K2kspg12 by Andrew Mead MBE

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Contents The Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foreword.....................................3 HRH Prince Salman visits the UK ..............................4 Prime Minister Cameron in talks with King Abdullah.....5 A Rather Special Year The Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday Parties....................................6 Visit Britain.......................................................... 11 Fashion in the Headlines ........................................ 16 The Brand behind the Brands ................................. 17 Hajj - Duty and Honour ......................................... 21 The Hajj Exhibition ............................................... 22 Saudi Minister leads delegation to the UK ................ 24 Sabic UK Petrochemicals........................................ 25 Developing Healthcare Links .................................. 29 100 Days to Go .................................................... 30 Atkins launch AlKhobar Office................................. 31 British Week at Lulu Supermarkets ......................... 32 Lord Mayor of the City of London in KSA .................. 34 Exchanging Experience on SME Development ........... 35 New Royal Navy Ship visits Jubail .......................... 36 British Council in Saudi Arabia ................................ 38 British Embassy Contacts ......... 42 Diary Dates ......... 44

British Prime Minister David Cameron visits Saudi Arabia and meets with The Custodian Kingdom to Kingdom

Foreword Welcome Sadly, this is the last time I shall be writing a foreword to Kingdom to Kingdom. Anne and I shall be leaving Saudi Arabia at the end of May. We knew when were asked to come here that it would be an interesting posting. But we did not know how "events" in the region would make it particularly absorbing, nor how rich and manyfaceted the bilateral relationship would prove to be, based in part on the warm personal relationships between Britons and Saudis. And nor did we realise how many friends we would meet here, whom we shall miss. It is also sad to be leaving at a time when so much is happening further to strengthen the links between the two Kingdoms. It was splendid news that the Prime Minister was able to visit Riyadh in January for talks with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah, as well as with HRH Crown Prince Naif and others. This was a valuable opportunity both to take stock of the partnership between our two countries, and to discuss the complex and challenging range of regional issues on which we as working as friends and as allies. Since then there have been several more senior visitors from the UK to Saudi Arabia, including the Lord Mayor of the City of London. Details of his and other visits can be found elsewhere on these pages. But by the time this magazine appears in print I hope there will have been even further high level exchanges. The high number of UK business visitors to the Kingdom at the moment is confirmation of the upward trend on the trade and investment front, with exports of UK goods and services to Saudi Arabia now running at over £6 billion, and many Saudis investing in the UK. And in the UK, we were delighted to welcome Prince Abd al Aziz bin Abdullah when he graciously opened the Hajj exhibition at the British Museum in January, as well as other visitors including HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Defence; Commerce and Industry Ministry HE Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and Justice Minister HE Mohammed Al Eissa. We are of course also glad to welcome the large number of Saudi students in the UK – the current number is about 20,000. I hope that they will always treasure good memories of their time in my country, and will want to return there many times, for tourism or for business, as already do some 65,000 Saudis each year. I have been delighted to see so much progress on cultural exchanges between our two countries. The Hajj exhibition apart, an exhibition on ‘The Horse: Ancient Arabia to the Modern World’ will open again at the British Museum, towards the 3 end of May. And on 23 April, it was a pleasure for me to open – jointly with Culture and Information Minster Dr Abdul Aziz Khoja the "Out of Britain" exhibition at the Kingdom to Kingdom

Foreword continued

National Museum, with a splendid collection of art from the British Council’s collection which will also be shown in Jeddah and in Al Khobar. It was also an honour and a pleasure for me in my final weeks to be able to host the annual Queen’s Birthday Parties in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. These events are always special, but this year’s were cause for particular celebration, given that this is the 60th year of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign, her Diamond Jubilee. I think that the Saudi people, with their own monarchy, understand the importance of such moments, and how monarchies embody national identity, and provide a reassuring continuity through the years and the changing times. I hope that many Saudis will be in London this summer, some to watch the Olympic and Paralympics games. I hope too that some Saudi athletes will return with medals. I was particularly pleased that members of the Saudi team for the Paralympics trained at the internationally-known Stoke Mandeville Hospital. I wish all of you success and happiness in the future – one in which I’m sure that the relationship between our two Kingdoms will continue to grow and flourish. Sir Tom Phillips KCMG British Ambassador 4

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DEFENCE MINISTER HRH PRINCE SALMAN BIN ABD AL AZIZ AL SAUD VISITS THE UK Defence Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Abd Al Aziz Al Saud made his first international trip in his new appointment to London in early April 2012. That he chose to make this trip as his first international one was a great honour and bears testament to the longstanding and close relationship between our two countries. In earlier discussions with Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips, Prince Salman had made his love of London clear and often said that it brought back fond memories. In true English fashion, the Easter weather was unpredictable but even the wetter periods were not bad enough to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. His Royal Highness met the Prime Minster at 10 Downing Street, the Foreign Secretary at the FCO and the Secretary of State for

Defence at Admiralty House as well as seeing other senior public officials whose work brings them into regular contact with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable Phillip Hammond MP also hosted a dinner in honour of his guest at Admiralty House which was attended by senior military and defence figures from both the UK and Saudi Arabia. HRH Prince Salman also took time to visit the ‘Hajj’ exhibition at the British Museum.

