Language initiative connects Saudi youth with world cultures

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The Saudi Heritage Initiative includes videos and infographics on the history of different regions of Saudi Arabia, and the most prominent historic monuments and intellectuals. (Supplied)
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Mohammed Al-Hamed, president of Saudi Elite (R) with Michael LaRiccia, executive vice president of FLS International, US, after signing a MoU in Boston.
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Updated 25 July 2020
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Language initiative connects Saudi youth with world cultures

  • Empowerment drive helps citizens find full and part-time job opportunities in govt agencies

JEDDAH: Languages play a crucial role in bridging gaps between different cultures. The internet revolution has helped transform the world into a global village in its true sense. Social media and other modes of communication have removed barriers and physical boundaries helping people connect with one another all over the world.

Such a connection also helps people understand each other and promotes harmony and tolerance. With the same purpose in mind, an initiative has been launched to connect Saudi youth with other cultures by helping them learn new languages.
As part of a series of new initiatives launched by the Saudi Elite Group Organization (SEGO), the Elite Languages Initiative was announced in cooperation with young Saudis who speak various languages, such as English, French, Spanish, and German, by publishing short videos and reports about Saudi achievements through the Elite platforms.


The SEGO is also working on several other initiatives such as the Saudi Heritage Initiative, which includes videos and infographics on the history of different regions of Saudi Arabia, and the most prominent historic monuments and intellectuals.
The Elite Cultural Council is another initiative, which hosts distinguished personalities to talk about issues related to youth empowerment and technology and how to link creative Saudi youth with global technology institutions.

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The Elite Cultural Council hosts distinguished personalities to talk about issues related to youth empowerment and technology and how to link creative Saudi youth with global technology institutions.

Mohammed Al-Hamed, the founder and president of Saudi Elite Group, told Arab News that it is a public relations organization whose first goal is to empower and train Saudi youth through the group’s partnerships with several government agencies. It helps Saudi youth find full and part-time job opportunities in government agencies.
Al-Hamed said that he established SEGO in 2018, and it is one of the Experiences PR Foundation’s initiatives for Saudi youth empowerment.
“SEGO has a larger number of social network connections that can help us access numerous high professionals in the industry, and that has helped them gain the attention of capable speakers,” he said.
Commenting on whether they offer various levels of courses in order to obtain higher language certification, Al-Hamed said that they had signed agreements with different universities and educational institutions around the world to send students to learn English, Chinese, French and Spanish, as well as some academic majors such as engineering, computer science, tourism, heritage, and hospitality.

Saudi Elite Group Organization has a larger number of social network connections that can help us access numerous high professionals in the industry, and that has helped them gain the attention of capable speakers.

Mohammed Al-Hamed, Founder and president of Saudi Elite Group

To ensure continuity, the group is keen on collaborating with government agencies to provide rehabilitation and training opportunities for Saudi youth through the group’s relations with specialized Saudi and American companies.
“Our sustainability plan depends on all the agreements we made with these agencies,” he said.
Al-Batool Al-Fayez, executive director of the group, said that the group’s goals are in line with Saudi Vision 2030 as it is creating a new concept in the field of public relations and empowering young Saudis.
Al-Hamed said: “One of the benefits of learning different languages for youth is to connect with other cultures, the thing which makes them more open-minded and tolerant of diversity. Therefore, at Elite, we stress on facilitating learning languages in different ways. With our international agreements, we can guarantee a wonderful broad scholarship journey for students.”
The Elite Group signed an agreement in May with California State University (CSU), represented by Fresno State University, to cooperate in the fields of cybersecurity, hotel management, heritage, and tourism.
The agreement includes designing and implementing advanced academic programs and special training courses for the group’s initiatives, as well as providing academic consultations and facilitating admission procedures.
The agreement also includes providing training opportunities for Saudi youth in various American companies.


