ISSUE 9 // MAY - JUNE 2020
YOUR GUIDE TO SAUDI ARABIA
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
PUBLISHER Enas Hashani EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maria Mahdaly EDITORIAL MANAGER Yasmine Mohamed EDITOR Nessreen Tamano WRITERS Dalia El Abd Deena Dakhiel Heba Alsafwani Omar Hashani Saeshanee Gough Zahra Anwer PHOTOGRAPHERS Mohammed Fawzy Lina Mohammed EDITORIAL INQUIRIES
editor@destinationksa.com
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FROM THE EDITOR
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Ramadan Mubarak!
Tel: +966-12-6065902 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Ramadan has always brought about a renewal of our virtues— patience, benevolence, charity, forgiveness, and sharing. In a time of great uncertainty, the world has come together as one for humanity. There is still a lot of good here on earth, and that’s the exact spirit of the Holy Month. The novel coronavirus pandemic took away a lot, but in return, gave us a lot. It gave us a chance to slow down and look around. Now is the time when we need to be looking within for our genuine purpose and realize what matters most to us. In this very special digital issue, we are filled with gratitude for one more chance to enjoy all the Ramadan and Eid traditions within the warmth of our homes, we provide a platform for creatives, we reminisce on the normalcies of yesterday in hopes that we’d come back living well, and even better. Creating this issue was an emotional journey for our team. We dedicate it to the modern day heroes, whose courage and commitment to stay out there so we can stay safe is something we will be forever grateful for. Adversity breeds ingenuity, forges character, and strengthens us as a community. We are proud to be of service to you, our dear readers, and it is what has and will keep Destination on course until we emerge from the other side of this storm. From our family to yours, Eid Mubarak--- and ‘til we meet again, breathe deep, stay safe, and keep the faith.
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DESIGNED BY
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PUBLISHED BY
Destination KSA Magazine is a Rumman Company publication. License No. 7862-8/8/1431 / Publisher: Destination Magazine, UK, Coventry, CV14DH N5719 Email: info@rummancompany.com P.O. Box 4113 / Jeddah 21491
PRINTED BY
Maria Mahdaly, Editor-in-Chief DESTINATION KSA 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
04
ISSUE SPECIALS
30
Your survival guide to Eid in lockdown
DINING
A Taste of Home
46
Repackaging Heritage
Acts of Kindness
STYLE Awesome Twosome Spatial Reasons to #STAYHOME
The Land of Cream & Pastry
Saudi Streetwear
12
THE CREATIVES
42
Lub Creatives in Crisis Handmade In Tune
44
09 2 MAY/JUNE 2020
14
WELLNESS
Intermittent VS. Ramadan Fasting
KNOW YOUR KINGDOM Leaders of Tomorrow
Local Scentiments
80
BUSINESS PERSUITS Brave New Saudi Rakan Al Eidi Eco Initiatives
GET YOUR DAILY DOSE OF CITY INSIGHTS: destinationryd destinationjed destinationshq www.destinationksa.com
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70
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ISSUE SPECIALS
YOUR SURVIVAL GUIDE TO EID IN LOCKDOWN By Zahra Anwer
As the 30 days of spiritual journey comes to an end, this year the celebrations are most likely to be affected because of the lockdown. But don’t worry, there are a lot of alternatives to keep the Eid spirit alive! You might not be able to go see your friends – or leave the house – this Eid, so why not bring the cheer home? Here are some hacks to having an amazing Eid anyway. ADORN YOUR HOMES Let’s welcome the moon of Shawwal by dazzling up our humble abodes with strings of lights and lanterns to create enthusiasm for the festival. You can shop on Ikea’s online website for decorative lighting or order paper crafts from Jarir to make you own decorations. web: ikea.com/sa web: jarir.com 4 MAY/JUNE 2020
EID FEAST Keep the tasty Eid traditions alive by prepping and organizing a special meal and desserts. Let the children participate as well! If you have an adequate outdoor space, set up an outdoor dining affair that will help make your al fresco meal all the better. EIDIYA TRADITIONS What is Eid without Eidiya? Eid brings forth the tradition and excitement of Eidiya – a token of love by elders to children. Design or buy pretty money envelopes to present your Eidiya and bring big smiles to those receiving it. web: the-stationery.com
TAKBEERAT Takbeerat (glorifying and praising God) is an essential tradition and is one of the greatest sunnahs of Eid. Have each member of the family participate to say the Eid Takbeer aloud one by one.
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HENNA LOVE Eid celebrations are incomplete without henna, so gather your family members and decorate hands and feet with henna designs. Order henna cones from the henna artists in your town, print out some easy designs and try making some creative patterns. Here are the henna artists you can buy henna from: Make sure you order at least one week in advance. Delivery can be arranged via Mrsool Jeddah
shabeenaslam
Sharqiya
henna_art_by_shafaq
Riyadh
hennabyfizafathima alwan_hennacones
SPIRITUAL VIBES Since there will be no special Eid prayer in the mosques, you can create your own prayer area as an alternative. Use your terrace or garden to set up a prayer area where you and your family can hang out and recreate Eid vibes by praying two units of prayer.
GET DRESSED
FUN ACTIVITIES
Kick off your day early by taking a shower and donning new clothes. It’s the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) to put on your best clothes on the day of Eid. For many of us in lockdown, Eid might be spent resisting the urge to sleep all day and rocking PJs instead of getting dressed, but remember not to miss out on the essence of Eid celebrations!
Play games to keep your family occupied and entertained. How about playing Charades? Fill up a bowl with well-known shows and movies or any other trivia and arrange gifts for the winning team.
BE GRATEFUL Prepare a short talk and ask the children to participate by sharing their gems about Eid. Let’s remind each other to be thankful to God for prolonging our lives and making us witness another Ramadan and Eid. SEPARATE-BUT-TOGETHER Since you won’t be physically meeting friends and relatives this Eid, host a virtual Eid party by connecting everyone together via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. SHARING SMILES Thanks to the world of video calling and online deliveries, there are plenty of ways we can share gifts with our family members and friends who we won’t be able to meet this Eid. There are several websites where you can buy gifts online and use the delivery service to have it sent straight to a loved one. Make sure you ask them to open it during the online Zoom meeting to witness the excitement and surprise.
Recommendations: Tar Min Agli
(Available at jarir.com)
Gool Bs Latgool Nar
(Available at virginmegastore.sa)
Carrom (Available at jarir.com) Hakawi (Available at virginmegastore.sa)
PHOTO BOOTH CORNER Create a photo booth with props and packed gifts for each family member, capture the moment and give it those Eid feels. Check out the-stationery.com for Eid banners and get it delivered. EID GIFT SCAVENGER HUNT Everyone loves a bit of work when a memorable series of clues leads them through the home to the gift. Plan a fun Eid scavenger hunt for the family and place the clues around the house to lead them to a wonderful surprise. DON’T FORGET THE LESS FORTUNATE Amid the celebration, Eid is also a time for charity, a way to share the joys of Eid with those in need. Contribute by joining forces with one of the charity groups in your region. Recommendations: namaa.sa albir.sa kafel.org.sa
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ISSUE SPECIALS
8 MAY/JUNE 2020
ACTS OF KINDNESS By Yasmine Mohamed
These businesses are trying to do their part to make our quarantine days a little brighter. Ever since the shutdown in the Kingdom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us may have been low-key panicking and wondering when all this will come to an end. Most of the businesses have been put on hold and our lives are somewhat in a standstill. This is why many clinics, restaurants, cafĂŠs and service labors have been doing their best to keep us all calm by showing sincere acts of kindness to get us by.
MY CLINIC This medical clinic located in Jeddah offers various clinical specialties ensuring an ideal patient experience. So, since you currently can’t go to their clinic, they will be reaching out to you from exactly where you are. They are offering a virtual consultation service from the comfort of your homes. To book, make sure you download their app. Location: Prince Sultan Branch Rd, Al Mohamadiyah Tel: 920022811 App: My Clinic KSA myclinicksa
CLEANSE AND GLOW ALBORG LABORATORIES As an initiative to keep everyone safe and at home, Alborg laboratories are offering to come to your place, whether in Riyadh or Jeddah, and draw any test you ask for. The process is fully sanitized and safe.
Located in Riyadh and Jeddah, this juice bar is offering a free wellness shot with every order you make. The shot consists of Turmeric and Ginger to keep your immunity boosted and your digestion better. You will feel an overall wellness and vitality improvement after a month of taking this shot daily.
Location: Olaya St. Riyadh Palestine St. Bani Malik, Jeddah Tel: 92000442 Web: Alborglaboratories.com
Location: Street 24, Riyadh Al Madinah Rd, Jeddah Mob: +966-502024654 / +966-541203016 cleanseandglow DESTINATION KSA 9
KIAORA Generously enough, Kiaora coffee shop is offering drinks on the house for all the medical staff in Jeddah who are risking their lives to save ours, as well as all the police officers that are on duty all day to keep us safe. God bless.
LET’S POPCORN Let’s popcorn is a local business in Riyadh offering a free delivery service to keep your munch on during the shutdown, without extra charges. Enjoy!
Location: Ar Rawdah, Jeddah 23435 kiaora.sa
Location: Aqiq Square, Riyadh Web: letspopcorn.com letspopcornksa
SHRIMP NATION ONE FIFTEENTH This is another café that is offering free coffee drinks for the medical teams in Jeddah, because God knows how much they need their coffee to pull off all these hectic shifts and keep our healthcare system running.
Shrimp Nation is also providing free delivery for your orders along with a 10% discount at all their branches across the Kingdom. They are located in Sharqiyah, Jeddah and Tabuk. Location: King Khalid Rd, Al Khuzama, Al Khobar Prince Sultan Rd, Jeddah Mob: +966-562098999 shrimpnations
CASPER AND GAMBINI’S Casper and Gambini’s are offering a complimentary 100% natural immunity booster drink along with any deliver order to ensure that you’re taking care of your health and well-being. Location: Al Khayyat Center, Prince Sultan Rd, Jeddah Tel: 920011046 casperandgambinisksa
Location: Alzahrah District, Al Shera’a, Jeddah cafe1_15
AL BAIK MUGALAT This traditional Saudi restaurant in Dammam is offering a 50% discount on any medical staff’s order. You can find the restaurant on the Hunger Station app.
