How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry

Special How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry
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Honey has long held a special place in Saudi culture, cultivated by beekeepers across the Kingdom for its medicinal and culinary uses. (AN file photos)
Special How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry
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The Honey and Agricultural Products Festival in Saudi Arabia's northwestern province of Tabuk puts the focus firmly on the role of beekeepers. (X: @MEWA_KSA)
Special How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry
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Portable white beehive boxes placed on wooden pallet in blossoming almond orchard to help increase pollination of the trees to increase crop yield. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 29 June 2024
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How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry

How Saudi Arabia is creating a buzz around beekeeping and the honey making industry
  • To promote the ancient craft of beekeeping, the Kingdom is helping a new generation earn qualifications and practical skills in honey making
  • Besides its profitability, honey production is one of the most beneficial activities for supporting local plant species and agricultural crops

RIYADH: Honey has long held a special place in Saudi culture, cultivated by beekeepers across the region for its medicinal and culinary uses. Now, with added government support, its true economic potential and environmental benefits are being realized.

Last year, more than 100 licenses were granted to beekeepers to produce this liquid gold on land administered by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, predominantly in the Rawdat Khuraim oasis.

Here, beekeepers have been producing the finest types of natural honey, such as Najdi acacia honey, spring flower honey, wild sidr, salam honey, and shafalah — boosting the local economy with sales of highly prized products.




Aside from honey, the other products of bees are beeswax and natural substances that have several uses, such as making sealants, lubricants, construction material and medications. (Supplied)

“Natural honey is a product that is in high demand in the Kingdom,” a spokesperson for the authority told Arab News. “At the reserve, we have natural pastures characterized by honey plants, ensuring that the breeder obtains sufficient nectar to produce honey.”

Saudi Arabia is immensely proud of its honeymaking heritage, attested by events like the Jazan Honey Festival and the Honey and Agricultural Products Festival in the Tabuk region, and weekly auctions in Taif to sell honey and other bee products.

To promote the ancient craft of beekeeping, the reserve recently hosted an integrated “bee basics” training program, offering a new generation the opportunity to earn qualifications and practical experience in honey making.




Honeybees in the higher reaches of Saudi Arabia are drawing crowds and making the native juniper-covered Soudah mountains one of the most interesting models for sustainable tourism in the Middle East. (Supplied) 

“Now, the trainees have finished the program and the next honey harvest season will allow us to see the fruits of the program’s labor,” the spokesperson added.

Honey production is one of the most beneficial activities for supporting local plant species and agricultural crops. Bees are pollinating insects. As they visit plants seeking nectar, pollen catches on their bodies and passes between plants, thereby fertilizing them.

DID YOUKNOW?

• Bees play a crucial role in pollinating date palms, a popular and profitable agricultural crop in the region.

• Beekeepers often move their hives to date palm orchards when in bloom to enhance pollination and increase fruit yield.

• Saudi Arabia is known for producing unique and high-quality honey varieties like sidr, sourced from the nectar of the sidr tree.

The authority has a specialized team devoted to issuing licenses for apiaries within the confines of the reserve, providing sufficient space between each apiary to ensure the bees avoid mingling with other hives, keeping the resulting honey pure.

“Environmental control teams carry out monitoring tours as part of their work, to ensure the health of the environment surrounding the apiaries, which is reflected in the proper nutrition of the bees,” the authority spokesperson said.

Various government entities have launched programs designed to boost economic development and promote local products, while empowering young people and other underrepresented groups through training and job creation.




Saudis participate in a summer beekeeping training in Al-Baha province. (SPA file photo)

Through the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, chartered by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, more than 100 local beekeepers were recently trained on honeybee queen-rearing techniques, prompted by the declining number of honeybee colonies.

Just five years ago, Norah Shawi Al-Shimmari was the only woman known to be working in the beekeeping industry in Saudi Arabia. Now, thanks to training schemes like these, many more women are taking up the craft and prospering as a result.

It has not been without its obstacles, however. “My biggest challenge is getting from one place to another and needing someone to drive me to faraway places,” Al-Shimmari told Arab News.

“I need a guardian and a car and someone to carry things with me as well. My work the past period has been without help. I myself am lifting, housing the bees and sorting the honey, which is very difficult.”

