Winners of 12th Makkah Award for Excellence honored : June 09th, 2021

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) won the award for its work during the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing digital support and assistance to the authorities managing the crisis, state news agency SPA reported. 

The launch of the “Tawakkalna” and “Tabaud” applications — released three weeks after development — contributed significantly to helping the relevant authorities combat the epidemic, by providing services necessary for citizens, residents and visitors.

The recipients of the 12th Makkah Award for Excellence were honored by the region’s governor, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, during a ceremony on Wednesday June 09th, at the Jeddah International Exhibition & Convention Center.

source/content : arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Zuhair Murad – Fashion Designer, International Arab Label

Zuhair Murad. Couture, Ready-to-Wear, Bridal and Accessories.

The House of Zuhair Murad – designs, manufactures, distributes and retails coveted high fashion clothing. The brand is present in over 100 points of sales spread over the globe.

Inception and growth of boutiques:

Lebanon:

  • 1997 – First Atelier opened in Beirut
  • 2006 – First Boutique in Downtown Beirut
  • 2010 – Relocated Corporate Office and Design Studio, Beirut
  • 2013- Inaugrates Bridal Boutique, Beirut

International:

  • 2001 – First Parisian ‘Maison de Couture’ in Paris
  • 2016 – First store within a store, Kuwait
  • 2017 – Shop in a shop, Vakko-Zorlu Center, Istanbul
  • 2018- First Boutique in UAE, Fashion Avenue, Dubai Mall

Launches:

  • 2001 – First Couture collection present in Haute Couture Week in Paris
  • 2005 – First Ready-to-Wear (RTW) evening collection
  • 2011 – Launches RTW Bridal collection

Honours:

  • 2012 – Elected as Guest Member on the Supervisory Board of the ‘French Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode’

www.zuhairmurad.com

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pix: www.zuhairmurad.com

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LEBANON

Ahmed Helmy Appointed by UNICEF as Regional Ambassador for Middle East & North Africa (MENA) : June 06th, 2021

UNICEF chose Egyptian megastar Ahmed Helmy to serve as Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa.

“I am truly excited about this new role, I am delighted to continue to work with UNICEF to advocate for children’s rights across the region” said Helmy during the ceremony tailor made to announce his appointment as regional ambassador which was held through online video on June 6.

In 2017 Helmy was chosen to serve as UNICEF Ambassador in Egypt and has participated in multiple events to advocate for child protection and empowerment.

Helmy has previously cooperated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to promote for the Food for Education project.

Additionally, Helmy collaborated with UNICEF in the #FightUnfair social media campaign launched in December 2015 to shed the light on the challenges facing children and young adults in Egypt. 

Both Helmy and his wife Zaki were appointed as UNICEF Egypt Ambassadors; both were featured in two short videos promoting for ending violent disciplinary practices. 

source/content: egypttoday.com

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pix: egypttoday.com / File: Ahmed Helmy.

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EGYPT

Rasmala Group Acquires TESCO SUPERMARKET in Manchester, U.K. : June 01st, 2021

  • Rasmala acquires Tesco supermarket asset for GBP28.6m (US$40m)
  • Acquisition part of GBP1 billion (US$1.4 billion) UK investment programme
  • Focus on logistics, living strategies, healthcare and life sciences.

The Rasmala Group announced the acquisition of a TESCO Superstore (“Asset”) located in Hattersley, Manchester for GBP 28.6m (US$40m).

Developed in 2012, the Asset comprises a modern 100,365 sq ft net sales area supermarket with a dedicated customer car park and a petrol station.

The Asset is being acquired by the Rasmala Long Income Fund with an unexpired lease term of 15.8 years and will be financed via a GBP 17.1m Sharia-compliant debt facility provided by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.

The Rasmala Group has invested over GBP 530m ($750m) in UK real estate, private equity, financial services and tech, in partnership with Gulf investors with plans to invest a further GBP1 billion.

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pix: rasmala.com

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UNITED ARAB EMIRTATES / MANCHESTER, U.K.

Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) Wins Top Awards in MENA region for Innovation : 2021

The Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) has won two gold awards at the Middle East and North Africa Stevie Awards, which recognize innovation in the region’s business sector.

