Saudis look back on their TV memories on Saudi National Day

Updated 23 September 2019
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Saudis look back on their TV memories on Saudi National Day

JEDDAH: When television came to Saudi Arabia in 1965, it was rejected by some as the “devil’s handiwork.”

But far from being in shock, Saudis generally were keen to embrace the new mass medium and learn what was going on in the world.

One TV station with a variety of programs was all it took to ensure that a Kingdom on the cusp of unprecedented prosperity and power also became home to an intellectually curious and informed society.

Saudis who commuted between Riyadh and the Eastern Province had known about the electronic device with moving images since the first TV broadcast from the US consulate in Dhahran in 1955.

“The Eye of the Desert” channel broadcast in English. Two years later, Aramco TV’s wider broadcasting range reached Al-Hofuf and other areas across the Gulf, with content in Arabic and English.

Speaking in front of a large crowd in 1962, then Crown Prince Faisal bin Abdul Aziz announced the Kingdom’s determination to bring television to the public.

“The responsibility of this facility is to serve our religion, our country and our nation,” he said. “It will be in the service of religion, the nation and the people in all necessary efforts and work in these regards.”

Under the banner “Channel of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the single official outlet went live in 1965 with a recitation of the Qur’an the first program to be broadcast.

However, as with almost any new development, the decision to launch the TV station offended Saudi religious conservatives, some of whom staged a demonstration where a number of protesters were killed when police responded to an assault on one of the TV facilities in 1965.

Saudi TV initially broadcast in Riyadh and Jeddah with modest technology and a broadcast time that did not exceed five hours a day. Hooked on the new source of entertainment, Saudi families gathered in front of a TV set every day and waited patiently for the signature tune that announced the beginning of the daily broadcast.

Talal Adham, 61, chairman of engineering consultancy Talal Adham & Partners, recalled those early days. “At first, broadcast was limited to only a few hours every day, but later it was extended to two shifts per day. The first was from 10 a.m. to noon and then there was an evening shift that ended at around midnight,” he told Arab News. “I remember the broadcast was continuous during the weekends, but would end around midnight or early morning time.”

Among the programs that aired in the 1970s were entertainment talk shows featuring Arab celebrities, studio musical performances by famous Saudi singers such as Talal Maddah and Mohammed Abdo, and American westerns.

Adham said that his two favorite TV shows from that period were “Fakir wa irbah” (“Think and Win“) and “Baba Ameen.” For many families, television was the only available entertainment source, “and viewership was at its highest during Ramadan,” he said.

Thuraya Arafah, 70, a retired instructor from the General Administration of Girls Education in Jeddah, said that TV programs in the 1970s were diverse. “There were religious programs, with the most famous being ‘Ala Ma’idat Al-Iftaar’ (’On the Iftaar Table’) with Sheikh Ali Tantawi in Ramadan, and ‘Al-Ilm wa Al-Eman’ (’Knowledge and Faith’) by Mustafa Mahmoud,” she said. “Then there were game shows such as ‘Huroof’ (’Letters’) and historical Arabic series such as ‘Juha’ and the Lebanese ‘Al-Hareb’ (’The Fugitive’). Then there were foreign TV serials such as ‘Mighty Mouse’ and ‘Fury.’”

Arafah said some of the best-known TV presenters at the time were Majid Al-Shibl and Hussain Najjar. “Gathering in front of the TV set to watch a film or a show was a way to spend quality time with family,” 

In 1979, in a watershed moment in modern Saudi history, Juhayman Al-Otaibi seized the Grand Mosque in Makkah with a group of ultra-conservative loyalists. demanding that the Kingdom “be cleansed of all evils.” 

Adham and Arafah both recall that TV changed dramatically after the Grand Mosque siege. “It became overly conservative,” said Arafah. “The concerts of Egyptian singer Um Kalthoum, and Egyptian and Lebanese series were banished. Women were not seen much on television afterwards.”

