From romantic getaways to last-minute gifts, Saudi Arabia has Valentine’s Day covered

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Heritage Village on Farasan Island in Saudi Arabia's southwestern province of Jazan. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 11 March 2022
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From romantic getaways to last-minute gifts, Saudi Arabia has Valentine’s Day covered

  • Could Saudi Arabia’s secluded Farasan Islands or mysterious AlUla sweep you off your feet this Valentine’s Day?
  • For those who left it too late to book a romantic retreat, there are plenty of Saudi apps offering last-minute gift ideas

JEDDAH: Valentine’s Day, the annual celebration of romance and love, is upon us once more, bringing with it the usual flurry of greetings cards, dinner reservations, whopping great boxes of chocolates and lavish bouquets of roses.

Once firmly off-limits in Saudi Arabia and regarded as out of sync with Gulf Arab values, the holiday is nowadays celebrated in the Kingdom with romantic gestures, an abundance of gift options, and commercial travel offerings designed to make the occasion memorable.

From fine-dining experiences at world-class restaurants to staycations and scenic getaways in the Arabian wilderness, the Kingdom now offers courting couples a huge selection of romantic adventures, right on their doorstep.




Farasan Island in Saudi Arabia's southwestern province of Jazan. (Shutterstock)

While many might consider Paris, the original “city of love,” to be the obvious destination for a last-minute Valentine’s excursion, Saudi Arabia offers its own romantic retreats, where couples can escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities and focus entirely on one another.

Take the Farasan Islands for instance. With more than 170 islands spread across the southwestern Red Sea, it is a playground for nature lovers looking for a long weekend away without having to leave the region.




An ancient mosque stands in an old village in Farasan islands. (Shutterstock)

The bright blue waters are complemented by pristine, virgin beaches, mangrove forests, spectacular coral reefs, and an abundance of wildlife. Described as “habitat hot spots,” the islands were the first place in the Kingdom to be listed as a protected biosphere reserve.

Visitors who take advantage of the opportunity to go diving in the crystal-clear waters can find dolphins playing in the surf, spot flocks of pink flamingos paddling in sparkling shallows, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of giant yet serene dugongs drifting between the mangroves.

The islands are not entirely untouched by humans. The ruins of an old Ottoman fortress, stone remnants resembling Roman columns, and old, white-washed houses built in the unique local style have, like all good relationships, stood the test of time.

However, the islands remain largely unscathed by modern development and so hotel options are limited. But what better way to truly enjoy the natural beauty of the region, and the company of your loved one, than by camping out on an unspoiled beach under a blanket of stars.

If a cooler climate is more your thing, then heading north to the majestic valley and mountains of AlUla might hold greater appeal. Indeed, this is the land of the timeless tale of the forbidden love of Jamil and Buthainah.




Extraordinary sandstone landscapes host extraordinary cultural and natural heritage, surrounded with beautiful unique rock formation where you can find only in AlUla. (Shutterstock)

Since the region opened up to the world in 2018, accommodation options have been springing up throughout AlUla, sensitively designed to blend into the natural surroundings.

From the Harrat Viewpoint, visitors can survey the wide vistas of the region’s old farming communities and watch a gorgeous sunset over the old town of AlUla. For more active and adventurous travelers, the attractions include zip-lining, scenic walks on the desert sand, and a chance to explore the ancient landmarks of the Dedan and Lihyan civilizations.

Caravan sites and designated camping grounds offer visitors the chance to experience an atmospheric night under the stars. If you prefer your home comforts, AlUla also has luxury hotel options and exceptional culinary experiences at Annabel’s, Al-Mahkar, Circolo and Myazu.

For those who have left it too late to book a weekend trip, there are plenty of Saudi gift services available at the click of a button. Flowers, chocolates and balloons, for example, are available for delivery using smartphone apps such as Floward, Joi Gifts, Little Flora, Arabian Flora, and Ferns N Petals. Meanwhile, custom-made gifts can be ordered through courier apps such as The Chefs, Marsool, and To You.




