In November 2018, four Saudis came up with the idea of starting a floral business because “a bouquet of flowers is a symbol of care and appreciation.” And so the luxurious online floral shop Hues was born.
The four partners all have different roles. Tala Bakhsh, who holds an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from King’s College London and a diploma in the art of floral composition from Catherine Muller Flower School in London, is Hues’ specialist florist. Maryam Abduljawad, who has a bachelor’s degree in visual communication and arts with an emphasis in studio art in Lugano, Switzerland, is its creative florist.
Sultana Binladen, who holds a master’s degree in events and conference management from London and is an aromatherapist and marketing and graphic design specialist, serves as Hues’ events and coordination manager. Lastly, Mashael Binladen, a postgraduate in international business with emphasis in entrepreneurship, is its floral arrangements specialist.
“We were discussing ideas for businesses within art and education. All we had in common was a love for handwork and art. While conversing, the idea of flowers came up, which the four of us are passionate about,” they told Arab News in an email.
There are a few online flower businesses in the Kingdom but what makes Hues stand out is their monthly and weekly subscriptions can be tailored to the customer’s needs, such as for the home or office.
“During the first couple of months we realized how people were looking for reasonable prices, as well as visually pleasing designs and types of flowers. The market also lacked any type of subscription services, which we took the opportunity to provide.”
As the floral quartet put it: “Actions speak louder than words. Nowadays, with technology you can be there for someone 24/7 via text, but what really matters is to show you care, and to go above and beyond and touch someone’s heart.
“Sending a bouquet means far more than just sending a flower emoji in a text. Receiving flowers is bound to make your loved one smile, whether on special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or a birthday, or simply on any day you would like to make your loved one feel special.”
They offer a wide range of flower selection and displays, with Enchanted Beauty (orchids and roses) being their bestseller. It is the colors (hues) that give this bouquet its name — purple roses symbolize enchantment, while baby orchids signify beauty.
Hues would like to get the wider public interested in the different types of flowers, their meaning and symbolism, and to this end they will be offering workshops for children aged 4-12 from next month.
“Flowers make us happy and we wanted to provide an online floral store that would add beauty not only to people’s lives but to the lives of the ones around you as well, in a simple, yet luxurious way.”
They plan to open a store by September 2020 or early 2021 in Jeddah.
Customers can place their orders through their website: www.hues-sa.com. Keep up with Hues on Instagram (@hues.sa)
Startup of the Week: Hues - a Saudi online florist adding a touch of beauty to flower shopping
https://arab.news/8rz5f
Startup of the Week: Hues - a Saudi online florist adding a touch of beauty to flower shopping
- “Flowers make us happy and we wanted to provide an online floral store that would add beauty not only to people’s lives but to the lives of the ones around you as well, in a simple, yet luxurious way”
The Saudi foreign minister meets with the US Secretary of State in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, developments in the Middle East, and the efforts being made in these regards.
The meeting was attended by the Director-General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Aldawood.
Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit
- IT minister Abdullah Al-Swaha says the Kingdom aims to drive economic growth and productivity through adoption of AI technologies
- He also underscores nation’s achievements in its efforts to empower women and youth in the technology sector
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Arabia on Monday reaffirmed its desire to be a global leader in digital innovation and artificial intelligence, and its commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for the benefit of humanity.
Speaking on the sidelines of the opening day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, the Kingdom’s minister of communications and information technology, Abdullah Al-Swaha, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to drive economic growth and productivity through the adoption of AI technologies.
He also underscored the nation’s achievements in its efforts to empower women and youth in the technology sector, noting that participation by women increased from 7 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024.
He credited Saudi Vision 2030, the national plan for development and diversification, as a key enabler of this progress, in particular its promotion of digital governance as a cornerstone for digital inclusion and trust.
Al-Swaha pointed out the growing global international recognition of the Kingdom as a leader in digital services; in September it ranked fourth worldwide in the Digital Services Index, which is part of the UN’s E-Government Development Index.
The minister also highlighted the launch of the nation’s AI Readiness Framework, in collaboration with the UN International Telecommunication Union, and the establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics, in partnership with UNESCO.
He reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to the enhancement of international cooperation and the development of policies that promote technological innovation and global welfare.
Saudi Arabia calls for peace, addresses global challenges at opening of G20 Summit
- Prince Faisal bin Farhan leads Kingdom’s delegation on behalf of crown prince
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the first session of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Monday.
Prince Faisal, who is leading the delegation on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke at the summit’s opening session which was called “Social Inclusion and Combating Hunger and Poverty.”
Prince Faisal highlighted pressing global challenges, noting that increasing tensions, military conflicts, and humanitarian crises were significant obstacles to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, adding: “Development and prosperity cannot be achieved on the ruins of death and destruction.”
Moving on to the ongoing crises in the Middle East, Prince Faisal pointed to Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, describing them as sources of severe human suffering and catalysts which were pushing the region toward broader conflict.
He said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon has caused unprecedented levels of human suffering; is pushing the region to the brink of a wider war … and is undermining the credibility of international law and institutions.”
Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peace, stating the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance; the release of hostages; and a serious commitment to lasting peace based on the two-state solution according to the 1967 borders, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The minister also addressed the situation in Sudan, expressing concern over the severe human toll due to the conflict, and obstacles preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.
In addition to political challenges, Prince Faisal commended Brazil’s initiative in launching the International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s development and humanitarian objectives. He announced the Kingdom’s participation in the alliance, which resonates with its long-standing global efforts.
He said: “The Kingdom is pleased to be part of this alliance that is in line with its development goals and its global role in this regard, which is expressed by the programs of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (and) the Saudi Fund for Development, in addition to its global contributions to the programs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support developing countries.”
The Kingdom’s delegation included Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Deputy Minister of Finance (Saudi Sherpa for the G20) Abdul Mohsen bin Saad Al-Khalaf, and Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam.
The G20 Summit in Brazil serves as a platform for the world’s leading economies to address global challenges and promote collective solutions aimed at fostering sustainable development and social equity.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prince Faisal met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During their meeting they discussed US-Saudi relations, as well as regional developments and the efforts made in this regard.
Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana
- The two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Governor of the US state of Indiana Eric Holcomb in Riyadh on Monday.
During the meeting, the two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Ayyaf and Chief of Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili were among the Saudi officials present.
Commander-in-Chief of the Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen. Roger Lyles and head of the US Military Training Mission in the Kingdom Col. Dirk Smith were among the US officials present.
Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology
- Partnership forms part of vision to create ‘integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth’
RIYADH: Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, which is also known as Misk City, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the tech giant Samsung Electronics to cooperate in the sectors of smart city technology, sustainability, and youth empowerment.
Misk City’s CEO David Henry signed the memorandum with the President of Samsung Electronics Saudi Arabia Hendrick Lee, on the sidelines of the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh, which finishes on Tuesday.
Henry said that the partnership with Samsung “represents an important step in line with Misk City’s strategic vision of creating an integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He stressed the importance of working with Samsung “to create a vibrant and innovative environment that presents a unique model for smart cities.”
Lee said that Samsung’s “cooperation with Misk City represents our unified commitment to leading innovation and sustainability with the aim of developing transformative solutions that enhance urban life and empower future generations in the field of technology, which benefits our communities.”
The two parties will also collaborate on developing training programs specifically designed to hone the skills of Saudi’s youth to help enhance smart city experiences. These programs will later be hosted and delivered in Misk City, the SPA added.
Samsung Electronics is also considering setting up a showroom in Misk City to showcase its latest artificial intelligence-powered smart technologies, providing visitors with a firsthand experience of smart homes and understanding of future innovations.
