Candles and potions: Saudi entrepreneurs mix it up with passion

Mawadda Al-Surehi’s brand Agape & Co. offers organic oils, incense, and more. (Instagram/agapendco)
Mawadda Al-Surehi’s brand Agape & Co. offers organic oils, incense, and more. (Instagram/agapendco)
Short Url
Updated 27 August 2024
Follow

Candles and potions: Saudi entrepreneurs mix it up with passion

Mawadda Al-Surehi’s brand Agape & Co. offers organic oils, incense, and more. (Instagram/agapendco)
  • Products bring joy and calm to people’s lives

RIYADH: From whimsical and fragrant candles to oils and sage, small business entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia are boosting the market with products that bring joy and calm to people’s lives.

Their journeys showcase the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit which is thriving as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

In 2021, from a modest room in Saudi Arabia, one woman embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with no initial capital and only a dream.




Glowr was born out of Atheer Al-Harbi’s desire to create healthier candle options. (Instagram/glowrr.sa)

Mawadda Al-Surehi’s brand Agape & Co. offers organic oils, candles, incense and high-quality gemstones, and is driven by her resilience and innovative spirit.

“My interest in candle making was sparked by my love for crafting and the satisfaction of creating products,” she told Arab News. “My passion for blending scents and creating unique designs led me to start my business.”

Al-Surehi’s journey began with a single candle made on a portable stove. As a self-taught candlemaker, she credits online courses and hands-on experience for pushing her forward.




Al-Surehi meticulously sources products with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials. (Supplied)

She added: “I always dreamed of offering something I have full faith in.”

Her brand’s rise started in a modest room at home and, by 2024, she had a registered trademark, a warehouse, staff, and a factory partnership.

Reflecting on her career, Al-Surehi said: “I’m not going to lie, I faced a lot of challenges, including keeping the handmade spirit of the products. It’s not easy at all to produce a large quantity where every piece has been overseen by me.”




Despite the challenges of selling scents online, Al-Harbi remains steadfast in conveying the product’s essence. (Supplied)

Al-Surehi meticulously sources products with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials.

This included partnering with an organic oils farm in Hungary. “It was a dream come true,” she said, as it allowed her to ensure that every product is made with top-notch organic oils.

She added: “I have always been fascinated by gemstones and their healing properties.”

Like many small business owners in Saudi Arabia and around the world, social media has proved to be a potent platform for marketing products and growing a loyal customer base. Agape’s Instagram, which boasts more than 7,500 followers, provides an album of photographs to introduce its products to new and old customers.

Al-Surehi is looking forward to the future at Agape, and adds that she never stops planning and thinking about the company.

She said: “I literally think about it around the clock. There will always be new products and collections.”

She is not alone in the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Saudi Arabia, and there are other stories unfolding parallel to her own.

Glowr was born out of Atheer Al-Harbi’s desire to create healthier candle options. “The frequent headaches from conventional candles pushed me to explore organic alternatives,” Al-Harbi told Arab News.

This led to the creation of scented, eco-friendly candles. Despite the challenges of selling scents online, Al-Harbi remains steadfast in conveying the product’s essence.

She added: “I believe in connecting with customers through storytelling and providing samples to help them choose the right fragrance.”

Abaq started as a creative endeavor to create personalized gifts, and has grown into a business propelled by positive feedback. Its founder reflected: “Finding affordable raw materials was tough, but perseverance and creativity kept us going.”

Embracing platforms like TikTok has been a pivotal marketing strategy, allowing the brand to showcase its products to large audiences. “Understanding our customers and pricing competitively is key to our success,” its founder added.

Bassam Al-Ghamdi’s Shiro Studio began as a family project with a vision to create meaningful and joyful products, and now sells soy candles and home accessories like cups and cup holders. “Our inspiration comes from nature and culture, and we continually seek to refine our craft,” Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.

Despite the challenges of sourcing quality materials, local resources like beeswax have been utilized in an innovative way.

Al-Ghamdi added: “Staying updated on market trends and adapting to them is crucial.”

The business has plans to expand both locally and internationally, and with nearly 8,000 followers on Instagram it has tapped into the power of social media to uplift the brand.


Saudi Arabia participates in G7 health ministers’ meeting in Italy

Saudi Arabia participates in G7 health ministers’ meeting in Italy
Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

Saudi Arabia participates in G7 health ministers’ meeting in Italy

Saudi Arabia participates in G7 health ministers’ meeting in Italy

ANCONA: Saudi Arabia took part in a meeting of health ministers in Ancona, Italy, focusing on global health priorities this week at the invitation of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.

Topics included antimicrobial resistance, the intersection of health and climate, and prolonging human life, all aimed at strengthening international efforts to tackle these challenges, Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Rakan bin Khalid bin Duhaish, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation, who was representing the Saudi delegation, emphasized the urgent need to address antimicrobial resistance, calling for increased international collaboration.

