By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH –Semifinalists were decided at the end of the sixth round of the Saudi Federation Youth Cup Friday.
Al-Nasr will meet Al-Ittifaq while Al-Ahli will play Al-Hilal in the semifinals that will kick off on Nov. 5.
In Group A, Al-Nasr assured its qualification after defeating its home rival Al-Hilal 1-0 in an away match at Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Stadium. Al-Nasr thus tallied 16 points.
In Al-Ittihad Club stadium, Al-Ahli defeated its host 3-2 in Group B. It gave Al-Ahli 11 points and a berth in semis.
Al-Ittifaq made it 15 points after defeating its host Hitteen in Group C.
Al-Ittifaq has earlier benefited from the decision of the Technical Committee after its Najran encounter, 0-2. Three points and three goals were decided to be given to Al-ittifaq due to a violation by Najran club. In that match, a suspended player took part which was considered a violation.
Although defeated by Al-Nasr, Al-Hilal also qualified to the semifinals with 12 points, as the best second.
In other matches, Najran defeated Hejr 4-3 while Al-Wehdah won its guest Al-Ta’ee 3-2.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Ahli beats Ittihad to keep U-17 Cup
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Ahli defended its title in the Saudi Federation Under-17 Cup after defeating its home rival Al-Ittihad, in the final, 3-2, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here Thursday.
Abdullah Al-Amoudi of Al-Ahli gave his team the lead in the 15th minute before Al-Bara’a Ba-Adheem increased the margin in the 36th minute. One minute later, Yousof Ba-Oaidan scored for Al-Ittihad. Six minutes after the break, Fahd Al-Muwallad of Al-Ittihad tied the score. But Ahmed Al-Malki sealed the win for Al-Ahli in the first session of the extra time.
Tariq Kayyal, member of the Saudi Football Federation, handed the trophy and the gold medals to Al-Ahli players. Al-Ittihad players were awarded silver medals.
With ten goals in the competition, Al-Ahli striker Abdullah Al-Amoudi received the top scorer award.
In 2008, Al-Ahli had defeated Hitteen 2-0 in the final that was held at the same stadium.
Some of Al-Ittihad supporters expected that their team’s administration would submit a protest letter to the Saudi Football Federation regarding one of Al-Ahli players’ “unlawful” participation.
“The participation of Al-Ahli’s player Ahmed Bari unlawful,” Bakhit Al-Saher, one of the fans told Saudi Gazette. He added that Bari is not under 17. “He is at least 23 years old,” Al-Saher claimed.
“This is a clear violation of the rules of the competition and I’m sure that Al-Ittihad administration will do something,” he said.
JEDDAH – Al-Ahli defended its title in the Saudi Federation Under-17 Cup after defeating its home rival Al-Ittihad, in the final, 3-2, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here Thursday.
Abdullah Al-Amoudi of Al-Ahli gave his team the lead in the 15th minute before Al-Bara’a Ba-Adheem increased the margin in the 36th minute. One minute later, Yousof Ba-Oaidan scored for Al-Ittihad. Six minutes after the break, Fahd Al-Muwallad of Al-Ittihad tied the score. But Ahmed Al-Malki sealed the win for Al-Ahli in the first session of the extra time.
Tariq Kayyal, member of the Saudi Football Federation, handed the trophy and the gold medals to Al-Ahli players. Al-Ittihad players were awarded silver medals.
With ten goals in the competition, Al-Ahli striker Abdullah Al-Amoudi received the top scorer award.
In 2008, Al-Ahli had defeated Hitteen 2-0 in the final that was held at the same stadium.
Some of Al-Ittihad supporters expected that their team’s administration would submit a protest letter to the Saudi Football Federation regarding one of Al-Ahli players’ “unlawful” participation.
“The participation of Al-Ahli’s player Ahmed Bari unlawful,” Bakhit Al-Saher, one of the fans told Saudi Gazette. He added that Bari is not under 17. “He is at least 23 years old,” Al-Saher claimed.
“This is a clear violation of the rules of the competition and I’m sure that Al-Ittihad administration will do something,” he said.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Top Qaeda terror suspect surrenders
By Mohammed Al-Kinani and Abdullah Al-Orayfij
JEDDAH/RIYADH – One of the Kingdom’s most wanted terrorists suspected of recruiting foreign militants for the Al-Qaeda network in Iraq surrendered to Saudi authorities, Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki announced Thursday.
Fahd Reqad Samir Al-Ruweili, 31, who was on a list of the Kingdom’s 85 most wanted militants living abroad, returned to Saudi Arabia Wednesday, said Al-Turki.
It is thought that Al-Ruweili called his family from Iraq, revealing his desire to turn in.
In a telephone conversation Friday with Okaz /Saudi Gazette Al-Turki categorically denied the involvement of a third party in his surrender. His relatives approached the responsible security authorities and coordinated his travel to the Kingdom, he said.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah and the support of the families of the wanted the security authorities are capable of facilitating the return of fugitives to the country to surrender,” said the Ministry spokesman. Al-Turki encouraged other extremists to follow Al-Ruweili’s example.
He urged them “to return to their rational senses, end their transgressions and surrender themselves to the nearest Saudi representative, who will facilitate their return home to their families.”
According to sources, Al-Reweili was born in Qatar in March 1977 and was closely linked to the Al-Qaeda. He was a key figure in Al-Qaeda training camps along Syria’s border with Iraq. He provided fighters with weapons and forged travel documents to help them enter Iraq from Syria.
Al-Ruweili left for Jordan on April 4, 2003, and settled in Syria. He was known in Al-Qaeda with the nickname Emir Al-Hedoud “Prince of Borders” as he was operating on the Iraqi-Syrian border. He succeeded in recruiting dozens if not hundreds of the brainwashed youth and masterminding their infiltration into Iraq through the Iraqi-Syrian border.
The ministry’s most wanted list of terrorist suspects includes 83 Saudis and two Yemenis.
In February, a former Guantanamo prisoner, Mohammed Atiq Awayd Al-Awfi, turned himself in to the Yemeni authorities and was flown to Riyadh after his name appeared on the list.
On March 15, Yemen announced that security forces had arrested another of those appearing on the list, Ali Abdullah Al-Harbi, in an operation in Taez, south of the Yemeni capital Sana’a.
In January, the local Al-Qaeda branch announced in an Internet video the merging of the Saudi and Yemeni branches into “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” led by a Yemeni, Nasser Al-Wahaishi.
US military commanders say one of the main conduits for foreign fighters entering Iraq to join forces with the local branch of Al-Qaeda is through Syria.
JEDDAH/RIYADH – One of the Kingdom’s most wanted terrorists suspected of recruiting foreign militants for the Al-Qaeda network in Iraq surrendered to Saudi authorities, Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki announced Thursday.
Fahd Reqad Samir Al-Ruweili, 31, who was on a list of the Kingdom’s 85 most wanted militants living abroad, returned to Saudi Arabia Wednesday, said Al-Turki.
It is thought that Al-Ruweili called his family from Iraq, revealing his desire to turn in.
In a telephone conversation Friday with Okaz /Saudi Gazette Al-Turki categorically denied the involvement of a third party in his surrender. His relatives approached the responsible security authorities and coordinated his travel to the Kingdom, he said.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah and the support of the families of the wanted the security authorities are capable of facilitating the return of fugitives to the country to surrender,” said the Ministry spokesman. Al-Turki encouraged other extremists to follow Al-Ruweili’s example.
He urged them “to return to their rational senses, end their transgressions and surrender themselves to the nearest Saudi representative, who will facilitate their return home to their families.”
According to sources, Al-Reweili was born in Qatar in March 1977 and was closely linked to the Al-Qaeda. He was a key figure in Al-Qaeda training camps along Syria’s border with Iraq. He provided fighters with weapons and forged travel documents to help them enter Iraq from Syria.
Al-Ruweili left for Jordan on April 4, 2003, and settled in Syria. He was known in Al-Qaeda with the nickname Emir Al-Hedoud “Prince of Borders” as he was operating on the Iraqi-Syrian border. He succeeded in recruiting dozens if not hundreds of the brainwashed youth and masterminding their infiltration into Iraq through the Iraqi-Syrian border.
The ministry’s most wanted list of terrorist suspects includes 83 Saudis and two Yemenis.
In February, a former Guantanamo prisoner, Mohammed Atiq Awayd Al-Awfi, turned himself in to the Yemeni authorities and was flown to Riyadh after his name appeared on the list.
On March 15, Yemen announced that security forces had arrested another of those appearing on the list, Ali Abdullah Al-Harbi, in an operation in Taez, south of the Yemeni capital Sana’a.
In January, the local Al-Qaeda branch announced in an Internet video the merging of the Saudi and Yemeni branches into “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” led by a Yemeni, Nasser Al-Wahaishi.
US military commanders say one of the main conduits for foreign fighters entering Iraq to join forces with the local branch of Al-Qaeda is through Syria.
Three years of Abdullah’s ascension to throne
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH - King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Monday witnesses the third anniversary of his ascension to the throne.
It happened on this day 1426 H when his brother King Fahd’s death placed him on the throne. For three years, the Monarch has walked the extra mile to bring the world together.
During the three years as monarch King Abdullah excelled as a statesman and a leader with a vision.
He was awarded King Faisal International Prize for the service toIslam this year.
The prize reiterates King Abdullah’s great role in the service to Islam and Muslims.
In the Third Extraordinary Summit in Makkah in 2005, King Abdullah had spoken on the need to awaken the Islamic nation and called for integration of Muslims to reach a common understanding in inter-relations and with other countries.
Shortly after the Summit in 2006, King Abdullah called the Iraqi leaders, both Sunnis and Shiites, to meet at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah to sign Makkah Accord whereby the two Iraqi parties stopped violence and sectarian clashes.
In a similar step, King Abdullah hosted Palestinian delegations representing the two rival parties, Fatah and Hamas, in 2007 few meters away from the Holy Ka’aba for a dialogue in a bid to end the ongoing infighting.
In 2007, Sudan and Chad signed an agreement for developing bilateral relations after mediation from King Abdullah.
The same year, Somalian reconciliation conference was held in Jeddah. The remarkable event in 2008 was the Inter-faith Dialogue Conference which was patronized by King Abdullah this month.
One of the recommendations of the conference was to establish King Abdullah International Award for Civilized Dialogue.
In another aspect of concern for Islam and Muslims, King Abdullah laid the foundation stones for many projects in Makkah and Madina to enable pilgrims do their rituals in comfort and peace.
The SR4 billion Jamrat Bridge project got the praise of all Muslim leaders and pilgrims. The King also launched SR4.7 million projects for the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina.
The government has spent more than SR70 billion in recent years for development of holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
Earlier this month, the King patronized the Jeddah Energy Meeting where he announced a package of measures to tackle surging oil prices. The King allocated $1 billion for an OPEC fund and offered $500 million in soft loans through the Saudi Fund for Development to finance projects in developing countries to obtain energy.
This clearly reflects the King’s keenness to make the international economy as stable as possible.
Moreover, the King allocated millions of riyals for a program to finance researches related to energy and environment as well as the climate change.
On the local level, the Kingdom has been working on massive infrastructure projects. The 2008 budget assigned some SR165 billion for spending on new and current projects. The recent three years also witnessed a call to raise the capitals of some development funds by SR25 billion. The General Investment
Fund was supported by SR20 billion in the budget of the current fiscal year. In addition, last year’s budget surplus was earmarked to reduce the public debt from SR660 billion to SR267 billion.
Moreover, King Abdullah University for Sciences ad Technology was established in addition to many planned industrial cities. The budget surplus was also used in improving workers’ efficiency and diversifying the economic base. It also focused on creating a balanced development in different regions of the country, developing scientific, technological and information researches. Environment protection and water resource preservation were also accorded due attention.
Dr. Asad Jawahar, an economy expert, believes that the packages of formations in the economy field certify that King Abdullah plays a major role in tackling many economical issues in the Kingdom.
“Setting new economic cities in many regions are great example of the serious steps of change,” Dr. Asad Jawahr, an economies expert, said. ” Although about 70-80 percent of the general income of the Kingdom comes through oil industry, King Abdullah encouraged local and foreign companies to invest in other resources with full support from the Saudi government,” he added.
The King has been always keen to listen to his people and find out what problems they have. For that purpose he has toured various regions the country. He even visited some of the poorest districts in Riyadh and paid full attention to the residents of that neighborhood.
The security of the country is one of the King’s most important priorities. The King is keen to protect young men from embracing deviant groups.
The King has also been keen to improve and update the country’s judicial system. An amount of SR7 billion was allocated for the development of the system.
In the political arena, the Kingdom has been adhering to the policy based on moderation, wisdom and farsightedness.
“We can divide the Kingdom’s history into three parts; establishment by King Abdul Aziz, an era of strengthening confidence in King Faisal’s period and the last one is the era of the international elevation which is being sustained by King Abdullah,” Mohammed Al-Zolfah, a member of Shoura Council, said.
King Abdullah has emphasized the importance of developing the joint Arab work in various domains as well as spreading the values of moderation, tolerance and dialogue.
In 2007, the Kingdom hosted the 19th Arab summit in Riyadh where King Abdullah also declared his continued support for the Palestinians. In 2006, the King directed allocation of a grant of $250 million to the Palestinian people as part of the nucleus of an international Arab Fund to rebuild Palestine.
King Abdullah has called for organizing donation campaigns to help the war-ravaged Lebanon and ordered depositing $1 billion at the Lebanese central bank for supporting the Lebanese economy during Israel and Hezbollah war.
At Paris conference, held in 2007, the Kingdom extended assistance to Lebanon amounting to $1 billion in addition to a $100 million gift to the Lebanese government.
In the international arena, King Abdullah visited a number of countries and held talks with their leaders on issues of mutual interest.
A major shift in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy was King Abdullah’s visit to the Vatican and meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and calling for dialogue between different faiths and cultures.
According to Al-Zolfah, the most important achievements in the recent years were the efforts to change the image of the Kingdom in the international media.
“Encouraging women to involve in many aspects of the Saudi community, combating terrorism, his call for dialogue and paving roads for political participation through municipal councils prove that King Abdullah is playing a major role to develop Saudi Arabia,” he added.
*With input by Abdullah Al-Hariri - SG
JEDDAH - King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Monday witnesses the third anniversary of his ascension to the throne.
It happened on this day 1426 H when his brother King Fahd’s death placed him on the throne. For three years, the Monarch has walked the extra mile to bring the world together.
During the three years as monarch King Abdullah excelled as a statesman and a leader with a vision.
He was awarded King Faisal International Prize for the service toIslam this year.
The prize reiterates King Abdullah’s great role in the service to Islam and Muslims.
In the Third Extraordinary Summit in Makkah in 2005, King Abdullah had spoken on the need to awaken the Islamic nation and called for integration of Muslims to reach a common understanding in inter-relations and with other countries.
Shortly after the Summit in 2006, King Abdullah called the Iraqi leaders, both Sunnis and Shiites, to meet at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah to sign Makkah Accord whereby the two Iraqi parties stopped violence and sectarian clashes.
In a similar step, King Abdullah hosted Palestinian delegations representing the two rival parties, Fatah and Hamas, in 2007 few meters away from the Holy Ka’aba for a dialogue in a bid to end the ongoing infighting.
In 2007, Sudan and Chad signed an agreement for developing bilateral relations after mediation from King Abdullah.
The same year, Somalian reconciliation conference was held in Jeddah. The remarkable event in 2008 was the Inter-faith Dialogue Conference which was patronized by King Abdullah this month.