Meet Rima Al-Harbi, the first Saudi female to win at the AlUla Camel Cup

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Meet Rima Al-Harbi, the first Saudi female to win at the AlUla Camel Cup

ALULA: “Our dream, as athletes, is to be able to represent our country; and for me to live my dream for my country — in my country — is the ultimate triumph,” Rima Al-Harbi told Arab News after making history this week as the first Saudi woman to win at the AlUla Camel Cup.

At last year’s inaugural competition, Al-Harbi was the only woman to compete in a field full of male riders. This year, the event included a women’s category. Al-Harbi returned. And this time she won.

“Most of the women I competed against this year have way more experience than me; it was truly a difficult race, in general,” Al-Harbi said. “But somehow, thanks to Allah, I didn’t feel like anyone challenged me. From the moment we started to when we reached the finish line, I was in first place.”

The 22-year-old, who was raised in nearby Madinah, where she still resides, grew up around camels. Both her father and grandfather competed in camel racing and she has a fierce love for the animal and for the sport. She credits her grandfather for encouraging her to learn how to ride when she was just seven years old. Now, she trains with her camel, Auf, for about two hours every day. She is continuing the family tradition and breaking records along the way.

Al-Harbi said that three of her sisters also ride camels, but “as a hobby.” She is the only one of her siblings to compete professionally.

Al-Harbi has opened a small training club for local women who want to try their hand at camel racing. Her aim is to strengthen the community and to find fellow Saudi women to join her journey.

“Since I have a deep love for the sport and have the opportunity and capability, why wouldn’t I want to help other women also get into the sport? These women want to try it as a hobby and we all have to start somewhere. I don’t take any funds for this; it is done out of pure passion. It is just about introducing the sport to women who are interested. I offer them guidance and advice, and we walk through the sport,” she said.

The four-day AlUla Camel Cup ends on Saturday. Al-Harbi did return the day after her victory to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on other riders, but don’t count on her being back for the final day.

“I will stay home to rest,” she told us with a laugh.


Endangered red-necked ostrich chicks born in royal reserve

Updated 14 min 5 sec ago
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Endangered red-necked ostrich chicks born in royal reserve

  • Birds are part of resettlement program launched in 2021
  • Sand gazelle, Arabian oryx among species being protected

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority has announced the birth of three endangered red-necked ostrich chicks.

The birds have been considered extinct in the northern region of the Kingdom for a century and have now returned thanks to the efforts of the ITBA, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The ITBA had initiated an ostrich-resettlement program in late 2021, aiming to establish a suitable natural habitat for a pair of the birds. This initiative bore fruit as the ostriches successfully adapted to the reserve’s environment, producing 12 eggs in the spring of 2024.

The ITBA has aimed to reintroduce rare species into their natural environments, as part of a broader commitment to wildlife development, biodiversity conservation, and environmental restoration.

Among the numerous rare creatures benefiting from these efforts are the sand gazelle and Arabian oryx.

The ITBA has 138 species in its care including Arabian wolf, various types of foxes, felines, hares, the Asian bustard among other birds, and reptiles.

The reserve covers an area of 91,000 sq. km in the northeastern part of the Kingdom. It is a popular destination for those interested in eco-tourism, bird watching and hiking.

The reserve also offers cultural experiences, allowing visitors to interact with the local Bedouin communities, learn about their traditional way of life, and enjoy authentic cuisine.

In February, the ITBA signed a memorandum of understanding with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives to document the heritage of the reserve.

The pact will ensure collaboration to conduct archaeological surveys and excavations, inventory inscriptions, document intangible heritage and social history, and identify grazing locations.


Saudi, UAE and Qatar secure wins on second day of AlUla Camel Cup

Updated 26 April 2024
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Saudi, UAE and Qatar secure wins on second day of AlUla Camel Cup

  • Minister of Interior’s entry takes first race in the Hagayeg category

ALULA: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar provided the big winners on Day 2 of the second annual AlUla Camel Cup.

Held in unseasonably hot conditions, Thursday’s competition consisted of two 5 km categories, the Hagayeg and the Lagaya, with two races run in each.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif won the first Hagayeg race, much to the delight of spectators.

