Made in KSA — the female entrepreneurs helping to grow Saudi Arabia’s economy

Several women leaders have joined Playbook platform as members to access their masterclass library, engage with a curated network, attend events, access mentorship and much more. (Supplied)
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Updated 17 September 2022
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Made in KSA — the female entrepreneurs helping to grow Saudi Arabia’s economy

  • Women are using technology and innovation to make job creation and training their business

JEDDAH: The aim of Vision 2030 is to create one million jobs for women in Saudi Arabia. Here are some of the women and businesses playing a leading role in creating career opportunities in the Kingdom.

Namat, a nonprofit social business by Nesma Holding Co., is aiming to integrate women living outside urban centers into the national economy, enabling them to actively contribute to the economic and social prosperity of the Kingdom by redefining the potential of ‘“Made in KSA.”

Merging lean management, continuous improvement and zero waste principles with a female-centered agenda, Namat is paving the way for socially viable, ethical and customizable garment manufacturing that benefits businesses as well as the wider community.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Namat, a nonprofit social business by Nesma Holding Co., is aiming to enrich Saudi Arabia’s garment manufacturing industry through the deployment and empowerment of women in rural areas, bringing them into the folds of the national economy.

• Playbook, a fully female- founded startup, is focused on supporting working women in the region in meeting their career aspirations.

• Debyazah, a homegrown hospitality concept, is also seeking to promote culinary science and the art of modern food display.

Noura Alturki, vice president of the Nesma Holding Co., said: “My family business, Nesma, established this project for the purpose of bringing jobs to women in the tailoring and embroidery industry. Through our social enterprise, Namat, we aim to enrich Saudi Arabia’s garment manufacturing industry through the deployment and empowerment of women in rural areas, bringing them into the folds of the national economy. This project is inspiring in its inclusiveness.”

“Our vision is to replicate tailoring centers across all of the Kingdom so that women in all 13 provinces in Saudi Arabia have access to employment. I believe an empowered woman is true to herself, silences the voices (internal and external) that doubt her in order to pave her own happiness in the world,” she said.




Noura Alturki

Namat has grown into a world-class garment manufacturing and training program employing more than 150 skilled women across four tailoring centers in the Kingdom.

Playbook, a fully female-founded startup, is focused on supporting working women in the region in meeting their career aspirations.

Several women leaders from Saudi Arabia have joined the platform as members to access their masterclass library, engage with a curated network, problem-solve, attend events, access mentorship and much more.

Members are also drawn to the impact arm of the business where each paid membership (annual fee) is matched to a free-access scholarship for women and students in underserved communities. The platform is soon to distribute thousands of scholarship access memberships through NGOs and universities in Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

Based in Riyadh, Amal Dokhan, general partner at 500 Global MENA and one of a handful of female venture capitalists in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, delivered a masterclass on the platform titled, “The Investor Mindset.”

The masterclass consisted of 11 episodes with runtimes of more than two hours. Dokhan breaks down her classes into sections that include investment terminologies, investment strategies for angels and venture capitalists, capitalization tables, dilution of shares and growth metrics.

Drawing on her personal experience as an educator, founder, angel investor and partner at a VC firm, Dokhan guides female founders toward understanding how to connect with investors and what they are looking for in a scalable startup.

Our vision is to replicate tailoring centers across all of the Kingdom so that women in all 13 provinces in Saudi Arabia have access to employment.

Noura Alturki, Vice president of the Nesma Holding Co.

Fatima Batook, brand owner, TIMA Sport Apparel and CEO of Switz Group, said that “The Investor Mindset” was her favorite masterclass. “The class opens the doorway for all struggling entrepreneurs trying to exponentially grow their businesses. It’s truly an insightful masterclass that adds a lot of value to many,” she said.

Nourah Feteih, an author, public speaker, environmental advocate and a new member of the Playbook, said: “As an environmental advocate, I always believe in spreading greatness to the world on so many levels. Playbook is doing an amazing job of supporting education for women globally to get access to the most informative and knowledgeable classes while learning from the entrepreneurs and experienced leading business women worldwide.”

“There are many scholarships that will be sent out under the member’s name. Wishing to be a philanthropist, I am glad to have received this opportunity. And, under the Saudi Vision 2030, I believe that passion, productivity and perseverance are keys to unlimited success in anything we do.”

Shreya Rammohan, Playbook co-founder and CMO, said: “Corporates such as Watar partners, Zain Group, Investcorp and other notable organizations have started onboarding their female executives to the platform. This aligns with their gender diversity and inclusion values, and their commitment to investing in relatable learning and development resources that can support their teams to network and build their personal brand. As members of the community, they can get on the app to network, seek out mentors, access learning resources, browse our masterclass library and much more.”

Rammohan said that Playbook rethinks and redefines accelerated career growth for women through curated learning resources and an engaged community.

