RIYADH: Dalal bint Taleb, a computer programming student at King Saud University, has used her skills to produce an innovative marketing and business idea.
She came up with the idea of a "fashion truck" business as a novel method for marketing, relying on a mobile trailer containing all of women's fashion needs so that they don't have to leave the comfort of their homes to do their shopping and access the latest trends.
The products contained in the carriage range from clothes to accessories, shoes, handbags and perfumes, and Taleb presents her services to many sectors of society, especially those who have no means of transport such as the physically challenged and the elderly.
"The trailer is a very convenient method of shopping for these people, offering women the ability to choose what they want from high quality brands at reasonable prices throughout the year without going anywhere and without needing transport services," she told the Saudi Press Agency
Taleb added that she got the idea from the mobile food carriages found everywhere today, and which are frequented more by young and elderly women. "This kind of business work helps to push society forward into a new mode of development, especially as Saudi women in similar businesses are being supported by our leadership, which is giving women a pioneering and distinguished role in many sectors," she added.
She pointed out that her idea has encouraged Saudi designers and those with small businesses to specify a space to show their products and items at a nominal price as a way for people to get to know of their items and enter the labor market.
When asked how she got to know of the needs of the shoppers in this regard, she said that she surveyed a number of women on what they wanted and what their styles were, "and through this I came to learn how to provide the kinds of products that they wanted. My project, thank God, has been a success because the shoppers are satisfied with the products that I offer and my wide network of relations has ensured success since my family, relatives, kin, and friends were all supportive of the idea and insisted I should implement it," Taleb said.
Her project was launched three months ago, with much of its success being attributable to the role of social media. "I was able to rely on social media to get this project off the ground."
She recommends that people with small and medium-size projects make themselves aware of this asset through simple workshops about how to do a feasibility study and about how to develop one's business.
She said that all women who want to do this should be aware of the difficulties they may face and must have a plan for overcoming them. She also noted that they should be patient and have the determination to never lose hope, particularly at the beginning of the project.
Taleb emphasized that all projects take time in order to be able to stand on their own two feet and succeed. "I have a message for all those women who are embarking on a commercial project: Make something different; learn and try to be innovative in your success. Never ever stay in one place waiting for success to come your way while clapping your hands for those who have already succeeded."
She said she wants to widen her idea in the future to create a trailer store for children's accessories, hoping to be one of the greatest Saudi female pioneers in the coming years, in line with Vision 2030.
Saudi woman’s mobile boutique clicks
Saudi woman’s mobile boutique clicks
‘Aramcorama’ at Ithra: A living archive of energy, culture, memory
- Exhibition showcases how ordinary items can help make extraordinary transformations
DHAHRAN: “Aramcorama,” within Ithra’s museum, reimagines the exhibition experience, turning the Kingdom’s industrial history into a personal and immersive journey.
Rather than simply documenting the rise of the country’s oil industry, the exhibition explores how it shaped cities, communities, and modern life.
It encourages visitors to reflect on how past events changed people’s sense of identity.
“Aramcorama” tells the story through a rich selection of visuals. Geological maps, handwritten notes, internal messages, and photographs trace nearly a century of growth and change.
HIGHLIGHTS
• At ‘Aramcorama’ exhibition, Geological maps, handwritten notes, internal messages, and photographs trace nearly a century of growth and change.
• Visitors can explore how Aramco’s global outlook has influenced not only individual lives but also the nation’s perspective.
Visitors can explore a timeline highlighting each decade and framed by hanging prints and illuminated media displays. This setup creates an engaging environment that feels dynamic and full of discovery.
Abdullah Alshammasi, a longtime engineer at Aramco, spoke to Arab News about how the company influenced more than just the oil and gas industry and impacted generations of employees and locals.
He said: “The company certainly had lasting consequences on the earliest generations that worked in it.
Aramco’s history is the modern history of the communities that lived in the Eastern Province.
Abdullah Alshammasi, Aramco engineer
“The fact is, since the company was established it needed a knowledgeable workforce, so a campaign of education was also established, and it steadily increased in depth from manual skills to softer, more intellectual skills.”
The exhibition also showcases vintage safety posters that were originally used to display workplace rules. These posters show how design and language have changed over the years, highlighting the changes in style and communication.
This section of the exhibition captures the story’s understated honesty, letting ordinary items like posters, letters, and tools tell the story of values, habits, and shifting responsibilities.
As visitors explore the exhibition, they can see how the company’s global outlook has influenced not only individual lives but also the nation’s perspective.
Alshammasi explained: “Generations have now been everywhere around the globe, studying at the best institutions, bringing back with them a better sense of the world, widening their horizons and, therefore, our societies and culture.”
“Aramcorama” ultimately reflects how modern Saudi society was built; not just through buildings and oil fields, but also through education, progress, and mindset.
Alshammasi said: “It tells me that Aramco is as old as our modern lives.”
This fact is especially evident in the Eastern Province, where the company’s presence reshaped daily life, and Alshammasi added: “Aramco’s history is the modern history of the communities that lived in the Eastern Province. Their lives were directly affected by the company, for good and for ill.”
The exhibition does not hide that tension, but invites reflection on both progress and its costs, what was gained and what may have been lost.
