The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is organizing a grand mushaira (Urdu poetry session) on Thursday (Jan. 18) in the Saudi capital, featuring an exciting line-up of eminent poets including Muzaffar Hanfi and Waseem Barelvi.
The event will be held at the auditorium of the International Indian School, Riyadh (IISR Boys Section).
A large number of Urdu lovers are waiting to hear the poetry of Hanfi, who is a prominent Urdu poet, critic, and writer. He has received more than 35 awards from various state academies and institutions of national importance in India. Hanfi has also authored and edited more than 80 books in Urdu. The presence of Barelvi, meanwhile, will add grandeur to the poetry recitation function.
Barelvi’s ghazals (ballads), mostly sung by famous singer Jagjit Singh, are popular across the world. Barelvi is also the vice chairman of India’s National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL). The evening of Urdu poetry in Riyadh will also witness names like Iqbal Ashar, Abrar Kashif, Sardar Saleem, Aleena Itrat, Nadeem Shad and Naeem Fraz.
Jeddah event at IISJ
The Indian consulate in Jeddah, in association with the Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF), will host the annual mushaira at the International Indian School, Jeddah (Boys’ Section) auditorium at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 21). “Renowned Urdu poets from various parts of India will take part in the event,” said Moin Akhtar, consul (press, information and culture).
According to a press release issued by Akhtar, Indian nationals in Jeddah and neighboring cities are invited to the mushaira. “All are advised to reach the venue by 6:45 p.m. with their valid iqama,” he said. “The capacity of the auditorium is limited and entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Indian Embassy, Consulate to host mushaira in Riyadh, Jeddah
Indian Embassy, Consulate to host mushaira in Riyadh, Jeddah
Porsche launches new Macan and Taycan models
Samaco Motors, the official importer of Porsche in Saudi Arabia, hosted an event in the Saudi capital on Oct. 28 to celebrate the launch of the new, all-electric Macan and the new updated Taycan in the Kingdom.
The event attracted Porsche customers, business leaders, media professionals, social media influencers and Porsche enthusiasts, all of whom enjoyed the first look of the company’s latest products.
The event is part of Porsche’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the Saudi automotive market and showcase the latest technologies and innovations in the field of electric vehicles.
During the launch ceremony, the features and specifications of the two new vehicles were demonstrated, and attendees had the opportunity to explore the models and learn more about them.
The launch of the electric Macan and the updated Taycan is an important step for Porsche to diversify and update its product range in line with its strategy to introduce more electrified models.
The new Macan features powertrains delivering up to 639 PS, offering top-tier performance on any terrain. With fast charging capabilities of up to 270 kW, the Macan showcases Porsche’s commitment to electric mobility. Both the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo provide an all-wheel drive, Porsche Traction Management, and top-class E-Performance.
The Macan 4 generates up to 408 PS and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 220 km/h.
Meanwhile, the Macan Turbo boasts 639 PS, rocketing from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 260 km/h.
The DC charging capability of the Macan is up to 270 kW. Under ideal conditions, the battery can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 21 minutes at a compatible fast-charging station, making the Macan an excellent companion for both everyday use and long journeys.
The new all-electric Macan can charge rapidly over a very wide state-of-charge range — with the battery temperature and weather conditions having relatively little impact on the charging time. The battery is preconditioned for an optimal charging experience.
The new all-electric Macan represents Porsche’s continued evolution toward sustainability, offering a range of advanced driving technologies, comprehensive assistance systems, and complete digital connectivity. This model is designed for drivers who value exceptional design and personalized customization, with exclusive options available through Porsche’s bespoke Exclusive Manufaktur program. With more than 800,000 Macans delivered worldwide since 2014, the new Macan marks the next milestone in Porsche’s journey toward a more sustainable future.
Meanwhile, Porsche has comprehensively improved the Taycan model range, significantly enhancing the overall system performance of the car.
This is not only reflected in every model of the Taycan range, but even more in the new GT offer.
The Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.2 seconds.This makes it two-tenths of a second faster than the Taycan Turbo S. The difference in acceleration from rest to 200 km/h is even more pronounced: the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package needs 6.4 seconds. Its top speed is 305 km/h.
Thanks to additional aerodynamic measures and lightweight construction, the model is even more performance-oriented. This makes the new Taycan now also the most powerful production car Porsche has ever built. With its outstanding track capabilities, it has set lap records on international racetracks and further raised the benchmark in terms of driving dynamics.
Hilton’s first cohort of hospitality trainees graduate
Hilton announced the graduation of its first cohort of students from a hospitality training program in partnership with Bunyan for Training, an affiliate of the reputed hospitality management school in Switzerland, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.
Since signing the memorandum of understanding in 2022, 18 students have successfully completed the program and joined Hilton’s growing team across its 21 trading hotels in Saudi Arabia. The graduation ceremony was held at Jeddah Hilton, attended by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Tourism, and the Human Resources Fund, together with senior Bunyan for Training, EHL and Hilton representatives.
