Some 400 Riyadh-bound passengers stranded at the Islamabad airport for 30 hours arrived at the King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) on Saturday morning after their plane finally took off from Pakistan.
The Saudia flight SV723 from Islamabad to Riyadh was originally scheduled to depart from Islamabad at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
“The Saudia ground staff at the Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport announced a delay Thursday night citing technical problems with the aircraft. But the delay extended well beyond the initial few hours,” said Shahid Akhtar M. Ayoob, a passenger who is still waiting for his luggage to arrive.
Saudia officials including Abdullah Al-Azhar, spokesman of the Saudi Arabian Airlines, did not respond to several calls and text messages. Asked about the problems faced by the stranded passengers, Ayoob said that his two cousins had also lost their luggage. “We have lodged a formal complaint with Saudia about the missing luggage,” he added. Ayoob said that the ground staff had made a mockery of the flight.
“First it was scheduled to leave at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and while we were waiting at the boarding gate, we were told that the flight will leave for Riyadh at 2 p.m. Friday,” said another passenger.
“On Friday, the departure of the Saudia flight was pushed to 6 p.m. and then to 9 pm…and then the passengers were later informed that the flight is scheduled for 11 p.m. on Saturday,” said Ehsan Ullah Tarin, whose wife was also on board the same plane. Moreover, the passengers were asked to board the plane twice and were disembarked both times before they finally flew to Riyadh, he noted.
Some women and children became sick and developed symptoms of diarrhea and nausea said another passenger, while complaining about the poor sanitation at Islamabad airport.
Coincidentally, the Internet rating site "Guide to Sleeping in Airports" released its annual list of the “Worst Airports of 2014” on Saturday, with Islamabad airport heading the list.
30-hour ordeal of 400 Saudia passengers ends
30-hour ordeal of 400 Saudia passengers ends
Local ZUMI thermos bottle has heritage-inspired design
- References Zamzam and Hajar’s search for water
- Helps to tell Kingdom’s story, says firm Teeb Made
ZUMI, a thermos bottle unveiled this month by Saudi Arabia brand Teeb Made, has a design referencing local memory, ritual and place, according to its producers.
“We believe meaningful design can influence how people live, feel, and connect,” said Abeer Alessa, CEO of The Bold Group and co-founder of Teeb Made.
“ZUMI draws from our heritage yet speaks to a global audience seeking intention and authenticity in the objects they choose.”
Developed under The Bold Group, ZUMI reflects a growing movement within Saudi Arabia’s creative sector to translate cultural narratives into tangible products.
Rather than following global design trends, the team focused on grounding the product in a story that resonates locally while remaining accessible internationally.
The name ZUMI is inspired by Hajar’s call, “Zummi, zummi,” meaning “gather, gather,” during her search for water for her son Ismail between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
That moment led to the emergence of Zamzam water, a source revered for centuries and deeply embedded in Islamic and Saudi identity. For the creators, this origin story became the philosophical core of the product.
“Culture starts with a story,” Alessa explained. “With Teeb Made, we wanted to tell our story not only through communication, but through a product you can touch, live with, and keep close to you.”
Visually, ZUMI draws inspiration from the dorag, the historical vessel used by the Zamazmah men of Makkah to serve Zamzam water to pilgrims for more than 1,400 years.
Traditionally utilitarian, the dorag carried spiritual weight through its purpose rather than ornamentation. Teeb Made reinterpreted this form into a minimal, contemporary silhouette suited for modern lifestyles.
“We wanted ZUMI to be a vessel of meaning, not just water,” said Mohamad Baalbaki, executive creative director of The Bold Group and co-founder of Teeb Made.
“Its form, its patented base, and its simplicity all serve one purpose: to create something that feels familiar, timeless, and deeply personal.”
The design process was extensive. Translating a historical silhouette into a thermos bottle required more than 18 months of research and development.
The final product received a patented design certification from the Saudi Ministry of Culture, marking a milestone in original Saudi intellectual property within product design.
One of ZUMI’s most talked-about features is that it does not stand upright. This decision was entirely intentional.
“We wanted people to carry it, not leave it on a table,” Baalbaki said. “It’s a statement piece, but more importantly, it’s a personal object that invites interaction and conversation.”
Color selection further reinforces the connection to place. The launch collection features hues inspired by Saudi landscapes, including tin (mud), forest, and matar (rain), reflecting the Kingdom’s environmental diversity and grounding the product visually in its origins.
“ZUMI is a product with a Saudi story that is scalable and built to last,” said Souad Merheb, general manager of Teeb Made. “Our vision is to create intellectual property that can live long, grow as a brand, and carry these stories to new generations without losing their meaning.”
“Teeb Made is, at its core, a product design company,” Merheb added. “Our expertise lies in design and creativity, and ZUMI is a reflection of that focus, a piece of IP developed with intention, patience, and depth.”
“There are many rich and insightful stories in Saudi Arabia that remain untapped,” Alessa said. “With ZUMI, this is just the beginning.”
Beyond the product itself, ZUMI aligns with broader national efforts to elevate Saudi culture through the creative economy.
Teeb Made has engaged with several government entities and cultural platforms that recognize the value of culturally rooted products in shaping global perceptions of the Kingdom.
“Today, every Saudi has a role in telling our story to the world,” Alessa said. “For us, it is an honor to contribute to that narrative through design.”
ZUMI also signals the beginning of a wider design ecosystem under Teeb Made, with future editions and complementary accessories already in development.
According to the team, this is only the first chapter in a larger effort to revive untapped cultural stories through modern design.
ZUMI is available at www.zumibottle.com and on Instagram @zumibottle.