“Aramcorama” does not ask visitors to celebrate or criticize, but to notice, reflect, and form their own opinions.
It respects the complexity of history and shows how innovation, labor, infrastructure, and community are all deeply connected.
Saudi fund chief receives Nepal’s ambassador
- They discussed the Saudi fund’s development projects in Nepal and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan Al-Marshad, received Nepal’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Naresh Bikram Dhakal and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed the Saudi fund’s development projects in Nepal and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, the official account said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Saud Al-Sati, deputy minister for political affairs, met with Senegal’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Biram Mbagnick Diagne, in Riyadh and wished him success in his new duties, the foreign ministry said in a post on X.
Saudi crown prince and Iranian president discuss Iran-Israel ceasefire deal
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expresses hope the truce will restore security and stability in the region and prevent further confrontation
RIYADH: During a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel.
The prince expressed the Kingdom’s hope that the truce would help restore security and stability in the region and prevent the risk of further confrontation, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He underscored Saudi Arabia’s consistent position in support of diplomatic dialogue as the preferred path for the resolution of disputes.
The pause in the conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13, was announced hours after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile strikes on Monday that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.
In the aftermath of the attack, the crown prince spoke with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with the country, and strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s “unjustified and blatant aggression” against the Gulf state.
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Doha for emergency GCC meeting
- Session convened to discuss Monday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Qatar
DOHA: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Doha on Tuesday to take part in an emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal was received upon arrival by Qatari Minister of State Sultan Al-Muraikhi, Saudi ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, and GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi.
The emergency session has been convened to discuss Monday’s Iranian missile attack on US bases in Qatar.
The meeting will address the implications of the incident for regional security, as well as collective efforts to restore stability across the Gulf, SPA added.
Saudi cookbooks for kids win ‘Best in World’ Gourmand award
- ‘Aklana’s’ 13 volumes document Saudi culinary and cultural traditions
- Building a ‘golden age’ of literature for kids, publisher tells Arab News
JEDDAH: A children’s cookbook showcasing Saudi Arabia’s rich culinary heritage has won one of the world’s top awards.
Layal Idriss received the 2024 “Best in the World” Gourmand Cookbook Award in Cascais, Portugal, recently for her work as the creative director, publisher, and visual storyteller behind the “Aklana” book series.
The series is an ambitious project documenting the Kingdom’s culinary culture for children.
Speaking to Arab News, Idriss described the award moment as “truly overwhelming.”
The co-founder of Dar Waraqa and Radish House Agency added: “I was honored to be invited to speak on the Gourmand stage about ‘Aklana’ from Saudi Books, highlighting Saudi culinary food and culture.
“To stand there, representing a project that is so dear to my heart, filled me with immense gratitude.”
The “Aklana” series, created in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Culinary Arts Commission and published by Dar Waraqa, comprises 13 individually designed books, each dedicated to one of the Kingdom’s provinces.
The series was envisioned as a “holistic cultural journey” for children, designed to inform and delight local and global readers alike.
Idriss explained that “with every dot we put on paper, we recognized that we were serving a global readership.”
To ensure international accessibility, the books were translated into English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
In her role as creative director, she led a team of four to five artists per book, each handpicked to reflect the cultural tone and visual storytelling of the region they depicted.
“The goal was not just beautiful illustrations, but visuals that truly captured the essence of the narrative and cultural elements,” she said.
Ensuring artistic and editorial cohesion across all 13 volumes was no small feat: “Directing multiple artists while maintaining a unified look and feel was a complex yet rewarding challenge.
“From initial sketches to final production, I oversaw every step to guarantee consistency in design and storytelling.”
Alongside project manager Mohammed Hasanain, Idriss also prioritized premium production quality.
She said: “We focused on high-quality production from illustrations to paper believing that a beautifully made book serves as the best messenger for a vibrant culture.”
Speaking about what sets “Aklana” apart globally, Idriss highlighted its unique fusion of cultural depth, educational content and visual excellence.
Each book explores not only food but also local traditions, celebrations and natural resources.
“Many cultural cookbooks might offer recipes, but few delve so comprehensively into the lifestyle, celebrations, and natural resources tied to the food presented through such a rich and consistently high-quality visual narrative,” she said.
For Idriss, this award is validation of a lifelong mission.
“Personally, this award is an incredibly encouraging milestone. I’ve devoted my life to bookmaking with a clear vision: to contribute to building the golden age of children’s literature in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
While “Aklana” focuses on culinary heritage, Idriss believes the same level of dedication must extend to all genres of children’s literature in the Kingdom.
“The underlying passion for creating meaningful and beautifully crafted books remains the same,” she added.
The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards receive submissions from more than 221 countries and regions.
Every year, the awards ceremony is held in a location known for its gastronomic heritage, attracting publishers, chefs, authors, and journalists from across the globe.
With “Aklana” now part of both the Saudi and global culinary conversation, Idriss hopes it will spark a new wave of culturally grounded publishing initiatives across the Arab world.
“‘Aklana’s’ success provides a strong model. We hope it inspires future projects in the Kingdom and across the region to delve deeper into cultural exploration, setting new benchmarks for quality in publishing.
“We’re committed to continuing this journey, sharing our books globally, as we believe they are vital cultural messengers.”
