JEDDAH: “I love difficult; you tell me this is the most difficult choice, I go for it.”
“In high school, I was told that King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) is the toughest in the country, that is why I am a KFUPM graduate.
“Then at university, I was told that electrical engineering is the most difficult major. This is why I am an electrical engineer.”
This is how Moosa Al-Rasheedi, CEO and co-founder of Aqar, the app listing land and property in Saudi Arabia, described his motivation to succeed.
After working in the oil industry, Al-Rasheedi became interested in information technology. “My interest in IT was motivated by my childhood friend, Yousef, who founded the country’s pioneering classified ads startup @haraj and also by my early positions at work as an automation engineer,” Al-Rasheedi said.
He was told that as the Saudi real estate market was very random, it was impossible to make it organized and that many big players had failed in their attempts to improve the situation. He kept this new challenge in mind while he went to the US to pursue his master’s degree in electrical engineering.
Once in the US, Al-Rasheedi needed to find an apartment near the campus. “I went through a couple of websites and apps that were in their early stages. Although I did not find what I wanted online, one idea stuck in my mind — placing the real estate listings based on their geographical position using mature apps such as Google Maps.
“A few months later, when Yousef visited me in the US, that was the real beginning. We discussed the idea along with a few others. That was in 2013 where the market still needed a lot of ideas. Eventually, we decided to go for Aqar, which means real estate in Arabic.”
The two friends set about gathering the team they would need to start up the venture and Moosa quit his job to begin developing Aqar alongside the new team.
The journey was challenging, not least because he had left a successful career. There was social pressure as many people found it difficult to understand why a qualified engineer would leave a good job to work full time to start up an app.
He made a big commitment to starting up the company in terms of time and money, but at times, the pressure got to him, and even he started to wonder whether he had taken on too big a challenge.
“There were times when I applied for other jobs feeling it’s time to quit, especially when I heard rumors about investors who failed after investing SR250 million ($66 million) on the same business concept.”
After all, the real estate market and application development market had seen a few trials in this field, which made it difficult to sustain the belief that @aqarapp could be successful.
But despite this pressure, the development phase faced no technical difficulties, something that he attributes to the great team that they had carefully selected.
“The main lesson I learned from Aqar is that in every business journey, you have to pass through the following stations: Dreams, how to take the first step, a long wait where you need to adjust, going through constant ups and downs, and finally success.”
The Aqar app has changed the real estate market in the Kingdom. Realtors in Saudi Arabia no longer have to rely on traditional marketing avenues to promote locations, villas and apartments. As a result, 30,000 realtors have been able to use the app.
Putting Saudi real estate on the map
Putting Saudi real estate on the map
- Realtors in Saudi Arabia no longer have to rely on traditional marketing avenues to promote locations, villas and apartments
- The Aqar app has changed the real estate market in the Kingdom
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Deal to enhance heritage conservation in AlUla, China
- Agreement unites expertise in cultural preservation and tourism growth
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Dunhuang Academy have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cultural, tourism and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and China.
This partnership marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia-China relations, combining the academy’s 80 years of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with the commission’s dedication to preserving AlUla’s cultural heritage.
The academy manages the Magao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu province, famous for their murals and sculptures that reflect Silk Road cultural influences.
The agreement unites the organizations as guardians of unique heritage, history and traditions, according to a recent press release.
The academy’s successful preservation of the Magao Grottoes has earned praise from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Chinese government.
Both entities will collaborate on a conservation program for historic sites and artifacts in AlUla and western China. They will also organize academic exhibitions and exchange programs for staff and scholars.
Silvia Barbone, vice president of strategic partnerships at the commission, said that China and Saudi Arabia share a rich legacy that has connected people and places across vast distances and centuries.
“Today, our work in global heritage is strengthened by successful collaborations with leading institutions and destinations.”