Adham agreed, saying that “women started appearing less and Islamic programs appeared more. Songs almost disappeared.”

SAUDI ’70s TV

• American series “Bonanza” and “Fury” (both Westerns) and “The Incredible Hulk”

• Syrian comedy series “Sah Al-Nawm”

• “Ala Ma’idat Al-Iftar” (On the Iftar Table) with Sheikh Ali Al-Tantawi

• “Al-Ilm wa Al-Eman” (Knowledge and Faith) with Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud

• “Hadith Al-Asdekaa,” a talk show on everyday social issues that first aired in 1965, hosting a number of government officials

• Kuwaiti comedy series “Darb Al-Zalag”

• “Sahrah Saudia,” a celebrity talk show produced by Talal Maddah

Many Saudis remember veteran TV and radio presenter Hussain Najjar relaying news of the assault on the Grand Mosque to viewers. Najjar also announced the news of Al-Otaibi’s execution.

One of the leading female Saudi TV presenters of the 1970s was Dunia Bakr Younis, known to audiences as “Mama Dunia” for her children’s program of the same name. Her father, a TV and radio presenter, was one of the founders of Saudi Radio, and she often accompanied him to the studio as a young girl. “I entered the media field with a strong foundation,” Younis told Arab News. “I have never had any difficulties. Neither of my parents prevented me from entering this field. My mother always said: ‘He who doesn’t get good grades won’t go to the studio.’ We were very serious about our studies and did not neglect them.”

Younis was living in the Eastern Province with her producer husband when the Grand Mosque siege unfolded. She was a presenter on her own shows, “Studio No. 5” and “Shati Nisf Al-Qamar” (“Half Moon Bay“), as well as on children’s programs on Dammam TV. “I decided to withdraw from TV appearances for a while,” she said. “I was mindful of the situation and as it was a confusing time for many. It was a good decision to make at the time.”

The Saudi Ministry of Information did not stop women presenters from appearing on screen, Younis said. However, she decided to take time out to look after her twins, Badr and Bakr, as well as her daughter Dalia, whom she used to take to the TV studio.

Younis said Saudi women played an important role in media despite the period’s social upheaval. “There was a misconception after the events of 1979 where Saudi women were viewed as if they had no rights,” she said.

“On the contrary, Saudi women were in their abayas and hosting shows on television. My sisters and I were like this, the pioneers. Some other contemporary female presenters were Dalal Aziz Diya, Salwa Shakir and Mariam Al-Ghamdi.”

Meanwhile, Saudi broadcasting has gone from strength to strength despite the setbacks that followed the events of 1979. A total of 12 TV channels are now available, covering a broad spectrum from music to news and entertainment. In September 2018, Weam Al-Dakheel became the first Saudi woman to anchor the main evening news on the Riyadh-based Al Ekhbariya channel.

“Mama Dunia” praised King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for giving Saudi women more opportunities. “We are grateful for how far women have come under their rule. They have given women the opportunity to play a major role in society,” she said.


Saudi defense minister meets Swedish counterpart

Updated 22 November 2024
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Saudi defense minister meets Swedish counterpart

  • Discussions focused on bolstering cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Sweden

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met Johan Stuart, minister of state at the Swedish Prime Minister’s office, in Riyadh on Thursday.

They discussed ways in which relations and cooperation between their countries might be enhanced, along with other issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Other Saudi officials present during the discussions included Lt. Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, chief of the general staff of the Kingdom’s armed forces, and Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, director general of the defense minister’s office.

The Swedish minister was accompanied by a delegation that included Bjorn Kalvakov, charge d’affaires of the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh, and Sophie Becker, deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa department at Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Italian food festival highlights nation’s rich taste and culinary flavors

Updated 22 November 2024
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Italian food festival highlights nation’s rich taste and culinary flavors

JEDDAH: The Italian Consulate General in Jeddah hosted on Wednesday night a unique event celebrating the richness and uniqueness of Italian products and flavors on the occasion of the ninth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. 

