One of a long string of such programs, each year Saudi Aramco turns innovative ideas into entertaining realities that capitalize on earlier successes and combine them with information important to everyone.
One of the biggest hits with the younger crowd is an arena-sized, air-conditioned tent capable of holding two football games at the same time. The big draw, however, is the addition of professional trainers from British football powerhouse Arsenal who put youngsters through a series of free classes followed by competitions with other young players in the program. You might be reminded of the World Cup, but organizers ask that you leave the vuvuzela horns at home.
Nearby, the company is preparing the site for the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture, which will be a repository for the arts and history upon completion in the coming years, but right now, Arts Tents in the Exhibit parking lot give you a head start on art appreciation.
Some of the world’s most famous calligraphers are not only displaying their work, but they are actually on site showing visitors how it is done. Artists from Europe, Asia and the Gulf are demonstrating a variety of disciplines and techniques. An adjoining tent house a photography exhibit and some photography classes are being offered along with painting, drawing and pottery workshops.
In another tent, curious youngsters can team up to help with the construction of a model city done in the same way the company would build one of its world-class megaprojects. Suited up in hardhats and high-visibility work vests, kids load up wheelbarrows with plastic bricks and other building materials to ferry them around the well-supervised construction site. They have to obey traffic signals and regulations and maintain safe practices — one of the company’s highest priorities — at all times. It is not a boys-only activity; many young ladies are taking part and having a great time showing just what girl power can do.
In another tent, kids and adults can play a variety of games from ping-pong to air hockey and a soccer accuracy game. The tent also features one of the longest table-soccer tables you are ever likely to see.
Although there are no shortage of fun and games, it is not all fun and games. In a Wellness section, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization health professionals are on hand to conduct a variety of testing from simple height and weight to blood-pressure and blood sugar-testing. Other topics from nutrition to personal hygiene also are presented in an informative and entertaining manner.
Traffic safety should be the concern of everyone in Saudi Arabia, and a Traffic Safety Tent shows videos designed to make brash drivers think twice before engaging in vehicular tomfoolery. Families also can see a variety of child safety seats at the tent and even insert their little habibis and habibtis in them to try them on for size. You can also learn how to read the codes on your tires to ensure that your family car is rolling along on good rubber.
Meanwhile, back at the Exhibit Theater, you can attend the lectures on the soon-to-be-launched Saher Traffic Program. Every Tuesday Lt. Col. Mohsin Al-Zahrani of the Traffic Department presents the salient features of the new system. The program is presented in Arabic; however, Al-Zahrani brings a colleague who translates everything to English for the benefit of non-Arabic speakers. They explain how the new traffic management system will be run, how will it be implemented and how it is going to affect traffic safety. The program is conducted in the theater at the exhibit. On other evenings of the week, cartoons and animated features run for the younger set.
Not convinced yet? Don’t forget the Saudi Aramco Exhibit with its Aquarium and many displays explaining both the history of the Kingdom’s oil bounty and the nitty-gritty of the oil business from drilling and refining to shipping product around the globe.
It literally takes an army to host such a huge event, and Public Relations Department Manager Emad Dughaither explained that this army is an all-volunteer force.
“We needed 150 volunteers, so we started registering them on the Web. We received more than 650 applications in the first few hours from anybody who is 16-plus. And then we had to stop at 650 because people were continuing to register,” said Dughaither. “The majority of those who were selected were youngsters.”
These volunteers come from all over the Eastern Province, and 50 percent of them are women. They are not doing menial tasks. They are actually taking a key part in the activities. The idea behind volunteerism is to give young people a chance to learn new skill-sets. “Saudi Aramco wants to encourage the spirit of volunteerism as an important way of disseminating awareness, love for community and patriotism,” said Dughaither.
If you get to Dhahran after dark, you probably won’t have too much trouble finding the place as searchlights sweep the skies, but there is a map and directions on the website for the less adventurous. So if the family needs some fun, the Summer 10 Program is a great way to beat the summer blahs and replace them with lots of oohs and ahhs. In case you are not located in the Eastern Province, Saudi Aramco hosts summer activities across the country in Riyadh, Buraidah, Jeddah and other places.