At first, Al-Shimmari would only produce honey under the brand name Al-Shawi Apiaries, named after her late father. After some training to utilize beeswax for beauty, nutritional and medicinal items, she soon expanded her line of projects and made the brand her own.

This led her to suggest ways to work with other beekeepers to create a sustainable economic ecosystem for honey products, like collecting leftover wax and using it to create other products instead of leaving it to waste.

Through perseverance, self-taught Al-Shimmari became the first female beekeeper in the north of the Kingdom and the only woman among 33 beekeepers who took part in the 2021 Hail Honey Festival in early November, where she was dubbed the “Beekeeper of the North.”




Since launching her beekeeping career four years ago, Norah Shawi Al-Shimmari has found sweet success and been dubbed the “Beekeeper of the North.” (Supplied)

Seeing her work, the emir of Hail Region arranged for a training workshop to take place. More than 40 women have since graduated from this program to become beekeepers themselves. “Now, the Hail region hosts 43 female beekeepers,” said Al-Shimmari.

“Some of them left the field, and some faced impediments or situations that wouldn’t allow them to continue, but some of them are still persevering … my advice for any woman who sees themselves in the field is to pursue the profession.”

There are similar stories across the Kingdom. Hailing from Jeddah, Saudi couple Ahmed Badghaish and Nada Khaled Malaika began their beekeeping journey two decades ago with nothing more than a passion for nature and an innate curiosity about the world of bees.




A group of beekeeping enthusiasts learn to make hive boxes during a workshop in Jeddah, conducted by honey entrepreneur Ahmed Badgahish. (Instagram @beewaysaudi)

Over the years, they have transformed a modest business into a thriving apiary named Bee Ways that houses 1,200 beehives, and their products have won multiple international awards.

For small, local producers like Al-Shimmari, however, the profession is a true labor of love.

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“After a long seasonal journey, production and transportation, the big achievement after sorting the honey and seeing the product is such a pleasure. This is what drives me to continue improving and thriving in this field,” she said.

“My biggest supporter, after God and my family, was the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. They stood behind me and opened up opportunities in festivals. I’m always the first to get their invitations.”


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Saudi mother-of-six finds sweet success with her ‘kingdom of bees’

Run by a Saudi couple, Bee Ways travels all over the Kingdom in search of greenest pastures

Beehives of Saudi Arabia’s Maysan believed to be over 1,000 years old


Despite the challenges, the honey and beekeeping industry is on a steady rise with continuous support from government entities.

Since 2020, about SR140 million ($37.3 million) in funding has been distributed to 10,584 beneficiaries through the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program — Saudi Reef — according to the Saudi Press Agency.




The Honey and Agricultural Products Festival in Saudi Arabia's northwestern province of Tabuk puts the focus firmly on the role of beekeepers. (X: @MEWA_KSA)

On World Bee Day, marked each year on May 20, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced that honey production had reached 5,000 tons annually. It aims to increase this to 7,500 tons by 2026 and achieve self-sufficiency.

There are now more than 20,000 ministry-registered beekeepers across the Kingdom.
 

 


Saudi Arabia showcases tourism potential at London travel market

Saudi Arabia showcases tourism potential at London travel market
Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia showcases tourism potential at London travel market

Saudi Arabia showcases tourism potential at London travel market
  • ‘Saudi Land’ pavilion promotes major investments, featuring luxury resorts and historic tourism developments
  • Jeddah Historic District Program is participating in the market from Nov. 5 to 7 to promote Jeddah as an international tourism destination

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority Ahmed Al-Khateeb inaugurated the Kingdom’s participation in the World Travel Market in London with the “Saudi Land” pavilion.

The pavilion includes the Visit Saudi exhibition, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority for the fourth consecutive year, supported by more than 70 partners in tourism, including destinations, hotels, airlines and travel companies.

Saudi Arabia’s presence at this global event highlights efforts to establish its status on the tourism map, showcasing rapid growth and record-breaking achievements in the sector.

The event promotes Saudi destinations, attracts diverse tourists, empowers the private sector and fosters strategic partnerships.

The Visit Saudi exhibition unveiled the Saudi Red Sea Destination, featuring Red Sea Global’s latest projects, aiming for 16 resorts this year and 50 by 2030.

The pavilion also offers interactive experiences showcasing Saudi hospitality, natural diversity, climate, culture, traditional attire, music and cuisine.