One of the recommendations of the conference was to establish King Abdullah International Award for Civilized Dialogue.
In another aspect of concern for Islam and Muslims, King Abdullah laid the foundation stones for many projects in Makkah and Madina to enable pilgrims do their rituals in comfort and peace.
The SR4 billion Jamrat Bridge project got the praise of all Muslim leaders and pilgrims. The King also launched SR4.7 million projects for the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina.
The government has spent more than SR70 billion in recent years for development of holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
Earlier this month, the King patronized the Jeddah Energy Meeting where he announced a package of measures to tackle surging oil prices. The King allocated $1 billion for an OPEC fund and offered $500 million in soft loans through the Saudi Fund for Development to finance projects in developing countries to obtain energy.
This clearly reflects the King’s keenness to make the international economy as stable as possible.
Moreover, the King allocated millions of riyals for a program to finance researches related to energy and environment as well as the climate change.
On the local level, the Kingdom has been working on massive infrastructure projects. The 2008 budget assigned some SR165 billion for spending on new and current projects. The recent three years also witnessed a call to raise the capitals of some development funds by SR25 billion. The General Investment
Fund was supported by SR20 billion in the budget of the current fiscal year. In addition, last year’s budget surplus was earmarked to reduce the public debt from SR660 billion to SR267 billion.
Moreover, King Abdullah University for Sciences ad Technology was established in addition to many planned industrial cities. The budget surplus was also used in improving workers’ efficiency and diversifying the economic base. It also focused on creating a balanced development in different regions of the country, developing scientific, technological and information researches. Environment protection and water resource preservation were also accorded due attention.
Dr. Asad Jawahar, an economy expert, believes that the packages of formations in the economy field certify that King Abdullah plays a major role in tackling many economical issues in the Kingdom.
“Setting new economic cities in many regions are great example of the serious steps of change,” Dr. Asad Jawahr, an economies expert, said. ” Although about 70-80 percent of the general income of the Kingdom comes through oil industry, King Abdullah encouraged local and foreign companies to invest in other resources with full support from the Saudi government,” he added.
The King has been always keen to listen to his people and find out what problems they have. For that purpose he has toured various regions the country. He even visited some of the poorest districts in Riyadh and paid full attention to the residents of that neighborhood.
The security of the country is one of the King’s most important priorities. The King is keen to protect young men from embracing deviant groups.
The King has also been keen to improve and update the country’s judicial system. An amount of SR7 billion was allocated for the development of the system.
In the political arena, the Kingdom has been adhering to the policy based on moderation, wisdom and farsightedness.
“We can divide the Kingdom’s history into three parts; establishment by King Abdul Aziz, an era of strengthening confidence in King Faisal’s period and the last one is the era of the international elevation which is being sustained by King Abdullah,” Mohammed Al-Zolfah, a member of Shoura Council, said.
King Abdullah has emphasized the importance of developing the joint Arab work in various domains as well as spreading the values of moderation, tolerance and dialogue.
In 2007, the Kingdom hosted the 19th Arab summit in Riyadh where King Abdullah also declared his continued support for the Palestinians. In 2006, the King directed allocation of a grant of $250 million to the Palestinian people as part of the nucleus of an international Arab Fund to rebuild Palestine.
King Abdullah has called for organizing donation campaigns to help the war-ravaged Lebanon and ordered depositing $1 billion at the Lebanese central bank for supporting the Lebanese economy during Israel and Hezbollah war.
At Paris conference, held in 2007, the Kingdom extended assistance to Lebanon amounting to $1 billion in addition to a $100 million gift to the Lebanese government.
In the international arena, King Abdullah visited a number of countries and held talks with their leaders on issues of mutual interest.
A major shift in Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy was King Abdullah’s visit to the Vatican and meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and calling for dialogue between different faiths and cultures.
According to Al-Zolfah, the most important achievements in the recent years were the efforts to change the image of the Kingdom in the international media.
“Encouraging women to involve in many aspects of the Saudi community, combating terrorism, his call for dialogue and paving roads for political participation through municipal councils prove that King Abdullah is playing a major role to develop Saudi Arabia,” he added.
*With input by Abdullah Al-Hariri - SG
Thursday, October 29, 2009
New portable cancer clinic arriving soon
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The Riyadh-based Saudi Philanthropic Cancer Society has signed a contract with the American Life Line Company to manufacture and supply a portable clinic for early detection of cancer.Announcing the contract Dr. Abdullah Al-Amr, chairman of the society, said the American company is specialized in producing and supplying of such units. He said the clinic will arrive in Saudi Arabia after six months. “These clinics will be used in detecting breast and mouth cancerous cells,” Al-Amr said. He added that the clinic will be equipped with a mammogram screening device and a chair for the early detection of oral cancer. He also noted that workers in these units can register the illness history of the patients. “This unit will also be provided with an ultrasound unit where physicians can examine two patients at the same time,” he added.He estimated that nearly 30 patients can be checked everyday.The estimated cost of the clinic is SR3.5 million. “Nearly SR3 million were donated by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Jammaz,” Al-Amr revealed. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the donors for this great support. – SGAl-Amr also pointed out that that the manufacturing company had taken into consideration the weather conditions of the Kingdom while formulating the clinic design, especially because the mobile clinic will tour all areas of the country.The society cares for cancer sufferers while also assisting them in paying for the cost of treatment. During the first half of this year alone, over 3,000 patients of both genders were cared for in a variety of ways by the society.
JEDDAH – The Riyadh-based Saudi Philanthropic Cancer Society has signed a contract with the American Life Line Company to manufacture and supply a portable clinic for early detection of cancer.Announcing the contract Dr. Abdullah Al-Amr, chairman of the society, said the American company is specialized in producing and supplying of such units. He said the clinic will arrive in Saudi Arabia after six months. “These clinics will be used in detecting breast and mouth cancerous cells,” Al-Amr said. He added that the clinic will be equipped with a mammogram screening device and a chair for the early detection of oral cancer. He also noted that workers in these units can register the illness history of the patients. “This unit will also be provided with an ultrasound unit where physicians can examine two patients at the same time,” he added.He estimated that nearly 30 patients can be checked everyday.The estimated cost of the clinic is SR3.5 million. “Nearly SR3 million were donated by Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Jammaz,” Al-Amr revealed. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the donors for this great support. – SGAl-Amr also pointed out that that the manufacturing company had taken into consideration the weather conditions of the Kingdom while formulating the clinic design, especially because the mobile clinic will tour all areas of the country.The society cares for cancer sufferers while also assisting them in paying for the cost of treatment. During the first half of this year alone, over 3,000 patients of both genders were cared for in a variety of ways by the society.
GFH, Kazakhstan, PFC Energy launch 'Caspian Energy Hub'
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH - Gulf Finance House (GFH), in collaboration with the government of Kazakhstan and PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, has announced Thursday plans for the latest project in its "Energy City" series: The Caspian Energy Hub (CEH), Kazakhstan. With an estimated total investment value of $10 billion, this project marks the entry of GFH and its clients into Kazakhstan, and represents one of the largest foreign investments into the country.The concept was presented to Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan at the Presidential Palace by the Chairman of Gulf Finance House, Esam Janahi, and the President and CEO of PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, Vahan Zanoyan.Following the presentation, a signing ceremony was held at the Rixos President Hotel, Astana, during which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed. In addition to Gulf Finance House and PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, signatory parties included Gani Uzbekov, deputy chairman of the board of the Sustainable Development Fund, "Kazyna", Ulf Wokurka, deputy chairman of the management board of Kazakhstan Holding for Management of State Assets, "Samruk", and representatives of local investment companies. Located in Aktau on the shore of Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea, the proposed Caspian Energy Center, Kazakhstan, will represent the latest in a series of energy focused business clusters that GFHGFH has planned across the Middle East and Asia. Capitalizing on prodigious natural resources and strong economy, the project aims to contribute to the overall economic and human capital development of Kazakhstan by creating a services center that caters to every commercial, technical and human resource need of the oil and gas industry in the Caspian region. In addition, the Caspian Energy Center also aims to become a major global technical training center for the oil & gas industry. The center is expected to play a significant role in supporting the government's plans to double oil production and triple natural gas output by 2015. To build on these objectives, the center will develop a full service economic and business center catering to every commercial, technical and human resource need of the oil and gas industry operating in Kazakhstan, and ultimately, in the entire Caspian region with a view that with the Caspian Energy Center, Kazakhstan will have an "HR and skills nerve center" that facilitates Kazakhstan's human development, and positions it as a leader in human capital within the region. The Caspian Energy Center is an important and integral part of the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan," Nazarbayev said. "We have the vision, the will, and the knowledge base to implement an industrial, service, research and educational center of excellence that will attract the biggest names in world energy," he added.The CEO of JSC Kazakhstan Holding for Management of State Assets "Samruk", Kanat Bozumbayev, said on behalf of the government, that alongside their faith in the great new initiative, "there are rich growth prospects in the Caspian region and Kazakhstan has a unique opportunity to deliver an unrivalled centre for the hydrocarbons industry." GFH Chairman Esam Janahi said."We applaud the vision of HE President Nazarbayev and the Kazakh Government and look forward to working with them to inject a new impetus and sustained long term growth into the economy."
JEDDAH - Gulf Finance House (GFH), in collaboration with the government of Kazakhstan and PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, has announced Thursday plans for the latest project in its "Energy City" series: The Caspian Energy Hub (CEH), Kazakhstan. With an estimated total investment value of $10 billion, this project marks the entry of GFH and its clients into Kazakhstan, and represents one of the largest foreign investments into the country.The concept was presented to Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan at the Presidential Palace by the Chairman of Gulf Finance House, Esam Janahi, and the President and CEO of PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, Vahan Zanoyan.Following the presentation, a signing ceremony was held at the Rixos President Hotel, Astana, during which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed. In addition to Gulf Finance House and PFC Energy International PFC Energy International, signatory parties included Gani Uzbekov, deputy chairman of the board of the Sustainable Development Fund, "Kazyna", Ulf Wokurka, deputy chairman of the management board of Kazakhstan Holding for Management of State Assets, "Samruk", and representatives of local investment companies. Located in Aktau on the shore of Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea, the proposed Caspian Energy Center, Kazakhstan, will represent the latest in a series of energy focused business clusters that GFHGFH has planned across the Middle East and Asia. Capitalizing on prodigious natural resources and strong economy, the project aims to contribute to the overall economic and human capital development of Kazakhstan by creating a services center that caters to every commercial, technical and human resource need of the oil and gas industry in the Caspian region. In addition, the Caspian Energy Center also aims to become a major global technical training center for the oil & gas industry. The center is expected to play a significant role in supporting the government's plans to double oil production and triple natural gas output by 2015. To build on these objectives, the center will develop a full service economic and business center catering to every commercial, technical and human resource need of the oil and gas industry operating in Kazakhstan, and ultimately, in the entire Caspian region with a view that with the Caspian Energy Center, Kazakhstan will have an "HR and skills nerve center" that facilitates Kazakhstan's human development, and positions it as a leader in human capital within the region. The Caspian Energy Center is an important and integral part of the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan," Nazarbayev said. "We have the vision, the will, and the knowledge base to implement an industrial, service, research and educational center of excellence that will attract the biggest names in world energy," he added.The CEO of JSC Kazakhstan Holding for Management of State Assets "Samruk", Kanat Bozumbayev, said on behalf of the government, that alongside their faith in the great new initiative, "there are rich growth prospects in the Caspian region and Kazakhstan has a unique opportunity to deliver an unrivalled centre for the hydrocarbons industry." GFH Chairman Esam Janahi said."We applaud the vision of HE President Nazarbayev and the Kazakh Government and look forward to working with them to inject a new impetus and sustained long term growth into the economy."
GFH, ADIH, Ithmaar Bank form investment vehicles
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
MANAMA - An agreement has been reached to create what has been described as three new “visionary initiatives” which are focused on driving market specific innovation across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (MENASA) region and beyond.Gulf Finance House, Ithmaar Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment House announced on Wednesday the formation of InfraCapital which will be the GCCs first investment bank specializing in the provision of tailored infrastructure development and finance.AgriCapital will be a new investment vehicle focused entirely on serving agricultural ventures and communities and the Hospitality Development Fund (HDF) will be established to nurture and support opportunities across the global hospitality sector. It added that the trio of Shari’ah compliant initiatives would represent a “turning point in the systematic approach to specialist investments.”Each of the three initiatives are the product of an alliance between Gulf Finance House, Ithmaar Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment House and followed what they said were intensive due diligence and individual feasibility studies that confirmed a high level of demand across the infrastructure, agriculture and hospitality marketplaces. While each of the three alliance financial institutions will leverage their networks and experience in the creation of InfraCapital, AgriCapital and the HDF, they will all operate as stand alone businesses under their own management structure.The trio claimed that the latest statistics show that the MENA region accounted for one in every three dollars spent on worldwide infrastructure initiatives. Over the next decade the GCC alone will demand up to $545 billion dollars of investment across the transport, power, water, energy, education and social infrastructures sectors. However, they did not say where the statistics came from.InfraCapital was conceived as a direct response to this demand. With proposed authorized capital of $6 billion and target paid up capital of $1.5 billion, it will focus on the provision of specialist services and tailored financial architecture for a wide variety of sub-sector infrastructure initiatives.The so-called ‘vision’ behind the establishment of AgriCapital is to create an investment vehicle offering specialist and comprehensive finance solutions for the agriculture sector, which is curious in a part of the world which is mainly made up of sand and rocks and all this while a new Saudi sovereign wealth fund is talking about investing in agriculture abroad and is going to cut back its own production and possibly also reduce subsidies.AgriCapital, according to the Bahrain-based trio, will encompass tailored products designed to serve a broad scope of agricultural projects and food production. Alongside these services and under the AgriCapital umbrella, a second investment company specializing in agricultural technologies, bio-technology and an investment bank specialized in agricultural investments will be created.The overriding goal, they say, is to empower innovative agricultural ventures in areas of huge potential across the MENASA region. In the Middle East region alone, domestic production of crops and livestock amounts to less than half what it consumes. Increased consumption, extreme global weather conditions, rising energy prices and demand for bio-fuels have seen global food prices leap by 60 per cent over the past two years. The alliance recognizes the huge contribution MENASA countries can make to addressing problems in supply.With proposed authorized capital of $3 billion and target paid up capital of $1 billion, AgriCapital will channel expertise and specialist capital into five principal lines: food production, livestock, biomedicine, bio-fuels and most importantly, agricultural technology.The bank emanating from Agricapital shall provide funding to every aspect of visionary agricultural projects, catalyzing advances in the field of agri-technology and exploiting opportunities arising from the current and future challenges in global food production.The Hospitality Development Fund will focus on two specific areas of investment and will call on alliance experience through ADIH’s expertise in the conception of Entertainment Cities, Ithmaar’s work on Delmonia and GFH’s strategic relations with Banyan Tree. The first asset class will concentrate on developing new hospitality-centric vehicles including hotels, transport solutions and apartment complexes while the second will capitalize existing hospitality companies which show tremendous potential for growth. The fund will be released in the next quarter with a size of $1 billion and an initial closing of $300 million.
