princess Reema bint Bandar said Saudi Arabia is becoming the fastest-growing economy among the G20 countries

PARUS: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Riyadh Expo 2030 team co-organized a seminar focusing on the expo’s sub-theme “Prosperity for All” on Thursday in Paris.
Representatives from member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions and global experts attended the seminar that was hosted by RCRC, the body responsible for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030, according to a media statement.
The Kingdom’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar said her country is becoming the fastest-growing economy among the G20 members, with non-oil government revenues having more than doubled.
“The Kingdom achieved the highest employment rate in its history, increased participation of women in the workforce, and registered a significant growth of small and medium enterprises, with nearly 40 percent of startup businesses owned by women,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fahad Al-Ruwaily, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to France, highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to finding common solutions, stating: “As we seek to find shared solutions, today I want to pledge to you that Saudi Arabia is committed to working together as a partner with all nations to achieve our common aspirations. We are committed to utilizing Riyadh Expo 2030 to further catalyze (the) collaboration necessary to achieve our shared goals.
“We are committed to sharing the opportunities of building the expo with the whole world, and our vision of Riyadh Expo 2030 is as an expo ‘built by the world, for the world.’”
Al-Ruwaily highlighted the strength of cooperation and partnership between Saudi Arabia and France and the broad development it has witnessed in recent years.
The seminar was part of a series organized by the RCRC in Paris under the theme “Prosperity for All.”
It discussed ways to address inequalities in the world, with every nation contributing through the prism of its culture, context, and aspirations, ultimately working toward a more inclusive world that meets the needs of humanity.