Saudi hiking enthusiasts recently conducted an expedition to the Ibrahim Mountain, which is part of Sarawat Mountains, in the southwest of the Kingdom. Located in the Bani Malik area, the mountain is 167 km south of Taif.
Ibrahim Mountain is one of the highest in the Kingdom with a height of 5,000 meters above sea level and is distinguished for its eye-catching natural scenes. It is one of the touristic centers in the south.
Hiking is an outdoor activity that consists of walking in natural environments and often in mountainous or other scenic terrain, said Ahmed Al-Malki, the team’s tour guide.
“The main objective of our trip was to find out Arabian leopards in the area after reports that people had heard their voice and seen their footmarks,” he said.
Camping in such attractive places to enjoy the climate and take photos was another objective, Al-Malki said.
He highlighted hiking’s health benefits, saying it has been confirmed by studies. Some health benefits of hiking include losing excess weight, decreasing hypertension, and improving mental health, he pointed out.
He said hiking required good preparations including arrangement of camping materials and precautionary measures against wild animals. “We have to set out our journey very early to reach the targeted place and leave before night,” he said.
The participants were excited and expressed their happiness for getting an opportunity to discover one of the best tourist centers in the southern Kingdom.
“We are planning to conduct hiking expeditions to a number of Gulf countries including Oman,” Al-Malki said. Internally, we want to visit Harrat Khaiber, north of Madinah that has the largest volcano in the Kingdom, he added.
Saudi hikers in quest for adventure ... and leopards
Saudi hikers in quest for adventure ... and leopards
Lolo Zouai releases new music video, sets album date
- French Algerian star will release new album April 24
- Record dedicated to a close friend who died in 2021
DUBAI: French Algerian singer and songwriter Lolo Zouai this week dropped a new music video for her single “Holding On” and announced that her upcoming album, “Reverie,” will be released on April 24.
The track, which blends R&B and dance-pop elements, explores themes of grief and memory. Its accompanying music video is dedicated to Zouai’s close friend Hanna Rosa Hotchkiss who died in 2021.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Zouai said the album reflects a period of personal change.
“This record was made through three years of grief, growth, and reflection. I had to lose myself to find myself again. I couldn’t have done it without my angel, Hanna.”
“Thank you to my collaborators, my friends, and my Lo-riders who held me down through it all,” she added. “I hope it heals you the way it healed me.”
Zouai teased the album earlier this year writing: “2026. ALBUM SUBMITTED. LET’S… GOOO,” on Instagram, sharing a carousel of images of herself.
Fans quickly took to the comments section to congratulate the music sensation.
“OH MY GOD FINALLY!!! I’m so so so excited and proud of you omg, you did that,” one fan wrote. Another said: “Some good news i needed this fr.”
Another fan said: “I’m so excited I just shed a tear … 2026 is so gonna be your year boo!!!! SEE U SOON!!”
Zouai’s last release was in November, when she dropped a new single titled “3AM in San Francisco.”
In 2024, Zouai dropped several tracks, including her “Please Hold” EP featuring “jetlag” and “UNHHH,” along with “mute” and “Potential.”
In June 2024, she also announced that she had written a song for K-pop group NewJeans for their Japanese debut.
Known for her blend of R&B, club-pop and hip-hop, she has gained an international fan base for her dynamic stage presence and genre-blending music.
Her career highlights include the release of a debut album “High Highs to Low Lows” in 2019, which features 12 tracks, and a follow-up “PLAYGIRL” in 2022, which has 13 tracks.
After the album’s release in October 2022, Zouai was featured on a billboard in New York’s Times Square.