MANAMA - An agreement has been reached to create what has been described as three new “visionary initiatives” which are focused on driving market specific innovation across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (MENASA) region and beyond.Gulf Finance House, Ithmaar Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment House announced on Wednesday the formation of InfraCapital which will be the GCCs first investment bank specializing in the provision of tailored infrastructure development and finance.AgriCapital will be a new investment vehicle focused entirely on serving agricultural ventures and communities and the Hospitality Development Fund (HDF) will be established to nurture and support opportunities across the global hospitality sector. It added that the trio of Shari’ah compliant initiatives would represent a “turning point in the systematic approach to specialist investments.”Each of the three initiatives are the product of an alliance between Gulf Finance House, Ithmaar Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment House and followed what they said were intensive due diligence and individual feasibility studies that confirmed a high level of demand across the infrastructure, agriculture and hospitality marketplaces. While each of the three alliance financial institutions will leverage their networks and experience in the creation of InfraCapital, AgriCapital and the HDF, they will all operate as stand alone businesses under their own management structure.The trio claimed that the latest statistics show that the MENA region accounted for one in every three dollars spent on worldwide infrastructure initiatives. Over the next decade the GCC alone will demand up to $545 billion dollars of investment across the transport, power, water, energy, education and social infrastructures sectors. However, they did not say where the statistics came from.InfraCapital was conceived as a direct response to this demand. With proposed authorized capital of $6 billion and target paid up capital of $1.5 billion, it will focus on the provision of specialist services and tailored financial architecture for a wide variety of sub-sector infrastructure initiatives.The so-called ‘vision’ behind the establishment of AgriCapital is to create an investment vehicle offering specialist and comprehensive finance solutions for the agriculture sector, which is curious in a part of the world which is mainly made up of sand and rocks and all this while a new Saudi sovereign wealth fund is talking about investing in agriculture abroad and is going to cut back its own production and possibly also reduce subsidies.AgriCapital, according to the Bahrain-based trio, will encompass tailored products designed to serve a broad scope of agricultural projects and food production. Alongside these services and under the AgriCapital umbrella, a second investment company specializing in agricultural technologies, bio-technology and an investment bank specialized in agricultural investments will be created.The overriding goal, they say, is to empower innovative agricultural ventures in areas of huge potential across the MENASA region. In the Middle East region alone, domestic production of crops and livestock amounts to less than half what it consumes. Increased consumption, extreme global weather conditions, rising energy prices and demand for bio-fuels have seen global food prices leap by 60 per cent over the past two years. The alliance recognizes the huge contribution MENASA countries can make to addressing problems in supply.With proposed authorized capital of $3 billion and target paid up capital of $1 billion, AgriCapital will channel expertise and specialist capital into five principal lines: food production, livestock, biomedicine, bio-fuels and most importantly, agricultural technology.The bank emanating from Agricapital shall provide funding to every aspect of visionary agricultural projects, catalyzing advances in the field of agri-technology and exploiting opportunities arising from the current and future challenges in global food production.The Hospitality Development Fund will focus on two specific areas of investment and will call on alliance experience through ADIH’s expertise in the conception of Entertainment Cities, Ithmaar’s work on Delmonia and GFH’s strategic relations with Banyan Tree. The first asset class will concentrate on developing new hospitality-centric vehicles including hotels, transport solutions and apartment complexes while the second will capitalize existing hospitality companies which show tremendous potential for growth. The fund will be released in the next quarter with a size of $1 billion and an initial closing of $300 million.
Hilal, Nasr share 4 goals
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr shared the spoils as they drew 2-2 in their Saudi Zain League match at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh Tuesday.In another match, Al-Qadisiyah won against Al-Wehdah 1-0 at Prince Saud Bin Jilawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Khobar.Mohamed Al-Sahlawi put Al-Nasr ahead as he netted from the spot just five minutes after the kickoff after Al-Hilal defender Majed Al-Marshadi handled the ball. But Ahmed Al-Firaidi, who later received a yellow card, leveled the score before the break after a solo effort.Al-Nasr captain Hussain Abdul Ghani’s long shot regained his team lead in the second half five minutes before Ahmed Al-Siwaileh of Al-Hilal made it 2-2 in the 71st minute.The draw put last year’s runner-up Al-Hilal on top of the table with 10 points while Al-Nasr added another point to its tally after two draws and a loss, with one match remaining against Al-Hazm.Al-Ittihad, which plays Wednesday a crucial match in the AFC champion’s league against Pakhtakor, is second with nine points with one match remaining.
JEDDAH – Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr shared the spoils as they drew 2-2 in their Saudi Zain League match at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh Tuesday.In another match, Al-Qadisiyah won against Al-Wehdah 1-0 at Prince Saud Bin Jilawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Khobar.Mohamed Al-Sahlawi put Al-Nasr ahead as he netted from the spot just five minutes after the kickoff after Al-Hilal defender Majed Al-Marshadi handled the ball. But Ahmed Al-Firaidi, who later received a yellow card, leveled the score before the break after a solo effort.Al-Nasr captain Hussain Abdul Ghani’s long shot regained his team lead in the second half five minutes before Ahmed Al-Siwaileh of Al-Hilal made it 2-2 in the 71st minute.The draw put last year’s runner-up Al-Hilal on top of the table with 10 points while Al-Nasr added another point to its tally after two draws and a loss, with one match remaining against Al-Hazm.Al-Ittihad, which plays Wednesday a crucial match in the AFC champion’s league against Pakhtakor, is second with nine points with one match remaining.
Managers in Saudi Arabia come with communication problems
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Managers in Saudi Arabia need to think again about communicating the objectives of their companies or organizations to their employees, a new study found.The findings were published in Middle East Corporate Reputation Watch 2008 – Getting the Message Across, a survey of more than 500 managers and employees in the Gulf Council Countries (GCC) conducted by leading communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton, using YouGov Siraj. The study found that while 79 percent of managers in the Kingdom believe they make a point of explaining their organization’s strategic objectives to staff, only 47 percent of employees in Saudi Arabia feel that these objectives are properly explained to them. Only 45 percent of employees believe that their direct manager helps them to understand how their job connects to their company’s business objectives.More than a third (37 percent) of employees surveyed in the Kingdom do not feel that they receive the information they need to do their job well while 36 percent do not feel valued for the contribution they make. While 98 percent of employees would like to develop their skills and advance professionally in their job, only 42 percent feel that the way to do this was not properly explained to them.“The Saudi Arabia findings are broadly consistent with the results in other GCC States,” Fran McElwaine, Director of Change and Organizational Communications at Hill and Knowlton Middle East said. She added that although managers in Saudi Arabia realize how important it is to communicate with their employees, many of them fail to convey their message.“This is a vitally important issue for corporate managers in this region. Companies are on the spot to lift productivity and it is becoming harder to attract and keep top talent. The ability to engage employees and align them with a company’s strategic objectives is a key to better motivation, productivity and staff retention,” McElwaine said.International research suggests that highly engaged employees try 57 percent harder, perform 20 percent better and are 87 percent less likely to leave than the less engaged employees identified in the Hill and Knowlton study.According to the study, many employees in Saudi Arabia also believe that their managers are simply not listening to them. Almost all managers (91 percent) agree with using staff feedback when making decisions. However, only 45 percent of employees believe that their managers usually act on employee feedback. A possible reason for the gap between managers and employees may be that many managers do not feel empowered to communicate, or even make, decisions. “Sixty-one percent of Saudi Arabia managers believe that making decisions increases the chances of being blamed if something goes wrong. One-fifth (20 percent) admits to following decisions made by others without fully thinking through the consequences,” the study found out.It also detected that forty-eight percent of managers believe that keeping a low profile at work will help ensure their position is safe. The study concluded that the lack of effective communication by managers has led many employees to look elsewhere for the information they need. “Only 53 percent of Saudi Arabia employees think their managers are very useful sources of important information, while 46 percent mainly rely on external media and friends to collect information about their job,” the study disclosed.On the other hand, managers themselves admit that the responsibility for communicating with employees is often pushed off to specialized departments such as Marketing (25 percent), Human Resources (25 percent) or Internal Communications (38 percent). The study also found out that ten percent of Saudi Arabia managers say they don’t know who is responsible for internal communications in their company. Twenty-seven percent of managers believe it is not necessary for staff members to understand how their job connects to their company’s business objectives. Only 69 percent of managers in the Kingdom agree that it is a priority to keep staff members informed, compared with 86 percent of all managers across the GCC.“The study findings indicate that organizations in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in general can do a better job of structuring their internal communications effectively,” Alec Peck, General Manager, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Hill and Knowlton Middle East, said. He added that there is a real potential for companies across the region to improve morale and productivity by creating structures and systems for employee communication.“There is also an opportunity to empower managers with the skills to flow information down through their establishments. To achieve this, managers need practical advice and the right tools so that they can communicate with employees in a way that is meaningful, relevant and accessible,” he added. The survey was conducted by YouGov Siraj for Hill & Knowlton. A total of 553 interviews were conducted during late 2007 in KSA, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The survey respondents comprised 307 managers and 246 employees. 25 percent of all respondents worked in government organisations, 24 percent in foreign owned multi-nationals, 27 percent in locally owned multinationals and 21 percent worked in local businesses. 55 percent of respondents had lived in the Gulf all their lives.
Stipend not enough, say Saudis in America
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Saudi students on foreign scholarships in the United Sates are preparing to send a petition to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, seek his directives to end their suffering due to increasing cost of living.“What could be worse than being an alien is starving for daily needs,” Abdullah Al-Huzaimi, media representative of the Saudi Forum in the USA, told Saudi Gazette in a telephone call. “Many students here have recently moved the US Food and Drug Administration to receive monthly aid. The federal government has classified their salaries as low-income and therefore they consider themselves eligible for monthly subsidies,” Huzaimi added. “The students are suffering because of the high inflation in US and the diminishing value of the dollar. This has led many students to enroll in the local aid programs,” he said.Students are feeling the pinch of high gas prices and a steep increase in house rents, Huzaimi said.Hassan Abu Al-Saud, who is studying in Indiana for two years, said he has to shell out a big chunk of his income on crèches. It costs him some $700 per month whereas an affiliate child gets only $270 per month.He added that of late there has been a sharp increase in prices of foodstuffs. “I used to buy the 20-pound sack of rice for $12, but now I need to add six more dollars to get it. Not only that, but toll on highways has also increased. For example, a round trip journey on Indiana would cost me $15. In the past I had to pay only $9,” he added.“Everything is getting costlier and we are seeking help from the Ministry of Higher Education,” he said.Likewise, Mansour Al-Fawaz, a student in Kansas, said the tuition allowance they receive is not enough.“We are determined to go back home with the highest credentials from the most recognized universities in the world as soon as we can,” Al-Fawaz added.“We are here to later help in the development of our country, but some may not know that the payment we receive is not enough for housing costs, books and bills,” he added.Al-Fawaz said what they receive effectively puts them below the poverty line.“We don’t receive more than $1,349. We have been suffering from exorbitant prices for housing, bills and books. This has distracted our minds at a time when we should focus only on learning. Perhaps some may think that the amount made available to us in riyal is sufficient, but when we exchange the currency, we face a lot of problems,” he said.Students mainly blame the Ministry of Higher Education for ignoring what they see as their legitimate right.“The Ministry of Higher Education has snatched our happiness when it misapplied the Royal Decree on 15 percent salary increase,” Abu Abdul-Wahhab, another student said.“The Ministry of Higher Education misinterpreted the decree as it excluded all bonuses to cover only the basic allowance, without wife and children, as if they were second-class citizens,” he said. “Kuwaiti students are now receiving $1,800 while students from UAE get $2,000 in addition to their dormitory expenses,” he added.Students are now calling for their monthly income to be increased by 50 percent at least. They are also looking forward to having allocations for their children raised from $270 to $700 per child.
JEDDAH – Saudi students on foreign scholarships in the United Sates are preparing to send a petition to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, seek his directives to end their suffering due to increasing cost of living.“What could be worse than being an alien is starving for daily needs,” Abdullah Al-Huzaimi, media representative of the Saudi Forum in the USA, told Saudi Gazette in a telephone call. “Many students here have recently moved the US Food and Drug Administration to receive monthly aid. The federal government has classified their salaries as low-income and therefore they consider themselves eligible for monthly subsidies,” Huzaimi added. “The students are suffering because of the high inflation in US and the diminishing value of the dollar. This has led many students to enroll in the local aid programs,” he said.Students are feeling the pinch of high gas prices and a steep increase in house rents, Huzaimi said.Hassan Abu Al-Saud, who is studying in Indiana for two years, said he has to shell out a big chunk of his income on crèches. It costs him some $700 per month whereas an affiliate child gets only $270 per month.He added that of late there has been a sharp increase in prices of foodstuffs. “I used to buy the 20-pound sack of rice for $12, but now I need to add six more dollars to get it. Not only that, but toll on highways has also increased. For example, a round trip journey on Indiana would cost me $15. In the past I had to pay only $9,” he added.“Everything is getting costlier and we are seeking help from the Ministry of Higher Education,” he said.Likewise, Mansour Al-Fawaz, a student in Kansas, said the tuition allowance they receive is not enough.“We are determined to go back home with the highest credentials from the most recognized universities in the world as soon as we can,” Al-Fawaz added.“We are here to later help in the development of our country, but some may not know that the payment we receive is not enough for housing costs, books and bills,” he added.Al-Fawaz said what they receive effectively puts them below the poverty line.“We don’t receive more than $1,349. We have been suffering from exorbitant prices for housing, bills and books. This has distracted our minds at a time when we should focus only on learning. Perhaps some may think that the amount made available to us in riyal is sufficient, but when we exchange the currency, we face a lot of problems,” he said.Students mainly blame the Ministry of Higher Education for ignoring what they see as their legitimate right.“The Ministry of Higher Education has snatched our happiness when it misapplied the Royal Decree on 15 percent salary increase,” Abu Abdul-Wahhab, another student said.“The Ministry of Higher Education misinterpreted the decree as it excluded all bonuses to cover only the basic allowance, without wife and children, as if they were second-class citizens,” he said. “Kuwaiti students are now receiving $1,800 while students from UAE get $2,000 in addition to their dormitory expenses,” he added.Students are now calling for their monthly income to be increased by 50 percent at least. They are also looking forward to having allocations for their children raised from $270 to $700 per child.
Jeddah qualified to become big tourist center – Emir
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said that the city of Jeddah was qualified to become an international cultural, sports and tourist center to add to its commercial importance.The Emir made his comment at the inauguration of the Saudi International Boat Show, which concluded at Al-Forousya Marina & Yacht Club Saturday night.Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, who was also present at the opening ceremony last Wednesday, said that Jeddah needed a better infrastructure to organize exhibitions and business tourist events.More than 80 companies from 13 countries across the globe from as far afield as Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Kuwait, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and USA took part in the boat show, which was organized by Dubai World Trade Center.“I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Prince Sultan Bin Salman for gracing the opening of the Saudi International Boat Show,” said Helal Saeed Al-Marri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Center.Nasser Quttub, marine geologist from the Saudi Geological Survey and an exhibitor at the boat show, commended the event saying it marks a beginning in setting the stage for further growth and development of marine tourism. Top boats and yachts on display included Azimut 62S from ART Marine, Majesty 61 from Gulf Craft, Cigarette Top Fish and Top Gun from Al-Ghanim Marine, Pershing 90 from Sea Pros and Jet Ski Waverunner from Yamaha.
JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said that the city of Jeddah was qualified to become an international cultural, sports and tourist center to add to its commercial importance.The Emir made his comment at the inauguration of the Saudi International Boat Show, which concluded at Al-Forousya Marina & Yacht Club Saturday night.Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, who was also present at the opening ceremony last Wednesday, said that Jeddah needed a better infrastructure to organize exhibitions and business tourist events.More than 80 companies from 13 countries across the globe from as far afield as Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Kuwait, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and USA took part in the boat show, which was organized by Dubai World Trade Center.“I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Prince Sultan Bin Salman for gracing the opening of the Saudi International Boat Show,” said Helal Saeed Al-Marri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Center.Nasser Quttub, marine geologist from the Saudi Geological Survey and an exhibitor at the boat show, commended the event saying it marks a beginning in setting the stage for further growth and development of marine tourism. Top boats and yachts on display included Azimut 62S from ART Marine, Majesty 61 from Gulf Craft, Cigarette Top Fish and Top Gun from Al-Ghanim Marine, Pershing 90 from Sea Pros and Jet Ski Waverunner from Yamaha.
Saudia to operate extra flights to Beirut
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH - Saudi Arabian Airlines is to increase its number of flights to Beirut for the coming summer season with five flights to be added to the scheduled ten. Seven weekly flights will depart from Jeddah, six from Riyadh and two from Dammam.According to Abdullah Al-Ajhar, SAA Assistant General Manager for public relations, five more flights are going to be added to the current ten flights to the Lebanese capital.A group of Saudi travel agents has recently come back from Lebanon after a tour aimed at seeing tourism sites and to strengthen cooperation with their Lebanese counterparts. Al-Ajhar pointed out that the tour aimed to keep in touch with their partnering agency inside and outside the Kingdom. "We have important mutual interests with these travel agencies. In fact they are our success partners," he said.He added that such tours enable travel agents in both countries to meet and discuss ways of cooperation and partnership in organizing tourism visits to Lebanon and visits to the holy places."During the last five years, from 204 to 2008, we have transported some 34,000 pilgrims from Lebanon to the Kingdom," he disclosed.The assistant director said that the Saudia fleet of planes had transported some 45,000, on board 582 flights, from Lebanon to different local airports in 2008.Moreover, Sami Rasheed, manager of Saudia station in Beirut said that SAA has transported nearly 250,000 passengers from Beirut to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, during the last five years.Rasheed anticipated that the current year would witness a leap in Saudia achievements. "SAA has transported some 14,894 travelers during the first quarter of 2009, with an increase of 47 percent of the target. On the other hand, 532 tons were shipped, with a 16 percent increase." Rasheed said.Saudia began its flights to Lebanon in 1948. Sixteen years later, its office was opened in Beirut. Soon afterwards, flights from the Lebanese capital started operating to Riyadh, Jeddah, Madina and Dammam.
JEDDAH - Saudi Arabian Airlines is to increase its number of flights to Beirut for the coming summer season with five flights to be added to the scheduled ten. Seven weekly flights will depart from Jeddah, six from Riyadh and two from Dammam.According to Abdullah Al-Ajhar, SAA Assistant General Manager for public relations, five more flights are going to be added to the current ten flights to the Lebanese capital.A group of Saudi travel agents has recently come back from Lebanon after a tour aimed at seeing tourism sites and to strengthen cooperation with their Lebanese counterparts. Al-Ajhar pointed out that the tour aimed to keep in touch with their partnering agency inside and outside the Kingdom. "We have important mutual interests with these travel agencies. In fact they are our success partners," he said.He added that such tours enable travel agents in both countries to meet and discuss ways of cooperation and partnership in organizing tourism visits to Lebanon and visits to the holy places."During the last five years, from 204 to 2008, we have transported some 34,000 pilgrims from Lebanon to the Kingdom," he disclosed.The assistant director said that the Saudia fleet of planes had transported some 45,000, on board 582 flights, from Lebanon to different local airports in 2008.Moreover, Sami Rasheed, manager of Saudia station in Beirut said that SAA has transported nearly 250,000 passengers from Beirut to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, during the last five years.Rasheed anticipated that the current year would witness a leap in Saudia achievements. "SAA has transported some 14,894 travelers during the first quarter of 2009, with an increase of 47 percent of the target. On the other hand, 532 tons were shipped, with a 16 percent increase." Rasheed said.Saudia began its flights to Lebanon in 1948. Sixteen years later, its office was opened in Beirut. Soon afterwards, flights from the Lebanese capital started operating to Riyadh, Jeddah, Madina and Dammam.
New Minister of Social Affairs on ‘honeymoon’
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The “honeymoon” period for Dr. Yousuf Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, new Minister of Social Affairs, is not yet over. “I am still on honeymoon” was the terse comment the minister made to the waiting journalists after holding a meeting with directors of Makkah Region’s branches on Monday night.Journalists, who waited for about two hours outside the meeting hall, were certainly not amused by the comment which made it clear that the minister did not want to reveal details on his agenda for the future.Al- Othaimeen earlier worked as assistant deputy minister for social care in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs before the ministry was divided in two independent ministries, Labor and Social Affairs.From the very beginning it was clear that the minister did not want to divulge any details on his plans and this notion was further strengthened when journalists, who followed Al-Othaimeen into the meeting hall, were told: “I promise to talk to you soon.”How soon it will be is a matter of conjecture as it was not defined.Dr. Al-Othaimeen is the first specialized minister of social affairs to take the post as he has a doctorate degree in social and political theories and improvement.The minister’s task may not be easier as files have piled up on his desk, with some of them relating to poverty, insurance, high rates of divorce and delayed projects. However, those profiting from social security benefits, especially orphans, are hopeful that there would be a quantum leap in ministry’s performance.
JEDDAH – The “honeymoon” period for Dr. Yousuf Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, new Minister of Social Affairs, is not yet over. “I am still on honeymoon” was the terse comment the minister made to the waiting journalists after holding a meeting with directors of Makkah Region’s branches on Monday night.Journalists, who waited for about two hours outside the meeting hall, were certainly not amused by the comment which made it clear that the minister did not want to reveal details on his agenda for the future.Al- Othaimeen earlier worked as assistant deputy minister for social care in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs before the ministry was divided in two independent ministries, Labor and Social Affairs.From the very beginning it was clear that the minister did not want to divulge any details on his plans and this notion was further strengthened when journalists, who followed Al-Othaimeen into the meeting hall, were told: “I promise to talk to you soon.”How soon it will be is a matter of conjecture as it was not defined.Dr. Al-Othaimeen is the first specialized minister of social affairs to take the post as he has a doctorate degree in social and political theories and improvement.The minister’s task may not be easier as files have piled up on his desk, with some of them relating to poverty, insurance, high rates of divorce and delayed projects. However, those profiting from social security benefits, especially orphans, are hopeful that there would be a quantum leap in ministry’s performance.
Sociologists demand fatwa to criminalize domestic violence
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Sociologists and psychiatrists at the three-day Domestic Violence Conference at the Jeddah Chamber for Commerce and Industry here requested the Board of Senior Ulema to issue a fatwa that criminalizes domestic violence and entitles mothers to have custody of their children until they reach 15 years of age. They also requested the creation of a social police department which would receive cases of abuse and deal with them immediately. “There is no clear system for receiving, treating and following up cases of abuse,” said Dr. An’am Al-Roboy’e, Chairwoman of the Hemayah Association. “Male domination is the main obstacle in developing a social protection system,” she added.She also requested that all government sectors be involved in solving the problem of domestic abuse.The conference was inaugurated by Prince Mish’al Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah.Al-Jawharah Al-Anqari, deputy chairwoman of the Saudi Commission for Human Rights, criticized the current system in social protection houses and asked that it be changed completely. She explained that the current system only makes the situation worse regarding the domestic violence. “Among other obstacles that we face now are the lack of enough specialists and the rights defense commissions,” said Al-Jawhara, “in addition to the misinterpretation of religious issues, the domination of the traditions, the contradiction between the systems and their applications and the lack of religious awareness among men and women.”She said that a high commission should be established to fight domestic violence, improve the conditions of poor families, follow up the situations of women and children in remote villages, focus on fighting drugs, take away the right of guardianship from the head of the household if he has committed incest, and activate family courts.She insisted that the person who commits violence in the home is the one who should be taken out of the house, not the victim.Badr Ahmed Korayem, a member of the media committee at the Shoura Council, in his paper suggested the need for the creation of a new ministry for the family. “I assume that with a ministry chaired by a woman, many family issues would be able to be treated properly,” Korayem told Saudi Gazette. He added that media has negatively affected the violence issue in our society.“This is because many media channels are keen to provide their followers with the latest news even if that news is about violence. They have the full right to do that, but this should be done according to ethical and professional publishing and broadcasting principles,” he said.
*With an input by Hussain Hazzazi, Okaz.
JEDDAH – Sociologists and psychiatrists at the three-day Domestic Violence Conference at the Jeddah Chamber for Commerce and Industry here requested the Board of Senior Ulema to issue a fatwa that criminalizes domestic violence and entitles mothers to have custody of their children until they reach 15 years of age. They also requested the creation of a social police department which would receive cases of abuse and deal with them immediately. “There is no clear system for receiving, treating and following up cases of abuse,” said Dr. An’am Al-Roboy’e, Chairwoman of the Hemayah Association. “Male domination is the main obstacle in developing a social protection system,” she added.She also requested that all government sectors be involved in solving the problem of domestic abuse.The conference was inaugurated by Prince Mish’al Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah.Al-Jawharah Al-Anqari, deputy chairwoman of the Saudi Commission for Human Rights, criticized the current system in social protection houses and asked that it be changed completely. She explained that the current system only makes the situation worse regarding the domestic violence. “Among other obstacles that we face now are the lack of enough specialists and the rights defense commissions,” said Al-Jawhara, “in addition to the misinterpretation of religious issues, the domination of the traditions, the contradiction between the systems and their applications and the lack of religious awareness among men and women.”She said that a high commission should be established to fight domestic violence, improve the conditions of poor families, follow up the situations of women and children in remote villages, focus on fighting drugs, take away the right of guardianship from the head of the household if he has committed incest, and activate family courts.She insisted that the person who commits violence in the home is the one who should be taken out of the house, not the victim.Badr Ahmed Korayem, a member of the media committee at the Shoura Council, in his paper suggested the need for the creation of a new ministry for the family. “I assume that with a ministry chaired by a woman, many family issues would be able to be treated properly,” Korayem told Saudi Gazette. He added that media has negatively affected the violence issue in our society.“This is because many media channels are keen to provide their followers with the latest news even if that news is about violence. They have the full right to do that, but this should be done according to ethical and professional publishing and broadcasting principles,” he said.
*With an input by Hussain Hazzazi, Okaz.
More or no more?
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – An excited crowd of hundreds of people turned up for Friday’s screening of the comedy film “Manahi”, capping a hugely successful nine-day run here and suggesting that a rift has opened between a section of the Saudi public that wants more cinema and a moral authority that sees it as evil.“What’s wrong with having cinema? People enjoy cinema when they go abroad, but here it seems we are different from the others,” Salman Boghas, 22, a college student who was “lucky” to find a seat in the front rows for the last screening of “Manahi” told Saudi Gazette.The showing of “Manahi” marked a triumphant return of cinema to Saudi Arabia after a three-decade absence. Thousands of men, women and children watched the film with multiple daily screenings over a period of 9 days in theaters in Jeddah and Taif. Turnout for the movie, produced by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s media company Rotana, was so big that the film had to be played eight times a day over a 9-day period, the organizers said. It had to be stopped in Taif due to overcrowding in the hall, Rotana spokesman Ibrahim Badi told Reuters.Commission chief clarifiesBut along with the film’s enthusiastic public reception which saw hundreds of moviegoers disappointed at not being able to get a seat at the final screening on Friday, there has also been a sharp negative response from Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Ghaith, the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Sheikh Al-Ghaith made it clear that cinema was an evil and that the Commission was firmly against the opening of movie theaters in the Kingdom. “Our position on this is clear - ban it,” he said Friday. “That is because cinema is evil and we do not need it. We have enough evil already.”On Saturday, Sheikh Al-Gaith however clarified that the Commission has “no objection to cinemas as long as they are used in matters that please Allah.”There are many who agree with Al-Gaith. Ibrahim Al-Ansari, 28, a private company employee on hearing about young men dying to watch “Manahi” said that these people have nothing better to do. “They are adolescents who want to watch what the unprincipled international cinema industry presents. We are a conservative society that rejects such things,” Al-Ansari said.He added that he was sure that the religious institutes would soon stop what he called “the coming danger.” “Our scholars won’t remain silent while seeing this danger to our younger generations,” he said.On the other hand, there are many others who want more cinema, especially after having watched “Manahi.” Several internet websites have responded favorably to what they called “society’s strong wish”.Faiz Al-Maliki, the Saudi actor who is the star of “Manahi,” saw a bright future for cinema in the Kingdom. He said that there were hundreds of young men outside the theater shouting because they could not get a seat, adding that they were yearning to see more cinema in their homeland. “This film is for the Saudi family; in that there is nothing that contradicts our religion, values or traditions. Its content is suitable for younger and older people,” Al-Maliki said. Countering rumors that screening of “Manahi” was forcibly stopped in Taif, Maliki told Saudi Gazette. “This is normal, there are some people whose main concern is to fight success. These are like bats of darkness. I neither follow what they say nor do I care. What really happened was that our seven-day show contract came to an end.”“Manahi” stars new comedy sensation Maliki as a naive Bedouin entangled in a get-rich-quickly scheme in Dubai. In a comic technique, the movie highlights how the stock market can affect a simple person. In the movie, Manahi buys shares in a sheep company thinking that the shares would soar simply because people would buy sheep after an outbreak of bird flu.Saudi Arabia had some movie theaters in the 1970s but the industry was banned afterwards.
JEDDAH – An excited crowd of hundreds of people turned up for Friday’s screening of the comedy film “Manahi”, capping a hugely successful nine-day run here and suggesting that a rift has opened between a section of the Saudi public that wants more cinema and a moral authority that sees it as evil.“What’s wrong with having cinema? People enjoy cinema when they go abroad, but here it seems we are different from the others,” Salman Boghas, 22, a college student who was “lucky” to find a seat in the front rows for the last screening of “Manahi” told Saudi Gazette.The showing of “Manahi” marked a triumphant return of cinema to Saudi Arabia after a three-decade absence. Thousands of men, women and children watched the film with multiple daily screenings over a period of 9 days in theaters in Jeddah and Taif. Turnout for the movie, produced by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s media company Rotana, was so big that the film had to be played eight times a day over a 9-day period, the organizers said. It had to be stopped in Taif due to overcrowding in the hall, Rotana spokesman Ibrahim Badi told Reuters.Commission chief clarifiesBut along with the film’s enthusiastic public reception which saw hundreds of moviegoers disappointed at not being able to get a seat at the final screening on Friday, there has also been a sharp negative response from Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Al-Ghaith, the chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Sheikh Al-Ghaith made it clear that cinema was an evil and that the Commission was firmly against the opening of movie theaters in the Kingdom. “Our position on this is clear - ban it,” he said Friday. “That is because cinema is evil and we do not need it. We have enough evil already.”On Saturday, Sheikh Al-Gaith however clarified that the Commission has “no objection to cinemas as long as they are used in matters that please Allah.”There are many who agree with Al-Gaith. Ibrahim Al-Ansari, 28, a private company employee on hearing about young men dying to watch “Manahi” said that these people have nothing better to do. “They are adolescents who want to watch what the unprincipled international cinema industry presents. We are a conservative society that rejects such things,” Al-Ansari said.He added that he was sure that the religious institutes would soon stop what he called “the coming danger.” “Our scholars won’t remain silent while seeing this danger to our younger generations,” he said.On the other hand, there are many others who want more cinema, especially after having watched “Manahi.” Several internet websites have responded favorably to what they called “society’s strong wish”.Faiz Al-Maliki, the Saudi actor who is the star of “Manahi,” saw a bright future for cinema in the Kingdom. He said that there were hundreds of young men outside the theater shouting because they could not get a seat, adding that they were yearning to see more cinema in their homeland. “This film is for the Saudi family; in that there is nothing that contradicts our religion, values or traditions. Its content is suitable for younger and older people,” Al-Maliki said. Countering rumors that screening of “Manahi” was forcibly stopped in Taif, Maliki told Saudi Gazette. “This is normal, there are some people whose main concern is to fight success. These are like bats of darkness. I neither follow what they say nor do I care. What really happened was that our seven-day show contract came to an end.”“Manahi” stars new comedy sensation Maliki as a naive Bedouin entangled in a get-rich-quickly scheme in Dubai. In a comic technique, the movie highlights how the stock market can affect a simple person. In the movie, Manahi buys shares in a sheep company thinking that the shares would soar simply because people would buy sheep after an outbreak of bird flu.Saudi Arabia had some movie theaters in the 1970s but the industry was banned afterwards.