He also announced that the Kingdom would host the fourth high-level ministerial conference on antimicrobial resistance in Jeddah on Nov. 15 and 16.

Duhaish further highlighted the impact of climate change on public health, stressing the Kingdom's commitment to working with global partners to enhance the resilience of health systems.

Saudi Arabia’s participation at the G7 underscores its pivotal role in shaping global health strategies and reflects international trust in its initiatives to promote public health and health security worldwide.


Saudi Arabia leads Arab environmental talks in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia leads Arab environmental talks in Jeddah
Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

Saudi Arabia leads Arab environmental talks in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia leads Arab environmental talks in Jeddah
  • The Kingdom’s hosting of these meetings highlights “its leading role in promoting joint Arab environmental action at national, regional and international levels”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will host the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment from Oct. 13 to 17 in Jeddah.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with the Arab League.

The agenda for the 35th session includes discussions on environmental challenges and nature-based solutions, the implementation of decisions taken in previous sessions, and international environmental agreements.

It will also address Arab cooperation on desertification, biodiversity and climate issues, cooperation with the G20 Global Land Initiative, progress on the Middle East Green Initiative, Arab participation in the COP16 conference in Riyadh, and various environmental topics submitted by participating countries.

The Kingdom’s hosting of these meetings highlights “its leading role in promoting joint Arab environmental action at national, regional and international levels,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

 


Saudi Arabia expands cloud seeding for water security

Saudi Arabia expands cloud seeding for water security
Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

Saudi Arabia expands cloud seeding for water security

Saudi Arabia expands cloud seeding for water security
  • New aircraft and tech aim to enhance rainfall, sustainability, combat drought

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli launched new programs in Dammam on Saturday, focusing on localizing knowledge, aircraft, and advanced technologies for the Regional Cloud Seeding Program.

The event highlighted the program’s achievements since its first phase in 2022 and introduced new aircraft and technologies for rain enhancement, soon to be operational.

These advancements aim to strengthen technical and human capacities, in line with the Saudi and Middle East Green initiatives for sustainability.

Al-Fadhli, chairman of the National Center of Meteorology, emphasized that the program aims to develop local expertise, ensure sustainability, expand coverage, and enhance cloud seeding efficiency.

The program also focuses on reducing aircraft operating costs and increasing the effectiveness of cloud seeding operations.

Ayman Ghulam, CEO of the National Center of Meteorology and general supervisor of the program, stressed that the program is crucial for water security and natural resource sustainability by utilizing global technologies to improve climate conditions and rainfall.

Ghulam noted significant milestones, including the first rain-seeking flight in April 2022, and ongoing research to optimize weather elements in Saudi Arabia, complementing the Saudi and Middle East Green initiatives.

Ayman Al-Bar, executive director of the program, reviewed its objectives, progress, and research, highlighting the impact on water content and vegetation cover.

The program has completed six phases, with 444 flights and over 1,400 flight hours, deploying 8,753 rain-seeding flares to generate 5 billion cubic millimeters of rainfall.

Launched as an outcome of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit, the program aims to increase rainfall, expand vegetation cover, and address climate challenges, desertification, and drought. Initial operations began in Riyadh, Hail and Qassim.


Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet in Islamabad

Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet in Islamabad
Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet in Islamabad

Saudi, Pakistani ministers meet in Islamabad
  • Khalid Al-Falih also met Gen. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed, the Pakistani chief of army staff

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih recently held meetings with Pakistani Minister of Finance Mohammed Aurangzeb; Minister of Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik; and Minister of Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, during an official visit to Pakistan.

During the meetings, all sides discussed opportunities to enhance bilateral relations “and ways to develop qualitative investments,” Al-Falih wrote on X on Saturday.

He also met Gen. Syed Asim Munir Ahmed, the Pakistani chief of army staff.

“I expressed my gratitude of the warm welcome and hospitality we received,” Al-Falih added.

 


King Salman, crown prince congratulate Spanish monarch on national day

King Salman, crown prince congratulate Spanish monarch on national day
Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

King Salman, crown prince congratulate Spanish monarch on national day

King Salman, crown prince congratulate Spanish monarch on national day
  • Oct. 12 is also commonly referred to as the Dia de la Hispanidad

RIYADH: King Salman sent a cable of congratulations on Saturday to King Felipe VI of Spain on his country's National Day, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The king wished the Spanish monarch continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of Spain steady progress and prosperity, SPA added.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a similar cable to King Felipe.

The National Day of Spain is a national holiday held annually on Oct. 12 and is also commonly referred to as the Dia de la Hispanidad, commemorating Spanish legacy worldwide, especially in Hispanic America.

On Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged the international community to stop selling weapons to Israel as he condemned attacks by Israeli armed forces against the United Nations’ peacekeeping force in Lebanon.