Al Baik Restaurant is offering free delivery in the Kingdom to guarantee you have the meal you are craving, sanitarily prepared, and hassle free. You can order through Careem Now and Hunger Station.
Location: Al Gama’een District, Dammam Mob: +966-551980732 mugalat
Tel: 8002442245 Web: orderonline.albaik.com albaik
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STC, ZAIN KSA, AND MOBILY STC is teaming up with Zain KSA and Mobily to gift all the corona patients in isolation an April bill on the house so they can freely contact their friends and family during their isolation period. May God protect us all. Tel: +966-11-4555555 / +966-590000959 / 1100 Website: stc.com.sa / sa.zain.com / mobily.com.sa STC / mobily / Zainksa
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THE CREATIVES
LUB CREATIVES IN CRISIS By Heba Alsafwani & Omar Hashani
Throughout history, people have always leaned on each other to get through the toughest of times, to come out of the crisis unscathed, maintaining a hopeful spirit, and a positive outlook. Our modern-day crisis brought people together in ways that 12 MAY/JUNE 2020
were as unprecedented as our predicament. From thank you notes on window panes, crafty WFH stations to finally having that catch up coffee over zoom and Netflix parties—we stayed connected and entertained in ways that were simple yet clever, and full of heart.
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Shahad Nazer shahad.nazer
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Sultana Bukhari sultanasdiary
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Purple Brain
purplebrain.co
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Artists from all over the globe have joined in to voice their concern and uplift others, documenting the world’s brave response to fight a faceless enemy, and proving that, once again, art at its least can entertain and give comfort, but at its most, art can change the world.
Amr Khaled Taha amrkhaled94
In an attempt to do so, Lub Creative agency has launched the #CreativesInCrisis initiative. Lub is an idea-centered and people-focused creative agency that builds brands, and like its creative team members, it takes playfulness seriously as a means to tame their (almost) manic perfectionism. This, along with their industry expertise, collaborative nature, and determined-spirit helps Lub produce innovative solutions for their clients to reach their greatest potential, execute their vision, and make their mark.
Alia Ahmad
Alia.ahmd_
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Prayga
pragyabhargava
Qeas Pirzad
qeas.pirzad
Coronavirus is all we think and talk about these days. Countries all over the world are taking precautions, urging people to remain in their homes to stay safe. timesEver evolving humans that we are, people soon enough found ingenuous ways to keep themselves entertained and to be social amidst the distancing. With a bit of lifestyle maneuvering, imaginative thinking, Lub Creative decided to use its collective creativity to seek out and challenge other practitioners. Lub invited the creative practitioners and designers to reimagine a better world, inspired by what we appreciate, what fuels creativity, and those we love. If there’s one good thing about this whole situation, it’s that we all have some time on our hands, time to be productive, to reflect on the events, to give back and do some good.
Mona
her_dreamy_land .
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The campaign wasn’t just about the crisis that creatives find themselves in, but the role they play in society. To this end, Lub Creative showed that creatives are
Sarah Taibah sarahtaibah
instrumental to the functioning of society. By creating unique relatable material that resonates with and speaks to today’s zeitgeist, creatives bring forth a critical element to the table: community and collectivity. The submissions of this campaign were varied and numerous. From videographers, graphic designers, painters, and more, the pieces all dealt with perspectives. Some, like artist and actress Sara Taibah, intimately expressed a heartfelt longing for their loved ones in a zine ruminating isolation and solitude. Others, like designer Raghad Alahmad, injected a healthy dose of groove and good vibes into their art, urging us to stay inspired, alive, in love, and creative. Similarly, Nouf Yarub view this time as a period for growth and appreciation, insisting that we use our time home to do better things, learn new skills, and spread positivity. DESTINATION KSA 19
Zaina Ali Reza
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Alia Ahmad
Alia.ahmd_
This issue’s cover brings to light the many issues and new realities we’ve come to face. Designed by Zaina Ali Reza, the cover represents the hardships, perseverance, and ultimate calm of being in Saudi during this strange period of history. Tied together by the light of hope and camaraderie, we are all united during this Holy Month to work on ourselves, our society, and our country.
Raghad Alahmad raghadalahmad
Email: info@lubcreative.com Web: lubcreative.com Based in Jeddah lubcreative DESTINATION KSA 21
THE CREATIVES
HANDMADE By Yasmine Mohamed
On Saudi crafts and craftspeople When it’s handmade, it’s the time, effort, skill, nuances, and perfect imperfections that make each piece unique. Handicrafts have also been vivid manifestations of a culture’s heritage, and ours are no different. In an attempt to preserve heritage, the Ministry of Tourism created the National Handicrafts Program (Bari’) in 2012. Here are some of the crafts and the artisans behind them who are registered under Bari’:
That’s Knit! Tara Al Mady started Knittila back in 2014, however, her love for knitting never parted with her since the 6th grade. Utilizing what she was taught in school, she’d knit scarfs for herself every year for the winter season. From then on, she educated herself on how to better her craft creating different pieces of clothing and how to turn it into a business. Made out of wool and improved acrylic, every piece is colorful, lively, and unique. 22 MAY/JUNE 2020
She spends all summer knitting to create her winter collection. Throughout the year, she sells sewing kits and gives knitting workshops too. To Tara, knitting is not just a craft, it taught her discipline and to be a better listener. She found that when at social gatherings, knitting helped her think before she reacts to any situation. Web: zid.store/knittila Knittila
From Father to Son From an early age, Ali Al Homood would spend time with his dad doing woodwork. Growing up he also admired Arabic calligraphy and as a hobby he would make wood sculptures out of people’s names using mostly the Tholth Jaly Arabic calligraphy font. The most challenging part of his craft, in Ali’s opinion, is the constant need to come up with creative ideas and ways to enhance his pieces. Incorporating metals and epoxy to wood has been his go to recently. wood.scrolling
Carving Nature Coming across barks of trees that have fallen to the ground and remnants from factories, Adel Al Khaldi saw an opportunity in taking that wasted wood in and transforming it into beautiful pieces that can be utilized around the house. Wanting to create bespoke pieces for his own home, Adel started researching and asking local experts on how to proceed with that kind of woodwork. Through trial and error and with time and perseverance, he managed to create works of art that capitalize on the beauty of raw bark patterns and natural shapes. In 2017, he decided to turn this into a small business. His coffee tables caught our attention specifically. They are very simple, clean, and give an overall rustic feel. aws1488 DESTINATION KSA 23
Shaping Heritage The word keramos is the Greek origins of the word ceramic, and means potter or pottery. Morooj Al Shatri, owner of Keramos KSA, a pottery studio in Riyadh, studied Islamic Arts in college and quickly came to love how pottery is connected to human beings in the sense that they are both made of mud. She started the business in 2016, and since then has provided works for prominent names like SABEC and ARAMCO. “It’s always exciting to lay hands on the finished product and see how far it has come from a once malleable piece of clay,” she states. Works including cups, vases, and dishes show exceptional craftsmanship. The pieces can easily be displayed in any modern setting and bring about a strong sense of Saudi cultural heritage. keramosksa
Tactile Artistry Fatmah Hassanen also loved pottery since her college years. She enjoys the texture of clay and the connection the sculptor forms with every piece. Pottery taught her patience as it is a process that involves several steps, at each of which errors can occur. Her favorite step is decorating, where she is mostly inspired by the Southern Assiri art. fatmahhassanen 24 MAY/JUNE 2020
Piece by Piece Samreen Ahyad, behind Samreen Jewelry, enjoys how imagining and executing a piece feels like working with a puzzle. “Unlike true puzzles, with jewelry there are no restrictions and you can let your imagination run wild. You don’t always have to follow a certain plan.” She also expressed how happy she is that now there is more awareness being shed on the crafts and Saudi craftspeople, and how governmental support has helped these small businesses expand and produce higher quality work. samreen_ahyad
Finding Zen through Crafts Lulu w Murjan is yet another Saudi Brand that specializes in hand made accessories. Samar Al Menaie, the founder, initially had a liking for creating prayer beads. She finds herself to be most at zen when assembling her pieces. The hardest part of the process is finding and importing high quality materials, but once that is done, the colors and shapes of the articles she works with always seem to put her at ease. lulu.w.murjan
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IN TUNE THE CREATIVES
Classic Musical Instruments of the Middle East.
Musical instruments in the Arab world are incredibly unique in both look and sound. Whether you’re an aficionado or know nothing about Middle Eastern music, there is always so much to learn and listen to! There are so many instruments in the region, but let’s just start with the basics.
OUD
Archaeomusicologists– those who study the history of musical instruments–are still debating when to date the oud. Some claim it is 5,000 years old, others just 3,000. Either way, we know the oud to be an ancient stringed instrument commonly played throughout the Islamic world. As the ancestor to the lute and the guitar, the oud is an important historical instrument, with 11 or 13 strings. The entire Middle East and North African region is full of magnificent oud players, but Saudi Arabia is home to some seriously exceptional talent.
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First, we highly recommend checking out some of the classics: Mohammed Abdu, Rabeh Saqer, Abdul Majeed Abdullah, and Abadi AlJowhar for starters! But if old-school isn’t your jam, we suggest listening to some of the contemporary Saudi players such as Najam Suhail, Oud Rayan, Ahmed Saleh, and Hatoon Idrees. Hatoon’s playing is especially unique, donning an electric oud and mixing it with digital music. najm_ajaj2017 hatoon.idrees
Musical instruments in the Arab world have a lot of character. With their ornate looks, their incredible histories, and their exotic sound that comes from semitones (extra notes that Western music lacks) adding complexity and creative potential, you should capitalize on any opportunity to see some of these instruments in action. Although coronavirus seems to be all around us, hopefully, the chance to experience these beautiful sounds in a performance will come sooner rather than later. Until then, online it is!
