Engineer quits job for TikTok, garners 1.7m followers

Abdulaziz Khojah also gets to interview the cast and crew of the movies. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 August 2022
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Engineer quits job for TikTok, garners 1.7m followers

  • Loves 60-second reviews of TV shows and movies
  • Passionately seeks role as director, writer or actor

RIYADH: Making a living out of creating TikTok videos is risky, but Abdulaziz Khojah quit his job as an electrical engineer to pursue a career as a content creator on the social media platform.

Khojah, who has been on TikTok for just a year, has garnered 1.7 million followers by reviewing movies and TV shows, and giving ratings and recommendations in 60 seconds or less.

“I like to be different, and I realized that I love doing videos and making content, and I work hard to make my videos unique so people will remember me,” he told Arab News.

“As a content maker, it is very natural for people to follow me because of the content I provide, and I developed the content and made it simple and easy for people who love movies and series,” Khojah said.

Initially, Khojah shared acting videos on TikTok before becoming a critic.

“When the lockdown happened because of the pandemic, I entered social media as an actor, but I was not enjoying what I was doing. I felt that there was something better and stronger (that) I could bring. I came back after several months with the idea of presenting and reviewing films and series in a smart, fast, and concise way so that it reaches the viewer and does not waste their time,” Khojah said.

Now Khoja gets requests to review movies, even new ones. He is also asked to interview the cast and crew of the movies.

“I was nominated to be the first official presenter of IGN Middle East, which is what got me to the position I had always envisioned, and allowed me to meet celebrities from both the Arab and American film industries,” he said.

Khojah believes it is important for the new generation to consider getting into movie production.

“The field of films and cinema is an open and unending world that does not depend on a specific idea. It is an open sea for people interested in this field, whether actors, producers, or directors.”

On his future, Khojah is now working on carving out his name in the film industry in any capacity. “I want to have my name in the world of cinema in terms of being a director, writer, or actor, whether a movie, series, or presenter of a particular program in this field on one of the channels.”

As the Saudi Film Commission develops a national strategy to support and foster the long-term growth of a sustainable Saudi film industry and cultural sector, Khojah is optimistic about the future of Saudi films and production within the Kingdom.


Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief

Updated 5 sec ago
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Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief

  • Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.

He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.

The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.


Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims

Updated 08 January 2025
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Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims

  • A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.

The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.


Citrus festival shows agricultural diversity, economic potential in Najran

Updated 08 January 2025
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Citrus festival shows agricultural diversity, economic potential in Najran

  • The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential

RIYADH: The 14th Najran National Citrus Festival highlights the region’s agricultural investment and marketing diversity, which offers economic returns for farmers and investors alike, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The festival at King Abdulaziz Park walkway in Najran is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the region.

Participants including farmers, agricultural experts and investors showed innovative solutions and highlighted the region’s robust citrus production.

Hamad Al-Dakman, the director of the agricultural prevention and guidance department at the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development, Estidamah, in an interview with SPA emphasized the center’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

By selecting optimal plant seeds and trees, the center aims to enhance citrus production efficiency while advancing water and energy conservation technologies, Al-Dakman said.

He noted the importance of knowledge transfer and partnerships in supporting the agricultural sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s food-security goals.

Similarly, Najran Association Green’s chairman, Raf’an Al-Amer underscored the association’s efforts to expand vegetation cover, having planted more than 60,000 trees in the past four years.

Plans are underway to plant an additional 500,000 trees by 2027 in collaboration with government and private entities, contributing to the Kingdom’s Green Vision, Al-Amer said.

Farmers and investors were enthusiastic about the festival.

Farmer Ibrahim Saleh Al-Sinan praised the event for addressing farmers’ needs, marketing their products, and allowing visitors to sample and purchase citrus fruits directly.

Agricultural investor Abdullah Fahd Al-Waili highlighted the region’s favorable conditions for citrus farming, including fertile soil, a suitable climate and water availability.

Al-Waili, whose farm in Khbash covers 4 million sq. meters with more than 50,000 citrus trees, noted the economic viability of agricultural investment in the region.

The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential, supporting farmers, and driving sustainable agricultural development. 


Saudi fund commits $80m for cancer care expansion in Turkmenistan

Updated 08 January 2025
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Saudi fund commits $80m for cancer care expansion in Turkmenistan

  • The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress

 

RIYADH: CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad signed an $80 million development loan agreement with Rahimberdi Jepbarov, chairman of the Turkmenistan State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.

The financing supports a project to improve tumor treatment services and establish cancer treatment centers in Turkmenistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Ambassador to Turkmenistan Said Osman Suwaid attended the event.

The project will enhance healthcare by building and equipping three specialized cancer treatment centers with up to 500 medical beds in different regions.

The centers will feature advanced medical equipment to improve healthcare quality, SPA added.

The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress.

It underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable development and ensuring lasting prosperity, SPA reported.

During his visit to Turkmenistan, Al-Marshad also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to discuss strengthening development cooperation in various sectors.

Meanwhile, the Saudi fund’s Deputy CEO Faisal Al-Qahtani participated in the inauguration of the Busaiteen Bridge, part of the Bahrain Northern Road Project.

The $250 million project, funded through a grant from the Saudi government, aims to ease traffic congestion and boost investment and economic opportunities in Bahrain.

Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa attended the event.

The project is a vital part of Bahrain’s transportation infrastructure, with the Saudi fund collaborating closely with the Ministry of Works for its successful completion.

The Saudi fund’s partnership with Bahrain spans 48 years, during which it has financed 30 projects in sectors like energy, transportation, and social infrastructure. These initiatives have contributed to Bahrain’s sustainable development and economic growth.


Saudi authority expands effort to track food waste

Updated 08 January 2025
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Saudi authority expands effort to track food waste

RIYADH:  The General Food Security Authority has launched a second field survey to measure food loss and waste rates in Saudi Arabia.

The initiative is part of the National Program to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and aligns with efforts to promote food sustainability and support Vision 2030 objectives, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The authority’s governor, Ahmed Al-Faris, said that the second survey builds on the 2019 study, which established a baseline for the Food Loss and Waste Index.

The effort follows successful awareness campaigns in collaboration with key stakeholders that engaged public participation, the SPA added.

The new survey aims to analyze food loss and waste at all stages of the food supply chain, including production, importation, transportation, storage, distribution and consumption.

The authority will use the findings to develop solutions to improve food security, reduce environmental and economic impacts, and align the Kingdom’s practices with global sustainability standards.

This initiative is expected to provide more precise, updated data to create targeted strategies for reducing food loss and waste.