Sisterhood club at full throttle on the road to freedom

The Sisterhood Motorcycle Club, with its all-female membership, is at the forefront of young Saudi women discovering new freedom riding motorcycles on the streets of Riyadh. (Supplied)
The Sisterhood Motorcycle Club, with its all-female membership, is at the forefront of young Saudi women discovering new freedom riding motorcycles on the streets of Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 June 2025
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Sisterhood club at full throttle on the road to freedom

Sisterhood club at full throttle on the road to freedom
  • For many club members, motorcycles are not only a mode of transport, but also represent independence and the breaking of barriers

RIYADH: Young Saudi women are discovering a new freedom riding motorcycles on the streets of Riyadh, challenging stereotypes and fostering an empowering community.

The Sisterhood Motorcycle Club, with its all-female membership, is at the forefront of this trend.

Founded in 2022 by Capt. Saud Albarak and Roaa Talal Abualsaud, the club was born from a simple idea: to create a safe, inclusive space for women in Saudi Arabia to explore their passion for motorcycles. 

“We wanted to break stereotypes and build a strong community that supports freedom, confidence, and sisterhood on and off the road,” Abdulsaud said.

This mission resonates deeply with women who have long felt restricted by societal norms and expectations, she added. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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For many club members, motorcycles are not only a mode of transport, but also represent independence and the breaking of barriers. 

Joining the club is an opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and embrace a lifestyle that celebrates adventure and camaraderie. The club seeks to encourage women to embrace their passions, while providing a supportive network for those who seek to share this journey. 
 
Abualsaud, a dentist and proud biker, explained her motivation for co-founding Sisterhood. “I wanted to create a space where women could feel both powerful and supported,” she said.

“As someone who always seeks adventure, riding became my way of feeling free and present. Building and leading this club wasn’t just about motorcycles — it was about making a statement that women can be bold, united, and unstoppable.” 

Sisterhood membership is open to all women, regardless of their experience with motorcycles.

“Owning a bike is not required to join. We welcome women at all levels, whether you’re an experienced rider, someone considering getting a license, or simply curious about the community,” Abdulsaud said.

This inclusive approach makes it easier for women to join without feeling intimidated, fostering a sense of belonging. 




Founded in 2022 by Captain Saud Albarak and Roaa Talal Abualsaud, the club was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to create a safe, inclusive space for women in Saudi Arabia to explore their passion for motorcycles. (Supplied)

“I’ve always been passionate about adventurous hobbies. I ride horses and have loved ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) since childhood. So, when women were allowed to ride motorcycles, I jumped at the opportunity,” said club member Maisa Alhugaily.

“What drew me specifically to Sisterhood Club was the sense of community and empowerment it offers. I wanted to be part of a group that supports and uplifts women, while exploring something exciting and different.”

The club provides mentorship, safety training, and introductory riding experiences to ensure that new members can embark on their journeys with confidence. 

“What matters most is the spirit of adventure and respect for the community,” Abdulsaud said. This commitment to safety and education helps demystify the world of motorcycles, making it accessible to everyone. 

The importance of such clubs for Saudi women cannot be overstated, she believes.

“These clubs give Saudi women visibility, voice, and validation in spaces traditionally dominated by men. Riding a motorcycle in Saudi Arabia is more than a hobby — it’s a symbol of choice, strength, and movement.”

Sisterhood empowers women by offering them opportunities to lead, connect, travel, and inspire each other. 

This empowerment is crucial in a society where women are often expected to conform to traditional roles. The presence of female riders challenges stereotypes and encourages other women to explore their interests without feeling limited by societal expectations.

“It also helps normalize the presence of female riders in public, creating a ripple effect for future generations of girls to dream big without limitations,” Abdulsaud says. 




Sisterhood membership is open to all women, regardless of their experience with motorcycles. (Supplied)

Currently, Sisterhood organizes over 40 rides and has 260 active members from cities across Saudi Arabia. The community is steadily growing, with regular collaborations with riders from other Gulf countries. 