RABABA
At least 1,200 years old, the rebab (rababah) is another classic stringed instrument of the region. Unlike the oud, the rebab has a small, usually rounded body with one to three strings. It can be played with a bow or plucked. The instrument is quite rare these days, replaced in favor of instruments with more range such as the violin and kemenche.
However, Saudi Arabia is home to many rebab players, most notably Obeid bin Ayesh Al Rusheidi. He believes that the instrument has significant import in this generation because, as he told Arab News, “It is deeply connected to their heritage and thus, they feel the need to protect and develop it.�
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QANUN
The qanun is a flat instrument with 26 strings stretched horizontally across a wooden board and played by plucking the strings. Many musical historians have dated the qanun’s origins to Ancient Greece, or even earlier times between 3000 and 1600 BC. Like the other instruments in
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the list, the qanun has many regional variants, from more local peripheries in Turkey and Greece to the edges of the Islamic world in Indonesian gamelan music. In the Arab world, the qanun, with its unique melodramatic sound, is a staple in classical
Arabic music as well as more urban and dance ensembles. If you’re interested in contemporary qanun players, we suggest Mohammed Q and Abdulaziz Hassan. qanun.m7 abdulazizhassan
NAY
The nay is an ‘end-blown’ flute predominantly featured in Middle Eastern music. The nay is generally restricted to urban settings where it is the only wind instrument of Arab art music. Incredibly, the nay has been played continually for nearly 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest musical instruments still in use today. Yet despite its simplicity, this flute is one of the most difficult musical instruments to play. In many Sufi traditions (some dating back to the 11th century via the famous poet Rumi), the nay has been philosophically equated with the human body: both need the breadth of life to become active. According to these mystical beliefs, the sound of the nay is thought to express mans yearning for union with God. DESTINATION KSA 29
DINING
A TASTE OF HOME By Zahra Anwer
Saudi dishes from granny’s kitchen Saudi culinary culture consists of a welcoming variety of food that people eat throughout the month of Ramadan; with each area having something different to offer. Here are some of the specialities from around the Kingdom:
SALEEG TAIF
An Arabian version of risotto, Saleeg is a creamy rice dish cooked with broth and served with meat or chicken and duggus- a spicy tomato salsa. It makes a great iftar and is a bowl of comfort any time of the day. To add an extra flavor, the broth is served alongside for a tasty drink to sip on or pour on your rice; making it incredibly nourishing, comforting and delicious.
THAREED ALAHSA
Known for being a light, yet filling meal, thareed is one of the very popular dishes during Ramadan. Thareed is a healthy stew with balanced ingredients including meat, vegetables, and delectable Arabic spices served over ragag (thin crispy bread) that soaks up all the rich juices.This satisfying stew is made with lamb, chicken, or just vegetables. 30 MAY/JUNE 2020
AREEKAH
MAFROOKAH
KLEIJA
Made with a handful of nutritious ingredients, this dish comes together in a bowl and leaves you satisfied all evening. Areekah is a warm casserole baked from both white and brown flour, honey, and ghee. When the dough is smooth and ready for serving, it›s transferred into a bowl and a small well is created that allows a generous drizzle of ghee and honey to pool perfectly in the middle.
Mafrookah is a traditional dish of Tabuk made with saj bread (unleavened Arabic flatbread) by crumbling it with ghee, dates or honey.
A traditional stuffed biscuit, Kleija originates from the daterich province of Qassim. It’s made with a specific wooden mold to shape the dough into patterned disks.
ASIR
TABUK
Traditional Mafrooka is made by hand using only three ingredients. Also this sweet is healthiest and most delightful when the ghee is made at home. Mafrookah is enjoyed a lot in Ramadan as an indulgent iftar snack.
AL QASSIM
Originally stuffed with a smooth date paste, it›s also stuffed with aromatic nut-sugar filling such as walnut, cardamom and sugar or coconut and sugar. A meal on its own, it›s wholesome, filling and totally worth every bite! DESTINATION KSA 31
LAHOH JAZAN
COURTESY RODR_1997
Lahoh (also spelled lahouh) is a sourdough flatbread, slightly spongy in texture. It›s made by mixing wholewheat flour, yeast, salt and water and then allowing the batter to ferment for two to three days to develop the flavor. Eaten warm right off the griddle with butter, honey or yogurt, it’s also eaten with savory stews and soups.
KOBAYBA HAIL HAIL
Kubbayah Hail refers to the stuffed grape leaves that is a Ramadan favorite in Hail. It›s made with grape leaves that are stuffed with a herb-y rice mix, rolled and boiled until tender. These deliciously tender bites are served as an appetizer or a main course.
MASABEEB RIYADH
Masabeeb, popularly known as the Saudi pancakes are delightfully tasty. Made with hearty whole wheat flour, milk powder, yeast, drizzled with honey and not much else. Simple, wholesome, and satisfying. Masabeeb are little Saudi pancakes formed by pouring a yeast-based batter into a pan. Delightfully tasty with hearty ingredients like whole wheat flour, milk powder, drizzled with honey and not much else. They are particularly popular during Ramadan and other holidays and loved because of being simple, wholesome, and satisfying tiny snacks.
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MANTO AND YAGHMESH JEDDAH
This fluffy and soft textured goodness is a Hijazi version of dumplings. The wheat dough wrappers, with a silky mouthfeel are stuffed with a well balanced meat or vegetable filling and topped with hot sauce and spices. The Manto is steamed while the baked or pan fried version is called Yaghmesh; both shaped either round, crescent-shaped, or purse-shaped.
FUL AND TAMEEZ MAKKAH
Ful is a culinary ritual across the kingdom, but it›s eaten in Makkah more often during Ramadan. Known for being an Egyptian breakfast dish, the fava bean stew is prepared by mashing the beans and flavoring it with onions, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. coriander and tomato, the Ful is scooped up with freshly baked tameez (pita bread). It›s usually served as part of an elaborate iftar spread; a filling meal that’ll leave you satisfied.
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DINING
REPACKAGING
HERITAGE
The passion that sparks Lamees’s Naanie By Deena Dakhiel
34 MAY/JUNE 2020
convenience to those wanting to enjoy Madinah’s mint flavors. One of Lamees’ goals was to develop a product inspired by rich heritage. Lamees is from Madinah, meaning she grew up drinking tea with the very blends she is packaging. “Growing up we would wash the mint, separate it, or even mix them together. We would never drink tea on its own, we always drank it with some sort of herb infused into the drink.” This is the very essence Lamees wanted to present to the people purchasing her product. She wants people to authentically take part in Madinah’s heritage. The cherry on top of her product is the name. Naanie is widely used in Madinah to describe the many different types of mint that grow around the area like Al Doush and Al Habaq. When Lamees first started her business, she would prepare the blends at home with her family. “I was creating specific mixes for about eight to nine months until I got what I wanted.” She wanted to create brand new flavors that were not available in the market.
Madinah is known for its fertile soil allowing the many rich aromas of mint herbs to grow on orchards around the region. Lamees Madani, founder of Naanie, is making these fragrant flavors accessible to a modern and fast-paced society through her packaged tea blends.
Her blends are made from numerous fresh herbs, more specifically, local aromatic mints. The fragrant herbs do not have a long shelf life, and so many people who visit Madinah usually buy in bulk. This means that people need to manually dry the mint leaves for a longer shelf life or use it all up before it expires. Lamees thought of this and wanted to create a product that would combat the issue. She dries, purifies and packages her blends in order to increase
By using mint from Madinah, she already had that upper hand. “No one makes tea blends using the different mints of Madinah or the different aromatic herbs from the region. All these mints were available but no one has ever put them into tea bags because that’s not the way it has been done. This is a modern way of presenting the mint and herbs that well represents Madinah in a modern world.” naanie_tea DESTINATION KSA 35
Rise to the top with French Cream In pastry and other branches of the culinary arts, there is no denying that cream is an essential ingredient. As a cooking element, it adds an incredible depth of flavor. European dairy cream, especially French cream, enhances the flavor of all preparations. It has an unparalleled melt in the mouth, and its softness on the palate is uniquely smoothing and comforting. No matter the level of the cooking skills, anyone can incorporate French cream to a range of dishes, from savoury to sweet.
Nina MĂŠ taye r is a French Chef awarded twice as best pastry chef in 2016 and 2017. For her dessert, she put together a fruit-forward dish and whipped up a creamy grapefruit meringue, then completed the plate with vanilla tonka chantilly.
Creamy, tangy grapefruit meringue
ALMOND SOUFFLÉ MERINGUE 500g Egg whites
250g Almond powder
250g Confectioner’s sugar
500g Caster sugar
Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites into peaks with the caster sugar and add the sifted powders. Form pretty, smooth balls with the mixture and bake them on a baking sheet for 30 min at 160° C then dry them at 100° C. Let them cool then scratch them with a dremel.
GRAPEFRUIT AND VANILLA SORBET 630g Water
210g Sugar
1470g Grapefruit juice
108g Glucose spray
5 Vanilla pods
12g Stabilizer
Heat the water to 50° C. Add the mix of sugar, glucose spray, and stabilizer. Add the vanilla and bring to a boil. Let it cool, then mix with the grapefruit juice. Let this mixture rest for 12 hours then use an ice cream machine to create the sorbet.
GRAPEFRUIT JELLY 2100g Grapefruit juice / 200g Prepared gelatin / 3 Vanilla pods
Heat the grapefruit juice and mix in the gelatin. Spread onto a greased pan and let it set in the refrigerator for 2 hours before slicing.
TONKA VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM 5L Liquid cream
1 Tonka bean
1kg Mascarpone
3g Vanilla pod
210g Confectioner’s sugar
Grate the tonka bean and mix it with liquid cream. Let it infuse, cold, for 3 hours then strain. Combine with the sugar and mascarpone and whip it with the electric mixer.
CANDIED GRAPEFRUIT ZEST 5 Grapefruits / 500g Grapefruit juice / 500g Caster sugar
Remove the peel from the grapefruit making sure to discard all of the pith. Slice the zest into a thin julienne, blanch three times, then simmer in the syrup for around 15 min.