Two young Saudis take upon themselves to end racism
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Two young Saudis, Ali Al-Hamzan and Hussein Al-Mansour, have begun a tour of the 13 regions of the country on the noble mission of spreading awareness of the importance of the call of Prince Mishal Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Allegiance (Pledge) Commission, to eliminate racism and tribal discrimination in the Kingdom. Inspired by the words of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Makkah Region, the two young men decided that “it was time for us to do something for our country,” Al-Hamzan told Saudi Gazette. “Prince Mishal, Chairman of the Allegiance Commission, has been calling for people to fight against racism. We contacted him and told him of our plans and he blessed the idea and promised to fully finance our tour. He told us that we should visit all parts of the country to help raise awareness of the issue,” Al-Hamzan added.Social unity and intellectual security have always been of the utmost importance to the leaders of Saudi Arabia. “One of the main interests of our leaders is maintaining solidarity and unity among people,” Al-Hamzan said. He added that he and his friend, Al-Mansour, believe in Prince Mishal’s efforts to work to remove an evil that could negatively affect the distinctive social fabric of the Kingdom.“We are planning to tour all the 13 regions of the country. It is true that there are only two of us, but, in a way, we represent all the members of society. We have met with many officials, including Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Fahd Bin Muammar, Governor of Taif. We will also try to meet with ministers and different segments of society,” he explained.Al-Hamzan pointed out that they have also met with ordinary people at commercial centers and with people in the street. He said that they want to listen to what people have to say and the ideas they might have about the elimination of racism.“We found that nearly everyone we met is against all types of uncontrolled ethnicity and racism,” he said and added that there have recently been several racial provocations as a result of programs broadcast on tribal satellite channels and the publicity given to camel beauty contests. He pointed out that Prince Mishal has called for these camel beauty contests to be merged into one to be held at the annual Al-Janadriyah Cultural Festival.According Al-Hamzan, some people he has talked to feel that the Ministries of Education and Culture and Information should play a role in fighting racism.“Violence sometimes appears in schools and people would like the Ministry of Education to do something about it. Some others we have met believe that some satellite channels pour oil on the fire. Our job is to collect comments from these people and meet with ministers to discuss the comments that people have made,” Al-Hamzan explained.He added that they expect ministers to propose solutions to the problem of racism.“In the end, we will hand over a full report to Prince Mishal who will see what can be done. In fact, such a report will be important in carrying out further studies or in making decisions. The officials in the Prince’s office are with us step by step on a daily basis to see the progress of our tour. This is evidence of Prince Mishal’s keenness to eradicate racism that can harm the unity of our society,” he added.Some people whom Al-Hamzan and Al-Mansour met asked whether the tour was actually aimed at the Kingdom’s tribes. “We told these people that this is not true and that we fully support all tribal concepts that call for positive values. These people then realized what the tour was all about and expressed their readiness to lend a hand,” he said.Al-Hamzan pointed out that they would visit the main tribal chiefs to discuss with them ways to eliminate racism, and that they would also visit religious figures and the presidents of sports clubs for the same reason. “We should all work together, shoulder to shoulder, to fight racism in all aspects of our life. Nowadays, many tribal chiefs do not play the same role that they once played in the past in educating the members of their tribes. Have you recently heard of a tribal chief who has gathered together some of the members of his tribe to discuss such issues with them?” he asked.Al-Hamzan anticipates that the tour will take up to six months to complete so that all parts of the country can be covered. “You cannot imagine what we can achieve if we all work together. Ministers, imams, teachers, families and intellectuals – working together, they can surely solve any problem,” he said.
JEDDAH – Two young Saudis, Ali Al-Hamzan and Hussein Al-Mansour, have begun a tour of the 13 regions of the country on the noble mission of spreading awareness of the importance of the call of Prince Mishal Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Allegiance (Pledge) Commission, to eliminate racism and tribal discrimination in the Kingdom. Inspired by the words of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Makkah Region, the two young men decided that “it was time for us to do something for our country,” Al-Hamzan told Saudi Gazette. “Prince Mishal, Chairman of the Allegiance Commission, has been calling for people to fight against racism. We contacted him and told him of our plans and he blessed the idea and promised to fully finance our tour. He told us that we should visit all parts of the country to help raise awareness of the issue,” Al-Hamzan added.Social unity and intellectual security have always been of the utmost importance to the leaders of Saudi Arabia. “One of the main interests of our leaders is maintaining solidarity and unity among people,” Al-Hamzan said. He added that he and his friend, Al-Mansour, believe in Prince Mishal’s efforts to work to remove an evil that could negatively affect the distinctive social fabric of the Kingdom.“We are planning to tour all the 13 regions of the country. It is true that there are only two of us, but, in a way, we represent all the members of society. We have met with many officials, including Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Fahd Bin Muammar, Governor of Taif. We will also try to meet with ministers and different segments of society,” he explained.Al-Hamzan pointed out that they have also met with ordinary people at commercial centers and with people in the street. He said that they want to listen to what people have to say and the ideas they might have about the elimination of racism.“We found that nearly everyone we met is against all types of uncontrolled ethnicity and racism,” he said and added that there have recently been several racial provocations as a result of programs broadcast on tribal satellite channels and the publicity given to camel beauty contests. He pointed out that Prince Mishal has called for these camel beauty contests to be merged into one to be held at the annual Al-Janadriyah Cultural Festival.According Al-Hamzan, some people he has talked to feel that the Ministries of Education and Culture and Information should play a role in fighting racism.“Violence sometimes appears in schools and people would like the Ministry of Education to do something about it. Some others we have met believe that some satellite channels pour oil on the fire. Our job is to collect comments from these people and meet with ministers to discuss the comments that people have made,” Al-Hamzan explained.He added that they expect ministers to propose solutions to the problem of racism.“In the end, we will hand over a full report to Prince Mishal who will see what can be done. In fact, such a report will be important in carrying out further studies or in making decisions. The officials in the Prince’s office are with us step by step on a daily basis to see the progress of our tour. This is evidence of Prince Mishal’s keenness to eradicate racism that can harm the unity of our society,” he added.Some people whom Al-Hamzan and Al-Mansour met asked whether the tour was actually aimed at the Kingdom’s tribes. “We told these people that this is not true and that we fully support all tribal concepts that call for positive values. These people then realized what the tour was all about and expressed their readiness to lend a hand,” he said.Al-Hamzan pointed out that they would visit the main tribal chiefs to discuss with them ways to eliminate racism, and that they would also visit religious figures and the presidents of sports clubs for the same reason. “We should all work together, shoulder to shoulder, to fight racism in all aspects of our life. Nowadays, many tribal chiefs do not play the same role that they once played in the past in educating the members of their tribes. Have you recently heard of a tribal chief who has gathered together some of the members of his tribe to discuss such issues with them?” he asked.Al-Hamzan anticipates that the tour will take up to six months to complete so that all parts of the country can be covered. “You cannot imagine what we can achieve if we all work together. Ministers, imams, teachers, families and intellectuals – working together, they can surely solve any problem,” he said.
Defensive driving starts up in Jeddah
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – A surprisingly large turnout of women marked the launch here Sunday of the Arab world’s first academy for defensive driving.Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia but their huge participation in the launch of Safra Defensive Driving Academy (SDDA) at Jeddah Raceway here suggests that Saudi society is closing ranks to assume collective social responsibility for reducing the Kingdom’s high road-death and injury rates, considered among the highest in the world.“Our interest in the event is because the men in our family drive,” said one woman who asked not to be identified. “Besides, we are driven around by men.”Statistics show that 270,000 car accidents occur every year in Saudi Arabia, the highest in the GCC and other Arab countries. One person is killed and eight are injured every two hours, and 32,000 people are injured every year due to traffic accidents in the Kingdom. Most of the victims are young Saudis.There were about 200 women in the approximately 500-strong turnout for the launch of SDDA by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed. The event, held in a huge tent with separate sections for men and women, was held under the auspices of Makkah Emir Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.The Academy is a joint venture by Safra Company Limited (a subsidiary of Xenel Group) and United Racing Company (URC), owner and operator of Jeddah Raceway, the first motor racing circuit in Saudi Arabia. Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen is the chairman of URC.SDDA has drawn on the expertise of the National Defensive Driving Academy (NDDA) of Arizona, USA, for the school. “Our definition of defensive driving is the adoption of a driving style designed to make the driver far less likely to be involved in an accident – irrespective of the poor driving of other people,” said Bernard Strass who runs the Arizona academy, in his speech.SDDA courses are fully aligned with NDDA principles, with only subtle modifications necessary to meet local driving conditions, he said.NDDA-trained Saudi lecturers and instructors will conduct the courses, said Mishaal Al-Sulaiman, URC vice-chairman and head of SDDA, who had come up with the idea of the academy. SDDA’s goal is to graduate 20,000 trainees through theoretical and practical training. Other collaborators in SDDA are Arab Organization for Traffic Safety, Jeddah Council for Social Responsibility of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), and the Royal Organization for the Prevention of Traffic Accidents.Sheikh Yousuf Ahmed Yousuf Xenel, a director of Safra Co. Ltd., said the private sector was supporting government efforts through SDDA. “In view of the different cultures among motorists, and taking into account the cause of social development, we thought it most appropriate to support this academy in achieving its goals of teaching the art of defensive driving, of enhancing all conduct associated with safe driving and of raising the awareness of the motorists about the extent of his responsibility,” he said.Monal Zeidan, Marketing and Communications Director General of Nissan Middle East, said they are offering 2,500 course scholarships to local schools, colleges and universities.Elfat Mohammed Kabani, board member of Jeddah Council for Social Responsibility, noted in her speech that 40 percent of those involved in accidents in Saudi Arabia are young people. “Therefore, it requires all our efforts and resources available to reduce these accidents... since protecting the lives of our sons, our mainstay, is a social responsibility upon all of us.”Brig. Amin Bin Abdul Hamid Qashqary, vice chairman of the Arab Organization for Traffic Safety, described SDDA as “a quality program unique in the Arab World” and said it should be extended to other cities in Saudi Arabia.Course subjectsAwareness of the risks on public roadsSafety measures, the equipment on cars and theright ways to use themWays to avoid accidentsRight behavior in case of an accidentSafe-driving with babies and infants on boardBuilding self-confidence behind the steering wheelCourse duration: 6 hours - 3 hours theory, 3 hours driving.Instructor course: 1 week
JEDDAH – A surprisingly large turnout of women marked the launch here Sunday of the Arab world’s first academy for defensive driving.Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia but their huge participation in the launch of Safra Defensive Driving Academy (SDDA) at Jeddah Raceway here suggests that Saudi society is closing ranks to assume collective social responsibility for reducing the Kingdom’s high road-death and injury rates, considered among the highest in the world.“Our interest in the event is because the men in our family drive,” said one woman who asked not to be identified. “Besides, we are driven around by men.”Statistics show that 270,000 car accidents occur every year in Saudi Arabia, the highest in the GCC and other Arab countries. One person is killed and eight are injured every two hours, and 32,000 people are injured every year due to traffic accidents in the Kingdom. Most of the victims are young Saudis.There were about 200 women in the approximately 500-strong turnout for the launch of SDDA by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed. The event, held in a huge tent with separate sections for men and women, was held under the auspices of Makkah Emir Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.The Academy is a joint venture by Safra Company Limited (a subsidiary of Xenel Group) and United Racing Company (URC), owner and operator of Jeddah Raceway, the first motor racing circuit in Saudi Arabia. Prince Faisal Bin Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen is the chairman of URC.SDDA has drawn on the expertise of the National Defensive Driving Academy (NDDA) of Arizona, USA, for the school. “Our definition of defensive driving is the adoption of a driving style designed to make the driver far less likely to be involved in an accident – irrespective of the poor driving of other people,” said Bernard Strass who runs the Arizona academy, in his speech.SDDA courses are fully aligned with NDDA principles, with only subtle modifications necessary to meet local driving conditions, he said.NDDA-trained Saudi lecturers and instructors will conduct the courses, said Mishaal Al-Sulaiman, URC vice-chairman and head of SDDA, who had come up with the idea of the academy. SDDA’s goal is to graduate 20,000 trainees through theoretical and practical training. Other collaborators in SDDA are Arab Organization for Traffic Safety, Jeddah Council for Social Responsibility of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), and the Royal Organization for the Prevention of Traffic Accidents.Sheikh Yousuf Ahmed Yousuf Xenel, a director of Safra Co. Ltd., said the private sector was supporting government efforts through SDDA. “In view of the different cultures among motorists, and taking into account the cause of social development, we thought it most appropriate to support this academy in achieving its goals of teaching the art of defensive driving, of enhancing all conduct associated with safe driving and of raising the awareness of the motorists about the extent of his responsibility,” he said.Monal Zeidan, Marketing and Communications Director General of Nissan Middle East, said they are offering 2,500 course scholarships to local schools, colleges and universities.Elfat Mohammed Kabani, board member of Jeddah Council for Social Responsibility, noted in her speech that 40 percent of those involved in accidents in Saudi Arabia are young people. “Therefore, it requires all our efforts and resources available to reduce these accidents... since protecting the lives of our sons, our mainstay, is a social responsibility upon all of us.”Brig. Amin Bin Abdul Hamid Qashqary, vice chairman of the Arab Organization for Traffic Safety, described SDDA as “a quality program unique in the Arab World” and said it should be extended to other cities in Saudi Arabia.Course subjectsAwareness of the risks on public roadsSafety measures, the equipment on cars and theright ways to use themWays to avoid accidentsRight behavior in case of an accidentSafe-driving with babies and infants on boardBuilding self-confidence behind the steering wheelCourse duration: 6 hours - 3 hours theory, 3 hours driving.Instructor course: 1 week
SR9 billion Tatweer project set to transform education
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
SOME 1,700 male and female teachers and school administrators, representing 50 secondary schools Kingdom-wide ended their 15-day training course this week in preparation for launching Saudi Arabia’s most important educational revamp. The training course took place in three different cities: Taif, Abha and Jeddah.The Kingdom has allocated around SR9 billion for the Tatweer project and is planning to take education to new horizons to cope with transformations around the world. At the Al-Hada Bahadir Resort in Taif, Ali Sambo, director of Educational Training Department at the Taif General Directorate of Education, who is acting as the general supervisor for the Tatweer training workshop in Taif, is busy moving from one hall to another to make sure everything is running smoothly and properly.Sambo told Saudi Gazette that their workshop is part of two other workshops in Jeddah and Abha for training teachers and school principals, from all over the Kingdom, on the coming unprecedented public education development program: The King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Project for Developing Public Education (Tatweer).According to Sambo, the training program concluded this week, and the beneficiaries of the course were more than 1,700 male and female teachers, students’ advisors and school managers, who came from 50 schools around the country. “We are involved in monitoring and training teachers, advisors and school principals,” Sambo told the Saudi Gazette. He added that preparations for the project started two years ago, which will be implemented next year in 50 boys’ and girls’ schools.“In Taif itself, some 40 teachers were trained last year to use the latest teaching technologies to replace the old teaching methods with the use of Internet and computer applications. That program is part of a bigger project that targets developing public education,” he added. Sambo admitted that the current teaching methodology was supposed to continue until the end of the next academic year, so that they could have a chance to train all teachers on new teaching strategies.“Officials in the Ministry of Education might have preferred that we would go faster as everything has been made available. From my own point of view, we should have first worked on preparing teachers for teaching methods and strategies before we could start implementing the program in any school,” he said.Different coursesTeachers, students’ advisors and school principals take different courses that can enable them to deal with their students from different angles to help them succeed at all levels.“School principals are given courses on the art of administration and leadership while teachers take courses on development of thinking skills. These teachers were previously given an Intel course in computers in their schools,” he added.Sambo also said that school principals have attended a three-day symposium in Riyadh where they were given a full idea about the project. “The Ministry of Education has chosen a school in each governorate to try the project. We have received some 333 teachers from around the Kingdom in the first week, 25 of whom are school principals. We also have some 330 female teachers. They are attending the training course in a separate place,” he said.According to Abdul-Wahhab Al-Mikaimzi, chief of Public Relations in the ministry, the project consists of four axes: developing teachers’ skills, developing curricula, enhancing school activities, and improving school environment.“Four separate committees are working on these sides,” Mikaimzi told Saudi Gazette.He pointed out that the government has done its best to spread knowledge and science everywhere in the Kingdom.“This leadership is trying to develop education and is employing the latest possible technology to help build Saudi citizens at all levels. If education is a never-ending process, we believe that developing that education is a necessity,” Mikaimzi added.One of the challenges that the training committee encountered was that some teachers had difficulties using computers. Sambo noticed that from the very beginning and immediately started a training program for them.He also confessed that as with any new program, there would be some weak points and obstacles.“It’s normal to face obstacles and make some errors, but these barriers and mistakes should be managed and solved at once.”New methods and rolesOld teaching methods used to focus on the traditional concept of teaching in which a student’s role was to listen and memorize.“The new project aims to make students analyze and think to come up with solutions. A teacher’s role will be to just monitor the class and distribute roles among learners,” Sambo clarified. He added that teachers would now provide students with information sources either in libraries or online to make students carry on their own research. Sambo explained what new classrooms and school environment would look like: “Imagine that students are searching for a certain piece of information. The modernized classroom is divided into three groups. Group A is using computers to find that information, group B is reading books for the same purpose, and group C is writing what conclusions the two groups have found. This is what we want our students to do in their classrooms,” he explained.Explaining why the project was starting at the secondary school level, he said, “We preferred to start with secondary schools because the number of students in this level is more manageable than the ones in primary or intermediate schools. Besides, secondary school students are aware enough of various computer applications that can lead to effective results,” he said.Sambo pointed out that professional proficiency exams will be held for teachers. Teachers who pass this exam can continue, others who fail will be given courses to re-qualify them. Mosleh Khoshi, assistant supervisor for the training workshop, said that new teachers have begun sitting for such an exam. “Every new teacher should now take this exam to make sure that he or she is suitable for this profession, which forms the basis of future generations,” he added.Khoshi pointed out that even though the training program came during the summer holiday, teachers and trainees have participated enthusiastically. “We talked about this issue with teachers who came from different parts of the Kingdom and convinced them that this leading project deserved a sacrifice. They were responsible enough to understand the situation,” he said.Other committees are working on making model schools ready for hosting this project.“We want to have a very strong start since this will affect the whole project. We don’t want teachers and students to simply admire the project from afar, but we want students’ guardians to interact with them closely on the project, which will change the face of education in Saudi Arabia,” Khoshi added. Dr. Naif Al-Roomi, head of the Tatweer project, stressed that the new 50 schools will reflect how our schools ought to be “Principals in these schools have no other choice but to succeed,” Al-Roomi said, adding that collective work is the secret for success.
