With obesity and diabetes levels rising in the Kingdom, many consumers are now taking up a bigger slice of the health food market in the country.
Doctors in the city are recommending that people eat organically produced vegetables and fruits because they are more nutritious and can aid in the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancers. It also assists in helping people maintain a healthy weight.
Mahmouda Yahiya, a dietician and blogger on healthy living, said recently: “Several retailers and vendors are using chemicals these days to make vegetables and fruits look fresh. The rampant use of such chemicals destroys their nutritional benefits. That’s why we are advising patients suffering from health issues to consume foods that are grown naturally.”
She said that since demand has risen, many supermarkets have special sections only for organic products, making it easily available for consumers.
According to the Middle East market consultancy firm Orient Planet, the organic food market in the Kingdom was estimated at over SR1 billion in 2009 accounting for 90 percent of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s organic food market. A similar report issued in the same year by Frost and Sullivan projected Saudi Arabia’s health food market would grow by 11.8 percent a year.
Mohammad Othman, a retail executive manager, said: “Saudi Arabia is considered among one of the largest organic food markets in the Gulf due to the growing demand from people for the health benefits they offer. The major part of the health food market in Saudi Arabia is imported from western countries because there is a lack of consistent local suppliers. This forces retail companies to charge relatively high prices.”
“However, the healthy food market is flourishing and is expected to increase in the coming years,” he said.
Yazeed Khalid, a Syrian national living in Jeddah, said: “I prefer to use organic products to avoid health hazards.
Although they are much more expensive, there is little chance of contamination and the end product is of good quality. Many people did not know about organic food, but now there is growing awareness as the desire to stay healthy has increased.”
Organic food gaining popularity among health conscious
Organic food gaining popularity among health conscious
AlUla Academy aims to be hub for tourism vocational training in Saudi Arabia and beyond
- Hotel.School chosen as global partner for hospitality training and the academy will welcome its first group of students in early July
ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla on Tuesday officially launched AlUla Academy, described as a pioneering initiative that aims to be a beacon across the region for excellence in vocational training in the tourism sector.
It will serve as a global hub, officials said, for workers directly involved in crafting memorable experiences for diverse groups of visitors to AlUla from around the globe.
Hotel.School has been chosen as the academy’s global partner for hospitality training, and the collaboration will begin with an inaugural digital training program for the first group of students in early July. Subsequent programs will be available through the academy’s website.
Authorities in the Kingdom are carefully developing historic AlUla, an ancient oasis in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, as a global tourist destination distinguished by its 7,000-year-plus history, spanning several civilizations.
It encompasses four primary heritage sites and a wide selection of visitor experiences which, the Royal Commission said, offer tourists the chance to immerse themselves in the region’s rich heritage and culture, take advantage of its wellness offerings, bask in the beauty of nature, indulge in the arts, and embark on and voyage of discovery.
The establishment of the academy therefore stands as a pioneering endeavor within the field of tourism, it added, and a cornerstone of efforts to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development and diversification plan, one of the aims of which is to create 1.3 million jobs for Saudi citizens.
Philip Jones, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s chief tourism officer, said: “Learning centers such as AlUla Academy play a pivotal role in creating job opportunities while upholding excellence in visitor experiences to international standards, all while maintaining an authentic Saudi essence.
“Both physically and digitally, AlUla Academy will expedite the training process, enhancing the quality and efficiency of professional skill development, thereby advancing the tourism sector’s goals in the Kingdom.”
The guests at the launch ceremony on Tuesday included Anita Mendiratta, special advisor to the UN secretary-general at the UN World Tourism Organization. Also a member of the Royal Commission’s advisory board between 2017 and 2023, and one of the key figures behind the development of the academy, she emphasized the organization’s steadfast commitment and dedication to the enhancement of visitor experiences through the development of local skills.
“The key to AlUla’s development lies in embracing authenticity and prioritizing community engagement,” Mendiratta said.
“The Royal Commission for AlUla understands that reaching tangible milestones necessitates investing in skill development, providing services with international standards, yet infusing them with the distinct essence of AlUla that echoes its environment, the culture of its people, and their profound history.”
Hotel.School was carefully chosen as a global partner for AlUla Academy, the commission said, following a rigorous selection process to identify the most suitable collaborator to bolster its endeavors and help achieve its objectives. To that end, it will offer intelligent educational solutions and collaborate with developers of cutting-edge technologies to provide a diverse array of online-learning experiences, officials said. Further information about courses, registration procedures and criteria for the selection of students will be available soon.
Adnan Sawadi, the acting director of Hotel.School, said the institution is committed to supporting the commission in its mission to achieve excellence in vocational training across AlUla, the Kingdom and the wider region.
