Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Gruelling Dakar Rally route through Saudi Arabia’s ‘captivating’ deserts revealed by Sports Authority


Gruelling Dakar Rally route through Saudi Arabia’s ‘captivating’ deserts revealed by Sports Authority

1 / 3
It was announced earlier this month that the race would be held in Saudi Arabia, and for the first time in the Middle East. (Twitter/Dakar Rally)
2 / 3
It was announced earlier this month that the race would be held in Saudi Arabia, and for the first time in the Middle East. (AFP/File Photo)
3 / 3
Updated 25 April 2019
Arab News
Follow

Gruelling Dakar Rally route through Saudi Arabia’s ‘captivating’ deserts revealed by Sports Authority

Updated 25 April 2019
Arab News

AL-QADDIYA: More details about the Dakar Rally expected to take place in January 2020 in Saudi Arabia were released on Thursday by the Kingdom's General Sports Authority at an event in Al-Qaddiya.

The race starts on Jan. 5 in Jeddah, with the drivers set to race through Al-Madinah, Tabuk and Ha’il regions before a having a rest day in Riyadh. From the capital, the route winds its way back toward the coast through the Asir region and ends in the city of Al-Qaddiya on Jan. 12.

Speaking at the event, the chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA) Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal announced a 10-year partnership with the Dakar Rally, saying: "We want the world to see the captivating desert of Saudi Arabia and to get to know the good and hospitable people of the Kingdom that looks forward to receiving the world.

“Our country is extremely passionate about sport and our strategic goal is to feed that appetite as we move further towards achieving Vision 2030 of which sport is a basic pillar.

“In hosting Dakar Rally we aim to produce an unbelievable and unforgettable experience for drivers as they discover the beauty of Saudi nature and a unique spectacle for motorsport fans not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the region and around the world.”

It was announced earlier this month that the race would be held in Saudi Arabia, and for the first time in the Middle East.

The Dakar has been held in South America since 2009. The gruelling multi-stage rally was previously held in Africa but was relocated after terrorist threats in Mauritania in 2008.

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, said when the race announcement was made: “I have always wanted to participate in Dakar Rally, while I wasn’t fortunate to achieve that ambition, I’m now part of achieving a much bigger dream for my country as Dakar comes to the Middle East region for the first time ever.”

CEO of Qiddiya project Michael Reininger said: "Qiddiya will soon become the centre of the motorsports world by virtue of an unparalleled collection of on track and off road facilities and a set of experiences and events that have never been assembled in one place before.”

The CEO of the rally's organizing company, Amaury Sport Organization, Yann Le Moenner thanked the princes for their commitment to bringing the rally to Saudi Arabia, adding: “Crossing the best deserts of the world has always been in the DNA of the Dakar, to discover and share.”

Dakar Rally director David Castera said: “Following 30 years of discoveries, fateful encounters, and exploits, Étienne Lavigne rose to a new challenge when he took the rally across the Atlantic to South America and brought Dakar fever to a new continent. Now, the time has come to set a new course and enter uncharted territory with the next destination of the Dakar and its competitors in Saudi Arabia.”

Meanwhile, the drivers involved in the rally have been in Saudi Arabia soaking up local culture and experiencing some of the desert landscapes they will drive through in January.

Topics: Saudi Arabia sport Motorsport Dakar Rally Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia

Related

Update
Sport
Dakar Rally moves to ‘mysterious deserts’ of Saudi Arabia for 2020
Sport
Mystery death clouds Dakar Rally

Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News
Follow

Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

  • Al-Ahsa event to promote communities’ role in economic growth
Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News

RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will host the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al-Ahsa from Dec. 16-18, aiming to strengthen rural communities, and promote their role in driving sustainable development.

Maha Aldhahi, head of the forum’s executive committee, said: “The forum is pivotal in advancing rural development, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030. It will support rural communities, while contributing to global efforts and research on sustainable agriculture.”

Aldhahi said that the forum will unite regional and international experts to address the challenge of rural-to-urban migration, a widespread issue. To counter this, the forum will propose practical solutions to ensure rural areas remain economically viable, vibrant, and sustainable.

Additionally, it will explore innovations in agriculture and rural development, fostering economic growth and social cohesion through job creation and investment promotion, she added.

Aldhahi said that the forum builds on the Saudi Reef Program, recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as the world’s largest development initiative of its kind.

The program has supported over 77,000 agricultural projects, achieved a self-sufficiency rate exceeding 65 percent in vital sectors, and provided upskilling and career opportunities for rural communities.

Ghassan Bakri, secretary-general of the Saudi Reef Program, said: “The program is a model of sustainable growth, addressing food security and job creation while preserving cultural heritage. By hosting this forum, we aim to attract global partnerships and exchange cutting-edge solutions for rural empowerment.”

Bakri added that the forum will feature dynamic discussions on key topics, including sustainable agricultural practices, rural entrepreneurship, and the role of modern technology in agriculture.

The three-day event will also include an exhibition showcasing unique rural practices, handicrafts, and the work of local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. It will highlight how traditional techniques integrate with modern innovations to create sustainable livelihoods.

