Saudi coffee, chocolate festival offers tasty mix of attractions

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Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Robots are on hand serving bottles of water and Arabic sweets. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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The Coffee and Chocolate Festival, running at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam until Sunday
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Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)
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Updated 10 October 2022
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Saudi coffee, chocolate festival offers tasty mix of attractions

DAMMAM: Robot waiters, chocolate-covered headless dancers, and coffee galore are the tasty mix on offer at a four-day Saudi festival.

The Coffee and Chocolate Festival, running at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam until Sunday, coincides with World Coffee Day and the Kingdom’s own celebration of the year of Saudi coffee.

Visitors can sample or purchase coffee and chocolate from more than 50 vendors attending the event.

Robots are on hand serving bottles of water and Arabic sweets and crowds are being entertained by headless dancers smothered in chocolate.

Mohammed Barakah, sales representative for one of the vendors edafat+, said: “We have been participating in the Coffee and Chocolate Festival every year since we launched in 2017.

“This is such an important event in our industry, and we love to educate and interact with coffee lovers in Saudi Arabia.”

Rowel Guevarra, executive chef for edafat+, prepares recipes and manages tastes with a Saudi audience in mind. He noted that the most popular flavor served in the firm’s four branches was pistachio and he told Arab News that he loved helping emerging Saudi baristas perfect their recipes.

He said: “The reason why we are joining the festival here in Saudi is to offer help for newcomers to the business.”

The brand was showcasing its array of products imported from various countries and offering visitors not only iced and hot flavored coffees but also spicy chai mixes, matcha lattes, and syrup and fruit-based drinks.

Other vendors include Doha Roasters, Camel Step, Najdiya, and Al-Noman Brothers’ Al-Shayukh Golden Coffee.

Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event.

Rolla Ahmad, manning the Lush booth, said: “The idea is that there is seven brands of chocolate and people come and taste and then give an assessment about the chocolate.” Voting takes place via a large screen.

With a buffet-style arrangement, different types of chocolate from various local brands are available for visitors to taste, then vote upon. A winner will be announced during the festival.

A Saudi latte art championship will also take place.




Local and international chocolate brands are also attending the event. (AN photo/Huda Bashatah)

The festival aims to highlight the latest innovations and recipes in the industry while providing a platform for networking.

Traditional music and oud performances also form part of the festival attractions.

One of the performers, Joana Cruz, from Portugal, said: “This is my first time in Saudi Arabia and at this wonderful show, and I’m very pleased to be here. And I’m performing too in the exhibition.

“I’m really enjoying this country and this experience. The coffee — it’s wonderful. And the chocolates are perfect. I hope to return another year.”

Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue priced between SR35 ($9) and SR55. The expo will be next held in Riyadh from Nov. 29 until Dec. 3.

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Updated 26 November 2024
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Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Kuwaiti counterpart on death of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the passing of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Hamoud Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah.
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Saudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation

Updated 25 November 2024
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Saudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation

  • Deemah Al-Yahya, head of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, commended Iraq’s investment in human capital as driver for growth and expansion of digital economy
  • Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy

RIYADH: Saudi senior tech diplomat Deemah AlYahya, the secretary-general of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, held talks on Monday with Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, about support for Baghdad’s plans to develop its digital business and artificial intelligence sectors.

They discussed Iraq’s strategy for digital transformation, and the need to create and develop a workforce with the tech skills required to help grow the Iraqi economy effectively, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Though Iraq is not a member of the DCO, an international body that focuses on the digital economy, Al-Sudani said his country is keen to work with the organization to meet the nation’s needs for a skilled workforce in the business sector.

AlYahya commended Iraq for the progress it has already made in terms of investment in the human capital needed to develop the digital skills that are essential to drive growth in a digitized economy.

Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy. Authorities this month organized the first Digital Space Iraq Forum, which focused on the use of advanced technologies, including AI, to help build a comprehensive digital economy.

The DCO says that since it was founded in November 2020, it has been at the forefront of efforts to curate policies and initiatives to support the digital economy in several countries. Currently, 16 nations are members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer partner organizations.