  • The First gold award for innovation in business information or application websites, for developing the Tamkeen app to apply for and follow up on loans.
  • The 2nd gold award was for a mobile app for SIDF clients.

Winners of the gold, silver and bronze awards are determined based on average marks by 60 global professional figures through six juries.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Oman’s Dr. Amal Bint Saif Wins Sasakawa Health Prize 2021 : May 2021

Dr. Amal bint Saif al-Maani, Director of Department of Infection Prevention, Ministry of Health.

Dr. Amal Bint Saif received the prestigious Sasakawa Health Prize 2021, awarded by the World Health Organization for boosting awareness of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of Hand Hygiene.

Ministry of Health said: “The Executive Council of the World Health Organisation announced the winning of Dr. Amal Bint Saif, a consultant in infectious diseases for children and infection control and director of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control of the General Directorate for Disease Control and Control at the Ministry of Health.

“To help combat antimicrobial resistance, Dr Al Maani engaged in the national project “Be Role Model for Hand Hygiene” as part of her advocacy work for HandHygiene in the community and health care settings in Oman,” WHO added

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pix: arabiandaily.com

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OMAN

Zeena Zaki – Haute couture Fashion Designer

Zeena Zaki. Haute couture Fashion Designer. Entrepreneur. Own label ‘Julea Domani’.

Launched her first fashion atelier in Dubai, UAE in 2003. Zaki launched her first collection at the Dubai World Trade Center in 2006.

Zeena Zaki’s fashion house operates under the label “Julea Domani”

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Iraqi parents. Currently Dubai, UAE based.

Awards:

  • 2009 Best Female Designer for Pret a Porter Award at Dubai Fashion Week

www.zeenazaki.com

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pix: zeenazaki.com

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DANISH / IRAQI-DANISH

Oldest Human Settlement in Arabian Peninsula – Shuweihtia Village, Saudi Arabia

Archaeological teams discovered 16 settlements, which contained around 2,000 stone tools, such as knives, hammers, arrowheads along with other polyhedral and spherical tools

Recent excavations have revealed that Shuweihtia Village in Jouf is the oldest human settlement in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back 1.3 million years.


Located 45 kilometers north of Sakaka city, the administrative capital of Jouf, Shuweihtia extends to Wadi Wasseh in the north of the village.


The village goes back to the Paleolithic era in the Old Stone Age.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: Photo/SPA / arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

World’s Largest Composite Production Superyacht ‘Majesty 175’ Launched at World Premiere, Dubai Harbour , UAE : May 2021

H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, today unveiled the Majesty 175, the world’s largest composite production superyacht, at its world premiere at Dubai Harbour.

Pushing the boundaries in superyacht production through its lightweight material that enables effortless cruising in low-draft waters, the Majesty 175, fully manufactured in the UAE, is the flagship superyacht by Gulf Craft, one of the world’s premier shipbuilders

Manufactured at Gulf Craft’s integrated in-house production facility in the UAE, the Majesty 175 successfully completed a series of sea trials before its global premiere. The yacht will soon venture on voyages across the world, taking the UAE flag to global yacht events, marinas and exotic destinations, placing the country prominently on the world yachting map.

Built to the specifications outlined by the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for yachts over 500 gross tonnage (GT), the 55-metre long superyacht with a beam of 9.6 metres has a gross tonnage of 780. It has the ability to effortlessly cruise low-draft areas, drawing just 2.05 metres of water, as it was built using advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre and vinyl ester. This enables close beach access, a key consideration for many marine lifestyle enthusiasts.

content/source: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Saudi Girl Ritaj Al-Hazmi, 12, World’s Youngest Novel Series Author by Guinness : May 2021

A young girl from Saudi Arabia has broken the Guinness World Record to become the globe’s youngest writer of a novel series.

Ritaj Alhazmi, 12, has published a series of three English-language novels, two of which came out before her last birthday.

She has been awarded for her Treasure of the Lost Sea series, which includes the novels Treasure of the Lost SeaPortal of the Hidden World and Beyond the Future World.

In the third book, she explored the genre of science-fiction. “I introduce new creatures and robots. I also include travelling through worlds,’ she explains.

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Ritaj Alhazmi has become the world’s youngest book series author after she published three books before her teen years. Courtesy Ritaj Alhazmi / pix: thenationalnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA