In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, flower shops and restaurants in Saudi Arabia are luring in couples and singles alike with beautifully assorted bouquets and tailored menus to mark the occasion.
But as the Kingdom continues to enact reforms to improve the quality of life across the country, citizens and residents have been publicly embracing the celebration more and more each year.
Women shop at a florist selling products for Valentine's Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 13, 2021. (File photo: Reuters)
“My wife and I have been married for ten years. We used to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home and would buy each other small gifts a week in advance. I would order flowers, which were doubled in price by the way, days before,” Yousef Moussa told Al Arabiya English.
“This year, we plan to enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant together. It’s nice to publicly show our love,” he added. Valentine’s Day specials in Saudi Arabia
In Riyadh, the fine-dining Greek restaurant Meraki is offering couples a “romantic dinner experience inspired by Penelope and Odysseus’ love story.”
Meanwhile, world-renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu in Jeddah will be hosting a live DJ to play music for guests who want to dine from a specially curated menu.
For Floward, the go-to online flowers and gifts delivery destination in the MENA region, Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year.
Last year, the company received its most expensive order from a client in the Kingdom who wanted to gift a $3,000-bundle of flowers and other accessories to commemorate the occasion.
A bouquet and gift bundle created by Floward. (Supplied)
“Each year, sales leading to and on Valentine’s Day increase by several multiples in comparison with other days and occasions. Each year we’re noticing a growing demand on this day and more people celebrating this special moment,” Floward CEO & Chairman Abdulaziz al-Loughani told Al Arabiya English.
“We think that people’s attitudes and behavior were already existing but now they started acting on it publicly rather than privately,” he said.
The lack of restrictions means both couples and single people no longer have to shy away from openly celebrating the day of love.
“My group of friends and I will be handing out roses and chocolates to each other in the office,” Rania Hasan told Al Arabiya English.
“It’s a cute way to show each other love on this day.”
A woman takes a photo with her mobile phone as another holds a heart-shaped balloon as they shop at a florist ahead of Valentine's Day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 13, 2021. (File photo: Reuters)
Without having to think twice when writing bouquet cards, people have also been more expressive about their feelings, the General Manager of the Riyadh flower shop Little Flora Soniel said in an interview.
“In the past, they would come three, four days before and make an order. They would not write a lot of feelings in the cards, but now people are willing to share their feelings and write them. They order directly through our website instead of coming secretly or sending a quick, anonymous text message,” he said.
“The volume of orders was always there, but now there is more of an openness among people. We never noticed a significant increase. “Now people come and directly make orders for their wives or girlfriends,” Soneil added.
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.
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.
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.