Fawaz Moumina, country manager and senior director of operations, Hilton, Saudi Arabia, said: “As we continue with our plans to more than quadruple our portfolio and open more than 70 hotels in the coming years, we are committed to creating 15,000 jobs, with more than half for Saudi nationals. We are proud to see the first group of graduates join our team and the second well underway, and we look forward to their future successes, which will inspire the next generation of Saudi hospitality professionals.”
Accredited by the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and certified by EHL, the program offers both theoretical and practical training, along with opportunities to explore various areas of hospitality such as front office, housekeeping, and more.
Looking ahead, the next cohort of 40 students, half of whom are young women, has already begun training across Hilton hotels in Saudi Arabia.
stc Group achieves highest 9-month revenues and net profit
stc Group announced its financial results for the nine-month period of 2024, reporting a revenue increase of SR2.13 billion ($569.2 million), reaching SR56.6 billion, an increase of 3.92 percent compared to the same period last year. The net profit for the period reached SR11.2 billion. This reflects an increase of 11.9 percent compared to the same period last year after excluding the non-recurring gain from the sale of the Alkhobar land worth SR1.3 billion that was recorded in the third quarter of the previous year.
Additionally, stc subsidiaries’ revenue grew by 11 percent, contributing to the group’s record-breaking performance that exceeded market analysts’ estimates.
Based on the approval of stc Group’s General Assembly to sell 51 percent stake in Telecommunication Towers Company, known as TAWAL, to the Public Investment Fund, the comparative figures for the previous periods were reclassified as discontinued operations in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of Sept. 30. Furthermore, the material capital gain will be recognized after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and completing the transaction procedures.
Olayan Alwetaid, stc Group’s CEO, said: “stc Group is well positioned to continue its growth journey and maintain its leadership as the top digital enabler in the region. These outstanding results are a testament to the effective execution of the group’s strategy, which focuses on enhancing investment in infrastructure, growth in new technology sectors, and the activation of its efficiency program.”
stc Group is committed to enabling digital transformation in various vital sectors in Saudi Arabia by investing in digital infrastructure such as 5G, fiber optics, and data centers. The group continued its investment in advanced technologies like cloud computing, IoT, and fintech, while enhancing its cybersecurity capabilities.
stc also continued to strengthen its national strategic partnerships with mega-projects in the Kingdom such as NEOM, Diriyah, New Murabba and Red Sea. This reinforces the group’s commitment to enabling the realization of national objectives and continues to solidify its position as a key player in the global digital economy.
Moreover, stc’s board of directors endorsed on Aug. 24 an increase in the annual dividend by 37.5 percent, from SR1.6 to SR2.2 per share, starting from Q4 2024. This raises the total annual dividend from SR8 billion to SR11 billion over the next three years, reflecting the group’s strong financial position and confidence in sustainable operating cash flows, with the ability to continue expanding, growing, and diversifying investments.
Two young Saudis awarded Rhodes Scholarships to study at Oxford
Lana Alabbasi and Mohammed Alharthi have won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarships for Saudi Arabia this year.
They will be heading to the University of Oxford in October 2025 to join a cohort of more than a 100 scholars from around the world to undertake fully funded postgraduate studies and become part of a strong community of young people determined to make a positive difference in the world.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s preeminent and oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903. The first Saudi Arabia scholarship was established in 2018 with a gift from Muhammad Alagil, and a second was added in 2020 with a gift from Abdulrahman Alagil Sons. The donors are co-founders of Jarir Bookstores and made their gifts in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Education.
Education is one of the core elements of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious blueprint for the future. The Rhodes Scholarships enable outstanding students from across the Kingdom to fully develop their skills and knowledge in the fields that will help Saudi Arabia achieve its goals under Vision 2030. This year, exceptional circumstances enabled the award of a third Rhodes Scholarship for Saudi Arabia.
Students from anywhere in the world can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and many find that taking part in the rigorous selection process is a profoundly positive experience, which leaves them well placed to go on to a Rhodes Scholarship or other opportunities worldwide.
The Rhodes selection process aims to choose young people with proven academic excellence who also show exceptional character, leadership, the energy to use their talents to the full and a commitment to solving humanity’s challenges. The selection process includes a rigorous review process before the finalists interview with a selection committee composed of renowned experts and leaders in diverse fields.
Rhodes Scholars form a lifelong community of people in many fields and careers, united by a commitment to having a positive impact on the world. This year’s winners continue this legacy of excellence. They include:
- Lana Alabbasi is a senior at King Abdulaziz University majoring in physics with a focus on astrophysics. She recently completed a research fellowship at the California Institute of Technology, where she studied neutron star collisions. In addition, she was an Astrophysics Cambridge Future Scholar at the Cambridge Center for International Research, researching black holes, and worked as a research assistant at King Abdulaziz University on a published study in particle physics. Alabbasi is the founder and director of the Falak Research Program, Saudi Arabia’s first mentorship initiative in space science, which connects students with experts from around the world. She plans to apply for the DPhil in astrophysics at Oxford.