ASSEMBLY 30 pieces Grapefruit
Dried grapefruit zest to taste
200g Marzipan
Dried vanilla powders to taste
Use a cookie cutter to cut the grapefruit jelly into circles and place them in the center of the plate. Place a dab of marzipan on top. Stick on the meringue shell. Garnish with grapefruit sorbet. Arrange a few fresh grapefruit slices. Use a 12mm wide plain tip pastry bag to create a pretty swirl of tonka whipped cream. Decorate with dried, candied zests, fresh grapefruit segments, and dried vanilla powder...
The content of this advertorial represents the author’s point of view only and is the sole responsibility of the author. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made from the information contained herein.
DINING
THE LAND OF CREAM & PASTRY The gourmet side of Paris
When we were invited by the organizers of the Cream of Europe program in the Middle East to celebrate French cream and its unique place in pastry and culinary art, we knew they would have to bring us to Paris, famous for its delectable variety of desserts and pastries. We were not disappointed. Here are some of the places where we discovered firsthand the excellence and versatility of French cream, as prepared by the masters. If you’re ever in town, you know where to go!
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AFTERNOON-TEA AT RITZ PARIS Living up to its luxurious name, Ritz Paris, helmed by the icon Chef François Perret, is a jewel of high-end hospitality. The renowned chef skillfully recreates the classic French desserts of his childhood: marble cake, madeleines, and rice pudding, among many others. Location: 15 Place Vendôme, Paris, France francoisperretpatisserie // ritzparis
COCO RESTAURANT The two-story diner located in the magical location of Opéra Garnier is the playground of the French pastry world’s rising star Chef Kevin Lacote, who not only serves a menu of premium cuts and distinctive French dishes, but also offers dessert workshops to share his love for the art of pastry production. Location: Palais Garnier, 1 Place Jacques Rouché, Paris coco_palaisgarnier kevin_lacote
BO & MIE
A creative bakery that offers bread made with love (try the Viennoiseries!) and an array of tantalizing pastries. Try here the much-lauded pastry Kouignamann, which literally means butter cake. Location: 18 Rue de Turbigo, Paris boetmie
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PRINTEMPS DU GOÛT Take a break from your shopping at the French department store Printemps and dip into this food hall that has one of the most breathtaking views of Paris. Get your caffeine fix and pair it off with any one (or three) of Chef Christophe Michalak’s pastry and dessert creations for a complete retail therapy treatment. Location: 59 Rue de Caumartin, Paris, France christophe_michalak // Printempsdugout
WORKSHOP WITH CHEF PHILIPPE CONTICINI The famous Chef Philippe Conticini is known for not only his heavenly pastry creations made in the tradition of high French pastry-making, but also for his charisma and passion for poetry, which you get to witness as he shares his work process and presents his delicacies in these workshops. Philippe_conticini
LAITERIE DE LA CHAPELLE This artisanal cheese production factory manufactures and refines 100% Ile-de-France raw milk cheeses, and also offers fun, easy-to-follow classes that teach you how to properly whip butter and cream. Definitely the place to go to for a handson experience. Location: 72 Rue Philippe de Girard, Paris Web: laiterielachapelle.com laiterielachapelle
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TOUT UN FROMAGE A cheese grocery creamery off the beaten track owned by Ludovic Bisot, here the cheese piles up in artful displays. Fun fact: Bisot has lived in Riyadh and first met his wife here! Upon his return to France, he acquired a small dairy farm in Rambouillet and began his dream of becoming a cheesemaker, researching the ancient cheese-making process of Chablis and bringing it back to the market. Location: 87 Rue du Général de Gaulle, 78120 Rambouillet, France tout1fromage
BERGERIE NATIONALE And perhaps you want something a little different during your French cream and pastry tour in Paris. Here’s your chance to get a little adventurous: spend the day with grazing herds and a full equestrian center for beginner and experienced riders at the Bergerie Nationale. There’s also a host of workshops for everything, from how to milk cows and goats, to shearing sheep! Location: Parc du Château, Rambouillet, France bergerie_nationale
ELLE & VIRE LA MAISON DE LA CRÈME A creative hub dedicated to teaching, this maison welcomes both French and international professionals to learn from the expertise of executive pastry chef Nicolas Boussin, the Meilleur Ouvrier de France’s Best Pastry Craftsman of 2000. Location: 91 Rue Joseph Bertrand, 78220 Viroflay, France Web: elle-et-vire.com elleetvirepro nicolasboussin elleviresa Products are available in Saudi.
THE 7TH ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS Take a tour around some of Paris’s finest patisseries and chocolate shops on the 7th arrondissement of Paris with the neighborhood’s iconic Eiffel Tower in the background, and sample from a grand assortment of the rich pastries, cakes, and chocolates. Tastings are included in the price of the tour. DESTINATION KSA 41
WELLNESS
INTERMITTENT VS. RAMADAN FASTING By Dalia El Abd
All you need to know about the health benefits behind fasting
Many people have been riding the latest trend in the weightloss world by attempting to lose some weight through a diet called intermittent fasting. What many people don’t know is that the idea of this regime technique stems from observational research based on Ramadan practices. Find out what nutritionist and dietitian Ghina Kharsan has to say about the benefits and similarities regarding these different types of fasting. 42 MAY/JUNE 2020
Fasting is an ancient practice based mainly on religion, but more recently this practice has entered the medical world too for health reasons. The idea of intermittent fasting is practicing brief periods of fasting with no food or calorie intake and the rest of the day permitting unrestricted but healthy eating. It has helped many people achieve their weight loss goal. Other than religious and spiritual reasons, Ghina states that intermittent fasting has a bit more of a flexible approach as it does not require precise tracking of the fasting timings and less planning is required. The concept is eating for 8 hours then fasting for 16 hours, with the exception of water or a hot drink with zero calorie intake. If you fast starting 8 PM then you eat at 12 PM and if you fast at 9 PM you get to eat at 1 PM. Of course, Ramadan fasting means from Fajr prayer to Maghrib prayer with absolutely no food or drink. Although the mechanisms are a bit different, the health benefits of fasting are astounding, hence, the western world has adapted our Ramadan fasting method in their everyday life. Studies have proven that abstaining from eating for certain
periods benefits our health in many ways. “As your body repairs, damaged cells and gets rid of toxins through auto phagocytosis, the fasting mechanism provides the body with protection against many diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s as well as delays the process of aging. Fasting also reduces insulin levels in the blood, which helps to better control your blood sugar and eases the process of burning fats,” comments Ghina. Ghina further elaborated by saying, “fasting also improves many of the indicators that are considered risk factors for heart diseases such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and inflammatory factors. It was also found that it helps to control appetite, improve the metabolic rate in the body, and reduce the amount of food intake by time.” Ghina also emphasized that the idea to actually lose healthy weight in both techniques is to eat healthy, whole foods and lessen the intake of sugars, and eating lots of vegetables and fibers. The ideal time to start intermittent fasting is after the holy month of Ramadan, as your body is already well adapted to the concept and so committing to intermittent can be easier.
Here are nutritionists and dietitians across the Kingdom to help you with any health inquiries:
Ghina Kharsan
Mobile: +966-590062248 dietitian.ghina Jeddah
Massa Bitar
Email: info@massanutriclub.com Massa.nutriclub Jeddah
Hissa AlSudairy
Tel: +966-11-2454545 Dietitian_gcc Riyadh
Sara El Zeitounie
Email: sara@diet-watchers.com dietitian.sara Riyadh
Fadwa Al Absy
Mobile: +966-580302571 dietitian_fadwa Dammam DESTINATION KSA 43
KNOW YOUR KINGDOM
LEADERS OF
TOMORROW Nün Academy and the Next Generation of Leaders Nün Academy believes that each student is a unique individual whose academic, social and emotional development is of paramount importance. The Academy’s vision and mission is to provide a school culture that supports and nurtures students to reach their full potential within the context of their own their culture and heritage. The school’s educational philosophy centres on teaching a values-based, rigorous and academic international curriculum in tandem with a bilingual learning environment which promotes self-regulated and independent learning. Students develop a well-grounded understanding of their linguistic, religious and cultural heritage. The students at Nün Academy are the future leaders of the Kingdom, are part of the generation to fulfil the aims of Vision 2030; and our ambition for them is that they will lead their nation to take its place on the global stage . With that in mind, Nün Academy hosted an open discussion with students from Years 4 to 6 on how they are learning to take on their future roles. 44 MAY/JUNE 2020
LAILA LINJAWI
During this open discussion, the students highlighted that they were learning and practicing life-long skills that prepare them for leadership. One of the strategies the school uses to develop these skills is through our Positive Discipline programme. With the focus on character, values, personal and interpersonal skills development, students are being prepared to become future leaders who will lead positive change for all citizens of the country. In this endeavour, the school believes that the entire school community has an important role, students, parents, teachers and the administration. Salma Hafiz, year 6, shares, “We are learning ethics and values, and how to respect others as well as to help people in need. We are learning communication skills, and that all people are different and equals – it’s our school motto.”
PROMOTED CONTENT/ NÜN ACADEMY
SALMA HAFIZ
ZAID BAARMA
Ziad Baarma, year 4, adds, “Even if we are different and from different countries, we can still get along and take care of each other. Respecting others and learning how to deal with our differences is important to shape a better future.” Mohamed Basyouni, Year 4 as well as Yousef Bin Mahfouz shared their feelings about how much they have changed since joining Nün and finding that
teachers were more supportive to them in giving them strategies and support when they faced challenges. “I learned about self regulation, because sometimes when I get mad, I get out of control. And self regulation taught me to breathe in and out when I get mad or I cry to help me calm down.”
TAMARA ENANI
LULUH FAQIH
“We learn from our mistakes” added Yousef Al Tayeb Year 4. Through the school’s positive culture, all students learn that making mistakes is an opportunity for leaning and the students reflect on their experiences so that, next time, they are even better equipped intellectually, socially and emotionally to deal with challenging situations which are part of life. An integral component of the school’s culture and learning process is supporting the students to set goals and create concrete and creative strategies to achieve them.
