Gone are the days when Saudis gave little attention to health and diet.
They are now far more aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, partly evidenced by the growing number of gyms in the Kingdom.
Also on the rise are businesses offering healthy diet options and meal plans with young Saudi entrepreneurs taking full advantage of the internet and mobile apps to run their own online ventures.
Soulful is one such example. The online bakery, cofounded by Saudis Abdulilah Al-Nagadi, Intissar Bakr, Yasser Al-Eitani, and Enas Hashani, offers low-carb, gluten-free, ketogenic and paleo products.
Bakr switched to a ketogenic diet after learning about its benefits and began making low-carb desserts and bread for her family and friends, who encouraged her to launch the enterprise.
Entrepreneur Al-Eitani was introduced to the bakery around a year ago through Al-Nagadi and, impressed with the quality and taste of the products, suggested
turning it from a home-based setup into a full-fledged operation. “We officially launched Soulful in September 2019, but the idea began in January of that year,” Al-Eitani said.
Soulful offers a range of gluten-free and low-carb baked items suitable for different types of diets. “We are still growing and adding more items to our menu to accommodate everybody’s needs with a focus on the health benefits,” he said.
What makes Soulful stand out from other bakeries is the nutritional value of its products. “Some unconventional ingredients provide the necessary nutrients that are usually missed out while dieting,” added Al-Eitani.
“So, if you or your kids have a sweet tooth and are worried about sugar consumption, you do not have to think twice. You can grab a brownie, a cheesecake or any of our desserts without the guilt of eating the typical sugar-filled products.”
Soulful also has options for those who have health conditions with restrictive diets, such as certain types of diabetes or celiac disease.
“Of course, we recommend consulting your doctor before making major dietary changes,” he said.
However, several certified nutrition experts have given their seal of approval to the products after testing them.
“Instead of the typical flour, sugar, and salt being the main ingredients, our bread is made with almond flour and is fused with prebiotics to support useful bacteria in our guts. They are also filling enough to prevent overeating.”
Soulful uses Instagram and WhatsApp to do its business and some items are available in local bakeries. Plans are in the pipeline to expand outside of its current base in Jeddah. Details on Instagram @soulful.ksa.
Startup of the Week: Soulful - Guilt-free food for the health-conscious
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Startup of the Week: Soulful - Guilt-free food for the health-conscious
- Soulful offers a range of gluten-free and low-carb baked items suitable for different types of diets
Saudi foreign minister takes part in GCC extraordinary meeting in Kuwait
- GCC officials reject foreign interference in Syrian affairs, call for lifting of Western sanctions
- Meeting affirms GCC’s support for Palestinian people and demands ceasefire in Gaza
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part in the 46th extraordinary meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s ministerial council in Kuwait on Thursday.
Ministers and officials from GCC countries discussed the latest developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.
They stressed the need to uphold Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in early December.
The ministerial council rejected foreign interference in Syrian affairs and called for Western sanctions that have weakened the country’s economy to be lifted, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive transitional process that ensures civilian safety, achieves national reconciliation, and preserves state institutions.
The council condemned Israeli attacks on Syria and the plan to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Golan Heights. It also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Officials stressed that Lebanon needs political and economic reforms to prevent it from becoming a hub for terrorism and drug smuggling, highlighting the critical role of the Lebanese security forces in addressing these issues, the SPA added.
The meeting affirmed the GCC’s support for the Palestinian people, and called for a permanent ceasefire, an end to the siege in Gaza, and the supply of humanitarian aid.
Prince Sultan bin Saad, Saudi ambassador to Kuwait, and other senior Saudi foreign officials attended the meeting.
200 students will compete to represent Saudi Arabia at top science events
- Mawhiba, Ministry of Education select students from a record 291,057 applications
RIYADH: A total of 200 students have been chosen to compete for a chance to represent the Kingdom at next year’s prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair and other international competitions.
The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, and the Ministry of Education announced the qualification of the 200 students, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The announcement took place at the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, exhibition for science and engineering. The Ibdaa event is held to create a competitive and creative environment for pre-college scientific researchers.
The students were selected from among 480 participants in the recent regional exhibitions held as a part of the fourth stage of the Olympiad.
The final qualifying stage for the Olympiad will be held at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh from Feb. 2 to 6.
The Ibdaa 2025 Olympiad had a record registration of 291,057 students.
The Olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.
Beekeepers’ association launches green campaign
RIYADH: The Beekeepers Cooperative Association in Rijal Almaa in the Asir Region on Thursday launched an initiative to plant 1,000 sidr trees in Wadi Hiswah as part of an environmental sustainability plan aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative.
Inaugurated in 2021, the Saudi Green Initiative unites environmental protection, energy transition and sustainability programs with the overarching aims of offsetting and reducing emissions, increasing afforestation and land restoration, and supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2060.
The Beekeepers Association launched the green campaign in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The chairman of the association’s board of directors, Ali bin Yahya Al-Hayani, said that this initiative aims to enhance air quality and combat climate change.
He identified the environmental benefits of the sidr tree, highlighting its resilience, its role in combating desertification, and its contribution to soil health and biodiversity.
Reconstituted Saudi IP authority’s board of directors approved
- Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property’s newly-reconstituted Board of Directors was approved for a three-year term, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.
In the reconstituted board, Shihana Alazzaz, who is an adviser at the Royal Court, will continue to serve as chair. She previously served as the deputy secretary-general of the Council of Ministers and was the first Saudi woman to hold the position.
The approval includes extending the membership of Eng. Haitham Al-Ohali, Eng. Osama Al-Zamil, and Dima Al-Yahya.
Badr Al-Qadi and Dr. Mohammed Al-Otaibi join the board as new members.
Alazzaz expressed her thanks and gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous and continuous support for the authority.
She also thanked the previous board members for their efforts and wished the new members success.
The authority’s CEO Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, said that the new formation of the board reflects the continued generous support of the leadership for the authority, wishing the Board success.
Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers
- Storage facilities are located near the Makkah Library and Gate 64
MAKKAH: Authorities in the holy city of Makkah announced on Wednesday free luggage storage for Umrah performers.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that free storage facilities are available to the east of the Grand Mosque, near the Makkah Library, and to the west, near Gate 64.
Umrah performers must present their permits through the Nusuk app to access the facilities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Umrah performers can store bags, not loose items, weighing up to 7 kilograms for a maximum of four hours. Valuables, prohibited items, food, and medicine are not permitted. A claim ticket must be presented for retrieval.
The authority plans to extend the service to encompass all areas around the Grand Mosque to better assist visitors, the SPA added.