PRIME MINISTER CAMERON IN TALKS WITH KING ABDULLAH The year 2012 began with a visit by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron in January for talks with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin Abd Al Aziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince. This was his first visit to Saudi Arabia as Prime Minister. A lot of meticulous planning and preparation went in to organising the trip – discussions about the agenda; briefing papers; personality profiles; protocol issues; programme planning; flight arrangements. In the words of Sir Tom Phillips, HM Ambassador, "The visit went well, and demonstrated the depth of the strategic partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia and the value of such exchanges, as our leaders prepare to navigate the troubled waters of 2012. Such bilateral exchanges have to be kept confidential, particularly at a time when there are so many complex global and regional issues needing to be addressed, and on which both our countries are working as friends and allies." He also said that the Prime Minister was "impressed by the legendary hospitality of his hosts; by the wise analysis he heard of the pressures, challenges and opportunities in the region; by the determination, which he shares, further to develop the bilateral relationship; by what he saw of the magnificent project to restore and preserve the ruins of Diriyah; and – on his brief interlude from the long British winter – by the

crisp but clear and sunny Saudi weather." Saudi Arabia is Britain’s biggest trading partner in the Middle East with bilateral trade worth £15 billion a year and Saudi investment in the UK worth more than £62 billion. The two countries seek continue strengthening relations and pursuing mutual interests in a range of issues including energy security, counter-terrorism and political reform.

2012 is an important year for the UK, celebrating as it does both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 60 th year of Her Majesty the Queen’s reign – her Diamond Jubilee. This is only the second time in the history of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth that a monarch has celebrated a Diamond Jubilee, the only previous occasion being in 1897 during the long reign of Queen Victoria.

The Rt Hon David William Donald Cameron MP studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford gaining a First Class Honours Degree. He was first elected in 2001 as a member of Parliament for the Oxfordshire constituency of Witney. He won the Conservative leadership election in 2005 and following the 2010 general election he formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and assumed office on the 11 May 2010. Born in 1966, he married Samantha Sheffield in 1996 and has had four children. Their first child, Ivan, died aged six in 2002 from a rare combination of celebral palsy and epilepsy. Nancy was born in 2004, Arthur in 2006 and Florence in 2010. Kingdom to Kingdom

A RATHER SPECIAL YEAR • In Western Australia it’s celebrated on the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October.

er Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. Elizabeth was the first born child of The Duke and Duchess of York – later to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The Princess was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary after her mother Queen Elizabeth, her paternal grandmother Queen Mary, and her paternal great-grandmother Queen Alexandra. But she doesn’t just celebrate her birthday in April. Queen Elizabeth II has two birthdays. She also has an official birthday sometime in May, June or September depending on where you are in the world. • In the UK, her official birthday is the second Saturday in June. • In New Zealand it’s the first Monday in June. • In Canada it’s the second Monday on or before 24 May. • In most of Australia it’s the second Monday in June. 6

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The official birthday tradition began when Edward VII, the Queen’s great grandfather, decided that it was dull having a birthday in November and that it would be much nicer to celebrate when the weather was warmer and sunnier and he was the King, so he did. The Sovereign’s birthday was first officially marked in 1748 and the tradition of the official birthday was established. Her Majesty usually spends her actual birthday privately at Windsor with friends and family. Her official birthday is always marked rather more publicly with the Trooping of the Colour ceremony and a fly-past over Buckingham Palace. This years Trooping the Colour will take place on 16 June 2012. After the massed bands have performed a musical ’troop’, the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks. The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty, and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past. The Queen rides in a carriage back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace from a dais. The troops then return to barracks. Her Majesty then joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.

During the Queen’s Birthday, The Honours List is announced, the Union flag is flown from government buildings and gun salutes are fired at noon. But in 2012 there will be additional celebrations. Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place the following year on 2 June 1953. To mark 60 years of The Queen’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will centre around an extended weekend on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June. On Saturday 2nd June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby and at high water in the afternoon of Sunday 3 June 2012, up to a thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty to lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee. A concert organised by the BBC will be held at Buckingham Palace on Monday 4 June 2012. It will be attended by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other Members of the Royal Family. And on 4 June 2012 , thousands of beacons will be lit around the world on to commemorate her 60 year reign over the UK and as head of the Commonwealth. A Diamond Jubilee website, www.thediamondjubilee.org including two new photographs of The Queen, has been launched by the Royal Household. It features the latest news, photographs, announcements and historical information about The Queen’s 60-year reign.

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VISIT BRITAIN 2012 will be a very special year to visit Britain. The Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne and the UK is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The whole country is celebrating with events planned throughout the year. The Olympic Games are the biggest event in the world, attracting millions of spectators. They are just one of hundreds of special events happening in Britain this year. From the London 2012 Festival to WorldPride, from the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to the opening of the Harry Potter visitor attraction, there’s something to suit every age and interest. The mood of celebration will last the whole year and Britain’s hospitality industry is gearing up to offer all visitors an exceptional welcome. This article mentions just a few of the events you might want to consider when planning your visit.

