A couple’s guide to spending a romantic Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia

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This outstanding culinary destination will offer over 20 world class dining experiences celebrating the best of international cuisines and local flavors. (Supplied)
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This outstanding culinary destination will offer over 20 world class dining experiences celebrating the best of international cuisines and local flavors. (Supplied)
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Durrat Al-Arus is a bustling resort that offers villas for daily rental. It is also quite well-liked by the locals. It's a fantastic option for couples because of the variety of activities. (Supplied)
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This outstanding culinary destination will offer over 20 world class dining experiences celebrating the best of international cuisines and local flavors. (Supplied)
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This outstanding culinary destination will offer over 20 world class dining experiences celebrating the best of international cuisines and local flavors. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 February 2023
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A couple’s guide to spending a romantic Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia

  • Arab News has selected some of the most unique fine dining experiences and destinations in the Kingdom
  • Choose from historic Diriyah, magnificent AlUla and the tranquil white beaches of Jeddah’s resorts

RIYADH: Saudis are gearing up to celebrate their love on Valentine’s Day at some of the Kingdom’s most romantic destinations and restaurants.

From the many highly in-demand locations in the country, Arab News has selected a few of the most unique fine dining experiences for smitten couples.

Harrat Viewpoint

AlUla is fortunate to have many vantage points from which to see the magnificent surroundings. Climbing up Harrat Uwayrid’s black lava stone terrain, you’ll be rewarded with vistas of Dadan, AlUla Old Town, AlUla Fort, and AlUla Oasis.




Saudis have plenty of options when it comes to Valentine’s Day romance, with culture, fine dining and resort luxury readily available. (Supplied)

Ponder, stand at what seems to be the edge of the Earth, and get back in touch with nature. It’s recommended to arrive before sunset to take in the sights, sounds, and magic of the golden hour. During this time, the sky glows orange and transforms everything you see. Stay until dusk to observe the sky gradually fill with thousands of sparkling stars and with the aid of a telescope, you may see various constellations.

Okto is one of the most unique restaurants in the area and has created a special menu for couples wanting to take in the views while enjoying a meal.

“We’ll be serving a special red cocktail and heart-shaped dessert for Valentine’s Day, and the setting is ideal for a date because it’s cozy and gets more gorgeous as the night goes on,” said Deema Al-Sehli, owner of Okto.

Ramla Terraza

Ramla Terraza is a new complex in Riyadh with many dining options including Brute, Clap, Iris Cafe and Jones the Grocer.

If you like Latin American food, Brute could be for you. The venue is focused on Argentinian meat cuts.




Another location that many favors for getaways is Durrat Al-Arus, where the villas are secluded and have their beach and pool. (Supplied)

Another would be the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Clap, previously operated as a pop-up location in Majdoul Tower during Riyadh Season.

Recently, Clap Dubai earned one toque at the Gault & Millau 2022 Awards.

There is also the Australian gourmet food purveyor and eatery Jones the Grocer, a laid-back restaurant with several locations throughout the GCC and is currently a favorite among many Saudis.

Last but not least is Iris Cafe, an eatery and lounge that promises a “distinctive menu” of food and mocktails.

Bujairi Terrace

Bujairi Terrace, the brand-new dining establishment, is located in Diriyah, the historical apex of Saudi heritage, where the history of the Kingdom is preserved among its lanes, alleyways and mud structures. The area of At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located around 15 minutes from the center of Riyadh with several restaurants to try out, each oozing with culture.




Tatel serves authentice Spanish cuisine at the heart of Diriyah. (Supplied)

There are many locations to choose from in Bujairi Terrace, with Somewhere a top destination for dining. The restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist. It became a local favorite when it opened its doors in 2018, and has recently also opened in AlUla.

Additionally, Tatel, a Spanish restaurant owned by the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo and his business partners, also recently opened at Bujairi Terrace. It serves up a selection of Spanish haute cuisine with inventive mocktails, musicians, and daily live entertainment — creating a singular sensory experience.

Jeddah Resorts

Nothing is more romantic than a trip with a spa and a beach view, such as those found in Jeddah’s resorts.

There are many to choose from, such as the Narcissus Hotel and Spa, which boasts a view of Jeddah’s north coast. The resort has 60 villas of various sizes — junior, premium, executive and royal.

Another location that many favor for a quick getaway is Durrat Al-Arus, where the villas are secluded and have their own private beach and pool. Durrat Al-Arus is a bustling resort that offers villas and apartments for daily rental. It is also a local favorite. It’s a fantastic option for families because of the variety of activities.

 


Riyadh exhibition explores palm’s role in ancient cultures

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Riyadh exhibition explores palm’s role in ancient cultures

  • Experts discuss challenges and innovations in date farming

RIYADH: The “Palm Tree in Civilizations” pavilion at the International Dates Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh, running until Nov. 28, highlights the historical significance of the palm tree across ancient cultures.