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Saudi FM pushes for regional stability at G7-Arab foreign ministers meeting

Updated 25 November 2024
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Saudi FM pushes for regional stability at G7-Arab foreign ministers meeting

  • In his address, Prince Faisal highlighted the ongoing crises in Gaza and Lebanon

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part in an expanded session of the second meeting between G7 foreign ministers and their counterparts from Arab nations on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The meeting was hosted in Italy under the theme “Together for the Stability of the Middle East.”

The session, which addressed pressing regional and international challenges, was held with the participation of Saudi, Jordanian, Emirati, Qatari and Egyptian officials, as well as the secretary-general of the Arab League.

In his address, Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships to address these challenges effectively.

He highlighted the ongoing crises in Gaza and Lebanon, urging the international community to act immediately to secure a ceasefire, facilitate unrestricted humanitarian aid, and progress toward establishing an independent Palestinian state.

He also called for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, and renewed international efforts to resolve the crisis in Sudan and alleviate the resulting human suffering.

The meeting was also attended by Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi ambassador to Italy, the SPA reported.


Scientists awarded for sustainable water innovation at Saudi conference

Updated 25 November 2024
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Scientists awarded for sustainable water innovation at Saudi conference

  • Research aims to improve desalination efficiency
  • Makkah’s deputy emir in attendance

JEDDAH: Scientists were awarded prizes for their work in researching desalination and wastewater treatment technologies during an event in Jeddah on Monday.

The third edition of the Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference was attended by 480 experts, scientists, researchers, specialists and 40 leading organizations in the water sector, from 20 countries.

The grand prize — the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024 — went to Lee Nuang Sim from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University for his project “uncovering the power of centrifugal reverse osmosis,” and Sue Mecham, CEO of NALA Membranes, for her project “chlorine stable new membranes for sustainable desalination and wastewater treatment/reuse.”

Visitors attend the third Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference in Jeddah on Nov. 25, 2024. (Supplied)

Mecham, from North Carolina, US, spoke to Arab News after receiving her award, saying: “We are honored to be selected for the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024. Our mission is to bring new membranes to market and reduce the cost and complexity of water purification.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Ghadeer Al-Balawi from the University of Tabuk was another one of this year’s prizewinners with her project “novel heterogeneous catalysts for improving wastewater treatment plants in Saudi Arabia.”

Al-Balawi told Arab News: “I am incredibly honored to be one of the recipients of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024. This recognition means so much to me. This project has been conducted at the University of Sheffield with hard work and dedication with the assistance of my supervisor, Dr. Marco Conte.”

The event’s opening ceremony was attended by Makkah Deputy Emir Prince Saud bin Mishal and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, as well as other senior officials.

Following the opening, Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, chairman of the Saudi Water Authority, said that the event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting scientific and research innovation as a pillar for achieving water sustainability and security.

Through the conference, the SWA aims to share the impact of innovation in promoting the sustainable supply of water, according to SWA spokesperson Sultan Al-Rajhi.

“This conference discusses the latest global practices and innovative solutions in the water industry, with the participation of experts, scientists and specialists, who emphasize the pivotal role of innovation in accelerating the future prosperity of water and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for water and the environment,” he said.

The two-day conference will continue to feature discussions on more than 180 research papers, as well as a water hackathon organized by the Saudi Water Innovation Center.

 


PSC members visit Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh

Updated 25 November 2024
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PSC members visit Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh

  • The EU and the GCC held a political dialogue session, co-chaired by Pronk and Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC

RIYADH: Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee, including its chair, Ambassador Delphine Pronk, and ambassadors of EU member states, paid an official visit to the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh on Monday.

The delegation was accompanied by the European External Action Service Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa Helene Le Gal, and EU Special Representative for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio.

The EU and the GCC held a political dialogue session, co-chaired by Pronk and Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC.

The two parties discussed matters of mutual interest and the need to increase joint efforts to tackle global challenges.

This included the situations in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, Gulf security and Iran, maritime security in the Red Sea region, Iraq, Sudan and the Horn of Africa, as well as Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The committee delegates and the GCC also agreed on strengthening the EU-GCC regional security cooperation.

The political dialogue constitutes an important step forward following the successful first EU-GCC Summit in Brussels on Oct. 16.