SOME 1,700 male and female teachers and school administrators, representing 50 secondary schools Kingdom-wide ended their 15-day training course this week in preparation for launching Saudi Arabia’s most important educational revamp. The training course took place in three different cities: Taif, Abha and Jeddah.The Kingdom has allocated around SR9 billion for the Tatweer project and is planning to take education to new horizons to cope with transformations around the world. At the Al-Hada Bahadir Resort in Taif, Ali Sambo, director of Educational Training Department at the Taif General Directorate of Education, who is acting as the general supervisor for the Tatweer training workshop in Taif, is busy moving from one hall to another to make sure everything is running smoothly and properly.Sambo told Saudi Gazette that their workshop is part of two other workshops in Jeddah and Abha for training teachers and school principals, from all over the Kingdom, on the coming unprecedented public education development program: The King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Project for Developing Public Education (Tatweer).According to Sambo, the training program concluded this week, and the beneficiaries of the course were more than 1,700 male and female teachers, students’ advisors and school managers, who came from 50 schools around the country. “We are involved in monitoring and training teachers, advisors and school principals,” Sambo told the Saudi Gazette. He added that preparations for the project started two years ago, which will be implemented next year in 50 boys’ and girls’ schools.“In Taif itself, some 40 teachers were trained last year to use the latest teaching technologies to replace the old teaching methods with the use of Internet and computer applications. That program is part of a bigger project that targets developing public education,” he added. Sambo admitted that the current teaching methodology was supposed to continue until the end of the next academic year, so that they could have a chance to train all teachers on new teaching strategies.“Officials in the Ministry of Education might have preferred that we would go faster as everything has been made available. From my own point of view, we should have first worked on preparing teachers for teaching methods and strategies before we could start implementing the program in any school,” he said.Different coursesTeachers, students’ advisors and school principals take different courses that can enable them to deal with their students from different angles to help them succeed at all levels.“School principals are given courses on the art of administration and leadership while teachers take courses on development of thinking skills. These teachers were previously given an Intel course in computers in their schools,” he added.Sambo also said that school principals have attended a three-day symposium in Riyadh where they were given a full idea about the project. “The Ministry of Education has chosen a school in each governorate to try the project. We have received some 333 teachers from around the Kingdom in the first week, 25 of whom are school principals. We also have some 330 female teachers. They are attending the training course in a separate place,” he said.According to Abdul-Wahhab Al-Mikaimzi, chief of Public Relations in the ministry, the project consists of four axes: developing teachers’ skills, developing curricula, enhancing school activities, and improving school environment.“Four separate committees are working on these sides,” Mikaimzi told Saudi Gazette.He pointed out that the government has done its best to spread knowledge and science everywhere in the Kingdom.“This leadership is trying to develop education and is employing the latest possible technology to help build Saudi citizens at all levels. If education is a never-ending process, we believe that developing that education is a necessity,” Mikaimzi added.One of the challenges that the training committee encountered was that some teachers had difficulties using computers. Sambo noticed that from the very beginning and immediately started a training program for them.He also confessed that as with any new program, there would be some weak points and obstacles.“It’s normal to face obstacles and make some errors, but these barriers and mistakes should be managed and solved at once.”New methods and rolesOld teaching methods used to focus on the traditional concept of teaching in which a student’s role was to listen and memorize.“The new project aims to make students analyze and think to come up with solutions. A teacher’s role will be to just monitor the class and distribute roles among learners,” Sambo clarified. He added that teachers would now provide students with information sources either in libraries or online to make students carry on their own research. Sambo explained what new classrooms and school environment would look like: “Imagine that students are searching for a certain piece of information. The modernized classroom is divided into three groups. Group A is using computers to find that information, group B is reading books for the same purpose, and group C is writing what conclusions the two groups have found. This is what we want our students to do in their classrooms,” he explained.Explaining why the project was starting at the secondary school level, he said, “We preferred to start with secondary schools because the number of students in this level is more manageable than the ones in primary or intermediate schools. Besides, secondary school students are aware enough of various computer applications that can lead to effective results,” he said.Sambo pointed out that professional proficiency exams will be held for teachers. Teachers who pass this exam can continue, others who fail will be given courses to re-qualify them. Mosleh Khoshi, assistant supervisor for the training workshop, said that new teachers have begun sitting for such an exam. “Every new teacher should now take this exam to make sure that he or she is suitable for this profession, which forms the basis of future generations,” he added.Khoshi pointed out that even though the training program came during the summer holiday, teachers and trainees have participated enthusiastically. “We talked about this issue with teachers who came from different parts of the Kingdom and convinced them that this leading project deserved a sacrifice. They were responsible enough to understand the situation,” he said.Other committees are working on making model schools ready for hosting this project.“We want to have a very strong start since this will affect the whole project. We don’t want teachers and students to simply admire the project from afar, but we want students’ guardians to interact with them closely on the project, which will change the face of education in Saudi Arabia,” Khoshi added. Dr. Naif Al-Roomi, head of the Tatweer project, stressed that the new 50 schools will reflect how our schools ought to be “Principals in these schools have no other choice but to succeed,” Al-Roomi said, adding that collective work is the secret for success.
A million dollar claim
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
Many international universities have posted on their websites an unprecedented study of an Egyptian scientist. Days will either prove that Dr. Rafee Kamouna is no less than Albert Einstein or just like many other scientists who failed in their pursuit to prove their point.Dr. Rafee Ebrahim Kamouna, who is a De Montfort University (England) alumnus and whose Ph.D. thesis report is from Toulouse, France, claimed that he solved one of the seven millennium problems. It has to be accredited by relevant international organizations.The expert claims to have solved the P vs NP problem (see box).“The status of the paper was submitted to the Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery,” Kamouna told Saudi Gazette. It was submitted on June 18, and the decision usually takes an average of four months, he said. “The paper has been on the site of Cornell University to conform its academic standards. This means the paper is of relevance and of interest to the scientific community. Moreover, nobody has discovered an error or a flaw in it,” he said.Speaking to Saudi Gazette over phone from Al-Baha city where he works, the expert seemed very confident of his work. He, however, refused to divulge the “secret” of the solution.He added that the other six millennium problems can be affected by his solution.“I invite other computer scientists and mathematicians having the necessary background to examine my work,” said Dr. Kamouna. The work is now being examined by the Association for Computing Machinery and is available at the site of Cornell University under the title “A Paradox Implies SAT is (NOT) NP-complete and ZFC is Inconsistent”.“The paper is classified under “Computational Complexity” and “Logic in Computer Science,” he added.In order to celebrate mathematics in the new millennium, the Clay Mathematics Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts (CMI), has named seven millennium problems. The Scientific Advisory Board of CMI selected these problems, focusing on important classic questions that have resisted solution over the years. The Board of Directors of CMI allocated a $7-million-prize fund for the solution to these problems, with $1 million for each. During the Millennium Meeting held on May 24, 2000, at the Collège de France, Timothy Gowers presented a lecture entitled The Importance of Mathematics, aimed for the general public, while John Tate and Michael Atiyah spoke on the problems. The CMI invited specialists to formulate each problem. One hundred years earlier, on August 8, 1900, David Hilbert delivered his famous lecture about open mathematical problems at the second International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris. This influenced our decision to announce the millennium problems as the central theme of a Paris meeting. The problem tackled by Dr. Kamouna was the “P vs. NP” problem. He overturned the central theory of computer science which is “NP-completeness” and the inconsistency of mathematics which affects all mathematical problems not only those of the prize. Dr. Kamouna is currently writing a book that will be entitled “Bi-Polarism Theory: The Death of Computer Science, The End of Mathematics, and The Birth of Logical Physics.” “The relation between the syntax and semantics in (fuzzy logic programming) is the same as that of space and time in Einstein’s general relativity. To have a quantum theory of gravity is the outstanding problem in theoretical physics. It is the problem that eluded Einstein for decades,” the Egyptian scientist said.
Many international universities have posted on their websites an unprecedented study of an Egyptian scientist. Days will either prove that Dr. Rafee Kamouna is no less than Albert Einstein or just like many other scientists who failed in their pursuit to prove their point.Dr. Rafee Ebrahim Kamouna, who is a De Montfort University (England) alumnus and whose Ph.D. thesis report is from Toulouse, France, claimed that he solved one of the seven millennium problems. It has to be accredited by relevant international organizations.The expert claims to have solved the P vs NP problem (see box).“The status of the paper was submitted to the Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery,” Kamouna told Saudi Gazette. It was submitted on June 18, and the decision usually takes an average of four months, he said. “The paper has been on the site of Cornell University to conform its academic standards. This means the paper is of relevance and of interest to the scientific community. Moreover, nobody has discovered an error or a flaw in it,” he said.Speaking to Saudi Gazette over phone from Al-Baha city where he works, the expert seemed very confident of his work. He, however, refused to divulge the “secret” of the solution.He added that the other six millennium problems can be affected by his solution.“I invite other computer scientists and mathematicians having the necessary background to examine my work,” said Dr. Kamouna. The work is now being examined by the Association for Computing Machinery and is available at the site of Cornell University under the title “A Paradox Implies SAT is (NOT) NP-complete and ZFC is Inconsistent”.“The paper is classified under “Computational Complexity” and “Logic in Computer Science,” he added.In order to celebrate mathematics in the new millennium, the Clay Mathematics Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts (CMI), has named seven millennium problems. The Scientific Advisory Board of CMI selected these problems, focusing on important classic questions that have resisted solution over the years. The Board of Directors of CMI allocated a $7-million-prize fund for the solution to these problems, with $1 million for each. During the Millennium Meeting held on May 24, 2000, at the Collège de France, Timothy Gowers presented a lecture entitled The Importance of Mathematics, aimed for the general public, while John Tate and Michael Atiyah spoke on the problems. The CMI invited specialists to formulate each problem. One hundred years earlier, on August 8, 1900, David Hilbert delivered his famous lecture about open mathematical problems at the second International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris. This influenced our decision to announce the millennium problems as the central theme of a Paris meeting. The problem tackled by Dr. Kamouna was the “P vs. NP” problem. He overturned the central theory of computer science which is “NP-completeness” and the inconsistency of mathematics which affects all mathematical problems not only those of the prize. Dr. Kamouna is currently writing a book that will be entitled “Bi-Polarism Theory: The Death of Computer Science, The End of Mathematics, and The Birth of Logical Physics.” “The relation between the syntax and semantics in (fuzzy logic programming) is the same as that of space and time in Einstein’s general relativity. To have a quantum theory of gravity is the outstanding problem in theoretical physics. It is the problem that eluded Einstein for decades,” the Egyptian scientist said.
