Ramadan in Saudi Arabia ‘like nowhere else’

For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)
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Updated 24 March 2024
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Ramadan in Saudi Arabia ‘like nowhere else’

  • Expatriates share excitement and challenges of experiencing the holy month away from home

RIYADH: With twinkling lights turned on and the smell of freshly fried samosas in the air, Muslim and non-Muslim expat households across the Kingdom join in observing the holy month of Ramadan, marked by its spiritual nature and family-centric values

Expats share both their excitement and expected challenges as they observe Ramadan away from home.




For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)

Croatian designer Tina Sablic has made a gradual move to Riyadh over the past few years, which she described as an enriching experience. Now, as a Riyadh resident, she is finally experiencing her first Ramadan.

“While I don’t celebrate Ramadan through fasting, I deeply respect its significance and the cultural practices associated with it. However, I do plan to make adjustments to my own fasting plan during this time as a sign of solidarity and respect for the observance,” she told Arab News.




For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)

She acknowledged that the holy month is a time of self-reflection, self-awareness and self-discipline. In hectic, fast-paced daily schedules and lifestyle, it becomes a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down.

“Since it is my first time experiencing Ramadan in Riyadh, I’m expecting to see vibrant night atmospheres with all of the festive lights, beautifully decorated streets and mosques and sounds of evening prayers. Sharing iftar meals with friends, colleagues and other expats will hopefully become a cherished tradition,” she said.




Tina Sablic, Croatian designer

As a non-Muslim celebrating Ramadan away from home, one of her primary challenges is adjusting to the changes in the local environment and daily routines. This may include adapting to altered business hours, meal schedules, and social activities during the fasting period.

“Social interactions and understanding the etiquette surrounding Ramadan customs and practices can also be a bit challenging. However, my amazing Saudi friends have guided me properly and their mentorship was so helpful in overcoming any cultural gaps,” she added.

Sharing iftar meals with friends, colleagues and other expats will hopefully become a cherished tradition.

Tina Sablic, Croatian designer

Pakistani resident Ifrah Mahmood has lived in Saudi Arabia since the ripe age of 9. After a difficult time adjusting, she is proud to now call it home. For her, the Ramadan period is a symbol of peace, tranquility, and a way to grow closer to Allah.

While she misses having iftar, sahoor, and indulging in the spirit with her family, she said that celebrating Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is unlike any other, and she cannot wait for the last 10 days in particular when Muslims immerse in deeper worship.




For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)

She said: “I have been celebrating Ramadan in Saudi Arabia for many years now. Ramadan here is like nowhere else. Everyone is kinder, the mosques are always open … night prayers and festivities make it so special.

“The change of routine is what I enjoy the most. The office timings are shortened which is a perk you can’t get in most of the non-Muslim countries. The markets are open all night long. It gives Eid vibes even before Eid.”




For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)

French creative Cecilia Pitre came to work in the Kingdom after the COVID-19 pandemic and was drawn to stay in the country mainly due to the hospitality of its people. “They’re very welcoming,” she said.

“What made me stay as well is the culture — it’s full of colors. There’s a lot of things to learn because this country was, at least for Europe, a little bit veiled and undiscovered. Not many people in Europe know about Saudi Arabia, but when we’re here we discover a country full of history, culture, art, fashion. There are so many things to do and to see!”




For residents of the Kingdom, Ramadan represents a period of calm as the rhythm of life slows down, providing opportunities to form new traditions and experience the spiritual month. (Supplied/Ramadan Season/Visit Saudi)

Pitre has celebrated a few Ramadan seasons before, but the creative plans to try a full fast this year. While she has been able to restrain from food, she has found it difficult to cut out water as well. She also plans to reduce other forbidden elements during Ramadan such as smoking, gossiping, and excessive screen time.

“As a foreigner and a non-Muslim, I’m taking the Ramadan period to actually learn more about the religion, read more about Islam, and understand what the fasting process is and what it brings to the people, whether Muslim or non-muslim … I’m trying to follow Ramadan at my speed, which is also something I think we should do more often.”

With abundant invitations from locals to share iftar and sahoor, Pitre plans to take this opportunity to indulge further into the culture and understand the significance of the dining practices.

Living on Tahlia Road, one of Riyadh’s most prominent dining streets, she witnesses the bustling crowd of families and friends making Ramadan memories as the night ascends.

“What I love about Ramadan is the decorations everywhere, the lights, the joy. Everybody’s happy and going out at night,” she said. “The vibe is unbelievable.”

