What is Eid without decadent chocolates, luxury desserts?

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Sales for sweets retailers, chocolatiers and confectioners surge during this time of the year and they make sure to not only cater to demand, but also smooth service. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Sales for sweets retailers, chocolatiers and confectioners surge during this time of the year and they make sure to not only cater to demand, but also smooth service. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Eid treats, an intense but sweet challenge, Saudi housewives tend to compete in bringing the most appealing and creative chocolate for Eid Al-Fitr and they focus on quality and arrangements. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Those who get their Eid chocolate trays done first are considered lucky, as crowds flock to chocolate stores during the last three days of Ramadan. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 April 2023
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What is Eid without decadent chocolates, luxury desserts?

  • The fancy chocolate is usually served to adults, and children are given a special gift, which could be a sweet treat, toy, or money
  • Sales for sweet retailers surge during this time of the year and they make sure to not only cater to demand, but also smooth service

JEDDAH: Sweets and desserts are a big part of Eid celebrations in Saudi Arabia, with some families having traditional homemade dishes, and others splurging on store-bought chocolates. With a steady stream of visitors, families make sure to lay a lavish spread.

Raneem Al-Najjar, a housewife and mother of five, told Arab News that in her family it is the norm to pick a luxurious chocolate brand to serve for Eid Al-Fitr guests. “Arrangement and the tray, taste and filling of the chocolate are my biggest concern, also colors of the packaging have to go well with my furniture and home decoration to make sure the presentation is appealing,” she said.

Since generosity and hospitality are some of the main characteristics of Arabs, Al-Najjar said “Eid is a time when we celebrate and welcome our families more than any other time, so bringing a giant chocolate tray for the entrance of our home is part of the tradition in my family’s home, so everyone can get chocolate on their way out.”




Eid treats, an intense but sweet challenge, Saudi housewives tend to compete in bringing the most appealing and creative chocolate for Eid Al-Fitr and they focus on quality and arrangements. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Eid treats, an intense but sweet challenge, Saudi housewives tend to compete in bringing the most appealing and creative chocolate for Eid Al-Fitr and they focus on quality and arrangements. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

The fancy chocolate is usually served to adults, and children are given a special gift, which could be a sweet treat, toy, or money. “I like to prepare special giveaways for kids with more lively details and colorful wraps,” Al-Najjar said.

Sales for sweet retailers, chocolatiers and confectioners surge during this time of the year and they make sure to not only cater to demand, but also smooth service.

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‘Eid is a time when we celebrate and welcome our families more than any other time, so bringing a giant chocolate tray for the entrance of our home is part of the tradition in my family’s home, so everyone can get chocolate on their way out.’

Duncan Muir, senior director of food, beverage and retail at Bateel, a luxury Saudi brand for dates and chocolates, told Arab News that in light of Ramadan and Eid’s peak shopping periods, an integrated supply chain allows for full control over production and fulfilment processes.




Those who get their Eid chocolate trays done first are considered lucky, as crowds flock to chocolate stores during the last three days of Ramadan. (Supplied)

Those who get their Eid chocolate trays done first are considered lucky, as crowds flock to chocolate stores during the last three days of Ramadan. (Supplied)

“From the sourcing of the finest ingredients to the creation of luxurious products, we oversee every step of the process to ensure seamless operations,” he said. “Our staff is also regularly trained and is well-equipped to manage increased customer demand during busy seasons.”

Muir added: “Additionally, we continue to invest in enhancing our e-commerce platform to ensure smooth accessibility, making it simple for customers to shop from the comfort of their homes.”

Bateel offers a wide range of gift packages that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences, including carton boxes, wooden boxes, glass drawers, trays and hampers. Prices vary depending on the selection of the products as well as the type of the package starting from SR180 ($47.99) to SR2,000.

Muir said that during Eid they receive requests for lavish chocolate tray presentations that could potentially be “exuberant in value.”

For Jeddawis, Patchi, and Chocoline are two chocolate brands among a host of others that represent luxury and quality.  Salwa Jawhar, a Jeddah-based housewife, said: “These two brands used to mark Eid in my home, I used to bring Patchi for first-day visitors, it has been indeed the best choice for families in town, and for more than 10 years, we used to rely on Chocoline for Eid and other seasonal occasions.”

Chocoline is a 25-year old well-known Saudi chocolate brand with branches all over the Kingdom, providing chocolates and Eid-themed items. It has  always been one of Jeddawis’ go-to chocolate brands. Neama Fadhel, another Jeddah-based housewife, said: “I thought of trying a new chocolate brand for this Eid but it is a bit risky, I like to stick to what I am used to.”

