RIYADH: Badael, a Public Investment Fund company, has announced the launch of its “Let’s Clear the Air” anti-smoking campaign on the occasion of the company’s one-year anniversary, which coincides with World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
Badael was established to help reduce the number of smokers in the Kingdom by providing safer alternatives in line with the Quality of Life Program, one of the initiatives included in Saudi Vision 2030. It aims to help 1 million individuals quit smoking by 2028 through the use of DZRT nicotine pouches, the first Saudi-made product designed to help people stop smoking, and, the company claims, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Badael announced that, in its first year of operations, it has expanded its production capacity and invested heavily in research and development. It also “diversified distribution channels in major cities, fulfilling more than 1 million orders” through its website, demonstrating the company’s “commitment to its vision and focus on innovation and future expansion.”
As part of the “Let’s Clear the Air” campaign, Badael has called on individuals, companies and government bodies to join in and commit to achieving the initiative’s targets.
Badael launches anti-smoking initiative
https://arab.news/2c4gt
Badael launches anti-smoking initiative
- Badael was established to help reduce the number of smokers in the Kingdom
- It aims to help 1 million individuals quit smoking by 2028
‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah
LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.
Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.
The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.
Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.
“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.
Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.
“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.
“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”
Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”
He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”
Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”