“At Hotel.School, we recognize that the vitality of the hospitality sector is its people, and we take pride in our pivotal role in nurturing and developing the skills essential to fortifying AlUla’s position as a global tourism and hospitality hub,” he said.
“Our commitment extends to fostering an educational environment that resonates with the region’s rich heritage, amplifying its cultural significance on the global stage.”
AlUla has received significant acclaim and been described as a beacon of success in the field of tourism development and the enhancement of local skills, the commission said. It attracted 263,000 visitors in 2023 alone and consistently surpasses the targets set for it, officials said, increasingly bringing it to the attention of leading event organizers, investors, development partners, airlines and the international media.
Luxury jewelry brands dazzle at Riyadh showcase
- Larsen said that House of GOL specializes in high-end jewelry and many people buy it to reflect their heritage and to pass it down to future generations
RIYADH: Saudi International Luxury Week, which is taking place in Riyadh until May 9, showcases a selection of fine jewelry from around the world.
The event offers a unique opportunity for Saudi clients to acquire exclusive and sophisticated pieces.
House of GOL, a New York-based brand known for its colorful diamonds, has shown a rare pink diamond at the event.
Anna Larsen, head of business development at House of GOL, has been visiting Saudi Arabia for the past three years to meet clients.
Larsen said that House of GOL specializes in high-end jewelry and many people buy it to reflect their heritage and to pass it down to future generations.
The brand had previously visited the ZAH creative hub in Riyadh and continued its tours across the Kingdom. House of GOL's participation in the luxury week was in collaboration with Clea Nasr, ZAH's head of marketing.
"We're here today with House of GOL to support them at a luxury jewelry event, following our earlier private event at ZAH. We support local and international designers through all PR and marketing activities, creating targeted strategies to drive exposure and growth, especially in Saudi Arabia," Nasr said.
The brand stands out by involving its clients in the jewelry creation process, hand drawing and painting the designs and then allowing clients to keep the drawings, adding a personal touch to the design experience.
Another standout brand at the event is Maitraya, an Indian company specializing in pure Gulf pearls, including khaleeji and Saudi pearls.
The brand is led by Sanghvi Maitarya, a seventh-generation representative of his family’s pearl business.
“My great-grandfather used to travel by boat,” said Maitarya. “This was before the Second World War and the discovery of oil. The oyster industry had declined and no longer produced these kinds of pearls. These are Saudi natural lulu pearls.”
He said that the pearls were no longer found in the Gulf, adding: “We collected them from grandmothers, maharajas, royal families, and other sources around the world.”
FerriFirenze, an Italian brand, is also impressing Saudi clients at the event.
Giulia Lina Callegari, owner of FerriFirenze, said: “We came to Saudi for the first time five years ago. We’ve seen the changes, the enthusiasm, the projects, and we’re always excited to meet local ladies who know jewelry, appreciate style, and often become our guests in Florence.”
FerriFirenze is a family business that began 10 years ago, and Callegari added: “We create jewelry that moves, physically moves when touched, is flexible, and so on. This style of jewelry can only be made by hand in Italy.”
Riyadh forum tackles challenges in judicial training
- Workshops focus on digital transformation, cultural awareness, and effective methodologies
RIYADH: Confidence comes from competence, and competence comes from experience, Martin Camp told a panel discussion at the International Conference on Judicial Training held in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The mantra is central to Camp’s teaching approach as a professor of practice and assistant dean for graduate and international programs at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas, where he teaches property and business law.
In the conference’s sixth session, titled “Understanding Culture and Social Context in Judicial and Legal Training,” Camp, with other legal experts, discussed the significance of incorporating cultural awareness into the judicial system.
The panel included Rodrigo Alves, professor of law at the Federal University of Uberlandia, Mark Sweet, a partner at the Finnegan law firm, Jamal Haroun, secretary-general of the permanent secretariat of the Euro-Arab Judicial Training Network, and Henry Gao, professor of law at Singapore Management University.
Camp said that despite each nation’s cultural identity, we all, as a collective society, desire the same things.
“Then I realized that under this veneer difference, we are the same. People want the same things. They want work, family, security, peace, everything they want depends on the rule of law.
“It does not matter what label we put on what systems people choose or what is chosen for them, in the final analysis, whatever system, people still want justice. They want the general application of the principle of rule of law and those are the rules that people are expected to follow.”
To have a flowing judicial system, training needs to be a regular part of the life of the judiciary and sometimes specialization is preferred to provide competence, Camp said.
“The role of the judiciary is ensuring that the rule of law, that the courts, are preachers of our constitution and our legislature … by understanding the law, practicing the law, and having the confidence that comes from that,” Camp added.
Fabricio Da Cruz, a federal judge in Brazil, told Arab News that he is attending the conference because he is fascinated by its theme, which explores the future of judicial training.