Jubilee Weekend A special four-day Jubilee Weekend has been announced between 2 – 5 June. Official celebrations are likely to include parades, parties, concerts, festivals and military salutes. The Queen: Art & Image A new touring exhibition brings together 60 images of Elizabeth II spanning the 60 years of her reign. It started in Edinburgh in June 2011 and will have passed through Belfast and Cardiff before arriving in London in May 2012. The exhibition features formal painted portraits, official photographs, media pictures and contemporary artworks. Works by Beaton, Leibovitz, Annigoni and Warhol are on display - some for the very first time. The Royal Collection Throughout the centuries, Britain’s kings and queens have built or bought palaces to serve as family homes, workplaces or centre’s of government. There are dozens of these wonderful buildings in Britain, divided into three categories - Official Royal Residences, Private Estates and Unoccupied Royal Residences. All will be open to visitors for at least some if not all of the year 2012, featuring special events and exhibitions for the Diamond Jubilee. Garden Parties Among the highlights of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will be The Queen’s garden parties, held every year in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. You are unlikely to get an invite to one of these but

you can still visit the fabulous gardens – For information see www.royalcollection.org.uk. Special events and parties are also being planned at many of Britain’s most beautiful gardens – For information see www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk

Royal Heritage attractions Experience the romance of Royal Scotland. Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Royal Mile, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Balmoral Castle, Royal Deesside, Royal Lochnagar Distillery, Stirling Castle – the list goes on. Why not visit romantic seaside town of St Andrews, home to one of the world’s finest golf courses and oldest universities and more recently famous as the place where Prince William and Kate Middleton first met. Kingdom to Kingdom

VISIT BRITAIN - YOU’RE INVITED Take a Royal Ramble through the capital In London between Westminster Abbey (where Prince William & Kate got married) and Buckingham Palace (The Queen’s main residence) you can see the Royal residences of Clarence House and St James’ Palace and walk along Horse Guards Parade, home to the annual Trooping the Colour.

Splash in the sea like a King The names of several seaside towns in England end with the word Regis, meaning they have a strong connection with or were built for a past King. The most famous ones include Bognor Regis, just 70 miles south of London, and Lyme Regis and Melcombe Regis on Dorset’s world famous Jurassic Coast where the 2012 Olympic Games sailing competitions are being held. Climb an old castle. There are Royal castles all over Britain, many of them now wellpreserved ruins with fascinating visitor centres. Corfe Castle and Tintagel Castle in South West England, Sandringham Castle in the county of Norfolk in the East of England and Beaumaris in Wales are all great examples. Other castles that might be of interest to you might be Arundel Castle in Sussex and Alnwick Castle in Northumberland which was used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Many of these castles are living castles which are open to visitors year round. 12

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Visit a brand new Royal Borough. The south east London Borough of Greenwich joins an elite group of just four ‘Royal Boroughs’ in 2012 as part of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The honour recognises the long association that Greenwich – which is home to the Royal Observatory, the Old Royal Naval College and Greenwich Royal Park – has with the Monarchy. The other three Royal Boroughs are Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston-upon-Thames and Windsor & Maidenhead. See how the Royals were protected and pampered The Royal Armouries in Yorkshire, houses an amazing collection of arms, armour and artillery dating from antiquity to the present day. Royal Leamington Spa in Shakespeare’s country in the centre of England was where the Royal family used to ‘take the waters’ at the Royal Pump R o o m s , which are now home to an award winning cultural and tourism centre.

Re-live the Coronation The Jewel House in the Tower of London holds the greatest working collection of Crown Jewels in the world. The Imperial State Crown alone has 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies. It is on display alongside a film of the 1953 Coronation. London 2012 Festival The London 2012 Festival will be the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad building up to the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. It will open on 21 June 2012 – Midsummer’s Day and run until 9 September 2012 – the last day of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. In total, the festival will feature more than 1,000 events, providing an outstanding summer of arts and creativity in the UK. The events will feature some of the finest artists in the world, ranging from pop to film, from visual arts and fashion to theatre, from circus to carnival, from opera to digital innovation. Those already commissioned include Cate Blanchett, Toni Morrison, Olafur Eliasson, David Hockney, Mike Leigh, Jude Law and Damon Albarn, Rufus Norris and Jamie Hewlett. The events will be held all over the UK, many of them in front of world famous backdrops including the River Thames, Tower Bridge, Hadrian’s Wall, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, and Lake Windermere. Some of the events will be ticketed, and many will be free to attend. Here are some of the highlights:

World Shakespeare Festival Celebrating William Shakespeare as the world’s playwright, the World Shakespeare Festival will run from 23 April (which is Shakespeare’s birthday) to 9 September 2012, and celebrate how the world performs, teaches and engages with Shakespeare. Productions and events will take place across the UK, in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Newcastle/Gateshead, Wales and Scotland. River of Music On the eve of the Olympic Games in July 2012 there will be a weekend of free performances for over 500,000 people by musicians from all 205 Olympic and Paralympic nations at landmark sites along London’s River Thames. It will also feature presentations outside London at the Sage in Gateshead and Celtic Connections in Glasgow. David Hockney One of the 20th century’s most influential artists is working with

London’s Royal Academy of Arts on a special commission for the London 2012 Festival. Doctor Dee Singer songwriter Damon Albarn (frontman of Gorillaz & Blur), theatre director Rufus Norris and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett are collaborating on a new show for the London 2012 Festival. Key facts & figures about the 2012 Games The Olympic Games begin on Friday 27 July. They last for 17 days and will close on Sunday 12 August. The Paralympic Games begin just over a fortnight later on Wednesday 29 August. They last for 12 days and will close on Sunday 9 September The centrepiece will be the new Olympic Park, spanning 250 acres in East London and less than 15 minutes’ journey from central London by public