- Mohammed Alharthi is a senior at University of California Los Angeles majoring in mathematics/ economics and in political science with a specialization in international relations. He interned with McKinsey and Company and at the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. He is also the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Furas, a startup dedicated to expanding internship opportunities for young Saudis. In his free time, he enjoys playing padel, competing in the card game Baloot, and public speaking. At Oxford, he plans to apply for the MSc in global governance and diplomacy.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said: “We are excited to see the tremendous talents of this year’s Rhodes Scholars Elect, who come from countries all around the world. We know from 120 years of bringing exceptional people to Oxford to study and build a dynamic global community, that when unlikeminded but likehearted people come together, we can forge brighter futures for individuals and the world.”
Professor Christian Sahner, national secretary of the Rhodes Scholarships for Saudi Arabia, said they are “all exceptional young people and richly deserving of this fantastic opportunity. The selection committee was very impressed by their past achievements and confident of the positive impact they will have on Saudi Arabia and the world going forward.”
The Rhodes Trust is committed to ensuring that the world’s diversity of background and thought is reflected at Rhodes House, which has expanded the scholarship to include Global Scholarships and new constituencies in recent years.
Applications for the 2026 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2025. More information about the scholarship application can be found at: www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply.
Resorts World Cruises sails maiden voyage from Dubai
DUBAI: Resorts World Cruises, a world-class cruise line, has arrived in Dubai, with the Resorts World One commencing her first sailing on Nov. 1.
The arrival of the magnificent RW1 at Port Rashid underscores Dubai’s position as a premier destination for international cruising, ushering in a new era for the emirate’s maritime and tourism sectors.
The 1,800-passenger cruise ship departs from Port Rashid Cruise Terminal 2 in Dubai three times a week to several Gulf destinations.
A special celebratory event was held on the ship on Thursday, with close to 600 invitees in attendance, to commemorate this milestone event.
Resorts World Cruises President Michael Goh and its senior management welcomed onboard regional dignitaries, authorities, members of the press and key influencers. The event included a series of memento presentations, with invitees
having the chance to experience the onboard live performances, the wide array of cuisines and a guided tour of the ship’s accommodations, facilities, and offerings.
As part of the inaugural sailing celebration, guests can look forward to special added-value promotions. This includes complimentary food and beverage onboard credits valued at 700 dirhams ($190) per cabin for sailings in November for both the three-night Oman Cruise and two-night Qatar Cruise.
The RW1 provides exciting new vacation options from Dubai for the weekend with the two-night Sir Bani Yas Weekend Cruise departing Fridays.
Guests can also look forward to the two-night (Doha) Qatar Cruise departing Wednesdays and the three-night Muscat-Khasab (Oman) Cruise departing Sundays.
For longer cruises, guests may combine the itineraries to enjoy a four-, five- and seven-night cruise.
“We have been counting down the days and we are delighted that the Resorts World One has arrived in Dubai and is ready to sail. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the local and regional governments, authorities, travel business partners, media, and our guests for the support. We are looking forward to bringing unique experiences to the Gulf region and we are excited to launch our first cruise with a special onboard Diwali celebration for the entire week,” said Michael Goh, president, Resorts World Cruises.
Saud Hareb Almheiri, cruise tourism and yachting lead at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Dubai extends its warmest congratulations to Resorts World Cruises on the successful launch of its new services, which it is proud to be the homeport for. This significant development underscores Dubai’s ongoing growth as a premier cruise destination, attracting world-class operators, and providing exceptional experiences for global travelers seeking to explore the region, as envisioned by our leadership, and in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. As we embark on an exciting new season, we would like to extend our gratitude to our partners and stakeholders, whose unwavering support has made this possible. Together, we look forward to further reinforcing Dubai’s position as the cruise hub of the region.”
The RW1 is certified by the highly reputable Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Standards and Metrology Institute, with the ship offering certified Halal cuisines, including vegetarian/Jain cuisine, and Muslim-friendly onboard offerings, which will provide peace of mind for Muslim guests from across the region.
RWC is a brand extension of Resorts World, which operates more than 30 properties worldwide in Asia, Europe, North America and Africa, with annual visitation of about 40 million.
RWC made its homeport debut in Singapore in June 2022 with the flagship Genting Dream. Within less than a year, the RW1 joined the fleet in Hong Kong. It further expanded its homeport footprint to Kuala Lumpur, Kaohsiung, Keelung (Taipei), Jakarta and now Dubai.
To date, RWC has sailed to more than 30 destinations across Southeast and East Asia, covering Okinawa and Kyushu in Japan, and the Gulf region.