“Everybody here has something to tell and something to teach, but there is a lot to learn ... sharing knowledge is the main benefit from a conference like this.”
With 20 years of legal experience, Da Cruz has served as a professor of social sciences and law for undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students.
“I give this advice to my students and children: stay hungry for knowledge and focus on developing (your) skills ... knowledge and skills, together, make a huge difference in the future for the person, community, and country.”
The conference, which began on May 6, focused on the many aspects of judicial and legal training. Gathering law professionals from more than 40 countries, it explored how modern technologies and artificial intelligence can be integrated to enhance judicial and legal training methodologies.
Workshops and panel discussions covered challenges in developing training content during digital transformation, the impact of cultural and social contexts on the judicial training process, and key methodologies for evaluating training outcomes.
Saudi Arabia says anyone violating Hajj regulations between June 2-20 will be punished
- Citizens, residents, and visitors to the Kingdom caught violating Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit in specified areas will be fined SR 10,000
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that violators of Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit during the period June 2- 20 will be punished.
Citizens, residents, and visitors to the Kingdom caught violating Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit in Makkah, the area around the Grand Mosque, Hajj sites, the Haramain station in Al-Rusayfah, security control centers, sorting centers, and temporary security control centers during the specified period will be fined SR 10,000 ($2,666).
Residents violating the rules will be deported to their countries and banned from reentering the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Ministry of Interior said violators will be fined a further SR 10,000 each time they broke the rules, stressing the importance of adhering to Hajj regulations and instructions so that pilgrims can carry out their rituals in safety, security, and comfort.
Anyone who is caught transporting violators of Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit will be imprisoned for a period of up to six months and fined up to SR 50,000 riyals.
An order will be made to confiscate the vehicle used and the violator will be deported after serving a prison sentence if an expat. The fine will increase in line with the number of people illegally transported.
Experts discuss revitalization of industrial heritage sites at Diriyah workshop
- Workshop will cover topics such as industrial heritage on a global scale, industrial heritage within the Kingdom, and case studies of the revitalization and restoration of industrial heritage sites
- Workshop features Tosh Warwick from the UK, Mitsuko Nishikawa from Japan, and Mirhan Damin, who will discuss her expertise in industrial heritage in Egypt
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission kicked off day one of the International Workshop on Industrial Heritage in the JAX district to promote awareness of industrial heritage, its preservation, and diversification.
The workshop, which runs from May 7 to May 8 in Diriyah, will cover topics such as industrial heritage on a global scale, industrial heritage within the Kingdom, and case studies of the revitalization and restoration of industrial heritage sites.
The workshop features global experts who will lecture and share their case studies, including Tosh Warwick from the UK, Mitsuko Nishikawa from Japan, and Mirhan Damin, who will discuss her expertise in industrial heritage in Egypt.
The opening remarks for the workshop were delivered by Jasser Al-Harbash, CEO of the Heritage Commission, who highlighted some of the Kingdom’s notable industrial heritage sites, particularly in the mining sector.
Following the opening remarks, several participants and speakers at the workshop were honored with plaques for their contributions to the field, including Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Khalifa from the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage in Bahrain, Amal Al-Harbi from the JAX district, and Dr. Massimo Preite from the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage, among others.
The first session of the workshop provided a broader overview of international industrial heritage, with panel members sharing insights from Germany, Latin America, and the UK.
Marion Steiner, secretary-general of the TICCIH, gave a lecture on the interpretation and global perspective of industrial heritage.
She stressed that a global understanding of industrial heritage leads to a better understanding of each other and sparks peace-building in the minds of men and women.
Steiner told Arab News that gatherings like the workshop hosted by the Saudi Heritage Commission serve “as an element in a process which could lead to a better understanding of what connects us across places and people through history and time.”
Miles Oglethorpe, president of the TICCIH, discussed the broad definition of industrial heritage and the extensive list of sectors that fall within this category, such as agriculture, mining, oil and gas, heavy industries, and water desalination.
He explained that industrial heritage comprises sites, structures, and complexes, as well as their associated documentation and history.
“It includes both material assets and immovable and movable and intangible dimensions such as know-how, the organization of work and workers, and the complex social and cultural legacy that has shaped the life of communities and brought major organizational changes to entire societies and the world in general,” said Oglethorpe.
As part of the workshop, the commission set up multiple VR stations that allow users to explore the Kingdom's industrial heritage sites, including oil and gas projects. These stations provided information on engineering feats such as the Tapline, dating back to the oil boom in the 1950s.
By hosting this international workshop, the Kingdom aims to take a proactive approach to documenting its industrial heritage. The workshop invited participants to share international expertise, exchange insights, and engage in debates on strategies for industrial heritage preservation.