The pavilion explores how date palms supported food and economic sustainability, offering a historical journey through the ages.

It also showcases the palm’s importance in ancient Egypt through carvings and murals depicting its role in daily life and religious rituals, as well as in agriculture, construction, and fertility practices.

Organized by the National Center for Palm and Dates under the theme “World of Dates,” the exhibit also highlights the palm’s significance in Mesopotamia and the Levant, featuring ancient texts like the Code of Hammurabi, which protected palm cultivation, along with carvings illustrating their role in trade and society.

Artifacts from the Dilmun civilization highlighted the reliance of ancient Arab societies on palms for agriculture and trade.

The pavilion also showcases the palm’s symbolic role in the Levant, particularly among the Canaanites and Arameans, with depictions from historical sites like Palmyra emphasizing its importance in religious and artistic traditions.

Saad Alnajim, vice president of the Antiquities and Heritage Association in the Eastern Province, said: “Beyond providing food, medicine, and shade, the palm symbolizes belonging and pride, reflected in its place on Saudi Arabia’s national emblem.”

Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, chairman of the National Committee for Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that dates are central to the Saudi economy, with Vision 2030 aiming to make the Kingdom the world’s largest date exporter.

He added: “Today, the Kingdom is the largest producer and exporter of dates, thanks to the clear vision of the crown prince, whose efforts we are now benefiting from.”

According to the UN Comtrade database, Saudi Arabia exported dates worth over SR1.4 billion ($373 million) to 119 countries by the end of 2023.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported production exceeding 1.9 million tonnes, reflecting a 152.5 percent increase in export value since 2016, solidifying the Kingdom’s position as the world’s largest date exporter.

Meanwhile, a panel of global climate and agriculture experts discussed the impact of climate change on date palm cultivation.

The session focused on challenges such as delayed fruit maturation, reduced yields, pests, and pollution, and explored innovative solutions to address these issues. The panel emphasized the need for international cooperation and sustainable farming practices.

The discussion highlighted global best practices, including improved irrigation and smart agricultural techniques, as well as the importance of farmer education and technical support.

Recommendations included enhancing international collaboration, supporting research on climate-resistant varieties, and promoting awareness for sustainable date palm cultivation.

The exhibition offers a variety of entertainment activities, including folklore shows, regional poetry, and cooking competitions.

It also features a museum that takes visitors on a journey through the history of palm trees and dates over the past 1,000 years.

Additionally, a live cooking area brings together local and international chefs to prepare a variety of date-based dishes.


Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject a ‘generational investment,’ minister says

Updated 26 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject a ‘generational investment,’ minister says

  • The world’s top oil exporter has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into development projects through the kingdom’s $925 billion sovereign fund

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s NEOM gigaproject, a futuristic region being built in the desert, is a “generational investment” with a long timeline, the country’s investment minister told Reuters on Monday, adding that foreign investment will pick up pace.
“NEOM was not meant to be a two-year investable opportunity. If anybody expected NEOM to be foreign investment in two, three or five years, then they have gotten (it) wrong — it’s a generational investment,” Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on the sidelines of the World Investment Conference in Riyadh.
“The flywheel is starting and it will gain speed as we go forward, as some of the foundational assets come to the market,” he said.
The world’s top oil exporter has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into development projects through the kingdom’s $925 billion sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), as it undergoes an economic agenda dubbed Vision 2030 to cut dependence on fossil fuels.
NEOM, a Red Sea urban and industrial development nearly the size of Belgium that is meant to eventually house 9 million people, is central to Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has scaled back some lofty ambitions to prioritize completing elements essential to hosting global sporting events over the next decade as rising costs weigh, sources told Reuters earlier this month. NEOM announced this month its long-time chief executive, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, had stepped down, without giving further details.
Asked what effect the departure would have on investors, the minister said the executive had done “a respectable job” but that “there is a time for everybody to pass on the baton.”
Asked if PIF will continue to do much of the spending on NEOM until more foreign funds come in, Al-Falih said it was not binary.
“I think foreign investors are starting to come to NEOM, they’re starting to channel capital. Some of the projects that the PIF will be doing will be financed through global capital pools, through some alternative and private capital. That’s taking place as we speak,” he said.
“So I urge you not to look at NEOM as being 100 percent PIF and then suddenly there will be a cliff and it will go private.”
Saudi Arabia, which is racing to attract $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by the turn of the decade — reaching about a quarter of that in 2023 — has recently seen more co-investment deals between state entities and foreign investors.
“It’s always been the intent,” Al-Falih said of foreign inflows alongside state funds.
He noted that foreign investors were at times “still looking, still examining, still sometimes questioning,” but that now there was confidence in the profitability of investment opportunities and that “the risk-return trade-offs are very, very fair and positive to them.”


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

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.
In the cable, the crown prince extended his deepest sympathy to Sheikh Sabah and the family of the deceased.


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.

DCO member states have a collective gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion and serve a combined market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70 percent of whom are under the age of 35.


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.