transport. Eleven other London venues are being used including world famous sports grounds like Wimbledon, Lord’s and Wembley and iconic landmarks such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. Sport is also taking place across the UK at celebrated football grounds like Old Trafford and Hampden Park and purpose built sailing and white water venues in South West and East England. Important note: Tour operators that have not been appointed by London 2012 or the relevant National Olympic or Paralympic Committee are not entitled to sell Olympic packages, to run promotions around the Games or to use the Olympic branding. A huge crackdown operation is underway but you should still be very wary of bogus websites and organisations claiming to sell ‘Olympic’ tickets. The official arrival airport for the 2012 Games will be London Heathrow but of course you can arrive into any of Britain’s 24 main airports, 11 main seaports or via train or road. See the VisitBritain website for more information. With over 120,000 hotel rooms to choose from, every visitor to London will be able to find a warm welcome during the Games. Less than half of the total stock has been contracted by Games organisers and their official partners and hospitality service providers. London’s halls of residence and other student accommodation will provide a further 30,000 Kingdom to Kingdom

www.visitbritain.com beds, offering a comfortable and affordable alternative for visitors on a budget. To book accommodation in London see London & Partners accommodation search. With such excellent transport links into London generally and the Olympic Park in particular, it is also very feasible for clients to stay outside of London. Many of Britain’s most attractive towns and cities are within two hours’ reach of the Olympic Park – for accommodation inspiration see VisitBritain wesbite There are lots of ways you will be able to enjoy the London 2012 Games without having a ticket. Some of the most iconic sports events can be watched from great vantage points at no cost. The Olympic Cycling Road Race (28/29 July) will start and finish on The Mall and race through six London Boroughs and some wonderful scenic parts of Surrey. The Olympic and Paralympic Marathons also start and finish in The Mall, passing

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many London landmarks. Visitors to Weymouth in South West England can enjoy the experience from the spectacular harbour and coastline. There will be giant screens set up across London at places frequented by visitors. A stop at one of these will form part of a great day’s sightseeing in the capital and you can expect to enjoy a great party atmosphere while sporting champions are being made and records are being broken. Live sites 19 different cities around the UK have been designated official London 2012 Live Sites. A programme of live events and performances will be staged around a giant screen showcasing the sporting action, with the party going on as long as the sports. The chosen cities are Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Dover, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Swansea, Swindon, Waltham Forest and Woolwich.

Torch Relays Lit in Olympia, Greece, the Olympic Torch will arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012. 8,000 Torchbearers will carry the Flame on a 70-day journey across all the UK’s nations and regions, with entertainment, shows and concerts marking its arrival in each place. The Paralympic Torch Relay will be much shorter, spanning the period between the closing of the Olympic Games and the opening of the Paralympic Games, but will also feature mass celebrations and events. Out and about venues across Britain are planning their own celebrations and many of them will show at least highlights of the sporting action and/or be running promotions to entice visitors during the Games. But there will still be plenty of quiet places across Britain for clients looking for a more tranquil vacation. For more information check out the VisitBritain destination guides. www.visitbritain.com

FASHION IN THE HEADLINES ...AND ON THE HIGH STREET Britain Creates Britain Creates 2012 is an artistic project which forms part of the fashion 2012 platform to celebrate the year of London’s hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The British Fashion Council and the Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation has been working with the Mayor of London, LOCOG and a panel of influential individuals across fashion and the arts to deliver a unique cultural programme and Gala event, which is one of the highlight events, as a part of the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration from 21st June and running until 9th September 2012, bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a celebration of excellence and performance and these partnerships have been commissioned to create

pieces of work to reflect these special values.

Prince Charles to host Fashion Event

The Britain Creates 2012 project will be the start of an ongoing artistic project and bursary to support and encourage further collaboration between fashion and other art forms. The money for the bursary will be raised through the auction of the pieces and through the proceeds of a Gala event.

He’s not exactly a trendsetter, but HRH Prince Charles, known for his c o n s e r va t i v e sense of style, is set to host an event for some of the nation’s most innovative figures in fashion.

“With its innovative designers, cutting edge street style and catwalk pizzazz, it’s no wonder London has been voted fashion capital of the world. We want to show the city at its creative best in 2012 and these intriguing collaborations will bring together some of the most exciting designers and artists working in Britain today. I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing work that is as challenging as it is inventive, showing the power of creative collaboration and adding to a summer like no other.” - Mayor of London Boris Johnson

The Prince, who has long been an ambassador for Savile Row tailoring, will be holding a summer reception for a number of menswear designers to gain a better understanding of the industry. It has been announced that the event will take place at St James’s Palace, one of London’s oldest palaces and will include those involved in London’s first Men’s Fashion Weekend running from Friday June 15 to Sunday June 17. But this isn’t Charles’ first foray into fashion, and he has had much involvement in the industry over the years. In 2009, for example, Charles was named the most fashionable man in the world, by Esquire magazine, beating OutKast rapper André 3000 and Barack Obama. Then editor of Esquire magazine, Jeremy Langmead, said at the time: ‘It’s the men who dress like grown-ups who really caught the judges’ eyes; as well as those who have developed their own distinctive style and stuck with it.’