Inside Annabel's Restaurant in AlUla. (Supplied)

Then of course there is the traditional option of a romantic meal for two. One top recommendation is the Greek fare on offer at Opa, the newest restaurant to open at Riyadh Oasis in the heart of the Nafud Desert.

Meanwhile, serving locations from London to Jeddah, Novikov offers some of the region’s best Asian cuisine, prepared in an open kitchen that allows diners to watch the team of talented chefs create exquisite dishes before their very eyes.

With so many Valentine’s Day options available for smitten Saudis to make that grand romantic gesture, Cupid’s arrow surely cannot fail to hit the mark.


KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program

Updated 27 June 2025
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KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program

  • The program harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience
  • Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, said the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community”

RIYADH: The King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, established by King Saud University, will welcome 60 “gifted students” on Sunday as part of the Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, a four-week initiative aimed at developing scientific skills and research experience among Saudi youth, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Run in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), the program “harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience in laboratories and production facilities, while introducing them to the fundamentals and ethics of scientific research under the supervision of specialized researchers,” the SPA wrote.

Hamad Abdulaziz Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, explained that the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community by transferring knowledge to younger generations through the use of advanced laboratory equipment and the expertise of distinguished researchers from diverse scientific disciplines.”

Ahmed bin Abdulkarim Al-Saleh, head of the Mawhiba program at KSU for 2025, highlighted the importance of such programs in providing exceptional students with the opportunity to conduct scientific research at KSU’s top-tier research chairs and centers.

Al-Saleh also noted that the program offers “a wide range of skill-building activities, including Python programming, AI and its scientific applications, as well as enrichment trips to research centers beyond the university campus.”


‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps

Updated 27 June 2025
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‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps

  • The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis
  • RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners

JEDDAH: Hundreds of Saudi students on Thursday graduated from a specialized program targeting job creation in the Kingdom’s fast-growing tourism sector.

The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program, held in partnership with King Abdulaziz University and the Human Resources Development Fund, celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis, the scheme’s third cohort of students, across specializations including wellness tourism and hospitality.

The ceremony was attended by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company.

The two officials delivered a speech highlighting the importance of achieving Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering the nation’s youth, building a thriving Saudi industry, and showcasing the Kingdom’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world.

Pagano said: “We are proud to see our skill development initiative empower youth and transform lives. By providing access to high quality and job-oriented training programs, we empower the students with the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry of Saudi Arabia.”

RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners, he added.

The graduation, held at King Faisal Auditorium, saw the signing of an agreement between the Human Resources Development Fund and Red Sea Global to train and employ 1,000 young Saudi men and women in specialized fields, including wellness tourism, hospitality, tourism security and technical services.

Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, HRDF director general, said that the fund helped more than 153,000 Saudi men and women find employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024.

Al-Jawini showcased the fund’s most prominent campaigns, and said that the HRDF develops its programs in partnership with various sectors, with the aim of improving job opportunities and developing human capital.

The event also included a keynote address by Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at RSG. He praised the graduates for their resilience, hard work and dedication.

“From the first day you entered the Red Sea Vocational Training Program, you’ve proven to us that ambition has no limits, and that those with determination and passion can go further than they imagined. Your hard work has become an accomplishment. Your efforts are the beginning of a great professional journey, filled with opportunities and successes that exceed our expectations,” Al-Basseet said.

“Don’t stop at this achievement; let it be the beginning of a great and prosperous future. We are always behind you, and we are proud of you.”

Later, graduates Naif Najmi, Mishari Al-Jehani, Ghala Al-Buhairi and Ghada Al-Jehani gave thank-you speeches on behalf of their cohort. They highlighted the importance of the support they received, reflected on their journeys and described their hopes for the future.

The ceremony was full of emotion and joy among students and their parents.

Amer Al-Marawani, a graduate student of tourism security, told Arab News: “I’m feeling really happy and excited for the beginning of my new journey. In the future, I hope I can contribute to the tourism sector of my country.”

Hala Nadri, a graduate specializing in hospitality, said: “After graduation, it is an outstanding honor for us to serve the country, we are really looking forward to join the workforce anywhere in our touristic sites.”