“Saudi Arabia, the fastest-growing tourist destination globally, seeks to solidify its leadership in world tourism, aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals by highlighting unique destinations, new projects, and significant investment opportunities,“ Al-Khateeb said.

He added: Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in the tourism sector.”

Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin said that Saudi Arabia was celebrating its tourism achievements and record-breaking growth at this leading international event.

The Kingdom aims to build on the success of the second phase of its global campaign, “This Land Is Calling,” targeting key markets, supporting partners and forging strategic partnerships with top global companies.

The Jeddah Historic District Program is participating in the market from Nov. 5 to 7 to promote Jeddah as an international tourism destination.

The program spotlights the heritage of the Jeddah Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring historic architecture, mosques, markets, public spaces, museums, heritage restaurants and cultural landmarks.

The program offers authentic tourism experiences, including stays in restored heritage hotels, immersive historical tours and hands-on participation in local crafts.

The Hail Region Development Authority is participating to elevate Hail’s global tourism profile, promote its destinations, and empower partners to build strategic partnerships.

The Soudah Development Co. is showcasing its flagship project, “Soudah Peaks,” a luxury mountain destination on the Kingdom’s highest peak at 3,015 meters above sea level.

The Saudi delegation also includes representatives from key entities such as Tourism Development Fund, ASFAR, Cruise Saudi, Saudia airline, Riyadh Air, Red Sea Global, Diriyah Co., the Royal Commission for AlUla and NEOM.

At the market, Diriyah Co. signed strategic agreements with luxury operator Abercrombie & Kent and leading Saudi travel platform Almosafer. These collaborations aim to create high-end travel experiences that position Diriyah as a premier destination and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing tourism landscape.


Saudi Arabia highlights urban sustainability vision at Cairo forum

Saudi Arabia highlights urban sustainability vision at Cairo forum
Updated 06 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia highlights urban sustainability vision at Cairo forum

Saudi Arabia highlights urban sustainability vision at Cairo forum
  • Authorities emphasize development goals, from green spaces to innovative infrastructure

Riyadh: Saudi authorities are showcasing the Kingdom’s role in sustainable urban development at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, organized by the UN Human Settlements Programme, from Nov. 4-8.

The municipality of Baha region highlighted Vision 2030 objectives and the Kingdom’s urban development initiatives, along with the standards followed by the municipality.

Ali Al-Sawat, mayor of Baha, emphasized the Kingdom’s pioneering efforts to achieve sustainable development goals across various urban sectors.

The municipality’s participation also focused on urban planning, sustainable transportation, community engagement, waste management, recycling, green spaces and strategies to address environmental challenges.

It highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to transform cities into adaptable, sustainable environments and showcased innovations improving residents’ quality of life and preserving the environment.

The municipality is committed to innovative solutions in infrastructure, project management and data analysis to build a sustainable urban model that meets community needs.

Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Saudi delegation at the forum, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive experience in urban development and improving residents’ quality of life.

Since 2016, Saudi Arabia had pursued an ambitious national vision for 2030, Prince Faisal said at the forum’s ministerial roundtable. This comprehensive vision includes 27 sub-objectives, addressing various aspects of human life.

The Quality of Life Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, hosted a panel titled 'Towards Future Cities: Putting Quality of Life and People’s Well-Being at the Core of Urban Planning.' (SPA)

He emphasized that the vision also focused on enhancing livability in Saudi cities, alongside economic, environmental and social improvements.

Prince Faisal praised Saudi Arabia’s experience in urban development, with 17 municipalities working to turn the Vision into practical initiatives benefiting both residents and visitors.

“The Kingdom is home to excellent and historically impactful projects,” he said, highlighting the King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, Diriyah project and environmental programs such as the Saudi Green Initiative.

The Quality of Life Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, hosted a panel titled “Towards Future Cities: Putting Quality of Life and People’s Well-Being at the Core of Urban Planning.”

The session explored strategies to improve living conditions in urban areas, focusing on cross-sector collaboration.

CEO of the program, Khalid Albaker, emphasized the forum’s role in raising awareness of quality of life in urban planning, showcasing Saudi efforts to enhance living standards.

Albaker stressed the need for collaboration across government, industry and entrepreneurship to find innovative solutions that met community needs and promoted sustainable development.