LANA ABU LHAMAYEL
SALMA JAMJOOM
Nün Academy also prepares their students to never give up and motivates them to always overcome and triumph over their errors. “When you try, don’t give up. If you’re a leader, then you need to keep trying until you succeed.” Tamara Enani, year 4, said, “In my school, they always give you chances to try again.” At Nün Academy, it is our privilege to have students who are the generation of the future: we pride ourselves on our ambition to support these young people who will shape our country and the world, because with them, anything is possible. PANTONE 534 C
BADR AL ABBASI
YOUSOF BIN MAHFOUZ
MOHAMMED BASYONI
YOUSOF TAIYEB
Location: AZ Zahra District, Abdallah Bin Seedan, Jeddah 23522 Mob: +966-509939702 Tel: +966-12-6223056 nunacademy
PANTONE 4665 C
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STYLE
SPATIAL REASONS TO #STAYHOME The designers behind interiors you love By Dalia El Abd
Admit it, the quarantine has probably had you re-evaluating your l iving arrangement and sparked a dozen home improvement projects. As we spend more time indoors, we’re all inspired to reinvent our spaces to make more room or simply give it a new flair. Need an interior design consult? We’re bringing the masters of space to you: 46 MAY/JUNE 2020
RIS INTERIORS
by Rawan AlSahsah Located in Jeddah, Ris Interiors is an interior design studio and home furnishing retail shop that delivers quality and diversity to Jeddah’s end consumers with premier standards. Founder Rawan’s first steps to making use of all the space in a
home is to list all the functions needed for each space, and the measurements required in order to place everything strategically. “I then identify the main passages of the space for the circulation and flow of the house. But for smaller areas I combine functions by having multi-function spaces.” She also recommends we create as much storage space as possible to manage clutter.
Rawan Al Sahsah
“To make a house look more spacious, you can maximize the natural light in the area and have different sources of lighting in one space. Also, using curtains from the ceiling to the floor gives the illusion of a high ceiling. I recommend using bold stripes on the flooring to give the illusion of continuity, as well as large rugs. Don’t be afraid to use large statement pieces and make sure to display your artwork closer to the ceiling to trick the eye and expand the height of the room just a little.” Rawan adds that interior gardens can offer spaces of relaxation and tranquility. ”Black color is the new neutral; it brings the drama to your space and works really well with contemporary styles. It can be used on walls, metals, kitchen surfaces, toilet fixtures and furniture.” Bright colors usually make the house look more spacious and breathable, but the trick is to use a dark color on one wall, so they contrast and give the room an edgy look. Rawan also highlighted other 2020 trends: marbles, mirrors, architectural arcs, velvet and corduroy fabrics, canopy beds, earthy tones, ‘maximalism’ designs which are big, bold and bright colors/patterns, biophilia design, and matte finishes. Location: Unit No 5, 3388 Al Rawdah St., Jeddah Mob: +966-508644551 Web: www.ris.co risinteriors
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To make a house look more spacious, you can maximize the natural light in the area and have different sources of lighting in one space.
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Small areas lend themselves very well to bold colors, prints and textures, just as long as you mix in some neutrals so that you don’t overwhelm the room Eng. Mahmoud Ghunaim
A.D DESIGNER A.D Designer is a well-rounded design and architectural office located in Riyadh that designs commercial offices, homes, hospitals, and hotels. “Whenever I work with a small space, I like to go bold. Small areas lend themselves very well to bold colors, prints and textures, just as long as you mix in some neutrals so that you don’t overwhelm the room,” shares Eng. Mahmoud Ghunaim from A.D Designer. Having the right lighting also gives a small room a vast view. Mahmoud recommends taking advantage of vertical space in a house or office, as they are perfect for creating resourceful storage units that keep the house decluttered and fill unusable areas. Decorating your house with large and colorful rugs is another way to give a grand feel to any room. Mahmoud added, “It’s smart to look for multi-purpose and/or 48 MAY/JUNE 2020
Grid Design Office is an innovative design studio located in Jeddah that offers custom design solutions for every lifestyle. Their main concept is integrating beauty in a functional space. Jawahir Al Moarawi, CEO and Chief Designer of Grid Design Office says about their process: “We come up with a concept and a style then we look at the spaces that are neglected and can be used for display or storage. Then we project the design and style through them.”
folding furniture. It will save you both space and money.” We’ve all fallen under the same cluttering issues, and we have come to believe that cluttering is indeed inevitable. According to Mahmoud, there are some ways we can ‘keep’ our mess while maintaining a tidy home. Storage beds and mudroom benches, for instance, are great solutions to hide away some of our objects. Creative bath cabinets, storage ottomans and wall-hung TV cabinets are other examples of creative inventory solutions that A.D Designer recommends. As for Mahmoud’s top 2020 color choices, the following 6 paint colors can magnify your room and make it look bigger: stark white, soft black, light taupe, blush pink and dark navy. Add light colors with the darker options to balance it out. Location: King Abdullah Rd, Riyadh Tel: 920028838 Email: info@addesigner.com.sa addesignersa
In regards to acquiring a spacious look, Jawahir agrees that adding mirrors, greenery, and painting one strong wall color versus bright colors for the rest of the walls is a great way to convey
your home space. Hanging big wall art is always a good solution when asking for a spacious view. Jawahir’s top wall color picks for 2020 are white, green, blue and grey as they can never be outdated. “Adding a colored rug will also add a nice contrast, especially with reds, pinks and blues.” Location: Al Imam Malik, AR Rawdah Dist, Jeddah Tel: +966-12-2751673 Web: grid-ides.com griddesignoffice
We come up with a concept and a style then we look at the spaces that are neglected and can be used for display or storage. Then we project the design and style through them. Jawahir Al Moarawi
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GRID DESIGN OFFICE
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TEAKWOOD WORK STORE AND PIECES by Deema Al Jaafari
With Teakwood located in Khobar and Pieces Store in Riyadh, founder Deema Al Jaafari’s top design picks for 2020 caters to all different tastes. “Add a lot of nature in your home to make your space a breathable area. Plants and flowers are beautiful and very easy on the eyes. Create a lot of storage space so your house is always tidy and decluttered. When a house is messy, it eats up all the space.” The first solution to creating a breathable space is to declutter. As hard as this sounds, the first trick to decluttering is getting rid of unnecessary objects. If you haven’t used something for more than 3 months, it’s a goner.
Deema Al Jaafari
50 MAY/JUNE MARCH/APRIL 2020 2020
Pieces Location: Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Rd, Riyadh Mob: +966-500166215 Web: pieces-sa.com pieces_sa Teakwood Work Location: Ibn Sina, Al Khobar Mob: +966-50993399 teak.woodwork
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It’s all in the details of your home accessories and furniture – the ‘soul’ of your space.
A smart way to make your house look roomy is by using lots of mirrors. “They will reflect natural and artificial lighting and make the room look so much brighter. If your space is small, make sure you hang one large painting or wall art instead of small groups of paintings or frames.” She also recommends matching some furniture to the wall paint as it will make the house look a bit vaster.
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STYLE
HOT
COUTURE Tima Abid’s Spring Summer 2020 Collection at the fashion capital By Yasmine Mohamed
Tima Abid AL- Thagafi @Tima Abid
Fashion is like a flower, but it must first bloom in the heart to then grow into the mind 5:10 PM - June, 2013
Seven years after that tweet, Tima’s SS2020 haute couture collection debuted in full bloom for the first time during Paris Fashion Week. Inspired by Japanese fabrics with flowers and butterflies, a concerto of around 50 sophisticated dresses came fluttering about the runway, wowing spectators with their elegance and defiant flair.
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Tima Abid 54 MAY/JUNE 2020
The Jeddawi fashion designer and mother of five has been in business for around 16 years, dressing prominent Arab figures like members of the royal Saudi family, Syrian singer Assala Nasri and Yemeni star Balqees Fathi. The inaugural show in Paris was a pivotal career move, catapulting the business into the international scene. “The ultimate goal was an international platform in the vanguard of local haute couture, representing Saudi in the best way possible. This collection is very near and dear to my heart because with it, I have reached my goal and it marks the beginning of more beautiful things to come,� Tima shares.
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The show took place at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in an opulent, candle-lit ambience. Singer and friend of the designer Oumaima Taleb opened the show, serenading the first looks with a charismatic performance. Light, sheer, luxe fabrics of crepe and tulle embellished with embroidery, beads, and plumes dominate the looks. Couture for the confident, channeling one’s inner ferocious and driven persona with compelling certainty and appeal, is what this collection chants through wellorchestrated cinched boning and seductive transparencies.
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“Two dresses in particular are my personal favorites. Firstly, the black ballgown carpeted with butterflies crept up on me in my dreams. I woke up the next day to execute it, bringing it to life. Secondly, the wedding gown. It’s an embodiment of the inspiration behind this entire collection, with its kimono-like sleeves and Japanese prints embroidered with silk threads.”
If anything, this collection was the resultant fine weave of brilliant talent intertwined with exceptional savoir-faire. Tima proved to the world that she’s a force to be reckoned with. With steady strides toward clear goals, the international fashion scene is set to see more from this aspiring Saudi designer. Web: timaabid.com timaabid
Tima Abid walking down the runway with her husband.
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Influenced by Coco Chanel, Tima’s creativity is ignited by whatever plays on one’s heart strings and pleases the eye. From art to music and picturesque scenery, anything that resonates with her is a source of inspiration.