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THE BRAND BEHIND THE BRANDS BFC names new Ambassador The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced the appointment in February of Alexa Chung as BFC Young Style Ambassador. Alexa, two times winner of the Vodafone British Style Award at the British Fashion Awards is the epitome of ‘London style’ and is known internationally as a fashion icon. Through her work as a TV presenter and model, Alexa Chung is a hugely influential figure in the fashion industry, and is a great representative for London as a leading creative fashion capital. Alexa regularly receives praise for championing London’s most up and coming design talents and having appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar; she has been a brand ambassador for multiple labels and muse to designers because of her distinctive personal style.

ith Headlines such as these, it’s no surprise to learn that the Fashion industry is an important part of Britain’s export success, but what does that have to do with Saudi Arabia? Well… take a stroll around almost any shopping mall in the Kingdom, especially those designed and built by Arabian Centres, or supported by Fawaz A. Al Hokair & Co and you could easily feel you were in London’s West End. International brands like Burberry, Marks & Spencer & Miss Selfridge are recognised

the world over and they have a significant presence in the Kingdom. Fawaz A. Al Hokair and Co (SJSC) is the brand behind the brands. Regarded by experts as the world’s largest pure-play retail franchise and joint-venture company, AlHokair dominates mid-market retailing across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan and USA. The responsibility for leading the team which manages 1204 stores, the majority of which are in Saudi Arabia, falls to British born serial retail executive, Mr Simon Marshall.

Alexa Chung comments "I always name London first when asked which city in the world has the best style. There’s something so inherently rebellious about how people naturally style themselves. Brits aren’t afraid to experiment or take risks with how they look, perhaps that’s why London has always been home to the most dynamic and daring designers in the world. I adore fashion and am proud that it’s now officially my job to champion those London designers both new and established that inspire me so much." Kingdom to Kingdom

THE BRAND BEHIND THE BRANDS continued

“The Saudi customer enjoys both fashion forward and fashion aware brands” comments Mr Marshall, “and our mission is to ensure that, whilst shopping in Riyadh, or Jeddah, the brand experience that they enjoy is exactly as they would find it in London, Montreal or Los Angeles.” Recognised by their brand partners globally as innovators, and astute business partners, Fawaz A. Al Hokair & Co. have spent the last two decades both creating and dominating the retail landscape: Successfully partnering with brands as diverse as Aldo to Zara, Burberry to Bershka, alongside their private label ‘FG4’, now approaching its sixtieth store opening in its first year of trade. The company has witnessed sustained, steady and successful growth through partnerships with a legendary line-up of UK and International retail brand formats. In 1991 Fawaz A. Al Hokair & Co signed their first master franchise agreement with Body Reform, selling a collection of natural beauty

products, followed quickly by Adams, Wallis, Alexon, Ann Harvey, La Senza, InWear, Zara, Barratts & Miss Selfridge. The iconic Marks & Spencer stores first arrived in 2001, Woolworths followed in 2003. By 2006 the Company floated 30% of its shares in an IPO. GAP & Clarks stores were added to the brand’s portfolio in 2009, followed in 2011 by the acclaimed joint venture with legendary British design guru, George Davis, to open ‘FG4’ in Saudi Arabia. And this year alone, the business will expand by a further four hundred stores and a clutch of globally significant retail brands. Some seventy percent of equity within Fawaz A. Al Hokair & Co. (SJSC) is held by its parent company, Fawaz Alhokair. Fawaz

Alhokair

currently

owns five million square feet of prime retail estate making them the single largest owner and operator of shopping malls across Saudi Arabia. In addition to the mall business the group owns over one hundred and fifty food outlets adding to the Group turnover of SR5 billion. So what’s the reason behind their obvious success? Chairman of the Group, Fawaz Alhokair says "We are a Saudi company, operating in eight countries worldwide, with some twelve thousand employees from thirty two nations. We deeply respect and hold close our rich cultural heritage, whilst looking towards a future, which reflects our changing world and the ambitions of our customers, employees and shareholders alike. We are extremely privileged to partner with some of the world’s great retail brands, and we are honoured to serve the Saudi Consumer and contribute to the growth of our domestic retail industry. Kingdom to Kingdom

HAJJ - Duty and Honour

ajj: Pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the five pillars of Islam. It remains an aspiration and a dream for every Muslim, capable of doing so, to fulfil this duty at least once in their lifetime. Seeking the opportunity to retrace the steps of the Prophet Abraham and visiting the holy sites in which the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) spent his lifetime preaching Islam is a prayer each Muslim asks of Allah. The British Museum’s recent exhibition: ‘Hajj: Journey to the heart of Islam’, in partnership with King Abdul Aziz Public Library, provided a fantastic insight into the history of this personal journey for pilgrims. The King, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Places and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia carry a huge responsibility for the Islamic World – ensuring that Muslims from the four corners of the world are able to perform this religious duty. We should not underestimate the effort and investment that is undertaken to provide an environment in which the largest annual religious gathering can take place – in 2011, over 3 million pilgrims gathered together on the plain of Arafat to seek forgiveness from Allah and thank him for the opportunity of visiting the Holy Land.

From a UK perspective, approximately 23,000 British pilgrims performed Hajj in 2011. For the 13th consecutive year, Her Majesty’s Government, arranged for a team of Foreign Office officials to provide consular support to its pilgrims in Makkah itself through the duration of Hajj. The work and objectives of this team have evolved over recent years, as the Saudi authorities improve the services they themselves provide to the pilgrims. Last year, the team provided appropriate support to those in need, ranging from providing emergency travel documentation to replace lost or stolen passports; supporting hospitalised pilgrims; advising British pilgrims who are victims of unscrupulous tour operators and unfortunately helping to provide logistical and bureaucratic arrangements for families of pilgrims who die whilst performing Hajj. All of this is done in close co-operation with the Saudi authorities who provide fantastic support to our consular team in Makkah. However, we are also seeing an annual increase in the numbers of British pilgrims coming to the Kingdom to perform Umrah. In 2011, there were over 65,000 British pilgrims for Umrah in the month of Ramadan alone. It remains one of the key priorities of the Consulate in Jeddah and the Embassy in Riyadh to ensure that British pilgrims are provided with the necessary support if and when consular problems arise. On a personal level, as the first Muslim HM Consul General in Jeddah, I have had the honour to visit both holy cities: Makkah and Madina. One cannot overestimate