Barbone added that the academy joins the commission in “our goal to establish northwest Arabia as a hub for research, exploration, and discovery in culture, heritage, tourism, and more, as we drive the regeneration of AlUla.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority, where AlUla was prominently featured. The event, held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden in October 2024, highlighted AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
Su Bomin, director of Dunhuang Academy, said this collaboration was a significant step in “bridging our cultural histories and advancing heritage conservation efforts.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we aim to foster cultural exchange, deepen mutual understanding, and create innovative programs that will benefit communities in both China and Saudi Arabia.”
In January 2024, the “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition, featuring artifacts from the commission’s archaeological collection on public display for the first time, was hosted at Beijing’s Forbidden City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors, the exhibition followed the signing of a partnership agreement between the commission and the Cultural Heritage Administration of China’s Henan province.
Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief
- Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.
The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.
Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims
- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.
The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.
Citrus festival shows agricultural diversity, economic potential in Najran
- The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential
RIYADH: The 14th Najran National Citrus Festival highlights the region’s agricultural investment and marketing diversity, which offers economic returns for farmers and investors alike, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The festival at King Abdulaziz Park walkway in Najran is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the region.
Participants including farmers, agricultural experts and investors showed innovative solutions and highlighted the region’s robust citrus production.
Hamad Al-Dakman, the director of the agricultural prevention and guidance department at the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development, Estidamah, in an interview with SPA emphasized the center’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
By selecting optimal plant seeds and trees, the center aims to enhance citrus production efficiency while advancing water and energy conservation technologies, Al-Dakman said.
He noted the importance of knowledge transfer and partnerships in supporting the agricultural sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s food-security goals.
Similarly, Najran Association Green’s chairman, Raf’an Al-Amer underscored the association’s efforts to expand vegetation cover, having planted more than 60,000 trees in the past four years.
Plans are underway to plant an additional 500,000 trees by 2027 in collaboration with government and private entities, contributing to the Kingdom’s Green Vision, Al-Amer said.
Farmers and investors were enthusiastic about the festival.
Farmer Ibrahim Saleh Al-Sinan praised the event for addressing farmers’ needs, marketing their products, and allowing visitors to sample and purchase citrus fruits directly.
Agricultural investor Abdullah Fahd Al-Waili highlighted the region’s favorable conditions for citrus farming, including fertile soil, a suitable climate and water availability.
Al-Waili, whose farm in Khbash covers 4 million sq. meters with more than 50,000 citrus trees, noted the economic viability of agricultural investment in the region.
The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential, supporting farmers, and driving sustainable agricultural development.
Saudi fund commits $80m for cancer care expansion in Turkmenistan
- The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress
RIYADH: CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad signed an $80 million development loan agreement with Rahimberdi Jepbarov, chairman of the Turkmenistan State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.
The financing supports a project to improve tumor treatment services and establish cancer treatment centers in Turkmenistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Ambassador to Turkmenistan Said Osman Suwaid attended the event.
The project will enhance healthcare by building and equipping three specialized cancer treatment centers with up to 500 medical beds in different regions.
The centers will feature advanced medical equipment to improve healthcare quality, SPA added.
The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress.
It underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable development and ensuring lasting prosperity, SPA reported.
During his visit to Turkmenistan, Al-Marshad also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to discuss strengthening development cooperation in various sectors.
Meanwhile, the Saudi fund’s Deputy CEO Faisal Al-Qahtani participated in the inauguration of the Busaiteen Bridge, part of the Bahrain Northern Road Project.
The $250 million project, funded through a grant from the Saudi government, aims to ease traffic congestion and boost investment and economic opportunities in Bahrain.
Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa attended the event.
The project is a vital part of Bahrain’s transportation infrastructure, with the Saudi fund collaborating closely with the Ministry of Works for its successful completion.
The Saudi fund’s partnership with Bahrain spans 48 years, during which it has financed 30 projects in sectors like energy, transportation, and social infrastructure. These initiatives have contributed to Bahrain’s sustainable development and economic growth.