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STYLE
HONAYDA
THE HUMAN AND BRAND ‘Perseverance is key’– Honayda Serafi By Saeshanee Gough
Honayda Serafi is no stranger to the spotlight, with her eccentric designs having reached international recognition. The Saudi designer has been featured in Forbes Middle East ‘Conquering the Global Fashion Industry’. Having derived from a family of business-like minded people, Honayda began her own journey as an empowered entrepreneur. Being a huge advocate of fashion and business, Honayda implemented traits of her own personality into the brand creating a beautiful fusion between ‘Honayda the human and Honayda the brand’. The Jeddah based designer has continued to challenge the heights of fashion making sure that her purpose to empower women is apparent. Her initiatives involved launching a collection of lines such as “Driving Force” and “Evolution” both which celebrate women in their own unique way. Her creations have reached the likes of celebrities Priyanka Chopra and Lupita Nyong’o, giving the brand prestige the 58 MAY/JUNE 2020
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the businesswoman as through her quest for success came challenges. Honayda reflects back to her encounters. “I was definitely faced with a number of challenges. To start with, there was a lack of resources and know-how back when I debuted my collections. I had to travel and look for fabrics all by myself, without any kind of guidance. I made my mistakes and I learned alone along the process.” The Fashion world has always been a competitive industry to diverse into with relentless
rising competition but Honayda believes ‘perseverance is key’. Since gaining acceptance for her work, Honayda Serafi continues to use her platform to share her enthusiasm for the fashion industry in Saudi Arabia, adding “Prince Bader bin Farhan al Saud and HE Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez are doing wonderful work regarding the fashion industry, and I am sure more brands will see the light thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture.” Honayda Serafi recently dropped her latest empowering collection FW/20 ‘Divine from the desert’. Her Amazighi roots played a central role in the season’s inspiration, from the imperial accessories to the geometrical shapes. The enchanting colors captivate
the essence of the pure wilderness. The powerful collaboration of tones creates an elegant yet fierce presence in her designs. Inspired by the untouched nature in the Tunisian/Moroccan desert, the color orange emerges from the sand dunes whilst purple from the picturesque sky that was smoothly getting darker by the minute. If there is one inspiring thought to leave you with is that the Saudi designer has stayed true to her purpose as all the collections “translate the elegance and femininity, but also strength and independence.”
Web: honayda.com honaydaofficial
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credibility as every designer knows that this is a key pillar that defines a high-end brand.
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STYLE
SAUDI STREETWEAR The evolution of cultural expression through fashion By Omar Alhashani
Streetwear is synonymous with individuality. Emerging from the punk DIY scene, skate culture, and hiphop, the fashion sense has quickly morphed into an overarching umbrella term referring to clothes emerging not from a particular studio or designer, but urban settings and sensibilities.
Saudi Arabia is not exempt from this worldwide trend. Though our traditional clothing has reigned supreme in the public, our fondness for individualism is only getting stronger. While the culture of streetwear may have Western origins, the entire world has in one way or another jumped on the bandwagon, mainly because it is personal, subjective, exploratory, and experimental. Urban-wear in the Kingdom has a mixture of global sentiment and the aesthetics of the encompassing geography. Styling – and the accompanying photography – is intentionally crafted to suit the colors, textures, and even shapes of its surroundings. That’s step one. Next comes the local fashion industry, changing to meet these new demands by the people for trendy clothing that resonates with their worldview – an oftenforgotten element of fashion’s power and influence in society. With countless local Saudi brands emerging, the country has truly begun to shape its own style, drawing in international eyes and inspiring nations near and far with innovative stylish trends and look.
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byhayaabdullah
I’m very passionate about streetwear, the design theory is what captivates me rather than the trends. Haya
Expressing myself through street style is important to me and allows me to be myself fully.
__aits__
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Alanoud
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khalidx.0
Through streetwear I aim to combine a mixture of classic and vintage style. Khalid
62 MAY/JUNE 2020
My favorite part of streetstyle is gearing up for photoshoots with different photographers and finding new ways to express myself. Majed
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ma.jed.9
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My style is an expression of the role I play as one of the only females rapping in Saudi Arabia, of paving my own path in the urban hip hop scene, and of telling fearless tales in the face of change.� Yara
theycallmejara
64 MAY/JUNE 2020
zombiekhalid
Khalid
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I always aim to be creative by investing my time in art and fashion.
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STYLE
LOCAL SCENTIMENTS Top-selling perfumes by local perfumers
Perfumery is becoming a flourishing business nowadays. Local perfumers import essential oils, mix and match till the recipe is created, then send it to Saudi factories for bottling and packaging. Once they’ve received the oils and recipe, factories facilitate approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensuring safety of use. From whiffs of nostalgia to lingering aromas in memory, perfumes are timeless and personal. Here is a list of top selling local perfumes. 66 MAY/JUNE 2020
S4
Part of the S1 collection, this eau de parfum is a mix of oud, lavender, and saffron. The notes of oud are tamed within this blend and don’t present themselves straight off the bat. When you first spray it on, you can tell the predominance of saffron. Then, when the scent cools off over time, trails of lavender linger behind.
WHERE TO PURCHASE: PRICE: SR 400 JEDDAH Grey Collective RIYADH Stitch, Onze, Personage, Mosha Art s1_perfume
3AIN
PATCHOULI
PUFF
This newest edition to the collection appeals to the public due to its light nature. A mixture of mainly musk, bukhoor, and oud, it brings about floral accents and feels like a celebration of the end of winter and the breezy beginning of spring. The value for price is great too as it comes in a 75ml hefty container.
Sweet and spicy, this perfume is best appreciated when it’s left to settle. A combo of radiant leather, distinct cinnamon, and lasting patchouli, this scent is unique and paints a picture of fall in the forest. It comes in a 50 ml bottle and is an eau de parfum.
Puff is one of those soft, smooth scents that exudes freshness and cleanliness. It’s dreamy, powdery, and bestows a sense of childhood nostalgia. Perfect for after-shower use and casual daytime outings, Puff is an eau de parfum that comes in a 100 ml square reflective container.
WHERE TO PURCHASE: JEDDAH PRICE: SR 150 Ruf Concept Store, Makeen Space, Zmakan ab_.perfumes
WHERE TO PURCHASE: PRICE: SR 230 JEDDAH Grey Collective, Crate RIYADH Stitch Concept Store, Personage, Number Nine, Perfume Hall, We Cre8 thebaseperfumes
WHERE TO PURCHASE: PRICE: SR 300 JEDDAH Crate Web: crateksa.com
DESTINATION KSA 67
HEND NO.10 ROYAL MUSK CARDAMOM LEATHER Hend No. 10 was inspired by The silky smooth marriage of the predominant aroma that occupied wedding halls in the past. The notes that make up this perfume are that of cardamom (inspired by Arabic coffee), oud (worn commonly by guests), and sandalwood. Earthy and rustic, this fragrance is perfect for late-night occasions and would appeal more to an old soul. The eau de parfum comes in 65 ml bottles.
musk and pearls is the basis behind the creation of Musk El Lolo as a brand. Royal Musk, their signature perfume, is a mix of three different kinds of premium musk. Subtle but definitely present, this fragrance is attractive and quiet, just right for indulging in perfume without it being too overpowering. It comes in a 50 ml container with pearls dancing inside.
The successor to Cardamom Oud, another hit perfume of the Sash collection, Cardamom Leather became customers’ favorite and therefore the bestseller. Cool and fragrant leather notes caressed by a tad bit of cardamom makes this a citrusy scent good for daily use. It comes in 50 ml bottles and as a hair mist too.
WHERE TO PURCHASE:
WHERE TO PURCHASE:
WHERE TO PURCHASE:
PRICE: SR 269 JEDDAH Zmakan, Makeen Space, Naz Outlet Store, souq.com hendalgheethi
PRICE: SR 300 JEDDAH Grey Collective RIYADH Papillon muskellolo
PRICE: SR 290 JEDDAH Homegrown Market Space RIYADH Personage & Beau Wow The Zone Sash.creations
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AWESOME TWOSOME BUSINESS PERSUITS
Find out how these family units rock the business world A strong family relationship provides a building block for a home. Imagine what that can do in a business? A strong management team is something many businessmen and entrepreneurs try to instill within their companies, but having the trust between family members, which comes from their shared history and values, makes them work stronger as a unit. Check out how these family businesses thrive better together.
Left: Hala AL Maddah Right: Solafa Al Maddah
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Sisters Hala Almaddah and Solafa Almaddah co-founded Grey Collective Concept Store, located in Jeddah, to set a roof embracing all the creative concepts behind unique minds in one place. This concept store is built in a way to cater to all tastes and mindsets, so their main aim is to make their brand coherent to everyone’s liking. Solafa came across the idea three years ago, when all the small and mid-sized homeproduced businesses started booming on social media. She was longing for a store that didn’t sell all its items online, so that’s when she decided to launch her very own store. “As a consumer, I had trouble trusting the online source. What if it only looks good in the picture? What if the quality isn’t as good, and I have to go through the hassle of shipping it back? That’s when I decided to open a concept store that gives designers a chance to sell their diverse items in one location,” Solafa shared. Grey Collective does not deliver online so as to drive their customers to pick their desired selection by hand. After Solafa caught Hala’s interest with the idea, the sisters went on to make it happen, and one step at a time launched their store successfully. When
asked the meaning behind the store name, Hala said, “Grey is a color without a color. In other terms, it’s a neutral color that doesn’t express any emotion. Thus, it made this color a neutral platform for creative mindsets to define it the way they like. Each designer is trying to convey a story or set awareness for a cause by expressing it with their art. Grey Collective embraces the expressions of an individual or an entity in terms of art in all its different forms.” One of the challenges they faced together as sisters is their differing personality types. Although the co-founders are close in age and were raised together, they still have completely diverse identities. According to Hala, Solafa is more of a carefree person. She’s very outspoken and likes to take her time focusing on what is on her hands, without any rush. That is when her innovative side comes out. Hala, on the other hand, is more of a straightforward and practical character. However, that is the only way the sisters can complete each other. It’s by learning their differences and understanding each other that they were able to open Grey Collective and nourish as business partners and sisters. Email: info@greycollective.store Mob: +966-555029830 greycollective.store
PHOTO BY LINA MOHAMMED
Relation: Sisters Names: Hala & Solafa Al Maddah Business: Grey Collective Store
DESTINATION KSA 71
Relation: Spouses Names: Hasibah Alaskandarani & Mohammed Dossary Business: Jovia
Hasibah Alaskandarani and Mohammed Dossary, are linked together by marriage and entrepreneurship. The couple co-founded their business, Jovia, back in July 2018, the first licensed coworking space, business incubator and accelerator by Monshaat in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, in the city of Khobar. Jovia is about building and maintaining a strong community in a productive and fun environment. The couple chose this career path together after realizing their passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. “We understood the needs and challenges that entrepreneurs and startups face. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to help them by providing an energetic, inspirational, and fun environment to motivate them to have their first step in the entrepreneurship journey.” When asked about the challenges of working together, the couple mentioned decision-making. “We have different views and opinions. Nonetheless, we try avoiding any tension by dividing 72 MAY/JUNE 2020
responsibilities and taking the time to listen and understand each other’s points. After all, both of us are working towards the same goal.” As the couple mentioned, the secret to their success as a pair has been through organization and communication. They have three main priorities and reminders that keep them focused and on the right track. The first is assigning and delegating tasks based on each of their strengths and weaknesses. The second is remembering they are both passionate about the field and genuinely enjoy the work they do. The third is open communication and learning to separate their work from family. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” Hasibah and Mohammed referred to this quote because they both understand that without each other they would not succeed in this endeavor. They work well together and believe that each one has an important role to play in their space. “We are like salt and pepper.”