The platform is launched on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

For the first time, female founders in the region are finding a bridge between tactical content on how to fundraise and access capital by learning from the masterclasses, connecting with the masters 1:1 and networking with other entrepreneurs within the community.

Lessons at Playbook grow in volume each month as the platform’s developers and founding team strategically include multiple masterclasses on decision-making, leadership, empathy, mental health, team-building, scaling, trusting your intuition, knowing your rights, maintaining a legacy in a family business, and running growth experiments.

Each of these masterclasses is led by women leaders across more than 17 industries that build their legacy and reverse-engineer their Playbook to success in the format of a masterclass. These are in Arabic and English and subtitled accordingly. It is further complemented by networking features, live event access, 1:1 mentorship and coaching opportunities, job boards and other benefits.

Nouf Masoud, CEO of Debyazah, a homegrown hospitality concept, is also seeking to promote the science of the culinary and the art of modern food display, and be Saudi Arabia’s first inclusive hospitality ambassador.

“We aim to showcase the Kingdom’s hospitality standards to the world and support the country’s vision through investing in opportunities that will nourish the local market and elevate the hospitality industry,” she said.

“We created a series of residential hospitality workshops for females in Riyadh and Jeddah to create a hospitality operation system in their own residence, making their home look and feel like a boutique hotel in addition to developing a career in the hospitality industry. At Debyazah, we aim to provide hospitality programs and short courses dedicated to individuals working in the hospitality field to develop the ultimate customer and guest experience.”

Masoud believes to achieve success as a woman entrepreneur, it is vital to surmount all odds and gain support from other companies to help the business grow.

“To create impactful momentum on a national scale, it is important to collaborate with multiple companies and organizations as they are seeking women to achieve leadership roles and are supporting them to achieve its objectives.”

 

 


Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

Updated 57 min 19 sec ago
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Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

  • Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa are being assessed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital

RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and are being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.

They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed on the program.

The program’s medical and surgical team is led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser at the Royal Court and director general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.

The twin’s parents expressed their gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA reported.

Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)

In an interview published on Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, said that since her children were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help them to live a normal life.

Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, were unable to afford the expensive operation the twins needed. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and was told that the Kingdom was willing to help.

“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Misa said.

Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.

A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.

Al-Rabeeah said that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”


A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

Updated 18 May 2025
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A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

  • Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite

MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.

With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.

To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.

Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.

One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.

“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”

Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.

She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.

“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.


Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Updated 18 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan attended the send-off ceremony for the first group of this year’s Hajj pilgrims departing from Tajikistan at Dushanbe International Airport.

Alreshaidan said that serving pilgrims is “an honor and a source of pride for the leadership of the Kingdom and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A’lem Zadah, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Committee of Religious Affairs, thanked the Saudi government for the facilities it provides to pilgrims, the SPA added.


Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

  • The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences

JEDDAH: The Saudi National Museum hosted International Museum Day celebrations in Riyadh on Saturday under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”

The event brought together cultural and heritage experts, artists, and enthusiasts for a day of dialogue, workshops, and interactive sessions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It opened with a panel titled “Living Heritage in Rapidly Changing Communities,” followed by a thought-provoking session on “Museums and Change.”

Speakers discussed how museums can evolve to reflect and respond to the fast-paced transformations shaping modern society.

A highlight was an interactive session on “Saudi Storytelling and Performing Arts in Museums,” emphasizing the power of narrative in preserving cultural identity and passing values to younger generations.

The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences.

Another panel, “Technological Challenges in Cultural Heritage,” explored innovative ways to safeguard and share heritage using digital tools.

This theme was further explored in the workshop “Craft and Technology: The Art of Digital Weaving,” where participants examined the intersection of traditional crafts and modern digital techniques.

Throughout the sessions, participants stressed the importance of community engagement, reinforcing museums’ role as inclusive spaces for education, creativity, and cultural innovation in a rapidly changing world.

The event also featured additional panels and workshops on museums’ evolving role in preserving identity and addressing contemporary challenges.


Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

  • Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage

RIYADH: For more than three decades, Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted his time to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant, centuries-old art form traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes across the Asir region.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years, not a week has passed without him visiting a village in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.

His mission: to seek out the remnants of this heritage art in homes, many of which have been lost to time and weather.

Despite the challenges, he has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors.

The traditional art, known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

But long before, Al-Almaai had been tirelessly cataloging the artwork, oftenn navigating harsh conditions, including dilapidated buildings and the threat of snakes and poisonous insects, to reach the artworks.

Almost every visit revealed intricate designs made using natural pigments sourced from the surrounding environment.

He explained to SPA that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt. Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design.

Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake, winding rhythmically across the walls.

Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) are a form of visual closure at the end of a design.

Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered beneath the primary art, referred to as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.

Al-Almaai’s lifelong dedication underscores the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural legacy — one painted wall at a time.