Abdulsaud said: “Sisterhood is not just a local club — it’s part of a larger movement.” This expansion reflects the increasing interest among women in pursuing activities that defy traditional gender roles. 

In addition to riding, the club engages in various events and interests that foster camaraderie and personal growth.

“We participate in local and regional motorcycle events, organize safety awareness workshops, community outreach rides, and even lifestyle gatherings like motorcycle fashion events, fitness classes, and off-road trips,” Abdulsaud said.

The wide range of activities encourages a lifestyle filled with empowerment, connection, and fun. 

Through the Sisterhood Motorcycle Club, Saudi women are not only discovering a passion for riding, but also building a supportive network that champions their dreams and aspirations. The club embodies a spirit of unity and strength, allowing women to pursue their passions unapologetically.

“We’re telling them, you have a place among us,” Abdulsaud said.

The Sisterhood Motorcycle Club is more than just a group of women who ride; it is a movement that signifies freedom, empowerment, and sisterhood. As these women continue to break barriers and redefine their roles in society, they are paving the way for future generations to ride boldly into their own destinies. 


TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art
Updated 01 July 2025
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TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art
  • Part of Culture Ministry’s use of heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art

JEDDAH: One year after its debut in Historic Jeddah, TeamLab Borderless continues to draw curious visitors into a world where digital art responds to movement, light and season.

As Saudi Arabia’s first permanent digital art museum, it has welcomed visitors from more than 25 countries — especially young people and art enthusiasts.

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

It is serving as a cultural hub that reflects their aspirations and introduces new ways of engaging with contemporary art.

The museum has an open layout allowing for exploration and engagement. The interactive artworks respond to their movements and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same.

FASTFACT

TeamLab Borderless is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s broader initiative to activate heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art.

In an interview with Arab News at the museum’s launch, Toshiyuki Inoko, TeamLab Borderless’ founder, explained the concept behind the museum, noting that “everything is in a continuous relationship.”

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

“Even though each element is independent, there are no boundaries in between, and they even influence each other,” he said.

Many of the installations reflect natural rhythms. In “Proliferating Immense Life,” for example, the flowers change with the months.

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

The “Forest of Lamps” and “Flowers in Infinite Transparency” installations also shift with the seasons, while “Memory of Topography” presents a static landscape that subtly transforms through movement.

Inoko also revealed that several artworks were developed exclusively for the Jeddah museum.

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

“(One) work that is very unique to Jeddah is the work of the staircase, where you see the cascading waterfall of sand,” he said.

“Through that sand falls, you see gigantic flowers persistently trying to grow very powerfully. They keep growing, they keep falling, and they continue that cycle forever.”

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

TeamLab Borderless is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s broader initiative to activate heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art.

These efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to empower the cultural and creative sectors and elevate the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for art and technology.

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

The museum stands as an example of this ambition, a space where art is in constant motion and where every visit becomes a unique, personal journey.

“The message that we wanted to convey to the world and the visitor is that the world itself is in a continuous relationship, and everything affects each other,” Inoko said.

 


Nationwide drive trains Saudi youth in sustainability

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
Updated 01 July 2025
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Nationwide drive trains Saudi youth in sustainability

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
  • Initiative boosts environmental awareness in 331 schools across 13 regions for a greener future

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Environment Fund has concluded its “Friends of the Environment” initiative, which benefited 13,552 students from 331 schools across 13 administrative regions.

The program aimed to raise environmental awareness among youth and was carried out in partnership with INJAZ Saudi Arabia, a nonprofit that empowers young Saudis with practical skills for the workforce.

Munir bin Fahd Al-Sahli, acting CEO of the fund, said the initiative aligns with Vision 2030 and the National Environment Strategy, which seek to enhance and sustain the environmental sector and strengthen the Kingdom’s leadership in the field. The fund plays a central role in realizing these goals.

HIGHLIGHT

Munir Al-Sahli, acting CEO of the fund, said that the project is a model of collaboration between environmental, educational, and nonprofit sectors, and reflects the fund’s goal of fostering a generation that values and protects natural resources.