The event is being celebrated all over the globe from Nov. 16-22 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture as part of their drive to promote the beauty and quality of Italian gastronomy.

Leonardo Costa, the Italian consul general in Jeddah, said: “We are glad to hold this Italian food street festival in the framework of the 9th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World celebrating Italian food culture. The theme for this year’s events is ‘Mediterranean Diet: Traditional Cuisine and Healthy Food,’ which is not a list of healthy food but a lifestyle.”

He added: “All the communities of the Mediterranean Sea share the same idea of hospitality and friendship. All concepts that fully applied to the great generosity and hospitality to the Saudi people and their way of conceiving food.”

Held at Al-Basateen Compound, the Italian Consulate General in Jeddah set up an elaborate street food scene around the pool area, ranging from big local Italian brands from shops, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and hotels in Jeddah with the attendance of guests drawn from the diplomatic corps, journalists, Italian expatriates, Saudi guests, the business community, and other selected food enthusiasts.

The festival contained multiple food stalls displayed by the sponsors and participants such as Danub, Lallo restaurant, Assila hotel, Margherita KSA, Montana water by Sharbatly, Ferrero, Loacker, and other brands, where everyone showcased different distinctive Italian delicacies.

Music was also played for the guests by DJ Ahmed Can.

Saudi businessman Mohammed Al-Zahrani — who became fascinated by Italian coffee during his visits to Catanzaro, the capital of the Calabria region in Italy, is the founder of Dell’Oro Store. He told Arab News how he turned his passion into a business.

“I am glad to be part of the ninth Week of Italian Cuisine in the World for the first time, and I am here to promote our coffee,” he added.


Spanish aerobatic pilot Castor Fantoba puts on a spectacular air display in Riyadh

Updated 21 November 2024
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Spanish aerobatic pilot Castor Fantoba puts on a spectacular air display in Riyadh

  • World-class pilot soars high at Sand & Fun event

RIYADH: A Spanish world-class powered aerobatic pilot on Tuesday put on a thrilling aerobatic display filled with loops, rolls, spins, dives and climbs at the Sand & Fun event at Al-Thumamah airport, Riyadh. 

Organized by the Saudi General Aviation, the event runs from Nov. 19-23. 

Castor Fantoba’s performance was one of 10 SkyVentures at Sand & Fun’s series of airshows.

In a sitdown interview with Arab News, Fantoba described how his passion for aviation began and what it takes to become a world-class aerobatic pilot. 

As a child, Fantoba lived in the Spanish region of Navarra, where he watched small planes flying in the sky.

“Every child is looking into the blue ... Near my village there was an older field and eventually there were small planes doing tours and I was always stuck to the glass of the car, looking into the window trying to see if there was something around. I think it was that simple thing that marked my life.”

After secondary school, Fantoba developed a deeper admiration for aviation, which led to him pursuing a career as an engineer. 

Fantoba graduated as an aeronautical engineer and gained his extensive flying experience in areas such as aerial advertising, skywriting, crop-dusting and water-bombing.

He then decided to take a different route and become a pilot, after working for several years in aircraft maintenance. 

Today, Fantoba is an airline captain qualified to fly Boeing 737, 757 and 767s, powered aerobatics in the world-renowned Sukhoi Su-26M and is also a certified flight instructor for ultralight motorized gliders, private pilot licence training, and powered aerobatics.

To prepare for his airshows, Fantoba has a precise regimen of physical training and technical training coached by retired pilot and former member of the Soviet and Russian national aerobatic team, Nikolai Nikituk, who is widely recognized as one of the best pilots in the history of aerobatics. 

“He (Nikituk) is the one who is pushing us and modeling us to arrive at that point in which we will compete and try to win.”

During airshows, pilots take turns performing and on some days the wind could work against them. In moments like those, endurance is key, a practice taught by Nikituk.

