From ‘What If?’ to ‘Wow!’ at Ithra children’s festival

RIYADH: A Saudi national who taught himself Hindi, starred in an Indian film and sang for the prime minister of India is now seen as a symbol of the cultural bridges emerging under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Hashim Abbas, an actor, first began learning Hindi in 2008 to improve communication with colleagues at an Indian IT company in the Kingdom.

“My love for Indian culture started while working at the company, but it didn’t stay just professional; it quickly became something much more personal and meaningful,” Abbas told Arab News. 

As he built friendships with his Indian coworkers, Abbas became a cultural guide, showing them around Saudi cities and historic landmarks.

“I took them to different cities, cultural landmarks and historical places,” he said. 

Over time, the shared experiences deepened his appreciation for Indian culture and inspired him to use music as a tool for connection.

Thanks to Vision 2030, people are beginning to see the real Saudi Arabia: Modern, open, creative and full of life. I witness this shift in almost every conversation I have with Indian audiences.

Hashim Abbas, Saudi actor

“What truly inspired me were my Indian friends. They supported me with pure hearts — no judgment, no pressure,” he said. “Their encouragement made me feel like I belonged, and that gave me the confidence to sing in their beautiful language."

In April 2025, Abbas experienced a career-defining moment when he performed in front of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the leader’s official visit to the Kingdom in April 2025.

He sang the Indian patriotic song “Ae Watan,” which translates to “my homeland.”

Abbas said: “I consider myself very lucky. I had prepared the perfect song a year earlier — without knowing it would one day be used in front of Prime Minister Modi.

“I worked on it with passion, even adding a few Arabic lines to give it a cultural bridge between our two nations.”

In 2023, Abbas played a role in the Malayalam-language Indian film “Kondotty Pooram.”

He said: “This role showed that Saudi talent can be embraced at the highest levels, even in one of the most linguistically and artistically rich industries in India.” 

Abbas’ story reflects a broader societal openness in Saudi Arabia, which is increasingly engaging with international communities through social, cultural and economic avenues.

India remains one of the Kingdom’s most important international partners, with strong relations spanning trade, education and culture.

According to the General Authority for Statistics, Indians represent the second-largest expatriate group in Saudi Arabia, with about 1.7 million residents contributing to sectors such as IT, education and healthcare.

Abbas’ relationship with India continued to grow during his visits to the country, particularly the southern state of Kerala. There, he met many people who had lived and worked in the Kingdom for decades.

“They always speak about their time in the Kingdom with warmth, gratitude and deep respect,” he said.

“What touches me most is that some of them even speak Arabic fluently, which reflects the strong connection and cultural bond between our two nations,” he added.

Abbas also highlighted how Indian perceptions of Saudi Arabia have evolved in recent years.

“Like any country, there used to be some stereotypes or misconceptions about Saudi Arabia. But now, many of those outdated views are fading — especially with how fast the Kingdom is progressing,” he said. 

“Thanks to Vision 2030, people are beginning to see the real Saudi Arabia: Modern, open, creative and full of life. I witness this shift in almost every conversation I have with Indian audiences ... it has completely reshaped how Saudi Arabia is perceived, both inside and outside the country.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is scaling up efforts to protect and expand its mangrove forests — hailed as “nature’s super ecosystems” — as part of a push to restore coastal habitats, combat climate change, and diversify the Kingdom’s tourism economy.

As the world marks the UN-designated International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26, new initiatives are building on earlier successes and harnessing cutting-edge technology, long-term planning, and private-sector collaboration.

“Mangrove forests are nature’s super ecosystems — capable of storing large amounts of carbon, preventing coastal erosion, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating floods,” said Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at Red Sea Global.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow in the intertidal zones of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. They stabilize coastlines, trap pollutants, act as carbon sinks, and provide vital breeding grounds for marine life.

Their dense roots protect against erosion and storm surges, while their branches shelter nesting birds, and marine species, such as shrimp, lay their eggs among their roots. Their leaves also serve as food for many other organisms.

Today, two species dominate Saudi Arabia’s mangrove zones: Rhizophora mucronata (Al-Qundil), found along the southern Red Sea coast, and Avicennia marina (Al-Qarm), which thrives on the Arabian Gulf and northern Red Sea shores.

According to Saudipedia, Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 400 million mangrove trees, spread across 60 million square meters, with an average density of over 86,000 trees per hectare.

As part of the Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021 to support the Kingdom’s sustainability goals and its net-zero emissions target by 2060, authorities have committed to planting more than 100 million mangrove trees by 2030.

That is a fraction of the SGI’s broader ambition to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia in the coming decades, but mangroves are a priority given their powerful role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

In 2023, a pilot mangrove restoration scheme began at Jeddah Islamic Port. Meanwhile, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is spearheading coastal planting projects in Jazan, Makkah, Tabuk, Madinah, Asir, and the Eastern Province, using nurseries and protective measures to ensure long-term survival.

As of the 2021 mangrove conservation day, officials had already planted more than 14.6 million mangrove trees, in partnership with private and public sector entities.

“The cultivation and transplantation of mangrove trees is a highly technical process that demands detailed planning and precision,” said Al-Basseet. “We carefully monitor tidal cycles to identify suitable low-tide periods and avoid windy conditions during planting.”

Saudi Arabia’s mangrove reforestation programs are increasingly powered by geographic information systems, drones, and satellite imagery, helping experts pinpoint ideal sites based on factors like sediment composition, salinity, and tidal movement.

To protect young trees, conservation teams install fencing and even deploy camera traps to deter animals, such as camels, from grazing on the saplings.

“Mangrove regeneration is integral to our broader environmental sustainability strategy,” said Tariq Al-Abassi, senior director of environmental programs at RSG. “By following a science-led approach, we ensure the long-term viability and regeneration of these ecosystems as a renewable natural asset.”

Mangroves are among the most carbon-dense forests on Earth, locking away CO2 in both biomass and soil. They also reduce ocean acidification by moderating localized pH levels, helping buffer marine life against the effects of climate change.

But their value is not only environmental. Mangroves support eco-tourism — such as kayaking, birdwatching, and nature tours — and provide ingredients used in cosmetics and dyes.

Increasingly, they are a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s vision to develop eco-friendly marine parks and coastal attractions that align with its economic diversification goals under Vision 2030.

With rising global awareness around the importance of coastal ecosystems, Saudi Arabia’s mangrove strategy positions the Kingdom not only as a regional conservation leader but as a global one.

As Al-Basseet put it: “They are among our most efficient natural tools for climate resilience.”