More than 200 student counselors were trained to deliver the program, logging 135,520 training hours — exceeding the initial plan of 125,000 hours. The initiative also surpassed its target of reaching 12,500 students.

Al-Sahli said that while the program has met its objectives, the fund remains committed to supporting similar efforts that raise environmental awareness among youth.

He added that the project is a model of collaboration between environmental, educational, and nonprofit sectors, and reflects the fund’s goal of fostering a generation that values and protects natural resources.

The “Friends of the Environment” initiative is part of the Incentives and Grants Program, an online platform launched by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in mid-2024.

The program supports 16 tracks across various environmental fields, and applicants can apply through the Environmental Fund’s website.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia introduced a new environmental financing initiative worth SR1 billion ($267 million), backed by Riyad Bank, to boost private sector involvement in sustainable projects. It was announced by Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, who is also the chairman of the fund.

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. It forms part of a wider national strategy to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.

 


Deputy minister receives Romanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 01 July 2025
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Deputy minister receives Romanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
  • All sides discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Romanian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Separately, Al-Rassi also met Raymond Balatbatto, ambassador of the Philippines to the Kingdom.

During the meetings, all sides discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.

 


Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements

Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements
Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements

Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements
  • In its weekly session held in Jeddah, the Council of Ministers approved several global agreements

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Tuesday praised the successful delivery of this year’s Hajj season, which saw more than 1.6 million pilgrims complete their rituals smoothly, and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s global leadership in crowd management and services to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Cabinet also reviewed efforts to support pilgrims from Iran in returning home safely, following recent domestic unrest in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its weekly session held in Jeddah, the Council of Ministers welcomed messages to King Salman from the leaders of Venezuela, Vietnam, and Angola on bilateral cooperation.

It also reiterated the Kingdom’s positions on regional and global developments, reaffirming support for diplomatic solutions and condemning any violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.

The Cabinet called on the international community to end the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s war in Gaza and pressed for peace in line with international legitimacy.

It also welcomed the recent peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and voiced optimism about its potential to boost regional stability and prosperity.

Ministers noted the launch of the World Water Organization’s activities in Riyadh as further evidence of Saudi Arabia’s role in advancing global cooperation.

They also highlighted several recent international recognitions, including the Kingdom’s election as Vice-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board, its appointment to the UN’s High-Level Group for the 2030 Agenda, and the inclusion of the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Green List.

The Cabinet welcomed the IMF’s latest Article IV report, which commended the Saudi economy’s resilience amid global headwinds, citing strong non-oil growth, controlled inflation, and historically low unemployment rates — all in alignment with Vision 2030 goals.

The session also saw the approval of several international cooperation agreements. These included a draft pact with Algeria to combat organized crime, a mutual visa exemption deal with Italy for diplomatic and special passport holders, and the initiation of negotiations with Russia on a similar visa waiver agreement.

The Cabinet also endorsed a memorandum of understanding on Islamic affairs with Pakistan, an agreement with the International Consultative Group on Agricultural Research to promote innovation in Saudi Arabia’s agriculture sector, and a new partnership with Zambia in the field of mineral resources.

Saudi Arabia will also proceed with joining the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development, following Cabinet authorization.

Other decisions included renaming the Supreme National Investment Committee to the National Investment Committee at the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, approving new procedures for biometric verification of cruise ship passengers, and assigning the Ministry of Education as the supervisory authority over the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association.

The Cabinet also approved restructuring of the Insurance Disputes and Violations Resolution Committee in Dammam and reviewed the final accounts of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the General Authority for Food Security.

Several senior civil service promotions were confirmed, including appointments at the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Hajj and Umrah, Human Resources, and Municipal Affairs. Notably, Manal Radwan was promoted to Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The session ended with reviews of annual reports from the Ministry of Tourism, the National Development Fund, and the Tourism Development Fund, with the Cabinet taking the necessary actions on each.


Saudi FM receives written message from Iranian counterpart

Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi FM receives written message from Iranian counterpart

Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
  • Message was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the Kingdom

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi regarding relations between their countries.

The message was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Khuraiji and Enayati reviewed Saudi-Iranian relations and discussed topics of common interest.