Those who get their Eid chocolate trays done first are considered lucky, as crowds flock to chocolate stores during the last three days of Ramadan.

“Over the past eight years of my marriage, Chocoline has been the highlight of our Eid preparation. My husband and I make sure to get our serving trays filled early to make sure we receive them before the 29th day of Ramadan before everything gets crazy,”  Fadhel said.

The Italian gourmet chocolate manufacturer Venchi is another luxurious brand that Jeddah’s residents appreciate for its deluxe taste, despite its high price, which starts from SR590 per kilogram. Besides its attractive wrapping and pleasant packaging, Venchi chocolate uses only olive oil, which is considered healthier and safer for the body. Venchi chocolate is also “gluten-free and low in sugar,” said Hussain Attal, manager of the Venchi Tahlia branch in Jeddah.

A distinctive collection of trays available in Venchi are composed of wooden dishes, crystal trays, seashell trays, boxes, and giveaways.

“During Eid, buyers pay special attention to all proportions of dark chocolate mixes for example, 60 percent or 75 percent, and we also have dark chocolate bars with 10 percent pure cocoa,” Attal added. “Also biscuit, pistachio, hazelnuts and caramel, and caviar fillings are on demand.


Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

Updated 4 min 38 sec ago
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Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

  • Ahmed Al-Mojathel: Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system
  • Initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society

ABHA: A public awareness campaign by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture kicked off Organic Food 2024 in Saudi Arabia, reported Saudi Press Agency.

Ahmed Al-Mojathel, director of the ministry’s Asir branch, said: “Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system.

“We are working to enhance consumer awareness about the benefits of organic foods while encouraging innovation and excellence in organic product quality.”

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society.

Al-Mojathel said the campaign also aimed to achieve economic and social objectives supporting the development of the organic food sector across the Kingdom.


Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

Updated 38 min 50 sec ago
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Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

  • 9 people arrested, including Ministry of Interior employee, 4 people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker

RIYADH: A drug smuggling operation at Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia, in which several government and other public-sector officials allegedly were involved, has been shut down following an extensive investigation.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that nine people were detained, including a ministry employee, four people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and one from the Saudi Electricity Company.

Their alleged roles in the smuggling network included helping to get the drugs into the Kingdom, ensuring shipments bypassed inspections, transporting them, and concealing them in homes and at other locations.

They also engaged in the promotion and distribution of the narcotics in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The amount and type of drugs involved was not immediately apparent.

The Ministry of Interior said it remains committed to confronting all threats to national security and will take stringent action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety and stability of the country.


Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

  • MusiqAI offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments

RIYADH: The Saudi Music Commission has launched an interactive digital platform to teach music to enthusiasts wanting to start playing an instrument or further their musical knowledge.

MusiqAI is the first self-learn digital platform for music in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region. It offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments.

The platform name, which includes “AI,” the abbreviation for artificial intelligence, can be translated from Arabic as “My Music.”

The commission said in a statement that MusiqAI offers online courses and trains enthusiasts and professionals on the latest technologies in music production. It also provides accredited certificates, easy access to video streaming courses, and a self-paced learning experience, anytime and from anywhere.

MusiqAI aims to offer a unique way of learning various music genres — in Saudi Arabia and globally — whether by picking an Arabic or Western instrument such as the drums, guitar or oud, and communicating with trainers and experts on the platform.

The commission said nurturing and supporting musical talent are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. In March, the commission launched the Saudi Music Memory initiative to highlight the history of Saudi art and offer academically documented research for musicians and researchers.

To register on the MusiqAI platform, visit the commission website: https://music.moc.gov.sa/en 


OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

Updated 14 November 2024
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OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

  • It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute
  • Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds

JEDDAH: The general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts in Jeddah on Thursday.
It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute, in accordance with the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said that the meeting was held amid difficult and harsh humanitarian circumstances that required concerted efforts and collective action to adopt actions to help contain humanitarian crises and hardships.
In his speech, Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds, undertake the necessary reforms to their working mechanism and support them with the financial resources to enable them to fulfil their role.
The statement delivered by assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, on behalf of OIC’s secretary-general, highlighted the significant challenges faced by member states in the humanitarian field.


KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

Updated 14 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

  • KSrelief will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies

KABUL: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has launched a shelter project for people returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan and victims of the 2024 floods.

It will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies across the provinces of Kabul, Ghazni, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Herat, Nimroz, Nangarhar and Laghman. The project will help 29,292 people.

The scheme is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.