the feeling of joy and tranquillity felt when you first set eyes on the Holy Mosque – the lifelong dream of every Muslim to visit the House of God. All are dressed in white, circumnavigating the Ka’aba in almost hypnotic fashion but with your eyes fixed firmly on the Ka’aba which takes centre stage in the Holy Mosque. Seeing is believing: only when in Makkah can one comprehend the scale of work undertaken by the Saudi authorities to provide an infrastructure to cope with the amount of pilgrims. The Holy Mosque in Makkah can currently accommodate 750,000 pilgrims at any given time and work is already underway to double the capacity. Similar expansion projects in Madinah will ensure that the Saudi authorities are able to provide for a greater number of pilgrims to undertake the once in a lifetime journey each year. One personal memory which will stay long in my thoughts, even when I eventually leave the Kingdom, is the honour of being invited to participate in the annual cleaning of the Ka’aba as Her Majesty’s Consul General in Jeddah. I was one of a fortunate few provided with the opportunity to step inside the Ka’aba for the ritual cleaning after the busy period of Hajj was complete – a spiritual journey which I will cherish. Finally, I wish all those planning to undertake Umrah or Hajj this year a safe and pleasant trip and also thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for undertaking their responsibility with such endeavour and vigour. Mohammed Shokat Kingdom to Kingdom

THE HAJJ EXHIBITION

he exhibition which opened on 26 January, 2012 at the British Museum in London, ‘Hajj: journey to the heart of Islam’, was a wonderful opportunity to understand something of the important role the Hajj has played and continues to play not only in Islamic life, but also the world’s history.

Above: Drawing of an old pilgrim. Ink and colours on paper. Late 1500s–early 1600s. Isfahan, Iran. Below: Curtain for the door of the Ka‘ba. Silver and silver-gilt wire on black silk with red silk appliqués. Dated AH 1263/AD 1847.

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Culmination of a lot of hard work by the British Museum, the Hajj exhibition showcased many exhibits on the subject from 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia. The exhibition also provided an insight into the Hajj experience and how it has developed over the centuries. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Neil MacGregor, the Director of the British Museum, welcomed HRH Prince Abd Al Aziz bin Abdullah as the representative of His Majesty the King and of the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and noted the huge responsibility shouldered by the Saudi authorities each year in coping with the ever increasing number of pilgrims.

The ceremony was also attended by the Prince of Wales, who spoke of the way that the King, the Custodian, has continued the long and generous tradition of hosting pilgrims in Makkah. HM Ambassador, Sir Tom Phillips who had travelled to London for the ceremony said, "Something like 20,000 British Muslims make the Hajj pilgrimage every year, and as their fellow citizen and as British Ambassador I value the help and support they are given by the Saudi authorities. I enjoyed too the mention in the exhibition of earlier Britons who had made the journey. Of some of them – such as Richard Burton – I was already aware. But I had not heard of Joseph Pitts, a convert to Islam who came as a slave on the Hajj, and who reported standing at Arafat in 1680 – ‘ It was a sight indeed to pierce one’s heart to behold so many thousands in their garments of humility . . . begging earnestly for the remission of their sins, promising newness of life . . .’. Nor was I was of Lady Evelyn Cobbold, the First British woman

Right: Cover for a mahmal or ceremonial palanquin made of red silk, with green and dark cream silk appliqués, embroidered with silver and silver-gilt wire. About 1867–1876. Cairo, Egypt.

to perform the Hajj." (Right) The exhibition presented a picture of the development of the Hajj over the centuries, with maps and exhibits that tracked the routes used by pilgrims, at first over land, but then by sea and air. Before modern travel, it could be a journey of many months, and of great risks – from bandits, or illness. Over time modern air travel has shortened travel, Makkah, and Madinah, have altered and grown generation by generation, though the journey and the pilgrimage endures. An interesting exhibit on display was a beautiful map commissioned by the Tudor

of iron filings around magnets to symbolise how pilgrims are drawn to the Ka’ba, as though by magnetic power. Queen Mary in about 1555, from a Portuguese cartographer, with cathedrals representing the cities of Makkah and Madinah! Some modern exhibits, included Ahmed Mater’s extraordinary use

The exhibition, which ran till mid-April, was well received and attended by Saudis and Britons - some of them learning about Saudi Arabia, and the Hajj, for the first time.