Meanwhile, Jood Majed, a graduate of tourism safety, praised the program’s technical depth and encouraged other Saudi women to apply: “The training programs have been a resounding success and we learned a lot from it. Now, it is our time to pay back our leadership who supported us all these years by working hard, and eventually, we will make our country proud.”

Yousef Al-Amri, a graduate in information technology, said: “I consider myself very lucky to be equipped with these invaluable skills and I am forever grateful to RSG and KAU.”


Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha

Updated 27 June 2025
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Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha

  • The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season
  • The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake

RIYADH: The artificial lake, green landscapes, and waterfalls and fountains of Al-Hussam Park in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha attract a large number of nature lovers, holiday-makers and picnickers every summer season.

The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season this year under the slogan “Color Your Summer,” featuring raffles and daily prize giveaways.

Mohammed Faisal, a botany professor at King Saud University, who has visited the city on several official trips, told Arab News; “Prince Hussam Park is a beautiful destination, I enjoy the exquisite beauty of this summer tourism spot in a refreshing environment with intermittent rains and cold breeze from the nearby foggy mountaintops of Al-Baha.

It stands as one of the key tourist attractions in its region and serves as a recreational destination for residents and visitors alike.”

The park, named after Al-Baha Emir Prince Hussam Bin Saud, overlooks the city on one side and the Tihami sector on the other.

Nadeem Ahmad, an engineer working in the city, told Arab News: “Set on the mountain top and close to the Sarawat Mountains in the Al-Baha city, (the park) is one of the region’s most prominent ecotourism destinations.

Its scenic beauty complements nearby Raghadan Park and adds to the array of parks and gardens scattered across this picturesque region. It’s a must-visit tourist spot if you are in the Kingdom.”

The region’s mayor, Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al-Sawat, told the Saudi Press Agency that the total area of the park is 160,000 square meters, with green spaces covering 132,264 square meters.

The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake, 500 parking spaces, four children’s play areas, 35 restrooms, a 1,000-square-meter “interactive fountain,” two 10-meter-high waterfalls, a 700-meter walking path, prayer areas for men and women, and a plaza that includes an open-air theater covering some 5,000 square meters with seating for up to 1,000 people.

“Al-Hussam Park hosts a variety of cultural and artistic events every summer, including traditional performances that reflect the region’s heritage, a children’s theater offering educational and entertainment activities, and diverse cultural shows representing various communities,” Al-Sawat noted.

The park has also implemented several new projects to accommodate elderly visitors and people with special needs, the SPA reported.


Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system

Updated 27 June 2025
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Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system

TOKYO: ADR Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Cytori Cell Research Institute, Inc., has signed a Letter of Intent to conduct a joint clinical trial for “90-minute complete stem cell therapy” with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.

The collaboration, reported in PR Times, is expected to drive medical innovation in the Middle East and bring new hope to patients with intractable diseases that were previously considered difficult to treat. 

In conventional stem cell therapy, harvested cells must be cultured for anything between several weeks and months at a dedicated facility, resulting in high costs and long waiting times. ADR Therapeutics’ Cellution System purifies non-cultured cells from a patient’s tissue to the state needed for treatment in just 90 minutes and can be administered on the same day of collection.

This provides a safe and effective treatment option for diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetic foot lesions, Crohn’s disease and chronic pain. The risk of rejection is extremely low because the patient’s own cells are used and the risk of infection is reduced because no culture process is required.

Saudi Arabia has positioned the medical and healthcare sector as a key strategic area in Vision 2030, the national transformation program led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and aims to become a world-leading medical hub.

The number of patients in the Middle East with diabetes and other chronic diseases is rapidly increasing due to changes in lifestyle, and a rising number of cases are difficult to treat with conventional therapies.

It is expected the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and Japan in the medical field will be further strengthened by the contribution of Japan-originated stem cell therapy technology to solving local medical issues.

The most important feature of the treatment is that it can be performed at ordinary medical institutions without the need for advanced culture facilities or specialized technicians. This will enable the provision of advanced regenerative medicine in regions with limited specialized facilities and is expected to contribute significantly to improving access to medical care.

