RIYADH, 5 June 2006 — A group of 15 Harley motorcycle owners left Riyadh at the weekend for Ireland via nine countries. On their way, they will promote Saudi Arabia as “The Kingdom of Humanity” standing for peace and against terrorism.
The motor cyclists — all members of the Harley Owners’ Group (HOG) — set out from the Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel on the first leg of a trip that will take them some 8,000 km. En route they will experience different climates — from soaring desert temperatures to the wet and cold of western European countries.
The riders left in the presence of the ambassadors of Ireland and Greece, the British consul and the deputy chief of mission of the Turkish Embassy.
According to Marwan Al-Mutlaq, director of HOG (Riyadh Chapter) and the team leader, their mission is self-supporting. “We received great support and encouragement from Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism. Also, the Presidency of Youth Welfare headed by Prince Sultan ibn Fahd has provided moral support which is very important to us. Prince Muhammad ibn Nawaf, the Saudi ambassador to the UK and Ireland, also offered his support.”
The group aims to organize a national rally next year to focus attention on scenic spots in the Kingdom. “It is important to put our tourist spots on the world map,” Al-Mutlaq said.
The group, he pointed out, has been engaged in meticulous planning for nine months with team members working out the details of the trip, including accommodation, logistics and the cost per head. “This is not something for young people only. It is for all mature people, as long as they are fit to ride a bicycle. It then becomes easy to ride a motorcycle and enjoy the fun of speeding on a powerful machine,” he said.
Spelling out the objective of the mission, Amer Al-Khaldi, activities officer for HOG and coordinator of the trip, said: “The objective of the trip is to show the world that Saudi Arabia is a peaceful country. That’s why we have named it ‘The Kingdom of Humanity.’”