Pitre says she does not face any challenges spending Ramadan away from France as Saudi Arabia has embraced the creative with open arms.

“If there’s any place to spend Ramadan in, it’s definitely Saudi Arabia, which I consider my second home,” she said.

 


Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

TOKYO: Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission, who is in Tokyo with the Saudi National Orchestra, says music “bridges cultural boundaries and has a very important part to play in each of the three main pillars of Vision 2030” as it represents a proud nation, a vibrant society and diversified economy.

Bringing the Saudi National Orchestra to Tokyo, he said, gives people the opportunity “to communicate with our language and it allows everybody to come together and share an experience that allows us to appreciate each other’s cultures and really to be in harmony. And that’s why I think it’s so special that the orchestra is here for the first time.”

The program includes traditional music directed by Saudi Director Reab Ahmed, as well as the Japanese Imperial Court Orchestra “Gagaku.”

“We’re able to show Saudi culture on one of the most prestigious stages in one of the world’s great cultural capitals here at Tokyo Opera City, and we’re doing that with authentic Saudi music, authentic traditional Japanese music with Gagaku,” he said. “But also with that great fusion between the two sets of musicians coming together and doing something really unique and beautiful.”

“The Saudi National Orchestra and choir is really at the vanguard of developing the music landscape in Saudi Arabia as it builds the depth and richness and uniqueness of its beautiful culture, both traditional and modern.”

Pacifico said it was “an honor” to share the stage with the Imperial Orchestra Gagaku performers. “It also shows how our cultures are different and yet similar, the regard for tradition and modernity, the appreciation of music, the sense of formality in public, but warmth and a sense of fun as well in private.”

He hopes that Friday’s performance is not a one-off but becomes the foundation of a rich and long-standing collaboration with “our Japanese friends, the Tokyo College of Music, who we’re collaborating with on this concert.”

“We hope that Saudi artists will start to have opportunities to play on stages here in Tokyo, like the Blue Note and Billboard Live and the Cotton Club, or festivals like Summer Sonic or Fuji Rock. And equally, we’d love to see Japanese artists playing more in Riyadh and all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has a very exciting story to tell.”

This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan


Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has helped a Yemeni prosthetics center provide medical services to 536 people in October.
The Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz Governorate provided various medical services Yemeni beneficiaries who have lost limbs, the Saudi Press Agency said.
During the project, 1,757 services were provided including measuring, manufacturing, fitting, delivering and maintaining artificial limbs and prosthetics, in addition to rehabilitation and physiotherapy services.
KSRelief also signed a deal with a Yemeni civil-society organization to provide shelter for the neediest families affected by floods and torrents in Hadhramaut.


KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Jordan, Afghanistan and Lebanon

Updated 23 November 2024
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KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Jordan, Afghanistan and Lebanon

  • KSrelief provided medical services and distribution of basic needs to individuals

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its humanitarian activities in Jordan, Afghanistan and Lebanon with the provision of medical services and distribution of basic needs to individuals.

At Jordan’s Zaatri Camp, the Saudi aid agency provided medical services to 2,738 patients during the second week of November. General practitioners treated 657 patients, internists saw 125 patients dealing with diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

The pediatric clinic examined 270 children, while the emergency department attended to 297 patients. Meanwhile, dentists attended to 183 patients

The gynecology clinic served 182 women while ear, nose, and throat doctors clinic treated 57 patients for conditions such as sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and otitis media.

The ophthalmology clinic assisted 51 patients and provided them with medications. The cardiology clinic received 27 patients, and the diagnostic radiology clinic conducted examinations for 25 patients.

Other medical services provided also included laboratory tests, x-rays and vaccinations.

In Afghanistan, 200 shelter kits and 200 tents have been handed out for the benefit of 1,200 individuals as part of a project for returnees from Pakistan to Afghanistan and those affected by flooding.

In Lebanon, KSrelief distributed 530 purchase coupons to orphans and people with disabilities in Akkar region, Beirut, central and western Bekaa and Armoun.

The coupons allow recipients to buy winter clothing of their choice from approved stores.


Saudi GEA chief named most influential personality of last decade at MENA Effie Awards

Updated 22 November 2024
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Saudi GEA chief named most influential personality of last decade at MENA Effie Awards

  • Turki Alalshikh’s contribution to Kingdom’s entertainment sector honored

RIYADH: The head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority was named the most influential personality of the last decade at the MENA Effie Awards ceremony in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event, which was held on Thursday as part of this year’s Riyadh Season calendar, honored Turki Alalshikh’s contribution to the Kingdom’s entertainment sector and its emergence as a global hub for world-class events, the SPA added.