Topics: Saudi Reef

Related

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Reef program provides $37.3m of support to Kingdom’s honey industry
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to ecosystem protection at COP16

Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week

Updated 30 min 20 sec ago
Arab News
Follow

Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week

  • A total of 11,336 people were arrested for violations of residency laws
Updated 30 min 20 sec ago
Arab News

Riyadh: Saudi authorities arrested 19,696 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

According to an official report, a total of 11,336 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 5,176 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,184 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,547 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 65 percent were Ethiopian, 32 percent Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 71 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 22 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.

Topics: Saudi Arabia

Related

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Design Law Treaty signed at intellectual property conference in Saudi Arabia
Lifestyle
US contemporary artist Brendan Murphy discusses his first show in Riyadh

Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts

Updated 39 min 13 sec ago
Arab News
Follow

Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts

Updated 39 min 13 sec ago
Arab News

Riyadh: Palestinians in Gaza who received Saudi aid have expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for its humanitarian support through aid agency KSrelief.

They likened the Saudi assistance to rain that quenches their thirst for hope, alleviates suffering and rekindles optimism amid immense challenges, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Samaher Eid Awkal, 47, said she struggled with health issues while living in Khan Younis with her blind mother in a basic tent. She thanked KSrelief for providing her family with a suitable tent, which has eased their hardship and restored hope.

A Gaza mother who endured freezing conditions with her children without shelter also expressed appreciation after receiving essential aid. She described the support as a source of joy and hope during difficult times.

Mahmoud Nabil Abu Alwan, displaced from Rafah to Mawasi in Khan Younis, thanked KSrelief after he received a new tent. He previously lived in a dilapidated tent borrowed from relatives amid shelling and harsh displacement conditions.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Gaza War on Gaza

Related

Middle-East
Gaza civil defense says 19 killed in Israeli strikes
Middle-East
Israel armys say ‘eliminated’ five Hamas militants in north Gaza raid

Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

Updated 23 November 2024
Khaldon Azhari
Follow

Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

Updated 23 November 2024
Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission, who is in Tokyo with the Saudi National Orchestra, says music “bridges cultural boundaries and has a very important part to play in each of the three main pillars of Vision 2030” as it represents a proud nation, a vibrant society and diversified economy.

Bringing the Saudi National Orchestra to Tokyo, he said, gives people the opportunity “to communicate with our language and it allows everybody to come together and share an experience that allows us to appreciate each other’s cultures and really to be in harmony. And that’s why I think it’s so special that the orchestra is here for the first time.”

The program includes traditional music directed by Saudi Director Reab Ahmed, as well as the Japanese Imperial Court Orchestra “Gagaku.”

“We’re able to show Saudi culture on one of the most prestigious stages in one of the world’s great cultural capitals here at Tokyo Opera City, and we’re doing that with authentic Saudi music, authentic traditional Japanese music with Gagaku,” he said. “But also with that great fusion between the two sets of musicians coming together and doing something really unique and beautiful.”

“The Saudi National Orchestra and choir is really at the vanguard of developing the music landscape in Saudi Arabia as it builds the depth and richness and uniqueness of its beautiful culture, both traditional and modern.”

Pacifico said it was “an honor” to share the stage with the Imperial Orchestra Gagaku performers. “It also shows how our cultures are different and yet similar, the regard for tradition and modernity, the appreciation of music, the sense of formality in public, but warmth and a sense of fun as well in private.”

He hopes that Friday’s performance is not a one-off but becomes the foundation of a rich and long-standing collaboration with “our Japanese friends, the Tokyo College of Music, who we’re collaborating with on this concert.”

“We hope that Saudi artists will start to have opportunities to play on stages here in Tokyo, like the Blue Note and Billboard Live and the Cotton Club, or festivals like Summer Sonic or Fuji Rock. And equally, we’d love to see Japanese artists playing more in Riyadh and all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has a very exciting story to tell.”

• This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan

Topics: Saudi Arabia Japan

Related

Saudi Arabia
Saudi and Japanese culture ministers discuss ways to strengthen cooperation
Saudi Arabia
Japanese envoy bids farewell, reflects on Saudi Arabia’s transformation, cultural legacy

Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

Updated 23 November 2024
Arab News
Follow

Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

Updated 23 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has helped a Yemeni prosthetics center provide medical services to 536 people in October.
The Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz Governorate provided various medical services Yemeni beneficiaries who have lost limbs, the Saudi Press Agency said.
During the project, 1,757 services were provided including measuring, manufacturing, fitting, delivering and maintaining artificial limbs and prosthetics, in addition to rehabilitation and physiotherapy services.
KSRelief also signed a deal with a Yemeni civil-society organization to provide shelter for the neediest families affected by floods and torrents in Hadhramaut.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Yemen

Related

Saudi Arabia
Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen
Middle-East
Yemen’s Houthi militants linked to ship attacks in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Latest updates

UK announces £108 million to support Pakistani businesses tackle climate change
Israeli settlers set sights on Trump support for full control of West Bank
32 killed in new sectarian violence in Pakistan
Cannot allow Islamabad protest, Pakistan interior minister tells ex-PM Khan’s party
Pakistan locks down capital ahead of a planned rally by Imran Khan supporters

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.