Nissan cars dominated last week’s Hail Nissan International Rally 2018, held under the patronage of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, governor of Hail.
Race winner Essa Al-Doussary, Nissan Saudi Arabia’s official driver, gave an unforgettable performance in his Nissan Navara at the most important motorsports event in the Kingdom.
The second stage of this year’s rally was the longest in its 13-year history, at 354 kilometers. Although Al-Doussary faced some challenges, he exerted extraordinary efforts, winning by a margin of 8 minutes and 42 seconds at the conclusion of the rally’s 168.57-kilometer final stage.
Nissan drivers claimed the top 11 places. Second was Sami Al-Shammari in his Nissan Patrol Pickup, third was Ahmed Al-Shuahil, Muteb Al-Qnoon was fourth, Ahmed Al-Shaqawi came fifth, and Muneef Al-Salmani claimed sixth place, with a time of 10 hours and 13 minutes in his Nissan Patrol Y62.
Al-Doussary said: “This is my first time participating in the Hail Rally and I hope it is the first of many more. It was such a great experience. Being able to drive one of Nissan’s super cars, the Navara, made me very happy. It was a magnificent car. I only gave it maximum output on the final stage, during which I was challenged by the navigation systems, which delayed me a bit.”
Al-Salmani commented: “The Hail Nissan Rally is a great opportunity for aspiring Saudi drivers. I am very happy to have been part of it, and I’m very impressed by the strong performance of the Nissan Y62, so I’d like to thank Nissan for supporting me and supporting the Hail drivers.”
COO of Nissan Saudi Arabia Bader Al-Houssami said: “Hail Nissan Rally has proved itself a solid motorsport platform in Saudi Arabia and we’re proud to be the title sponsor. Hail Rally is a great platform to create champions, improve tourism, and convey the safe driving message across the Kingdom. We are very proud of this year’s results, proud of our drivers growing more skillful, and we look forward to improving more in the future.”
He added: “We will continue to support Saudi drivers, Hail Festival and the Hail Nissan Rally. We also look forward to the Hail Nissan Rally being included in the FIA cross-country rally championship calendar soon.”
Nissan dominates Hail Nissan International Rally 2018
Nissan dominates Hail Nissan International Rally 2018
LuLu marks Founding Day with ‘Made in Saudi’ campaign
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources honored LuLu Hypermarket in recognition of its pivotal role as the exclusive retail partner of the “Najoud Bikhairna 2026” initiative, commending its continued efforts in supporting and empowering national industries while showcasing the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
The initiative, led by the ministry in partnership with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the Made in Saudi program, stands as a pioneering model of public-private sector collaboration in activating community-driven initiatives with sustainable impact. Through this program, more than 280,000 Saudi-made products were distributed to 10,000 families across various regions of the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan, reinforcing the presence of national products and strengthening the values of social solidarity among individuals and institutions alike.
The ministry’s recognition of LuLu Hypermarket coincided with the official launch of its Saudi Founding Day celebrations at the Dharat Laban branch in Riyadh, marked by the unveiling of a comprehensive promotional campaign dedicated to Saudi-made products. On this occasion, a wide range of special offers was introduced on local products, available across all LuLu Hypermarket branches throughout the Kingdom.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Dayel, general supervisor of the Made in Saudi program at the Saudi Export Development Authority, and Mohamed Haris, director of LuLu Saudi Arabia, alongside members of LuLu’s executive management team. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the specially designed Founding Day gateway.
Following the inauguration, guests toured several dedicated zones and exhibitions highlighting national products. The tour commenced at the grocery and “Made in Saudi” consumer goods sections, showcasing the diversity and quality of local brands. It also included the “Made in Saudi” dates pavilion, presenting a premium selection of the finest locally sourced dates in celebration of one of the Kingdom’s most iconic national symbols.
The visit continued to the fruits and vegetables section under the theme “From Our Land,” featuring an exceptional assortment of Saudi agricultural products, reflecting the richness and excellence of the local agricultural sector. Guests also explored the LuLu private label corner, which features products exclusively manufactured within the Kingdom for LuLu, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
The tour concluded with a presentation of “Made in Saudi” products within the chilled and frozen categories, underscoring the rapid growth and qualitative advancement of the Kingdom’s food manufacturing sector, and further reinforcing the strong market position and competitiveness of Saudi products.
