DALLAS: When we think of Saudi Arabia and its people, humor most likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Middle East Institute in Dallas proved that the country is in love with humor and comedy.
The institute sponsored a free one-hour touring show at the Magnolia Hotel Wednesday night featuring three Saudi comedians: Yaser Bakr, who founded Saudi Arabia’s first comedy club, Shak and Khaliv Kalifa.
The event opened with Kalifa, whose set consisted mostly of observational humor based on his experiences in Saudi Arabia and the United States, where he was born and lived for a while, while Shak performed a comedy routine in which he mocked racism in a way that appealed to the audience.
Yaser Bakr closed out the evening with a comedy performance that was rewarded with a big round of applause.
The Middle East Institute in Dallas pointed out that 70 percent of the Saudi people are below the age of 30, and are subscribed to comedy websites and platforms, which makes them tops among Arabs who most seek humor and comedy.
The Saudi comedians told the institute that comedy has helped them freely criticize their society.
Little Farm: A countryside escape in the heart of Jeddah
The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time
Updated 57 min 43 sec ago
Nada Hameed
During weekends, I always like to take my 18-month-old son somewhere that stimulates his senses and curiosity. While searching for family-friendly farms in Jeddah, I discovered Little Farm, located in the Al-Manarat district. With a 4.2 rating, it seemed like a convenient nearby option.
My first impression upon entering was very positive. The venue also hosts children’s themed parties, and the cashier explained the available activities, which cater to children as young as one year old. Visitors can access the animal farm area starting from SR39 for both adults and children.
Older children can participate in interactive experiences such as goat milking, which is offered for an additional fee. Visitors can also explore dedicated rabbit and cat halls, both available at an extra charge. These halls allow children to interact with animals from various breeds in a safe environment, under the supervision of trained animal specialists. Another section of the venue is the vertical farm zone, where families can explore hanging fruits and vegetables and learn about modern farming methods.
I purchased tickets for the animal farm and paid an additional SR25 for a basket of animal feed, which included cattle feed, bird food, clover, grains and lettuce. Visitors can keep the reusable straw basket for future visits. The dark brown basket with a blue base adds to the countryside aesthetic. The farm opens daily to visitors at 4:30 p.m.
A toddler gets a close encounter with a goat at the Little Farm. (AN photo by Nada Hameed)
The maze-like entrance creates the atmosphere of a secret garden. Visitors are first greeted by a group of large turkeys, loudly announcing their presence. I quickly moved toward the duck pond, as ducks are my son’s favorite birds. We enjoyed feeding them lettuce by the water. Both the ducks and the pond were clean, and the experience was enjoyable enough that my son wanted to stay there for the rest of the visit.
We then moved to the turtle enclosure, where the animals appeared active and eager to be fed. In the goat section, children were allowed to hold a baby goat, which quickly became a highlight for many families. We also fed goats and sheep, the farm indeed provided an engaging and educational experience for children. Ponies, cows, donkeys and geese were also there.
The farm provides a pleasant setting for capturing memorable photos, especially when children encounter farm animals for the first time. The reactions are truly priceless.
The animal shelters were clean and spacious, and the farm offers a good variety of animals. Staff members were helpful and welcoming, and overall prices were reasonable for the experience offered. For more information, check the farm’s Instagram account @littlefarmksa.