Web: jovia.sa jovia_coworking
PHOTO BY NATALIYA HRYNYAK
Left: Mohammed Dossary Right: Hasibah Alaskandarani DESTINATION KSA 73
Left: Noura Bouzo Right: Basma Bouzo
Relation: Sisters Names: Basma & Noura Bouzo Business: Oasis Magazine & Saudi Design Week
In 2007, the sisters’ mother Munira Al Ajlani came up with the idea of creating Oasis magazine, a publication that highlights the accomplishments of Saudi locals. “Her idea was not only to connect like-minded individuals, and celebrate their successes through this printed and online medium, but also to bridge the gap between the East and the West by distributing the magazine internationally,” the sisters indicated. After Noura and Basma were drawn to the idea and finally launched their magazine, the sisters wanted to expand on the notion and turn the project into a full-on publishing house geared towards creatives and entrepreneurs. They also wanted to create a platform for events that highlight the work of creatives. Noura explained the evolution of the business, where she shared, “Through Oasis Company, we started creating different events that supported artists and designers in all fields, and this led us to create and launch Saudi Design Week in 2014. Today, our business includes: Oasis Publishing House, Saudi Design Week, and Bouqu, which is an events, branding, and corporate gifts company, as well as House 74 MAY/JUNE 2020
of Misque, where we launch cultural products in partnership with artists and designers.” Despite the unity of their work together, Noura and Basma come from a completely different educational backgrounds. Basma comes from a purely scientific background, whereas Noura comes from a Fine Arts and Art History education. So what might seem like a challenge is actually a plus-side, because working together, they process things differently and teach each other more than they know. Basma elaborated further on their work, “Other than our company, we also create art installations in collaboration with one another. Our work The Water Machine represented Saudi Arabia at the inaugural London Design Biennale. When collaborating on artworks, Noura forms the sketch then I build on that by thinking of the technical aspect, then we bounce ideas off of each other until we have a strong art piece.” The key pillar to their success goes back to their constant appreciation for each other’s opinions and perspectives. “Our goal is always to support local creatives and create a strong company that is about giving back to the community and creating a maker culture,” the sisters said. Email: info@saudidesignweek.com Web: houseofmisque.com oasismagazine saudidesignweek
DESTINATION KSA 75
PHOTO BY MAYA ANWAR
Relation: Cousins Names: Nawaf Droubi & Alaa Husseini Business: UCCL (United Constructors Contracting Co.)
Nawaf and Alaa are connected by blood and business. The cousins are part of a construction empire founded by Nawaf’s father Tarek Droubi and uncle, Samer Droubi during the late 80’s in Jeddah. It’s responsible for developments such as Vox Cinemas and Rovan Tower. Nawaf walked us through how he became a main pillar of his family’s legacy. “Growing up, watching my dad at work, and how he was his own boss, and even though it was very stressful at times, with lots of responsibilities, it felt as if he was free from the typical office job. That inspired me to be the same, which is why I decided to be a civil engineer, and then later join the family business. Today, the company is run by the founders, as well as my older brother Ziad, myself, and my cousin Alaa.” Alaa, however, joined later. After he graduated from University in 2014, he joined Saudi Binladin Group for a while. The switch to family business wasn’t as easy as he had anticipated. Alaa commented, “I had imagined that working with family would be easier and more comfortable, only to later find out that it was probably one of the toughest jobs. I remember when first starting, it was extremely confusing having to be professional and formal with a family member who you’ve 76 MAY/JUNE 2020
been extremely comfortable and informal with your whole life.” Nawaf and Alaa agreed that one of the mutual challenges they face at UCCL is the generation gap. While it’s natural among businesses that are passed on through generations, Nawaf and Alaa shared another angle to their struggle. Nawaf said, “While the older generation have the expertise and wisdom, the young generation are always trying to challenge practices in place, and the toughest part is conveying the mindset of each generation to come to terms between the two.” Alaa then added, “We’re young and enthusiastic and we think we’re always right, opposing opinions from the old guard sometimes seem like we are being overshadowed or unheard. Later, you come to learn that those decisions they made out of years of experience were on point, so you learn to listen more and sometimes let experience lead.” The cousins also mentioned that another challenge they faced and had to work on is the family dynamic that occurs. It certainly takes time to disconnect their personal lives from their professional relationships, especially that the cousins live with their parents so it’s difficult to find their alone time and carefully separate relationships. Alaa explained, “Our family is extremely close and we live together and are very much involved in each other’s lives, so the possibility of falling
into groupthink is higher than average. You always need to keep an open mind and try not to fall into what could result in poor decisions.” The secret ingredient to this family’s success is definitely communication. They’ve learned to speak their opinions and never hold anything back as a team. Nawaf commented by saying, “The reason we are successfully operational in times where many companies like us have already shut down is that we also respect hierarchy, and understand that not everything you want will happen. We must all respect the final decision, whether we agree or not, and acknowledge that we’re bound to make mistakes, as a group. No company is perfect, everyone has their own problems, and we are no different. But at the end of the day, we understand that we all have a common goal and commitment.” “I was once told by someone that a table with two legs won’t stand, a table with four legs could wobble if its legs are uneven, but a table with three legs will always be stable no matter what. I find it a blessing that I work with my two cousins (and uncles), and I feel like we balance each other a way or another. Each one of us is good at something that completes the other, you know, checks and balances,” Alaa added. Email: info@uccle-sa.com Tel: +966-12-6910716 Web: uccl-sa.com uccl_sa
PHOTO BY LINA MOHAMMED
Left: Nawaf Droubi Right: Alaa Husseini
DESTINATION KSA 77
From Left to Right: Haneen, Tarek, Talal, Ibrahim, & Farah Naaman 78 MAY/JUNE MARCH/APRIL 2020 2020
With a background in finance, Tarek Naaman, came back from his studies abroad and observed the Saudi market for a while. Brunch being the family’s favorite meal, he saw an investment in opening up a cafe. Down the road, he needed assistance with interior design, menu curation, and management. He believed there would be no better crew to bring on board than his own brothers and sisters. They came to call their little place on Ahmed Al Attas street, Siblings Brunch and Coffee. The name taking after the owners’ blood relationship lays emphasis on culturally celebrated and revered family ties. The place provides a cozy setting, encouraging Jeddawis to mend and strengthen bonds with relatives and friends alike. This idea behind the brand’s persona received public laudation, and the cafe has become a fun, new casual hangout. Tarek and his brother Ibrahim handled management and overall
project supervision. The sisters Farah and Haneen collaborated on interior design. Talal, the youngest of the bunch and a foodie, worked with Haneen, the healthy sibling, on deciding what goes on the menu. “The best thing about working with family is that we’re all equally invested in this project,” Tarek clarified. “It’s also great that the business is the result of our individual strengths combined, achieving a wellrounded top-notch experience. Getting compliments on our work as a family too is very rewarding. The whole journey brought us closer than ever and brought us joy throughout,” added Farah. Like any business, conflicts arise. The way this unit deals with it? “Assigning clear tasks from the very beginning, and holding everyone accountable for their actions,” Tarek explained. At the end of the day, the mutual respect and loyalty they hold for each other is what cements holes and paved the way to their shared goal.
Location: Ahmed Al Attas st., Az Zahra Dist., Jeddah siblings.sa
PHOTO BY LINA MOHAMMED
Relation: Siblings Names: Tarek, Ibrahim, Farah, Haneen, and Talal Naaman Business: Siblings Brunch & Coffee
DESTINATION KSA 79
BUSINESS PERSUITS
BRAVE NEW SAUDI
RAKAN AL EIDI Turning a dream into reality By Saeshanee Gough
Rakan Al Eidi, whose first name is Arabic for ‘knight’, lived up to his name by fighting his own battles, charging through the obstacles that fell his way, embracing entrepreneurship, and leading a modest narrative into his voyage of success.
He launched Chaizer Station, an app that locates the nearest charging station to power gadgets, in 2019 – a seven-year-old dream that he turned into reality. How the app works: by scanning the PR code and adding your payment details, a located power bank will pop up at your nearest chosen Chaizer station location. Unlike most fixed charging stations, it facilitates the option to give customers a portable product, allowing them to roam freely with the charger and their device.
PHOTOS BY MAYA ANWER
The idea was to develop a product that enhanced quality of life and help people stay connected. After years of frustration with the power banks he had accumulated, Rakan decided to create a resourceful solution.
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“Over the years during my time working as an entrepreneur, I realized tech start-ups are one of the great ways to change something. If you see something you don’t like, build an app or a start-up to fix it,” he says. Chaizer became the first company in the Middle East to provide this solution. With over 40 locations in Riyadh, the startup has accumulated over 2,000 rentals in just under a few months.
