Faces of Saudi: Arab News project profiling inspirational women in Saudi Arabia

FacesOfSaudi.com features portraits and profiles of inspiring Saudi women from a wide range of backgrounds who defy Western society’s stereotypes. (Arab News)
Short Url
Updated 08 March 2020
Follow

Faces of Saudi: Arab News project profiling inspirational women in Saudi Arabia

  • FacesOfSaudi.com is an expansion of Arab News’ popular weekly feature The Face.

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Arab News, Saudi Arabia’s English-language daily, is launching a special website that celebrates successful Saudi women.

FacesOfSaudi.com features portraits and profiles of inspiring Saudi women from a wide range of backgrounds who defy Western society’s stereotypes. 

“Saudi society is one that may still remain a mystery to some, but through this series I shed light on successful Saudi women in their homes, with their families,” said Rawan Radwan, a Saudi journalist with Arab News and the paper’s regional correspondent. “This series shows the world just who they are and their drive behind their success.” 

FacesOfSaudi.com is an expansion of Arab News’ popular weekly feature The Face. “It was a wonderful experience being part of The Face, specifically the photography aspect where we were in our natural environment and not staged,” said fitness entrepreneur Fatima Batook. “To be among many women who make a positive impact in their communities is an honor. So proud that it still continues.”

FacesOfSaudi.com is the latest in a series of initiatives in keeping with the news organization’s mandate as “the voice of a changing region.” 

“Arab News has been a champion of Saudi women as they step into their rightful place in society under the reforms of Vision 2030, including a 50/50 gender-balance target in our newsrooms,” Radwan said. “FacesOfSaudi.com is one of the best expressions of what we do: Pulling the veil off the world’s misconceptions of the Kingdom.”

Among our first Faces are research scientist Dr. Yasmin Altwaijri, UN diplomat Basma Alshaalan and Dina Alfaris, cofounder of the first Saudi caviar farm and founder of the Qamrah fashion brand. “I remind myself and all women to own our aspirations, believe in our power to live up to our potential with confidence, and enjoy the purposeful world,” Alfaris said. “We are ready to embrace ambition.”

Faces of Saudi will have its own pages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where users can interact and share these fascinating and true stories of successful women from the Kingdom.

Follow Faces of Saudi on social media:

Twitter.com/facesofsaudi
Instagram.com/facesofsaudi
Facebook.com/facesofsaudi


Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal speaks with Iranian acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal speaks with Iranian acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani

  • Kani has been the acting foreign minister since last week, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday.

During the call, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Kani discussed relations between the two countries, ways to enhance them, and regional and international developments, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Kani has been the acting foreign minister since last week, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash, which also killed President Ebrahim Raisi.


Saudi crown prince receives written message from Somali president

Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati receives the message from the Somali president’s special envoy Mahmoud Jeely.
Updated 6 min 21 sec ago
Follow

Saudi crown prince receives written message from Somali president

  • The message was received on behalf of the crown prince by Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message from Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concerning bilateral relations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The message was received on behalf of the crown prince during a meeting between the Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati and the president’s special envoy Mahmoud Tahir Jeely.

During the reception, bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in all fields were reviewed. Topics of common interest were also discussed.


Critically ill Saudi citizen evacuated from Budapest

A Saudi citizen is evacuated from Budapest after he became critically ill. (SPA)
Updated 30 May 2024
Follow

Critically ill Saudi citizen evacuated from Budapest

  • A Saudi citizen has also gone missing in Egypt and security services are looking for him, embassy says

RIYADH: A Saudi citizen was evacuated from Budapest and flown back to the Kingdom after he became critically ill, Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Hungary reported on Wednesday.

The evacuation was organized in coordination with the Ministry of Health and under the supervision of the Kingdom’s envoy to Hungary Majed bin Abdulaziz Al-Abdan.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s embassy in Cairo issued a statement on Thursday regarding the disappearance of Saudi citizen Hattan bin Ghazi Shata.

The embassy confirmed Egyptian security services continue to search for Shata in coordination with his family, and that the embassy is following his case closely.


Saudi has Hollywood’s attention, says Fame’s founder Sheeraz Hasan

Updated 16 min 16 sec ago
Follow

Saudi has Hollywood’s attention, says Fame’s founder Sheeraz Hasan

  • ‘The buzz is Saudi,’ says media consultant
  • Crown prince's contribution to 'buzz' is praised by CEO

RIYADH: The development of the entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia has the full attention of Hollywood's executives, says Sheeraz Hasan, the founder and CEO of Fame by Sheeraz, a Hollywood-based advisory firm.

The latest guest on “The Mayman Show” by Arab News is no stranger to this region, and said: “The trend right now is Saudi Arabia. I keep hearing about Saudi Arabia, agents, managers, publicists, celebrities.

“The buzz is Saudi. So I’m out here right now. I’ve been invited by a lot of good people out here in the region.”

 

 

Hasan said that from his past experiences the Kingdom was not part of the conversation in Hollywood as a destination.

However, he added: “Now, because of the leadership and the vision of what they’re doing in Saudi Arabia, it’s hitting the boardrooms of Netflix, Apple, Disney, Hulu, all the biggest top agencies, companies, and brands.”

He added that while Hollywood was on pause because of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, Saudi’s industries were thriving and had nothing but greener pastures ahead.

 

 

Hasan recalled that when he used to speak of the benefits of Dubai, he was met with resistance from agents, managers and decision-makers.

Now, he said: “I tell the management that stars are telling the agencies ‘I need to get out in Saudi Arabia because of the massive projects.’

“You’ve had some of the biggest events that have happened in entertainment and sports. It’s shocked the world.”

 

 

He added that these projects and the talent in the Kingdom have shown a great time can be had, and money is there to be made.

He said: “When you see all of this right now, you aren’t getting that in the US.

“The word of mouth is out there and when you’re having some of the top female talent influencers and so forth talking about it, then of course brands want to come here; companies want to come here. You’re talking about a 40-plus million market that is such a fantastic market.”

He added that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had created “FOMO” (fear of missing out) moments that had benefited the Kingdom.

 

 

Hasan said: “Man, I love him. He’s Mr. FOMO. He creates so much excitement on the vision of building this.

“I’ve been in boardrooms and Hollywood and, like, flicking that thing thinking, ‘OMG, what is going on here? We are totally missing the boat here. We have got to get on’.”

Hasan and his team have been recognized multiple times for their media strategies, such as at the Agility Awards for Media Personality of the Year, and at the Virtuzone Awards where they took the honor for Media and Communications Company of the Year.

 

 

Hasan has worked with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Logan Paul, Zendaya, Paris Hilton and Ricky Martin.

Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra have said that the most successful content coming out of the region is made in Saudi, and added that it was time for Fame to educate Hollywood about the beauty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

 


Saudi foreign minister praises China’s support for Gaza ceasefire efforts

Updated 30 May 2024
Follow

Saudi foreign minister praises China’s support for Gaza ceasefire efforts

  • Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave

BEIJING: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday praised China’s support for efforts to end the war on Gaza and push for the two-state solution.

In his address at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave.

He called for deeper cooperation to establish a reliable and irreversible path to the two-state solution, noting that constant dialogue is crucial for achieving regional peace.

He rejected foreign interference in the Middle East and called for efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the region.

China hosted a summit on Thursday focusing on the Israel-Hamas war in which Chinese President Xi Jinping promised more humanitarian aid in Gaza and called for an international peace conference.

The summit, attended by heads of state from Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Tunisia among others, was set to address China’s expanding trade ties and security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war.