Saudi Arabian Airlines warning over seized plane
29 October 2009
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) said Monday that the seizure of a rented aircraft over a financial dispute with Eagle Aviation would affect the continuation of its flights to France.A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 777-200 was seized at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport in a legal dispute over a $2 million debt, airport sources in Paris said Saturday. The sources said the airliner was seized Friday after its arrival from Riyadh by bailiffs acting on instructions from the Saint Nazaire commercial tribunal in the west of France. Eagle Aviation, an aircraft leasing firm based in Saint Nazaire, alleges that it is owed $2 million for providing the aircraft.SAA’s top official said that his company would ask for more from Eagle Aviation but did not confirm the amount involved in the dispute.“Saudi Arabian Airlines, in fact, is demanding much more amounts than what Eagle Aviation is claiming,” said SAA Director General Khaled Al-Mulheim. “We say that after they declined to make the regular adjustments on these amounts.” He said he was surprised on April 17 to hear of the seizure despite a court hearing set for Tuesday (April 23) on Eagle Aviation’s suit against Saudia. “This comes despite the contract conditions with the company that commit both parties to resort to the Saudi judiciary in case of dispute,” Al-Mulheim said. “After the French company’s bankruptcy, the authority appointed by the French court arbitrarily obtained a warrant to seize one of our planes, without paying attention to our rights or even informing us,” he said.Al-Mulheim said the move was illegal according to SAA’s lawyer, and therefore the warrant has to be set aside. “The Easter holiday in Europe when nearly all judges, especially those concerned with the laws of aviation, were not present, resulted in the plane being held for inquiries until the hearing on Tuesday on the basis of an appeal made by Saudi Arabian Airlines before the seizure of the plane.” He said SAA would stick to the terms of the contract and not waive its rights.
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) said Monday that the seizure of a rented aircraft over a financial dispute with Eagle Aviation would affect the continuation of its flights to France.A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 777-200 was seized at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport in a legal dispute over a $2 million debt, airport sources in Paris said Saturday. The sources said the airliner was seized Friday after its arrival from Riyadh by bailiffs acting on instructions from the Saint Nazaire commercial tribunal in the west of France. Eagle Aviation, an aircraft leasing firm based in Saint Nazaire, alleges that it is owed $2 million for providing the aircraft.SAA’s top official said that his company would ask for more from Eagle Aviation but did not confirm the amount involved in the dispute.“Saudi Arabian Airlines, in fact, is demanding much more amounts than what Eagle Aviation is claiming,” said SAA Director General Khaled Al-Mulheim. “We say that after they declined to make the regular adjustments on these amounts.” He said he was surprised on April 17 to hear of the seizure despite a court hearing set for Tuesday (April 23) on Eagle Aviation’s suit against Saudia. “This comes despite the contract conditions with the company that commit both parties to resort to the Saudi judiciary in case of dispute,” Al-Mulheim said. “After the French company’s bankruptcy, the authority appointed by the French court arbitrarily obtained a warrant to seize one of our planes, without paying attention to our rights or even informing us,” he said.Al-Mulheim said the move was illegal according to SAA’s lawyer, and therefore the warrant has to be set aside. “The Easter holiday in Europe when nearly all judges, especially those concerned with the laws of aviation, were not present, resulted in the plane being held for inquiries until the hearing on Tuesday on the basis of an appeal made by Saudi Arabian Airlines before the seizure of the plane.” He said SAA would stick to the terms of the contract and not waive its rights.
United Bikers set to start new season
29 October 2009
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW), gave the green light to the United Bikers team to start their season with a tour to southern region.The team of 30 motor bikers begins Thursday a three-day tour from Jeddah to Al-Baha on a multipurpose visit. According to Ezzidine Khalaf, head of the team, member of the committee of the Saudi Motorcycle and Cars Federation and member of the Arab Union for motorcycle racing, the tours aim to support and encourage the rapidly growing Saudi tourism industry. “Our trip will cover many areas in the southern part of the country where we will visit tourist sites, some charity organizations, disabled children’s centers and orphanages,” Khalaf said. He added that it would be a good chance to correctly introduce motorcycle sport to youths in all cities they go through along their 900-km drive. The team will return to Jeddah Saturday morning and they will represent Saudi Arabia in Bahrain Drag Race Championship 2009 on Oct. 18 - 24. “Two of our team mebers will take part in the first round of the three rounds of the championship. We have Hattan Al-Abbadi and Mazen Mandoura, who are capable of producing good results in the standard class challenge,” Khalaf said. He noted that the Saudi bikers are well known in the gulf for their good results.“Winning the first place in the last season in Qatar, Hattan Al-Abbadi has proved his prowess,” he added. Members who will represent the team in the Bahrain tournament are Ezzidine Khalaf, Mohammed Lanjawi, Mohammed Khogair, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi and Ghassan Saftah.
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW), gave the green light to the United Bikers team to start their season with a tour to southern region.The team of 30 motor bikers begins Thursday a three-day tour from Jeddah to Al-Baha on a multipurpose visit. According to Ezzidine Khalaf, head of the team, member of the committee of the Saudi Motorcycle and Cars Federation and member of the Arab Union for motorcycle racing, the tours aim to support and encourage the rapidly growing Saudi tourism industry. “Our trip will cover many areas in the southern part of the country where we will visit tourist sites, some charity organizations, disabled children’s centers and orphanages,” Khalaf said. He added that it would be a good chance to correctly introduce motorcycle sport to youths in all cities they go through along their 900-km drive. The team will return to Jeddah Saturday morning and they will represent Saudi Arabia in Bahrain Drag Race Championship 2009 on Oct. 18 - 24. “Two of our team mebers will take part in the first round of the three rounds of the championship. We have Hattan Al-Abbadi and Mazen Mandoura, who are capable of producing good results in the standard class challenge,” Khalaf said. He noted that the Saudi bikers are well known in the gulf for their good results.“Winning the first place in the last season in Qatar, Hattan Al-Abbadi has proved his prowess,” he added. Members who will represent the team in the Bahrain tournament are Ezzidine Khalaf, Mohammed Lanjawi, Mohammed Khogair, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi and Ghassan Saftah.
Ittihad to meet Pohang in final
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Ittihad stormed into the AFC Champions League final after defeating Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan 2-1 in the second leg at Mizuho Athletic Stadium Wednesday.Al-Ittihad, former champion in 2004 and 2005, made it an 8-2 aggregate win as it had routed the Japanese 6-2 in the first in Riyadh last week.Al Ittihad will face South Korean club Pohang Steelers in the final on Nov. 7 in Tokyo. Pohang beat Qatar’s Umm-Salal 2-1 in Doha, 4-1 on aggregate.Defender Saleh Al-Saqri put Al-Ittihad in the lead in the 42nd minute before the Tunisian striker Amin Al-Chermiti sealed the win in the 59th minute. The only Japanese goal came through Kenyu Sugimoto in the 67th minute.Nagoya started the match pressing Al-Ittihad which relied on counter attacks. Both teams spoiled several real chances to score. Thanks to the goalkeepers of the two sides. Al-Ittihad defender Saud Kariri sounded the first warning in the 22nd minute through a long kick. The Nagoya keeper came at the right time to send it out. Amin Al-Chermiti lost a chance in the 31st minute when he was on one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Chermiti shot straight into the goalkeeper. One minute later, Nagoya’s Australian striker Kennedy missed a goal.Though the Ittihad skipper Mohammed Noor did not score, his killing passes gave Al-Ittihad the win. Noor received a right cross from Rashed Al-Raheed and the captian tried to play it with his heel. The ball bounced at the goalkeeper to find Saleh Al-Saqri who applied the finishing touches, five minutes before the break. In the second half, the Serbian coach Dragon Stojkovic replaced striker Yuki Maki with midfielder Naoshi Nakamura. A few minuets later, Dragon brought Kenyu Sugimoto in.Kennedy faced Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, Mabrouk Za’id, in the 48th minute only to find a brave Za’id blocking it.In the 59th minute, Noor sent a high cross to Amine Al-Chermiti. With only one defender in the area, Chermiti headed the ball into the goal.Sugimoto produced a stunning goal in the 67th minute. With his back to Al-Ittihad net, Sugimoto received a cross on his chest and double-kicked into the net. Al-Ittihad goalkeeper could do nothing but watch how beautiful the goal was. - SG
JEDDAH – Al-Ittihad stormed into the AFC Champions League final after defeating Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan 2-1 in the second leg at Mizuho Athletic Stadium Wednesday.Al-Ittihad, former champion in 2004 and 2005, made it an 8-2 aggregate win as it had routed the Japanese 6-2 in the first in Riyadh last week.Al Ittihad will face South Korean club Pohang Steelers in the final on Nov. 7 in Tokyo. Pohang beat Qatar’s Umm-Salal 2-1 in Doha, 4-1 on aggregate.Defender Saleh Al-Saqri put Al-Ittihad in the lead in the 42nd minute before the Tunisian striker Amin Al-Chermiti sealed the win in the 59th minute. The only Japanese goal came through Kenyu Sugimoto in the 67th minute.Nagoya started the match pressing Al-Ittihad which relied on counter attacks. Both teams spoiled several real chances to score. Thanks to the goalkeepers of the two sides. Al-Ittihad defender Saud Kariri sounded the first warning in the 22nd minute through a long kick. The Nagoya keeper came at the right time to send it out. Amin Al-Chermiti lost a chance in the 31st minute when he was on one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Chermiti shot straight into the goalkeeper. One minute later, Nagoya’s Australian striker Kennedy missed a goal.Though the Ittihad skipper Mohammed Noor did not score, his killing passes gave Al-Ittihad the win. Noor received a right cross from Rashed Al-Raheed and the captian tried to play it with his heel. The ball bounced at the goalkeeper to find Saleh Al-Saqri who applied the finishing touches, five minutes before the break. In the second half, the Serbian coach Dragon Stojkovic replaced striker Yuki Maki with midfielder Naoshi Nakamura. A few minuets later, Dragon brought Kenyu Sugimoto in.Kennedy faced Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, Mabrouk Za’id, in the 48th minute only to find a brave Za’id blocking it.In the 59th minute, Noor sent a high cross to Amine Al-Chermiti. With only one defender in the area, Chermiti headed the ball into the goal.Sugimoto produced a stunning goal in the 67th minute. With his back to Al-Ittihad net, Sugimoto received a cross on his chest and double-kicked into the net. Al-Ittihad goalkeeper could do nothing but watch how beautiful the goal was. - SG
Ittihad to meet Pohang in final
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Ittihad stormed into the AFC Champions League final after defeating Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan 2-1 in the second leg at Mizuho Athletic Stadium Wednesday.Al-Ittihad, former champion in 2004 and 2005, made it an 8-2 aggregate win as it had routed the Japanese 6-2 in the first in Riyadh last week.Al Ittihad will face South Korean club Pohang Steelers in the final on Nov. 7 in Tokyo. Pohang beat Qatar’s Umm-Salal 2-1 in Doha, 4-1 on aggregate.Defender Saleh Al-Saqri put Al-Ittihad in the lead in the 42nd minute before the Tunisian striker Amin Al-Chermiti sealed the win in the 59th minute. The only Japanese goal came through Kenyu Sugimoto in the 67th minute.Nagoya started the match pressing Al-Ittihad which relied on counter attacks. Both teams spoiled several real chances to score. Thanks to the goalkeepers of the two sides. Al-Ittihad defender Saud Kariri sounded the first warning in the 22nd minute through a long kick. The Nagoya keeper came at the right time to send it out. Amin Al-Chermiti lost a chance in the 31st minute when he was on one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Chermiti shot straight into the goalkeeper. One minute later, Nagoya’s Australian striker Kennedy missed a goal.Though the Ittihad skipper Mohammed Noor did not score, his killing passes gave Al-Ittihad the win. Noor received a right cross from Rashed Al-Raheed and the captian tried to play it with his heel. The ball bounced at the goalkeeper to find Saleh Al-Saqri who applied the finishing touches, five minutes before the break. In the second half, the Serbian coach Dragon Stojkovic replaced striker Yuki Maki with midfielder Naoshi Nakamura. A few minuets later, Dragon brought Kenyu Sugimoto in.Kennedy faced Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, Mabrouk Za’id, in the 48th minute only to find a brave Za’id blocking it.In the 59th minute, Noor sent a high cross to Amine Al-Chermiti. With only one defender in the area, Chermiti headed the ball into the goal.Sugimoto produced a stunning goal in the 67th minute. With his back to Al-Ittihad net, Sugimoto received a cross on his chest and double-kicked into the net. Al-Ittihad goalkeeper could do nothing but watch how beautiful the goal was. - SG
JEDDAH – Al-Ittihad stormed into the AFC Champions League final after defeating Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan 2-1 in the second leg at Mizuho Athletic Stadium Wednesday.Al-Ittihad, former champion in 2004 and 2005, made it an 8-2 aggregate win as it had routed the Japanese 6-2 in the first in Riyadh last week.Al Ittihad will face South Korean club Pohang Steelers in the final on Nov. 7 in Tokyo. Pohang beat Qatar’s Umm-Salal 2-1 in Doha, 4-1 on aggregate.Defender Saleh Al-Saqri put Al-Ittihad in the lead in the 42nd minute before the Tunisian striker Amin Al-Chermiti sealed the win in the 59th minute. The only Japanese goal came through Kenyu Sugimoto in the 67th minute.Nagoya started the match pressing Al-Ittihad which relied on counter attacks. Both teams spoiled several real chances to score. Thanks to the goalkeepers of the two sides. Al-Ittihad defender Saud Kariri sounded the first warning in the 22nd minute through a long kick. The Nagoya keeper came at the right time to send it out. Amin Al-Chermiti lost a chance in the 31st minute when he was on one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Chermiti shot straight into the goalkeeper. One minute later, Nagoya’s Australian striker Kennedy missed a goal.Though the Ittihad skipper Mohammed Noor did not score, his killing passes gave Al-Ittihad the win. Noor received a right cross from Rashed Al-Raheed and the captian tried to play it with his heel. The ball bounced at the goalkeeper to find Saleh Al-Saqri who applied the finishing touches, five minutes before the break. In the second half, the Serbian coach Dragon Stojkovic replaced striker Yuki Maki with midfielder Naoshi Nakamura. A few minuets later, Dragon brought Kenyu Sugimoto in.Kennedy faced Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, Mabrouk Za’id, in the 48th minute only to find a brave Za’id blocking it.In the 59th minute, Noor sent a high cross to Amine Al-Chermiti. With only one defender in the area, Chermiti headed the ball into the goal.Sugimoto produced a stunning goal in the 67th minute. With his back to Al-Ittihad net, Sugimoto received a cross on his chest and double-kicked into the net. Al-Ittihad goalkeeper could do nothing but watch how beautiful the goal was. - SG
‘H1N1 given too much attention’, health official
9 October 2009
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The Director General of the Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministers Council Dr. Tawfik Khoja said that it is possible that too much attention is being given to the swine flu (H1N1) virus, saying that it is a virus like others, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. He also stated that there has been an increase in medical errors in the region.Khoja made the statements during a press conference held here Wednesday as part of the preparation for the Arab and Gulf Healthcare Quality and Safety Conference that will be held under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, from Oct. 27-29 at the Hilton Hotel here, under the theme « Deep in the Challenges of Patient Safety ».“I think that the issue of swine flu has been given more attention than it really deserves,” Khoja said. He added that health officials usually work on the whole health system not on a single issue.“Swine flu is a virus like hundreds of other viruses, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. We should not neglect all other health issues and concentrate on one disease no matter how acute it is,” Khoja said.Commenting on the conference, Khoja said that the meeting will be of great importance to everyone interested in improving the quality and safety of healthcare, including policy makers, hospital leaders, regulators, accreditation bodies, quality improvement organizations, managers, practitioners, providers and patients.He counted the reasons why the conference is to be held saying that it is necessary to become a part of the world patient safety movement by connecting with world experts and the world alliance for patient safety.“Moreover, it will help to sharpen the skills in patient safety solutions, risk management and evidence-based practice, through participation in the pre-conference workshops,” he added.He also added that another aim is to enhance communications and networking among delegates and leaders with world class experts in patient safety.“We also aim to stay updated with the latest regulatory and accreditation requirements as related to patient safety,” he explained. He added that we all need health care to be available in the nearest health center in every location in our countries.Dr. Khoja pointed out that the biggest challenge facing projects for patient safety is that related to medical errors.“Medical errors are increasing not only in Arab countries but in all the world. The GCC Health Ministers’ Council has put this issue at the top of its list of quality priorities,” he said.In explaining why medical errors occur, he blamed the dependence on modern technolgy. He said that the world witnesses 230 million surgical operations every year, at a rate of one major operation for every 25 persons. “Medical interference depends mainly on human beings and sophisticated technological tools. Mistakes can be made causing serious damage,” he noted.He pointed out that medical errors are behind 44,000 to 98,000 deaths in the United States. This is, according to Khoja, more than the deaths caused by traffic accidents, breast cancer and AIDS.He added that a UK Health Adminstration report has found that medical errors occur in 10 percent of cases admitted to hospital, meaning that there are annually 85,000 cases affected by medical error. Khoja also highlighted the economic effect caused by such errors. “Studies estimate that the total cost of medical errors in the US is from $17billion to $29 billion. This clearly shows how important the issue really is,” he added.He hoped that the conference would bring out necessary recommendations that could help shape strategic plans to reinforce patient safety in the health system through scientific methods that can assist in enhancing health care services. – SG
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The Director General of the Executive Board of the GCC Health Ministers Council Dr. Tawfik Khoja said that it is possible that too much attention is being given to the swine flu (H1N1) virus, saying that it is a virus like others, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. He also stated that there has been an increase in medical errors in the region.Khoja made the statements during a press conference held here Wednesday as part of the preparation for the Arab and Gulf Healthcare Quality and Safety Conference that will be held under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, from Oct. 27-29 at the Hilton Hotel here, under the theme « Deep in the Challenges of Patient Safety ».“I think that the issue of swine flu has been given more attention than it really deserves,” Khoja said. He added that health officials usually work on the whole health system not on a single issue.“Swine flu is a virus like hundreds of other viruses, such as dengue fever and tuberculosis. We should not neglect all other health issues and concentrate on one disease no matter how acute it is,” Khoja said.Commenting on the conference, Khoja said that the meeting will be of great importance to everyone interested in improving the quality and safety of healthcare, including policy makers, hospital leaders, regulators, accreditation bodies, quality improvement organizations, managers, practitioners, providers and patients.He counted the reasons why the conference is to be held saying that it is necessary to become a part of the world patient safety movement by connecting with world experts and the world alliance for patient safety.“Moreover, it will help to sharpen the skills in patient safety solutions, risk management and evidence-based practice, through participation in the pre-conference workshops,” he added.He also added that another aim is to enhance communications and networking among delegates and leaders with world class experts in patient safety.“We also aim to stay updated with the latest regulatory and accreditation requirements as related to patient safety,” he explained. He added that we all need health care to be available in the nearest health center in every location in our countries.Dr. Khoja pointed out that the biggest challenge facing projects for patient safety is that related to medical errors.“Medical errors are increasing not only in Arab countries but in all the world. The GCC Health Ministers’ Council has put this issue at the top of its list of quality priorities,” he said.In explaining why medical errors occur, he blamed the dependence on modern technolgy. He said that the world witnesses 230 million surgical operations every year, at a rate of one major operation for every 25 persons. “Medical interference depends mainly on human beings and sophisticated technological tools. Mistakes can be made causing serious damage,” he noted.He pointed out that medical errors are behind 44,000 to 98,000 deaths in the United States. This is, according to Khoja, more than the deaths caused by traffic accidents, breast cancer and AIDS.He added that a UK Health Adminstration report has found that medical errors occur in 10 percent of cases admitted to hospital, meaning that there are annually 85,000 cases affected by medical error. Khoja also highlighted the economic effect caused by such errors. “Studies estimate that the total cost of medical errors in the US is from $17billion to $29 billion. This clearly shows how important the issue really is,” he added.He hoped that the conference would bring out necessary recommendations that could help shape strategic plans to reinforce patient safety in the health system through scientific methods that can assist in enhancing health care services. – SG
King orders 100 job openings for social protection workers
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has directed the Ministry of Social Affairs to introduce 100 job opportunities for social protection workers. The directives include establishing new social protection units.
