Saudi role models showcase achievements

May 17, 2017

Jeddah, May 17: The Makkah Cultural Forum concluded its cultural week, which during its last session showcased national role models that were successful and distinguished in different fields in the “Our Way to Role Model” symposium.

achievements

The cultural week highlighted national role models that have achieved, in some cases surmounting difficulties, to achieve local and global successes.

Present at the week were various segments of the society.

Mohammed Balghith, consultant, interventional cardiologist at the National Guard Heart Center who has achieved successes in this field, talked about his experience, which began in a small province in southern Saudi Arabia and grew to become a global success.

He said that everyone needs a role model to follow and to be influenced by, adding that “developing skills, setting goals, overcoming fear of failure, not stopping learning, working on skills development and how to communicate are all factors of success.”

Essam Amanullah Bukhari, former cultural attache at the Saudi Embassy in Japan, talked about the experiences of Saudis who were studying in Japan and successfully presented a bright image of Saudi Arabia through their achievements and creativity in various fields, including robotics, language, aviation industry and cars.

Director of Careem in Saudi Arabia, Hatem Al-Kahli, reviewed his experience in transforming the transportation company from a simple project to a successful one, making it a larger local project and finally a global project that has become a strategic partner of foreign countries’ governments in setting up and implementing plans.

Othman Mohammed Bakr, associate professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), talked about his unique and successful experience.

He said that “KAUST approved the proposal to establish a laboratory for nanotechnology” and from 2010 to 2013 he and some of his distinguished colleagues were able to establish this laboratory, “which has no parallel in the Middle East.”

Participants in the session on “culture and making of role model” agreed on how important it is for families to act to become role models for children and young people, as well as the importance of preventing them from inappropriate behavior through offering them constructive alternatives.

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Agencies
July 30,2020

Kuwait will allow citizens and residents to travel to and from the country, starting August 1, the government communication center tweeted on early Thursday, citing a cabinet decision.

The decision excludes residents coming from Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal.

Last month, Kuwait announced it would partially resume commercial flights from August, but does not expect to reach full capacity until a year later, as its aviation sector gradually recovers from a suspension sparked by the Covid-19 crisis.

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: The holy month of Ramadan is expected to be a 30-day month this year, said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, he said that Sunday, May 24, will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.

Additionally, he said that the crescent of Shawwal will occur on Friday, May 22, at 9.39pm, after sunset, and will be visible on Sunday, May 24, the beginning of Shawal, which makes Ramadan a 30-day month this year.

He added that the next Ramadan is expected to start on April 13, 2021, and the one after that on April 2, 2022.

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Agencies
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: Indians in the UAE have voiced scepticism about a "massive" operation announced by New Delhi to bring home some of the hundreds of thousands of nationals stranded by coronavirus restrictions.

"It is just propaganda," said Ishan, an Indian expatriate in Dubai, one of seven emirates in the UAE and long a magnet for foreign workers.

He was reacting to his government's announcement this week that it would deploy passenger jets and naval ships to bring home citizens stuck in a host of countries.

India's consulate in Dubai said it received about 200,000 requests from nationals seeking repatriation -- mostly workers who have lost their jobs in the pandemic.

One vessel was heading to the UAE, India's government said, while two flights were scheduled to depart the UAE for India on Thursday.

But the plans drew scorn from Ishan, who was a manager at a luxury services company before he was made redundant last month.

"It's like throwing a dog a bone," the 35-year-old complained on Wednesday, dismissing the Indian government's efforts as a drop in the ocean.

"Let's say they repatriate 400 people on the first day, and about 5,000 people in 10 days, what difference has it made?"

India banned all incoming commercial flights in late March as it imposed one of the world's strictest lockdowns to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The UAE is home to a 3.3-million-strong Indian community, who make up around 30 per cent of the Gulf state's population.

To the anger of some Indian expatriates, the evacuees will have to pay for their passage home and spend two weeks in quarantine on arrival.

"We are upset over the failure of our government," Ishan said. "What about the people with no money? How are you helping them?"

The Indian consulate could not be reached for comment.

Ibrahim Khalil, head of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Center in Dubai, said the consulate had asked him to select 100 Indian nationals for repatriation.

"We are planning to pay for the tickets of those who cannot afford it," he said, adding that the elderly, pregnant and those suffering from illnesses were a priority.

But one Indian woman, eight months pregnant in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, was not one of the lucky ones chosen to go back home in one of Thursday's planned departures.

"We called them but nobody would pick up," the 26-year-old, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

She arrived in the UAE a few months ago to visit her husband, who lives in a shared apartment with another family to save money.

"We have no insurance here and the medical expenses are too costly," said the woman, who was anxious to leave to give birth at home.

"I just hope that I am chosen to go back to India. I don't know why I haven't been considered."

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