“If you control your stress, you get focused and you don’t get nervous and lose energy.” 

Aerobatic pilots draw geometrical figures in the sky using a unique composition of sequences. When performing advanced aerial maneuvers, pilots can experience a range of gravitational forces.

Aerobatic pilots are trained to handle these forces by tensing their muscles to maintain blood flow to the brain and avoid blacking out.

Fantoba said dealing with negative Gz force, when pushing a plane over into a dive, took him 10 years of practice to perfect it. 

“After 10 years of training, (previously) I was not able to get the good rotation or transition, but this year I got it so this for me is the most satisfying.”

To avoid problems in equilibrium, prevent dizziness and fade-out, Fantoba said a lot mental focus, physical conditioning, and training are required. 

“You need to do exactly what you are told to do in a sequence. A sequence is composed of about 14 figures that are very complex with rotations in all directions.” 

Fantoba spoke of an experience when he blacked out during a positive Gz flight. “I remember I was beginning a training camp and I was really relaxed during the beginning of the season ... I was not pushing my body … I remember I was going up and then a voice was calling me ‘Castor, do you hear me?’ (on the radio) and I saw all blue and suddenly realized I was flying.”

Pilots begin with 10 points and lose 1 point per 5 degrees of deviation, so precision is vital to a successful airshow. Pilots usually score an average five points, but Fantoba’s attention to detail allowed him to score 8.3 points in the previous World Championship. 

Fantoba encourages individuals to try flying. “With normal health, you can fly ... you have fantastic aircraft here in Saudi Arabia … call them (organizations) and ask them ‘how can I become a pilot?’ It’s easy and you will discover an absolute new world.”

“Aerobatics and generally all air sports, it does not matter if you are a man or woman, it’s based on skill … in aerobatics we do not have separation.”

Fantoba has numerous achievements to his credit. 

He was a runner-up in the 2022 World Team Championship, runner-up in freestyle at the 2019 World Championship; three bronze medals at the 2017 World Cup; double bronze medal in the 2015 World Cup, bronze medal in Classic and Freestyle in the 2016 European Championship, Absolute European Champion 2014, and nine times Absolute Spanish Champion.

He has been officially recognized as a high level athlete by the Higher Sports Council since 2005. He has bagged more than 50 medals in his sporting career, six medals in a single top-category competition (European Aerobatic Championships 2014). He has won 30 FAI (world governing body for air sports) medals, including six golds.


Man arrested for transporting nine border security violators in Jazan

Updated 21 November 2024
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Man arrested for transporting nine border security violators in Jazan

JAZAN: Authorities in Jazan arrested a citizen for transporting nine border security violators of Yemeni and Ethiopian nationalities. Legal procedures were carried out, and the violators were handed over to the authorities before being transferred to the Public Prosecution.

Authorities have warned that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them, provides them with shelter, or offers any form of assistance or service, will face severe penalties. These include imprisonment of up to 15 years, fines of up to SR1 million ($266,318), confiscation of any vehicles or properties used in the offense, and public defamation.

Meanwhile, while enforcing environmental regulations in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security arrested a man for illegal hunting in a prohibited area. He was found with an air rifle and three trapped wild animals. Legal measures were taken, and he was referred to the authorities for further action.


Ehsan charity empowers non-profit organizations

Updated 21 November 2024
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Ehsan charity empowers non-profit organizations

RIYADH: Workshops arranged by Ehsan, the national platform for charitable work, are helping empower non-profit organizations.

The initiative will ensure leaders keep pace with the governance of charitable work, with sessions aimed at developing methods to plan and implement projects.

The events are part of Ehsan’s efforts to increase the knowledge and develop the work of its non-governmental partner organizations. They align with its vision of maximizing the impact of projects, developing technical solutions, strengthening partnerships and empowering the non-profit sector.

The first workshops were launched in the Hail, Al-Jouf, Central and Asir regions, and Jeddah Governorate. More than 500 non-governmental organizations took part.