The program contributes to sustainable development through 170 initiatives in sports, culture, tourism, entertainment, urban design and safety, supporting job creation, economic growth, innovation and city humanization to improve quality of life across Saudi Arabia.

The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is also participating in the forum, showcasing its efforts to develop Makkah into a sustainable city. The commission is highlighting its work in enhancing transportation networks, infrastructure and services.

The municipality of Riyadh is showcasing exemplary urban and environmental initiatives, using modern technologies for planning, development and construction of future cities. The pavilion highlights the Kingdom’s achievements in sustainable urban development and innovation.

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority is also showcasing its role in preserving historical, cultural and urban heritage, while overseeing vital initiatives and projects. Through these efforts, the authority aims to achieve a vision that goes beyond traditional urban development.

Real Estate General Authority CEO Abdullah Al-Hammad emphasized Saudi Arabia’s steady progress toward its ambitious vision under the Kingdom’s leadership. He highlighted the commitment to a forward-looking urban future aligned with sustainability and global environmental challenges.

Al-Hammad said that the authority’s participation in the forum reflected its belief in the importance of local and international partnerships to address urban challenges and build modern, sustainable communities that were resilient and adaptable.

The authority aims to adopt global best practices to build cities of the future that meet the needs of residents, visitors and investors, while enhancing quality of life and creating vibrant, innovative communities.

The authority’s pokesperson ,Tayseer Al-Mufarrej, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s approach to urban development, including transforming informal settlements into sustainable communities, improving residents’ quality of life and providing adequate housing.

Al-Mufarrej said that addressing global urban challenges required international collaboration to develop innovative solutions based on a comprehensive, forward-thinking urban planning vision, incorporating environmental, economic and social dimensions for the future of cities.

He also emphasized the importance of balancing urban development with environmental diversity to improve residents’ well-being.


British envoy lauds ‘growth’ in bilateral ties since Vision 2030

British envoy lauds ‘growth’ in bilateral ties since Vision 2030
Updated 06 November 2024
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British envoy lauds ‘growth’ in bilateral ties since Vision 2030

British envoy lauds ‘growth’ in bilateral ties since Vision 2030
  • Comments made during KSA launch of ‘Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile’ book

RIYADH: British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton highlighted the growth he has witnessed in Saudi-UK ties, which has expanded from traditional defense partnerships to encompass numerous sectors such as tourism, people-to-people relations, and sport, in a speech he gave during a cultural soiree marking the launch of “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile” in Riyadh on Monday.

“In the modern era, since Vision 2030, our relationship has gone from a quite traditional defense, security, contracting relationship, to take-off,” Crompton said.

The ambassador cited the growth of people-to-people relations between the two countries, mentioning British rowers and cricket players, such as Kevin Pietersen, visiting the Kingdom, and many Saudis traveling to London for holidays.

“I think the affection between the two countries is amazing,” Crompton said. “With the visa system ... since we introduced the visa waiver system in June 2022, over 500,000 Saudis have used it to go to London, in addition to the 100,000 who already had a 10-year visa or another passport.”

The cultural soiree hosted by the UK Embassy celebrated the launch of “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile” in Saudi Arabia by Saudi author and Editor-in-Chief of Arab News Faisal J. Abbas.

In a panel discussion between the ambassador and the author, the two highlighted the similarities that bridge the two kingdoms in an event titled “The Tale of Two Kingdoms.”

During his remarks, Abbas said: “There is much more that unites us than what divides us.”

Abbas said that the event might appear to be merely a discussion about a book, but that it is much more than that. “It’s a tale of two kingdoms,” two kingdoms that, he said, have much in common.

“Yes, we are two kingdoms separated by thousands and thousands of miles, we have a different history, but at the same time we are united by trivial things, from a sense of humor to very deeply rooted multifaceted bilateral relations that range from culture to business to defense and many more,” Abbas said.

The cultural soiree was attended by influential figures from the UK and Saudi Arabia, including the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishal, as well as prominent diplomats, journalists, academics and British citizens living in the Kingdom.

Speaking to Arab News, the publisher of the book and managing director of Nomad Publishing, Max Scott, noted the growing interest in Arab perspectives in the West, which are presented in “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile.”

Scott said that the panel discussion between Crompton and Abbas was engaging because of the pivotal questions Abbas presented.