Alalshikh thanked Saudi Arabia’s leadership for their support in his acceptance speech, attributing the achievement to the “collaborative efforts of the nation’s people.”

He added that the recognition was a nod to the Kingdom’s growing global stature in the entertainment sector.

The 15th year of the MENA Effie Awards, which were hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time, celebrated innovation and excellence in the marketing and advertising sectors across the Middle East and North Africa.

This latest accolade followed Alalshikh’s recent distinction as one of the 50 most influential figures in the world of boxing and mixed martial arts, awarded by the British online newspaper The Independent earlier this year.

Under Alalshikh’s leadership, the GEA has transformed the Kingdom’s entertainment sector, with Riyadh Season becoming a flagship event attracting millions of visitors each year.


Gaming community in Saudi Arabia catches them all with Pokemon Go

‘Saudi Arabia is experiencing incredible growth in gaming with more than 67 percent of the population being passionate gamers.’
Updated 22 November 2024
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Gaming community in Saudi Arabia catches them all with Pokemon Go

  • Maan Al-Qurashi, one of the community leaders at Pokemon Go Saudi, told Arab News that the game holds a special place in his heart because he has played different versions for more than 20 years

RIYADH: The official launch of Pokemon Go in Saudi Arabia has brought together a community of gamers who have embraced their inner child while competing and connecting in a world of nostalgic adventure.

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game that creates an immersive experience of a world where human beings co-exist with colorful creatures with otherworldly superpowers, known as Pokemon.

The game, launched internationally in 2016, uses GPS to track movement and invites players to travel to real-world locations to catch Pokemon and battle with others.

Fans from more than 20 countries around the globe registered at the event. (Supplied)

A local gaming group, “Pokemon Go Saudi,” has created a lively community with members from Riyadh and the Eastern Province who have a shared love of the game.

Maan Al-Qurashi, one of the community leaders at Pokemon Go Saudi, told Arab News that the game holds a special place in his heart because he has played different versions for more than 20 years.

“Pokemon accompanied me in all stages of my life, from childhood to teenager, and still is a part of my daily life after marriage. Hopefully, I will pass down the same passion to my kids.”

HIGHLIGHT

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game that creates an immersive experience of a world where human beings co-exist with colorful creatures with otherworldly superpowers, known as Pokemon.

Al-Qurashi said Pokemon Go Saudi began with 10 members in 2017, after the international launch of the game.

Today, the community comprises a diverse group of 500 members from all age groups who have made lasting friendships with their Pokemon partners. As a team, they go on adventures, train to improve their skills, and battle in friendly competitions.

‘Saudi Arabia is experiencing incredible growth in gaming with more than 67 percent of the population being passionate gamers.’ (Supplied)

Al-Qurashi said that it is more than a game. It is a community that fosters growth and friendship.

“Multiple in-person activities and relationships have been linked to Pokemon Go. For example, the daily routine is not only going to work and staying with family, it includes playing Pokemon Go even if it’s for a few minutes during the day or an hour or so.”

Last week, more than 5,000 Pokemon Go fans gathered at Boulevard City to celebrate the official launch of the Saudi application. Omar Tellez, vice president at Niantic, said that the event was the largest Pokemon Go event of its kind in the region to date.

Maan AlQurashi, one of the community leaders at Pokemon Go Saudi. (Supplied)

“Seeing the joy of the thousands of attendees, of all ages, has been such a delight. The success of today’s event is a testament to the popularity of Pokemon Go here in the Kingdom. The community has really responded.”

Fans from more than 20 countries around the globe registered at the event.

“It’s been incredible to see them unite to catch some of their favorite Pokemon and enjoy their time together in person. That’s what our game is all about.

Fans from more than 20 countries around the globe registered at the event. (Supplied)

“We have loved seeing their passion and excitement firsthand – whether through cheering on their teams during the PvP battles, or celebrating that iconic button-press moment — or join forces to catch Mewtwo as the legendary Pokemon took over the Boulevard Screens. The atmosphere was truly something special,” Tellez said.

Saudi Arabia is experiencing incredible growth in gaming with more than 67 percent of the population — more than 23.5 million people — being passionate gamers, Tellez said.

“We are excited to welcome many of them into our global trainers community, and we know this event is just the start of our adventure together as we create new experiences and ways for them to connect here in KSA.”

Today, more than 100 million people play Pokemon Go every year in more than 150 countries and regions, making for more than a billion downloads. Trainers have walked more than 8 billion kilometers collectively while playing the game.