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SAUDI MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PAYS SUCCESSFUL FIRST VISIT TO THE UK The Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry, HE Dr Tawfik Al Rabiah, visited London at the invitation of the British Government from 21-23 March. This was the first visit to any EU capital by the Minister since his appointment in November 2011. Substantive meetings were held with Lord Green (Minister of State for Trade and Investment), Lord Howell (Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), Lord Marland (Chair of the British Business Ambassadors Network), and with the Lord Mayor of the City of London who hosted a working breakfast with financial sector representatives. The Minister and his delegation also attended a private dinner hosted by HRH The Duke of York at Buckingham Palace with UK investors, and participated in a lively business roundtable at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied to his meetings by the Saudi Ambassador in London, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, and the Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Abdullah Al-Mobty. Minister Al Rabiah was keen to emphasise the strengths of UK/Saudi relations and the opportunities for enhanced trade and investment in support of Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious economy diversification programme. He said that of 349 UK companies currently investing in the Kingdom, some 20% were in manufacturing and 80% in services. He drew attention to expansion of the mining and minerals sector, railway and airport development 24

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and specialist engineering skills for infrastructure development, as well as the ambitious healthcare and education sector development. He welcomed UK input but felt more could be done to expand cooperation and to promote exchanges of skills and technology in these key sectors. Much of the meeting with the Lord Mayor focused on support for the SME sector and UK experience of venture capital. The Minister was particularly interested in government policies to promote business start-ups and SME development. He paid an interesting visit to Tech-City in Shoreditch in East London which included discussions with a number of recent startup businesses in ICT and the creative industries. Erik Van der Kleij, Chief Executive of Tech-City, guided the Minister on his tour and agreed to cooperate in further UK/Saudi exchange visits to promote youth entrepreneurship and employability. Both Minister Al Rabiah and Lord Green stressed their commitment to a relaunch and

restructuring of the Saudi British Joint Business Council. Lord Green briefed the Minister on UK Trade and Investmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high value opportunity programme and support for innovative SMEs. The Minister was pleased to hear about the Saudi/UK SME partnership seminars supported by UKTI and SABB, and hosted by the Asharqia, Jeddah and Riyadh Chambers of Commerce to exchange experience on SME growth and access to finance. UKTI are now working with Saudi counterparts to follow up the numerous opportunities for further cooperation discussed on the visit. It is hoped the next meeting of the Saudi British Joint Business Council will take place when Lord Green visits Saudi Arabia later in the year.

SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS: INDUSTRY’S INFANT HERCULES Above: SABIC employs 700 highly-skilled staff on its UK facilities, including its worldleading LDPE plant (pictured).

he UK arm of one of Saudi’s most successful companies is flying the flag in Europe, enjoying a series of successes despite the ongoing difficult financial climate.

Only last year the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the UK’s largest body representing the country’s chemical and pharmaceutical businesses, voted SABIC’s UK enterprise as its Company of the Year. Such an accolade would have been a proud moment for even the most well-established of companies, but it had particular resonance for this relatively small but passionately proud part of SABIC’s industrial empire. For the achievement served to emphasise the ongoing success of a UK business that was added to the SABIC portfolio just five years earlier. SABIC’s UK business was formed in 2006 when the company purchased a facility on Teesside in the north-east of England featuring world-scale Olefins and Low Density Polyethylene (LPDE) plants, a significant Aromatics and logistics complex and a cross-country pipeline network. It was a statement of intent by one of the world’s leading petrochemicals companies. Under the guidance of its Chairman, His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud, SABIC was already a household name in Saudi. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of petrochemicals, SABIC has long been renowned throughout the Kingdom as the Middle East’s largest and most reliably profitable public company. Kingdom to Kingdom

In the UK, however, it was a different story. SABIC was an unknown quantity to anyone outside of the international chemical industry. But that was then and this is now – and word is spreading fast about one of Saudi’s proudest exports. Public perception and industry insight is transforming to recognise a thriving business that demonstrates ongoing growth and a sustained contribution to the UK economy. In the UK, SABIC operates from two sites just a few miles apart within Teesside’s industrial heartland. At Wilton International, the company operates a world-scale Olefins ‘cracker’, producing Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene and gasoline products. These are produced for worldwide customers with eventual enduses including plastic drinks bottles, CDs, car interiors and tyres. Also at Wilton, the LDPE plant – the world’s biggest of its type - produces Low Density Polyethylene, which is transported to customers throughout Europe and the rest of the world, where it is turned into the plastic packaging used to wrap everything from food to electrical goods. SABIC’s neighbouring complex at North Tees features an Aromatics plant and a hi-tech ethylene liquefaction facility. Aromatics are the building blocks to many products that make our lives easier and safer, including medicines, food packaging, sports equipment and computers. 26

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Above: The sprawling industrial site at Wilton, base for a large part of SABIC’s UK facilities, is surrounded by countryside, coast and residential areas.

There are also substantial logistical facilities, including major storage capacity and distribution services at North Tees. The nearby deep water complex of Tees Port is the thriving base for the company’s shipping services distributing products to customers around the world. Working in collaboration with its customers and partners, the UK arm aims to play a very significant role in helping the industrial giant achieve its 2020 vision of being the preferred world leader in chemicals. SABIC is committed to continuing to manufacture worldleading products from its Teesside base whilst surpassing industry best practice targets in safety and environmental standards.

It is a commitment that has not gone unrecognised. Apart from the prestigious Company of the Year accolade, the past 12 months has also seen the business accredited with a series of external awards. Achievement of the Diamond Award for Safety Performance from the CIA was celebrated within the business in a typically understated manner. For the 700 employees and 400-strong contractor workforce, the award simply reemphasised what they already knew – that the company prides itself on looking after its people through world class safety standards that go way beyond the industry norm. The Diamond Award recognised the company’s achievement of 10 successive years of outstanding safety performance measured in terms of lost-time incidents, operating above the industry standards throughout the complete decade.

The accolade was one of a number of regional and global awards that have recognised the company’s exacting commitment to safety including one that recognised its Teesside contractors as having the highest annual safety performance within the worldwide SABIC Corporation. And an outstanding commitment to training and development that allows its people to maximise their potential was recognised with the achievement of the Cogent Gold Standard. A rigorous year-long assessment resulted in the company being recognised by Cogent – the UK’s sector skills council for the process industry - and the National Skills Academy for Process Industries as being a Gold Standard business in technical and compliance training and in the competence of its production technicians, first line managers and shift management teams.