DESTINATION KSA 81
PHOTOS BY MAYA ANWER 82 MAY/JUNE MAY/JUNE2020 2020
CHANGING GEARS Rakan’s career started with a job at a well-respected company, soon after earning his BA in Industrial Systems Engineering at King Fahd University in Saudi Arabia. Being in a well-paid position with lots of incentives meant he was comfortable enough to support his family. The responsibilities of being a husband and a father did not go disregarded, as for five years, Rakan continued to work a job he no longer had passion in. “My second day at the job, I realized I was not an engineer. Sometimes you go to college, you study without realizing what you’re going to be. My biggest concern was getting out of my comfort zone and putting food on the table.” After 18 Months in the desert, two years in an oil refinery, and many years spent in corporate, he decided to leave a position sought after by many and chase his own dream of running a business. In early 2009, Rakan took the leap with an MBA majoring in Entrepreneurship and HRM from the University of Queensland in Australia. Growing up and experiencing the working-class, Rakan’s gratitude towards the hard work his parents had sacrificed for him meant he was also
determined more than ever to leave behind a legacy. After returning to the Kingdom refreshed in 2012, Rakan started working at a company called Endeavour, helping mediumsized businesses grow into large ones. Four yearslater, Rakan felt he accomplished all he could. and left the company. Shortly after, he began juggling two jobs: as the founder of Cown Space, a co-working space, and Chaizer Station. Rakan ended up dropping Chaizer Station to focus on Cown Space, which he believed would guarantee him a bigger profit. But things did not go smoothly. “I lost around a million riyals; the product was a failure.” Rakan found himself going back to the drawing board and continuing with Chaizer Station, spending two years in its development, research, and testing before finally launching. He has not looked back since, and has used the wisdom he learned from his journey to inform his decisions now. “I thought: when I turn 60 and I look back on my life, what would I tell my grandkids? Every decision I make, I ask myself if I am going to regret not doing it when I turn 60. If the answer is yes, then I do it.”
If you have an idea, pursue it. Launch your business. There is no time to perfect it first – you can perfect it as you go. Rakan Al Eidi
DESTINATION KSA 83
BUSINESS PERSUITS
ECO INITIATIVES Voting for a better Earth
With climate change rapidly affecting our day-to-day lives, companies – including small businesses and non-profit organizations – have been taking drastic measures to reform their means of production and take steps to keep the global crisis from growing. Here are some new-age initiatives taking a stand against climate change through their products and services.
GREEN EARTH LAUNDRY Sustainable laundry Green Earth Laundry developed three years ago when founder, Ridwan Akhter, was tired of often receiving his laundry damaged. The idea to start his own laundry store came to him when he was in Europe and stumbled upon an eco-friendly laundry concept. He was fascinated by their sustainable operation and their use of biodegradable detergents, which actually helped maintain the quality of their items. Soon enough, Ridwan signed a contract to train with them for about a year and a half in order to launch Green Earth Laundry in Jeddah. “We trained operational managers in different sections to equip them for the business. The training took place for a year and a half,” Ridwan stated. He then added that they had finally started their operations, where they wash clothes in sustainable chemicals that don’t cause allergies or skin sensitivities.
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“We also know how to differentiate and handle the more expensive garments with better care through our lux-service.” This business is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. Other than using biodegradable chemicals, they also wash and dry their clothes at low temperatures (3040 degrees), which is the ideal temperature to use on garments. Green Earth has many unique attributes such as recycling their hangers, where they give their customers who do so a discount to help promote the idea. They also have an in-house tailor as an added service for their customers. Ridwan’s advice for people aspiring to enter the sustainable business field is that “you should always consider your carbon impact when providing a good or service.” Location: Arid Ibn Mahshi Rd., Al Zahra Dist., Jeddah. greeneartchlux
SOURCED PHOTO DESTINATION KSA 85
COYARD Community and guilt-free coffee Ghanem Binyousef, founder of Coyard coffee shop in Riyadh, is looking to change the game for the Kingdom’s caffeine addicts by taking an all-time Saudi favorite chill spot and turning it into an eco-friendly hub. Coyard does not provide plastic straws or bottled waters – there is a water fountain with clean glasses for drinking – and it sells 100% organic tote bags and high-quality, reusable, to-go coffee cups. With all the precautions Ghanem is taking towards running a 86 MAY/JUNE2020
sustainable business, he is still having trouble when it comes to replacing single-use plastic cups. “We are researching cost effective ways to replace them. This will be the coffee shop’s next step; we are serious about this initiative.” Coyard has started multiple campaigns; the most famous one was Make A Difference, which encourages customers to bring their own reusable to-go cups by discounting their drinks. “We love educating people through our campaigns by getting them
involved and excited about the process,” Ghanem says. Ghanem hopes to see many more conscious businesses and advises everyone to do their research before starting, as there are plenty of resources available to run a sustainable business. Location: King Abdul Aziz Branch Rd., King Abdul Aziz Dist., Riyadh coyardco
AMUSED Upcycling luxury closets NSara and Mansoor are a SaudiBritish couple introducing an improved method to buying luxury items in the Kingdom. The couple started Amused, an Instagram retail buy-and-sell page with valuable luxury pieces, from YSL shoes to Hermès handbags. The idea began when Sara started selling her items online and realized that there is a market for selling second hand items in Saudi. “We found that Saudi Arabia has the second highest closet value in the world after Italy,” Sara says, noting that pieces coming from people in the Kingdom are often in great condition. “However, the fashion industry is also the world’s second highest contributor towards environmental pollution, and some of the best-known fashion labels burn past season merchandise so they are not discounted and resold.” This is the main reason the couple strives to purchase good quality items and find them a new home, where they won’t contribute to the growing landfills.
Amused saves your favorite pieces from ending up in landfils.
With Amused, people can buy and sell their luxury items with ultimate transparency. “We are selective about our inventory, taking time to authenticate every item with layers of verification offered for our customers’ protection.”
SOURCED PHOTO
amusedksa
DESTINATION KSA 87
HEJAZ PLOGGERS Running for a better Earth Hejaz Ploggers started in June 2018 when founder Taha Boksmati was looking for a new eco-initiative to start in Saudi. Taha was part of a running group and loved staying active. Around the same time, he came across plogging – a mass ‘cleanup sport’ where volunteers go for a run around a designated area picking up trash to send to recycling streams in the city. It is an eco-friendly and healthy activity that was founded in Sweden. Not only do the Hejaz Ploggers visit neighborhoods in Jeddah, they also team up with local hiking groups to leave no trace when visiting popular hiking locations like Eagle Rock and Moon Mountain. The ploggers also collaborated with #breakfreefromplastic to get 12 different schools, colleges, and universities to raise awareness on plastic consumption and its dangers to the marine environment.
SOURCED PHOTO
They host ‘plogging marathons’, too, encouraging participants to find recycled materials through fun activities. Taha stresses on the importance of reusing to build better environmental habits, stating that, “there is a lot of uncertainty attached with recycling nowadays because of the amount of energy lost during the process.”
Keep the earth wealthy while keeping your body healthy.
Taha hopes to keep the same momentum running and is plans to expand and open up a team in Riyadh soon. hejazploggers
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Avoid keeping plastic afloat, get yourself a tote and keep the e arth clean with reusable products.
NAWAH Awareness platform turned online retailer
She decided to start distributing reusable products on the
same platform, such as bamboo products and washable cotton pads that can easily be delivered to people’s houses. She wanted to encourage people to get their hands on affordable eco-friendly products. “I wanted the price to be as low as possible, so I’m selling it at the same price I purchase the products. My platform is non-profit – the only thing I’m gaining is that people are finally using sustainable products.”
Nouf also created her own product – reusable tote bags with interesting local designs. A popular one has an Arabic recipe for Shakshuka printed on the bag. “Ever since starting this business, I realized how much people want to be sustainable and how much they are actually excited for these products.” nawah.sa
SOURCED PHOTO
Nouf Bannan started an online eco-awareness Instagram page where she discusses the importance of sustainability, recycling, and reusing, as well as tips on how to lead an efficiently green lifestyle. She would always recommend different reusable products people can buy, and realized that many don’t know how or where to shop for such items.
DESTINATION KSA 89
COUNTRY OF
SAUDI ARABIA CROWN PRINCE
KING OF STATE
Salman Bin Abdulaziz
POPULATION
CAPITAL CITY
AREA
POPULATION GROWTH
HOLY CITIES
TIME ZONE
NUMBER OF REGIONS
LARGEST REGION
LARGEST CITY
33,650,144
Riyadh
2.52% 13
Mohammed Bin Salman
FACTS & FIGURES
2,149,690 km²
Makkah & Madinah
GMT +3
Sharqiya, 4.1 million people
Riyadh, 7.3 million people
PHONE CODES
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
+966
King Khaled International Airport
COUNTRY CODE CITY CODES
RIYADH
AL HOFUF
JEDDAH
YANBU
BURAIDAH
Riyadh
011
Jeddah & Makkah
012
King Abdulaziz International Airport
Khobar, Jubail Dammam & Dhahran
013
DAMMAM
Madinah & Yanbu
014
MADINAH
Abha & Najran
017
King Fahd International Airport
Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz International Airport
CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
BUSINESS + BANKING HOURS 8/9 a.m. - 4/5 p.m. (Sun - Thur)
1.00 USD 1.00 Euro 1.00 British Pound 1.00 Indian Rupee 1.00 Philippine Peso
WEEKEND Friday – Saturday SHOPPING HOURS 10 a.m – 1 p.m. 5 – 11 p.m.
INFORMATION /MAINTENANCE
90 MAY/JUNE2020
Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz International Airport
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport
BUSINESS HOURS
Tourism Call Center STC Inquiry information Speaking Clock Mobily STC ZAIN
Al-Ahsa International Airport
930 905 1222 1100 900 959
EMERGENCY
Ambulance General Emergency NAJM (Car Accidents) 920000560
997 911
SR 3.75 SR 4.39 SR 4.82 SR 0.06 SR 0.10
IMPORTANT DATES
2020
September 23
May 23
NATIONAL DAY
EID AL FITR
RAMADAN
EID AL ADHA
April 23
July 25
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