The Prince’s camel, aptly named AlUla, won in a time of 5 minutes 59.3 seconds. In the second Hagayeg race of the day, Shart, owned by Emirati Mohammed Al-Kutbi, took first place in a time of 5:57.8.

The day’s total prize pool of $6.83 million was split equally between the two categories.

Winners in each of the races received $870,000, second-place finishers earned $266,666, and those in third place received $133,333. The balance of the prize pool was distributed among the other finishers.

The event was organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla as part of the AlUla Moments calendar, in partnership with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation.

The 2024 AlUla Camel Cup offers spectators and participants a new and more expansive experience after the inaugural edition in March last year.

This year, designated Year of the Camel by the UN and the Ministry of Culture, the event pays homage to the desert animal that is so integral to the Kingdom’s heritage.

“The AlUla Camel Cup attracts the best riders and the best camels throughout not just the region, but the world,” said Mahmoud AlBalawi, executive director of the SCRF. “Qualification for the AlUla Camel Cup is deliberately challenging, with 11 camel races taking place under the federation’s jurisdiction throughout the season to qualify for this illustrious competition.”

AlBalawi said that the Saudi Camel Racing Federation’s programs “target all corners of Saudi Arabia in a bid to continue to grow and improve the cherished sport of camel racing. There are more than 50 camel racing tracks across the country, including the elite AlUla venue where the AlUla Camel Cup takes place.”

RCU’s chief sports officer, Ziad Al-Suhaibani, praised the participants and said: “The AlUla Camel Cup reflects the importance of camel racing as a symbol of the Kingdom’s heritage and culture.”

While the heritage sport dates from the seventh century, the event this year includes a more contemporary setup that caters to all the family. There are opportunities to take camel selfies, sample camel smoothies or listen to live folk music by local performers.

The final races take place on Saturday.


US Embassy marks 248th Independence Day with shared US-Saudi vision for space exploration 

Updated 25 April 2024
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US Embassy marks 248th Independence Day with shared US-Saudi vision for space exploration 

  • Ambassador Michael Ratney welcomes hundreds of Saudi guests to space-themed Riyadh reception

RIYADH: The US Embassy in Riyadh celebrated the 248th anniversary of Independence Day on Thursday with a reception hosted by US Ambassador Michael Ratney. 

The ambassador welcomed guest of honor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Riyadh Region mayor, along with Saudi officials, and hundreds of Saudi guests, as well as visitors from Washington, including members of the US Congress.  

The space-themed Independence Day reception served as a symbolic celebration of the future of the US-Saudi cooperation in space, highlighting the profound benefits and possibilities of space exploration, research, and commercial development.

Ratney said the theme reflects the “shared ambition of the United States and Saudi Arabia to embrace opportunities in space, positioning both countries as pioneers in this frontier of innovation.” 

The event evoked nostalgia for past achievements, such as the 1969 moon landing, while emphasizing ongoing advancements in space sciences, particularly commercial space exploration. 

Ratney highlighted Saudi pioneers in space travel, such as Prince Sultan bin Salman, and astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni. 

An art installation, “Museum of the Moon,” by artist Luke Jerram, featured NASA’s high-definition imagery of the lunar surface. 

According to the US Embassy’s statement, the collaboration between the US and Saudi Arabia continues to advance shared interests in diplomacy, commerce, culture, and more.

The US remains dedicated to enhancing shared US-Saudi shared interests in security and in fostering prosperity in the region, while also exploring new avenues for partnerships in areas such as the arts, education, entertainment, and tourism, it said.

Both countries are poised to explore further cooperation, including potential joint ventures in space, reflecting a vision for an even stronger US-Saudi relationship in the future, the statement added. 


Saudi, Cypriot foreign ministers discuss relations

Updated 25 April 2024
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Saudi, Cypriot foreign ministers discuss relations

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Cypriot counterpart, Dr. Konstantinos Kompos, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the advanced bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus, and ways to promote them in a variety of fields. 

They also discussed ways to increase bilateral coordination on issues of common interest and reviewed international developments.