“It was very interesting because Faisal asks some difficult questions about where Britain is at the moment. And he’s not shy of saying, you know, it’s a difficult time, and that’s good to see,” Scott said.

“At the end of the day, I think everyone came away with something positive,” he added.

Abbas’s book was originally released in London last June,, The cultural soiree hosted by the UK ambassador celebrated its recent release in Saudi Arabia, with its debut at the Riyadh International Book Fair.

The book is available throughout the Kingdom, exclusively at Jarir Bookstore outlets.


Sports marketeers take deep dive into Saudi culture

Sports marketeers take deep dive into Saudi culture
Updated 06 November 2024
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Sports marketeers take deep dive into Saudi culture

Sports marketeers take deep dive into Saudi culture

RIYADH: Top regional executives spoke about how having a deep understanding of the Kingdom’s culture was crucial in the creative industries, during the Athar — Saudi Festival of Creativity in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Leo Borges, executive creative director of Havas Middle East, spoke to Arab News about how Saudis had the opportunity to mold the creative industry.

“What I would say and sort of like what I want to see coming out of Saudi, is a creative culture that’s specific (to) here, it’s about Saudi people.”

He said that the baseline for the creative industry was understanding the audience.

“If you’re working in Saudi, they need to understand Saudi. They need to understand the culture. They need to understand the times. They need to understand the context in which their message is going to be, it’s going to be displayed.”

Borges went on to highlight the stark difference between sports marketing and other industries.

“I think sports marketing is different from other kinds of marketing because of the passion that the audience has for this sport, or for the teams, or for the players,” he said.

“So in this space, rarely the brand is the number one thing, right? Like people don’t necessarily love Adidas. They love Adidas because Adidas is sponsoring the team.”

Speaking at the “Leaders and Visionaries: CMOs Unplugged” session, panelist Ammar Alamo, director of marketing and communications at the Saudi Sports for All Federation, or SFA, in Riyadh, described his focus on “human insight” as opposed to “local insight.”

With more than 40 percent of non-Saudis living in the Kingdom, Alamo told Arab News that the Saudi Sports for All Federation targeted everyone when crafting their campaigns to encourage physical activity.

“With that, we need to understand who is in the Kingdom, and from a recent study, it showed that 42 percent of the Kingdom are not Saudis,” he said. “When we craft our campaigns or our communication we want to make an impact in the Saudi population, and people living in Saudi.”

Before creating a marketing strategy, SFA will research and developed a program that  takes into account the different levels of physical activity within the Kingdom — active, semi-active, and inactive. 

“We try, in SFA, with all our programs to cater to everyone in the Kingdom, because our target audience is everyone in the Kingdom.”

Since SFA’s restructuring in 2018 to increase the ratio of individuals exercising at least once a week to 40 per cent by 2030, the federation had seen a positive reaction from the community with exponential growth in physical activity.

The “physical activity level in the Kingdom in 2018 was 13 percent ... In 2021, the physical activity level in the Kingdom reached 48 percent, which is great, and now we’re changing the targets and increasing the targets, actually, beyond 40 percent to achieve more targets in 2030.”

Since joining the SFA in 2023, Alamo has played a pivotal role in promoting and growing events, including the Riyadh Marathon, Tough Mudder, the SandClash CrossFit competition.

The session also brought together industry leaders, Najeeb Jarrar, CMO at Google MENA, Aamir Allibhoy, regional chief marketing officer @ Tim Hortons, MENA, and was moderated by Ashish Verma, global head of Bloomberg Media Studios, who all shared insights on navigating the rapidly evolving creative landscape in Saudi Arabia.

The festival will conclude with the Athar Awards ceremony on the evening of Nov. 6.


Sudan’s army chief receives Saudi deputy foreign minister in Port Sudan

Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan receives Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Port Sudan.
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan receives Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Port Sudan.
Updated 05 November 2024
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Sudan’s army chief receives Saudi deputy foreign minister in Port Sudan

Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan receives Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Port Sudan.
  • During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji stressed the keenness of the Kingdom’s leadership on restoring security and stability in Sudan

RIYADH: Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan received Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Port Sudan on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji stressed the keenness of the Kingdom’s leadership on restoring security and stability in Sudan.

The minister’s visit to the country comes as part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to address the crisis in Sudan, reach a ceasefire, and restore stability to the country. 

The Kingdom continues to support the humanitarian response efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, Saudi Press Agency said.