The new job opportunities were announced Saturday by Dr. Ali Sulaiman Al-Hinaki, Director General for Social Affairs in Makkah Region while he was addressing a press conference prior to a three-day meeting and workshop opening Monday to discuss family violence.
Prince Misha’l Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, will inaugurate the event on behalf of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Makkah Region, who called for the meeting.
Hinaki said that the gathering aims to enhance awareness regarding family protection especially for those working in police stations, courts, charity organizations and reconciliation centers.
“About 23 male and female specialists will present their topics in open discussions with interested attendees. These topics will be printed and distributed for the benefit of specialists and others interested in the topic,” Hinaki added.
He noted that some fathers follow the methods used by their elders in raising children. “Some people think that severity in raising children is necessary. They see their ancestors’ methods in monitoring children as the way that can work best nowadays,” he said.
“This is definitely a big mistake since times have changed and the way of doing things has changed with it,” he added.
He also added that children’s disobedience and running away from home are the results of such severe instructive methods. “Some fathers have also become narcotics addicts and they mistreat their children in a way that makes the life of the girl, boy or even the wife miserable.”
Hinaki is proud that he was the first person to introduce the concept of “House Protection Comes Last”. He pointed out that many violence cases have been solved within the family itself.
“As in all societies, there are always wise people from whom we can seek assistance to solve many family conflicts. We have, in fact, succeeded a lot in that respect. We always say that the one who is exposed to family violence will ultimately get back to his/her family. So, we’d better find solutions within the family range,” he said.
He added that they receive calls from girls and wives claiming that they are mistreated in their homes. “Our social agents always try to calm the caller down and start advising her that it is not appropriate to rake up sentiments. These agents ask for contact numbers of far-sighted relatives in the family to help in that regard,” he said.
He noted that there are some minor family problems that can accumulate when different parties interfere. “This then is the importance of the role of wise relatives,” he said.
Hinaki estimated that some 650 people have recently been enrolled in social protection houses in the Makkah region.
He told Saudi Gazette that there are now 17 social protection houses in the Kingdom. He added that the Jeddah Social Protection House hosts from 60 to 90 girls and wives who have been victims of home violence.
“The ratio is less in cities like Taif and Makkah, thanks to tribal and social ties that help settle family conflicts. In these two cities, we find that protection houses host some 15 to 20 victims,” he added.
Hinaki also urged those who face any sort of home violence to call 1919, Kingdom-wide, or to visit the website www.hemayah.org to report violence. – SG
JEDDAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has directed the Ministry of Social Affairs to introduce 100 job opportunities for social protection workers. The directives include establishing new social protection units.
The new job opportunities were announced Saturday by Dr. Ali Sulaiman Al-Hinaki, Director General for Social Affairs in Makkah Region while he was addressing a press conference prior to a three-day meeting and workshop opening Monday to discuss family violence.
Prince Misha’l Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, will inaugurate the event on behalf of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Makkah Region, who called for the meeting.
Hinaki said that the gathering aims to enhance awareness regarding family protection especially for those working in police stations, courts, charity organizations and reconciliation centers.
“About 23 male and female specialists will present their topics in open discussions with interested attendees. These topics will be printed and distributed for the benefit of specialists and others interested in the topic,” Hinaki added.
He noted that some fathers follow the methods used by their elders in raising children. “Some people think that severity in raising children is necessary. They see their ancestors’ methods in monitoring children as the way that can work best nowadays,” he said.
“This is definitely a big mistake since times have changed and the way of doing things has changed with it,” he added.
He also added that children’s disobedience and running away from home are the results of such severe instructive methods. “Some fathers have also become narcotics addicts and they mistreat their children in a way that makes the life of the girl, boy or even the wife miserable.”
Hinaki is proud that he was the first person to introduce the concept of “House Protection Comes Last”. He pointed out that many violence cases have been solved within the family itself.
“As in all societies, there are always wise people from whom we can seek assistance to solve many family conflicts. We have, in fact, succeeded a lot in that respect. We always say that the one who is exposed to family violence will ultimately get back to his/her family. So, we’d better find solutions within the family range,” he said.
He added that they receive calls from girls and wives claiming that they are mistreated in their homes. “Our social agents always try to calm the caller down and start advising her that it is not appropriate to rake up sentiments. These agents ask for contact numbers of far-sighted relatives in the family to help in that regard,” he said.
He noted that there are some minor family problems that can accumulate when different parties interfere. “This then is the importance of the role of wise relatives,” he said.
Hinaki estimated that some 650 people have recently been enrolled in social protection houses in the Makkah region.
He told Saudi Gazette that there are now 17 social protection houses in the Kingdom. He added that the Jeddah Social Protection House hosts from 60 to 90 girls and wives who have been victims of home violence.
“The ratio is less in cities like Taif and Makkah, thanks to tribal and social ties that help settle family conflicts. In these two cities, we find that protection houses host some 15 to 20 victims,” he added.
Hinaki also urged those who face any sort of home violence to call 1919, Kingdom-wide, or to visit the website www.hemayah.org to report violence. – SG
Saudi tribal website raises the question of ‘dialogue’
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Despite Saudi Arabia’s attempts to spread the culture of dialogue, there are still those who reject what others say and believe, thus leading to a widening of the gap between people of the same culture.
Recently, a heated discussion over camel beauty contests threatened to split Saudi society into those for and against. That issue was resolved after senior scholars commented that such contests are permissible unless they can be shown to do irreparable damage to society.
A greater dilemma, however, is the claim of some people that Internet websites dedicated to different Saudi tribes will weaken the ties among members of Saudi society. This topic was recently discussed on one of the most frequently visited websites, when a female member spoke out against such online tribal sites.
The administration of the site immediately ended the woman’s membership raising a big question mark over the true meaning of ‘dialogue.’
In her post, Amirat Zahran (Princess of Zahran) criticized the idea of having tribal websites, which was the reason that she was eliminated from the discussion.
“Since King Abdul Aziz founded this great country, the royal family has made all possible efforts to improve and educate the people of this country,” Amirat Zahran posted in her contribution as a member of Zahran Internet Forum. (www.zahran.org)
This posting, of course, was not the reason for banning her from the forum. However, what she went on to say provoked the website’s administrators to eliminate her.
“One of King Abdul Aziz’s main concerns was to eradicate racism, which is, of course, a factor of backwardness and is, perhaps, a source of terrorism,” she added.
Furthermore, she claimed that some studies have proved that such tribal online gatherings could widen the gap between members of society.
The forum administration then took an action against her and prevented her from making any further comments, although she succeeded in receiving a number of replies before she was taken away.
Some website members expressed their discontentment on hearing people claim that there is a conflict between patriotism and loyalty to tribes.
Abu Monther, a Palestinian who said his ancestors belonged to the tribe, wondered why the woman was taking part in a discussion on the tribal website despite her beliefs.
“This is a good point to discuss, but why are you here?” he asked. He added that such forums could highlight the positive qualities of different tribes.
But Amirat Zahran was ready with a quick reply for Abu Monther.
She reminded him of a poem by a member of a different tribe who looked down upon southern tribes, although that poet is said to have apologized for his poem.
“Such poems can destroy the unity of society and can stir up hatred,” Amirat Zahran replied.
An administrative member replied that websites are no different from instruments of modern technology that can be used in both effective and destructive manners.
“We can use these sites to get to know each other and exchange experiences. Other contributions will definitely be removed,” Fahd Saud said in his reply to the female member.
Six minutes later, the reply of Amirat Zahran was ready to be posted.
“I’m not only talking about these websites, but also about the TV channels, poetry contests like the Poet of the Million and the Poet of the Deep Meaning, and tribal camel beauty competitions,” she said. All of these things, she claimed destroy the efforts of the late founder of the nation to make all of the country’s tribes into one civilized society.
“The late King Abdul Aziz found the tribes in conflict and concerned with tribal disputes, and he succeeded in turning them into one connected unity. I’m just afraid that such tribal websites will affect the unity of our society,” she added.
Before her membership from the website was suspended, Amirat Zahran tried to refer to some of the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) against tribal discrimination. It was at that point that she was eliminated from the discussion by the administrators of the website.
However, although her words were stopped, a door was opened for a discussion of the true meaning of the culture of dialogue in our society. – SG
JEDDAH – Despite Saudi Arabia’s attempts to spread the culture of dialogue, there are still those who reject what others say and believe, thus leading to a widening of the gap between people of the same culture.
Recently, a heated discussion over camel beauty contests threatened to split Saudi society into those for and against. That issue was resolved after senior scholars commented that such contests are permissible unless they can be shown to do irreparable damage to society.
A greater dilemma, however, is the claim of some people that Internet websites dedicated to different Saudi tribes will weaken the ties among members of Saudi society. This topic was recently discussed on one of the most frequently visited websites, when a female member spoke out against such online tribal sites.
The administration of the site immediately ended the woman’s membership raising a big question mark over the true meaning of ‘dialogue.’
In her post, Amirat Zahran (Princess of Zahran) criticized the idea of having tribal websites, which was the reason that she was eliminated from the discussion.
“Since King Abdul Aziz founded this great country, the royal family has made all possible efforts to improve and educate the people of this country,” Amirat Zahran posted in her contribution as a member of Zahran Internet Forum. (www.zahran.org)
This posting, of course, was not the reason for banning her from the forum. However, what she went on to say provoked the website’s administrators to eliminate her.
“One of King Abdul Aziz’s main concerns was to eradicate racism, which is, of course, a factor of backwardness and is, perhaps, a source of terrorism,” she added.
Furthermore, she claimed that some studies have proved that such tribal online gatherings could widen the gap between members of society.
The forum administration then took an action against her and prevented her from making any further comments, although she succeeded in receiving a number of replies before she was taken away.
Some website members expressed their discontentment on hearing people claim that there is a conflict between patriotism and loyalty to tribes.
Abu Monther, a Palestinian who said his ancestors belonged to the tribe, wondered why the woman was taking part in a discussion on the tribal website despite her beliefs.
“This is a good point to discuss, but why are you here?” he asked. He added that such forums could highlight the positive qualities of different tribes.
But Amirat Zahran was ready with a quick reply for Abu Monther.
She reminded him of a poem by a member of a different tribe who looked down upon southern tribes, although that poet is said to have apologized for his poem.
“Such poems can destroy the unity of society and can stir up hatred,” Amirat Zahran replied.
An administrative member replied that websites are no different from instruments of modern technology that can be used in both effective and destructive manners.
“We can use these sites to get to know each other and exchange experiences. Other contributions will definitely be removed,” Fahd Saud said in his reply to the female member.
Six minutes later, the reply of Amirat Zahran was ready to be posted.
“I’m not only talking about these websites, but also about the TV channels, poetry contests like the Poet of the Million and the Poet of the Deep Meaning, and tribal camel beauty competitions,” she said. All of these things, she claimed destroy the efforts of the late founder of the nation to make all of the country’s tribes into one civilized society.
“The late King Abdul Aziz found the tribes in conflict and concerned with tribal disputes, and he succeeded in turning them into one connected unity. I’m just afraid that such tribal websites will affect the unity of our society,” she added.
Before her membership from the website was suspended, Amirat Zahran tried to refer to some of the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) against tribal discrimination. It was at that point that she was eliminated from the discussion by the administrators of the website.
However, although her words were stopped, a door was opened for a discussion of the true meaning of the culture of dialogue in our society. – SG
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