Saudi medical professionals will be able to acquire the latest stem cell therapy technology through specialist Japanese doctors providing direct technical guidance locally.


The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine

Updated 27 June 2025
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The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine

  • Food is a way to share cultures and build bridges, says YouTube star

RIYADH: According to Saudi chef and food blogger Eman Gazzaz, diplomacy can be achieved through food and other cultural practices.

The daughter of a diplomat, Gazzaz is more than a home cook — she is an artist and a mother of three who is turning simple dishes into soulful stories. She also wants to form cultural bridges through her work, as she explained when she appeared as a guest on the Mayman Show.

Growing up as the daughter of a Saudi ambassador, she dreamed of following the same path. In many ways, she did — but her “embassy” was her kitchen and she chose food, rather than politics, as her language.

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After a childhood spent in various continents, Gazzaz now has a YouTube kitchen that feels like home and has taken it upon herself to show the world what real Saudi food and real Saudi women are all about.

During her interview, she recalled her time living in different parts of the world and her parents’ creative expression.

“My parents are very diverse. And they’re not just diplomats; they are creative in many ways. My dad is a gardener; he collects old antique cars, he collects old pocket watches,” she said.

She has fond memories of living in Pakistan during her father’s tenure in the late 1980s: “It’s a beautiful country; the people are so beautiful. Living in six countries and just being exposed to the world and the different cultures they have, it’s just like … it creates something in you as an individual. It makes you more connected somehow.”

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Her exposure to different cultures and the connections she made helped her become the person who is now presenting the joy of Saudi cooking to the world. She carries her experiences with her — the countries, the cultures and the people — and some of what she has seen means she is especially appreciative of the stability and security she enjoys in Saudi Arabia.

“That’s what made me as Eman, what changed me as somebody who lived abroad,” she said. “I appreciate coming to Saudi Arabia and the safety and the security that we experienced. When I was studying in the American school in Karachi, one of my classmates got kidnapped. And he was kidnapped for six months.”

Gazzaz explained that previously she traveled around with a bodyguard and in a bullet-proof car to ensure her safety and security.

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“Every time I come to Saudi Arabia I’m just like, ‘We don’t have to lock the door, we don’t have a bodyguard, nobody is carrying a gun.’ That made me feel like… coming back home made me feel so safe,” she said.

Eman also recalls a childhood memory of making a popular Saudi dish with her father.

“Every time we go outdoors, he always cooks the same dish and it’s actually one of my favorite dishes, which is saleeg (a white rice dish, cooked with broth and milk),” she said.

“I used to help him do the chicken, strain the stock and take the food out. And I grew up tasting these flavors and just eating the saleeg outdoors and being part of that experience, just me being so close to saleeg. My daughter loves saleeg as well.”

Cooking was always a family affair. Gazzaz’s mother was known for her delicious salads, while everyone had a role to play in preparing meals.

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“From both sides of my parents, they were very good cooks. My dad is very good at barbecuing,” she said. “He loves to go to the beach every weekend. When we were living abroad, he always rented a place, and he used to make the barbecue and marinate (the food) and barbecue it.”

Her own YouTube fame, Gazzaz credits to both her husband and her friend, Alia. Back in 2010, Alia visited for a month and revealed she had her own channel, Cooking with Alia.

“When she came, she’s like, ‘Eman, I have a YouTube channel.’ Back in 2010, YouTube was like five, six years old, It was still very new,” recalled Gazzaz.

Alia wanted her to present Saudi dishes on YouTube — something that made Gazzaz pause. At that time, it was not common for Saudi women to show their faces on social media, so she replied that she would have to ask her husband.

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His response, said Gazzaz, was: “Do what you want.”

“He is a Miami boy, so he’s very chilled,” she explained.

She took it as an opportunity to show off her national dress, as well as the food.

“(I thought) I’ll wear my abaya, I’ll put on my tarha (scarf), introduce my clothes and my outfits and things like that, and that’s what we did,” she said. From there, grew the first Saudi channel that introduced the world to the Kingdom’s culture through food.

Gazzaz has also written a book, “A Saudi Mandela,” which is a meditation and coloring book for adults.