Three talented women have won brand-new cars in a contest held by Hyundai to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s female motorists.
The Kona Color Drive competition invited women to create customized exterior designs for the stylish sub-compact SUV.
“To celebrate the recent ruling that permits women in the Kingdom to drive, Hyundai decided to work with its official distributors in Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh to give away a brand-new car,” said Mike Song, head of Hyundai Middle East and Africa.
“We received many wonderful entries and wish to thank everyone who took the time to produce them, plus the distributors whose support helped to make this promotion such a remarkable success. The Kingdom is clearly awash with artistic talent.”
The Hyundai Kona is a stylish premium sub-compact SUV that was launched in the Saudi market earlier this year. For their chance to win one, women logged into a campaign microsite equipped with digital “paint” and graphic design tools. After viewing a short video highlighting the Kona’s key features, entrants were tasked with flexing their creative muscles to come up with a colorful bodywork look by selecting shades, special effects, and various pen, brush, and spray tools. Entries were shortlisted by Hyundai product design experts, who deferred to the marque’s three official distributors to make the final decision. They looked for designs that were creative and well balanced, and their adaptability to the 3D Kona bodywork.
Salma Ahmad Mahmoud, the overall winner, was handed keys to her new Kona. The Saudi national, who lives in Jeddah, impressed the judges with her red and black design, its boldness softened with a white floral pattern. The first runner-up was fellow Saudi national Sara Ahmed, from Dammam. Her entry featured an ombre-effect background of pinks and purples adorned with geometric patterns. Also opting for a girly theme, this time rose and white, was Riyadh resident Hajjer Al-Hanini.
Ahmed and Al-Hanini received 25 and 10 percent respectively off the price of a new Kona, or equivalent-value discount off a different Hyundai model of their choice. All three winners were honored on Dec. 23 in a ceremony at Park Hyatt Jeddah’s Lazurde Ballroom. Each finalist’s work is also on display at her respective region’s showroom and was exhibited at the Saudi International Motor Show, which ran from Dec. 16 to 20 at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events.
The campaign ran from Sept. 23 to Nov. 25. More than 230,000 people visited the competition web pages and 6,134 from across the Kingdom submitted artwork.
Saudi women win new Hyundai Kona SUVs
Saudi women win new Hyundai Kona SUVs
Petromin Nissan celebrates decade of partnership excellence in Kingdom
Petromin Nissan recently hosted an event to celebrate 10 years of partnership with Nissan, marking a decade since Petromin was appointed as the official Nissan dealer in Saudi Arabia. The milestone reflects a partnership shaped by trust, consistent performance, and a shared long-term vision that has played a meaningful role in the development of the automotive sector in the Kingdom.
The event highlighted Petromin Nissan’s continued confidence in the Saudi market, demonstrated by the attendance of senior leadership from Nissan Global, the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom was reaffirmed as one of Nissan’s most important growth markets in the region, in line with the company’s global focus on innovation, sustainability, and intelligent mobility.
The celebration was attended by a number of senior industry and business leaders, including Sheikh Amr Al-Dabbagh, chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group, reflecting the significance of the partnership and its broader impact on the Kingdom’s automotive and business landscape.
As part of its performance over the past year, Petromin Nissan had been awarded two Awards of Excellence from Nissan Global, recognizing operational strength and overall business performance, and reinforcing its standing as one of Nissan’s leading partners worldwide.
Paddy Magee, managing director of Petromin Nissan, said: “Over the past 10 years, Petromin’s priority has been to build a business that puts the customer first while fully reflecting Nissan’s global standards. Through expanding our network, strengthening our service capabilities, and investing in our people, we have focused on creating sustainable value for the Saudi market.”
Adib Takieddine, managing director of Nissan Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia continues to be a strategic market for Nissan. Our partnership with Petromin has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in the Kingdom, supporting growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, and advancing our long-term vision for mobility in alignment with Vision 2030.”
Over the decade, Petromin Nissan significantly expanded its footprint across the Kingdom, now operating 18 showrooms and 16 service centers in 11 cities, improving accessibility and delivering a more seamless customer experience nationwide.
Reflecting on the broader partnership, Terence Byrne, CEO of National Motor Company, said: “Reaching this milestone is a clear reflection of a partnership built on shared values and long-term commitment. Petromin Nissan has established a strong platform in Saudi Arabia and continues to deliver real impact for customers and the wider automotive ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Petromin Nissan reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Saudi market, with continued focus on innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and customer-centric mobility as the partnership moves into its next phase.
