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‘Destined to Play’: FIFA+ documentary tells journey of Saudi women’s national team


The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Friday the premiere of ‘Destined to Film,’ a FIFA+ documentary that showcases the extraordinary journey of the Saudi Arabian women’s national football team.

The 45-minute documentary provides a never-seen-before look into the establishment and growth of the senior women’s national football team.

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‘Destined to Play’ allows viewers to see the rapidly evolving world of the women’s game in Saudi Arabia by coming along with the players, technical staff, and all those involved in the squad during four matches.

Women’s football in Saudi Arabia has seen unimaginable growth and is arguably one of the most exciting stories in world football today.

Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 are ranked 171st in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, but did you know the women's national team was only formed in 2021?
The next challenge? Qualify for the @FIFAWWC 🏆

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 3, 2023

SAFF’s dedicated Women’s Football Department has taken massive strides across every aspect of the game in recent years.

Not only was a senior, U-17 and a futsal national team established but since 2019, a Premier League and First Division have both been launched.

A Schools League featuring 48,000 girls and 3,600 participating schools was also introduced.

Last year alone, SAFF saw an 86 percent increase in registered female players.

Saudi National Women's Team. (Supplied)

Saudi National Women's Team. (Supplied)

Following the immense success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, ‘Destined to Play’ builds on the popularity of the ‘All Roads Lead Down Under’ FIFA+ original documentary, which provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrayal of the journey undertaken by over 170 women’s teams to qualify for the tournament.

The Saudi Arabian women’s national team carries similar dreams of one day reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It has already made impressive progress since its establishment in 2021 in its journey of doing so.

After competing in nine matches, including winning a hosted friendly tournament, the team made history by entering the official FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time earlier this year.

Saudi National Women's Team. (Supplied)

Saudi National Women's Team. (Supplied)

“This special and inspiring film shares our journey, passion and unwavering love for football through very powerful stories. I’m certain that ‘Destined to Play’ will surprise and unite a lot of fans around the world,” Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said.

“Today, young girls across Saudi Arabia are paving their way of following their dream of representing their country, and this documentary will only help them realise its possibility even more,” Bahaian added.

Viewers will also hear first-hand from the players who made their dreams a reality, including 28-year-old captain Bayan Sadagah, 26-year-old goalkeeper Sarah Khalid and 22-year-old midfielder Layan Jouhari.

Inspired by a football-loving family that included an uncle who professionally played for her same club – Al Ittihad – Jouhari said: “All men, in general, in the family dreamt of playing for Saudi Arabia.”

“When they saw their little girl playing in the national team, I remember my brother telling me, ‘You’re not just living your dream, you’re living our dream’. That moment gave me goosebumps that really hit hard; that was such a crazy moment – it’s bigger than just you,” the midfielder said.

“Our team’s journey since 2021 has been nothing short of incredible. It brings us great joy to know that, through this documentary, the football world can further recognise the progress of our game. It is an exciting story that will grip audiences and truly reveal the passion everyone in our country has for football. We know we still have a long road ahead towards achieving our goals, and we invite the world to join us on our journey towards creating new opportunities for the women’s game,” Supervisor of SAFF’s Women’s Football Department Aalia Al Rasheed said.

‘Destined to Play’ is available to watch on Fifa+’s website.

Read more:

Women’s football in Saudi Arabia ‘breaking records,’ says first female VP of SAFF

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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