JEDDAH: A Saudi relationship manager has designed a mobile app that allows food to be delivered to people in need, including Syrian refugees living in camps in Lebanon and Turkey.
Western region manager Fahad bin Thabit, 34, described his YummCloud app as a “sharing economy” platform.
After working with app developers from India, Ukraine and the US, Thabit launched the platform in late April with help from the US digital agency Ingic.
YummCloud was featured in US company news, such as Cision PRWeb.
“The idea behind YummCloud was to provide home-cooked meals to the users in the most convenient way,” Cision PRWeb said.
“Developers were told to develop an open platform app that will let users buy, sell or send home-cooked meals around them. All a user has to do is to choose the food they would like to eat and get it delivered at their convenience.”
Thabit said that his brother, who lives in France, was the inadvertent inspiration behind the app.
“At that time I wanted to send him food and that was when I had the idea: Why can’t I send him local food?
“I could not find any of our local food there, and this was how the application came up. I said once I can do that, I can send food to anyone anywhere in the world — all I need to do is provide the supplier,” Thabit told Arab News.
Anyone can help communities in need via the application, he said.
Thabit said he was planning to help Syrian refugees in Turkey.
“We call these meals ‘humanitarian meals’ — all we need to do is reach them via a social network and get a supplier there. People who sympathize with the refugees — they could be 100 kilometers away or in different parts of the world — can pay online and buy meals for them.”
He said whole communities could take part in the “sharing economy.”
“For example, in Africa, there are areas that have people suffering from starvation, but there are other areas that have food supplies, so if you buy the supplies from those areas, they can import them to the starvation-stricken areas. This is what I call a sharing economy.”
The app’s international features are still under development, but are expected to launch in two years.
“We can create a market anywhere in the world. All we need to do is add a language, find a delivery company there, and if there isn’t one, people can deliver it themselves.
“We had 500 orders in the first 10 days of the launch in Saudi Arabia.”
Thabit said that transportation network company Careem was acting as a logistics partner.
“Careem have us covered everywhere — it is operating in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Egypt. Wherever Careem is present, we are there regarding delivery,” he said.
Thabit said he had agreements with delivery companies and charities in different parts of the world for YummCloud’s global transition.
The application is an efficient humanitarian platform.
“We provide a platform for everyone to help everyone,” he said.
Saudi food app is perfect recipe for people in need
Saudi food app is perfect recipe for people in need
Balad Beast brings global beats to historic streets
- ‘MDLBEAST put us on the international map,’ say Saudi electronic duo Dish Dash
JEDDAH: The music festival Balad Beast concluded its fourth edition this weekend, having transformed Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage district of Al-Balad into an open-air celebration of music, culture and creativity that attracted thousands of music lovers over two nights.
The festival, organized by Saudi music platform MDLBEAST, featured more than 70 local, regional and international artists across four stages, offering audiences a diverse journey through electronic, hip-hop and global sounds.
Speaking to Arab News, MDLBEAST chief creative officer Ahmad Al-Ammary, also known as DJ Baloo, described Balad Beast as a “cultural takeover” adding that finding the right spaces for dance floors was a challenge, “but Balad is constantly evolving and we work with that change.”
Addressing the challenges of working in a heritage area, he said: “Balad is sensitive and condensed, so logistics can be complex. In our first year, heavy rain flooded one of the planned squares and we had to relocate the Souq Stage to a much smaller space, but it worked and it has remained there ever since.
HIGHLIGHT
Reggae superstar Shaggy noted that the reality of playing live in Saudi Arabia often surprises those who arrive with preconceptions.
“Yes, the alleys are narrow and the district is old, but they’re full of ideas, patterns, colors and visuals. Everything flows here,” he continued. “As a festival, it’s hard to define Balad, because it gives so much of itself creatively. It’s incredibly generous with its ideas and details, and inspiration comes from everywhere.”
Balad Beast featured performances from international artists including US rapper Playboi Carti, making his first appearance in Saudi Arabia; US rapper Destroy Lonely; Swedish DJ and producer Alesso; and Bosnian-German DJ Solomun on the opening night. The following night saw French-Haitian singer-songwriter Naïka, reggae superstar Shaggy, Dutch DJ Franky Rizardo, British DJ Pawsa, and US rapper Tyga, and more take the stage, while Saudi and regional artists including Cosmicat, TUL8TE, Zeina, Vinyl Mode, Moayed, Dish Dash, Musab, Varoo and HiFi appeared across the festival, offering audiences a mix of global and local talent.
Saudi electronic duo Dish Dash reflected on the festival organizer’s impact for local artists.
As a festival, it’s hard to define Balad, because it gives so much of itself creatively. It’s incredibly generous with its ideas and details, and inspiration comes from everywhere.
Ahmad Al-Ammary, MDLBEAST chief creative officer
“MDLBEAST put us on the international map,” the brothers told Arab News. “It helped us get recognized by festivals, promoters and event organizers abroad. When we travel, people don’t expect this level of talent coming from Saudi Arabia, especially considering we didn’t have this scene before.”
Shaggy, who performed a hit-filled set during the festival, told Arab News: “I’ve been blessed with some incredible songs, and I see music as a gift and a tool for service. When I go on stage, I’m there to entertain people, to make them smile and feel good, but that service also supports many livelihoods from the people working at this festival to those who work with me. These songs have become part of people’s lives, and I don’t take that lightly.”
Shaggy also noted that the reality of playing live in Saudi Arabia often surprises those who arrive with preconceptions.
“I’ve performed in Saudi Arabia more than once, and while there are certain rules that are different, it’s not an issue for me. My focus is always on delivering the hits and giving the audience a great time,” he said.
“There’s a big misconception. People have more freedom than (outsiders) think. Everyone has been extremely nice.”
Asked what advice he would offer to aspiring artists, Shaggy said: “Understand that what you’re given is a gift and a form of service. Stay humble, do the work, and remember why you’re doing it.”
As Al-Ammary noted, there are many such aspiring artists now making a name for themselves in the Kingdom.
“Talent is emerging everywhere, at different levels,” he said. “The scene is still in a mysterious and surprising phase. There’s a rawness to it.”