Below: The Aromatics Plant at SABIC’s North Tees site in the UK.

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Above: SABIC’s world-scale Olefins 6 ’cracker’ at Wilton on Teesside

Mark Williams, SABIC’s UK Site Director

UK Site Director Mark Williams said: "The people of Teesside are deeply proud of our role representing the global SABIC Corporation within the UK. We are confident of achieving continued growth and success to play our own part in helping SABIC achieve our 2020 vision of being the world’s leading chemical company." An ongoing commitment to a leading apprenticeship programme has resulted in several prestigious regional awards, while a structured graduate programme is helping to develop the company’s future leaders. Extensive work promoting industry to schoolchildren as a challenging and fulfilling career choice has further enhanced the company’s blossoming reputation, both within the industry and in the local community. Corporate social responsibility is high on the agenda too. SABIC is committed to being a good neighbour on Teesside. Support for local community projects ranges from charity to the environment, with many thousands of pounds donated annually to local good causes. The company has recently shown its support for the local community by helping to sponsor the 28

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centenary celebrations for the Tees Transporter Bridge, a local landmark that has become the symbol of Teesside, while May’s SABIC Riverside Run will see the business encouraging healthy lifestyles through the sponsorship of a popular local road race. Along with its employees and contractors, the business indirectly supports many thousands of jobs, making it a key player in the local economy. Many of those who owe their livelihood to SABIC on Teesside live in Middlesbrough, a town that was recently in the running to achieve city status as part of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations. Back in the 19th Century, Middlesbrough was the UK’s fastest growing town, enjoying an iron and steelinspired population boom that resulted in then Prime Minister William Gladstone describing it as an "infant Hercules". To those who have witnessed the blossoming of SABIC UK petrochemicals division, it is a phrase that looks ever more appropriate to describe this relative newcomer to the industrial landscape. For SABIC is still an infant in the UK – but it is an infant Hercules.

DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE LINKS BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS

wo CEOs of new Medical Cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited the UK in March this year for a two day programme of visits to key NHS organisations. Dr Nahar M. Al-Azemi is the CEO of the Prince Mohamed Medical City to be built in the northern Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia and Dr Ahmed Alnammi is the CEO of the King Faisal Medical City in Abha in the south. The visitors were received by Lord Darzi, the UK’s Business Ambassador for Healthcare and the Life Sciences, and six major NHS Foundation Trusts providing acute healthcare, training and research. This provided an opportunity to progress promising discussions around clinical and training partnerships, health information systems and support services in commissioning the new medical cities. The tour started with a visit to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where both civilian and military patients are treated. Unique advanced quality and information systems developed through close engagement with clinical staff were presented, as well as their experience in successfully commissioning a large new build hospital similar in scale to the Medical Cities. This was followed by visits to the world-leading Moorfields Eye, Imperial College and Kings College Hospitals in London, supported by the Royal Brompton and Royal Marsden specialist hospitals. The CEOs were very impressed by the leading edge simulation suites for training at Imperial College, including a full operating theatre to simulate teamwork as well as clinical technique.

Dr Alnammi and Dr Al-Azemi at Moorfields Children’s Eye Hospital in London hosted by John Pelly, Chief Executive (far left).

Kings brought together an impressive display of clinical innovation and expertise, a highlight being the work on major trauma systems which has recently saved many lives through a new approach to managing these patients across London. In mid-April in Riyadh, a follow-up meeting was hosted by Dr Nahar Al-Azemi involving Lord Darzi and HE Dr Mohammed Khoshim, Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development. Fruitful discussions were held on further developing the links between the health systems of both countries and especially in the areas of medical training, nursing and allied health professional staff. Lord Darzi congratulated Dr Nahar on his role as CEO of the Prince Mohammed Medical city and Dr Ahmed Alnammi on his role as CEO of the King Faisal Medical city. He praised the Ministry of Health on its vision for the development of tertiary health services in all regions of the Kingdom and in ensuring access to the highest levels of health services for the Saudi population. Planning is now underway for the first meeting of the new KSA-UK Working Group on Healthcare to be held in Riyadh on 16 June. UK Health Minister, Simon Burns will head the UK’s delegation to this.

Below: Dr Ahmed Alnammi with Dame Julie Moore, Chief Exec of University Hospitals Birmingham. Centre: Dr Nahar M. Al-Azemi with Lord Darzi, UK Business Ambassador for Life Sciences. Right: Chris InnesHopkins, Director UKTI Riyadh with Dr Mohammed Khoshaim, Vice Minister for Planning in the Ministry of Health

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100 DAYS UNTIL THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES: RIYADH CELEBRATES With only 100 days remaining until the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, British Embassies around the world celebrated the milestone in different ways. In Riyadh, the focus in the afternoon was on British and Saudi school children who gathered at the Embassy for a 100m sprint around a specially marked course.(and then stayed on for tea) In the evening, representatives from Atkins - the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 games - joined staff from the Embassy to unveil a painting celebrating the occasion. The painting, a collaborative work created by Nina Amin, Ibrahim Khabrani, Mohamed Al-Hamran and Zahra Alzailaei had been commisioned by the Embassy, with sponsorship from Atkins, to reflect aspects of both Kingdoms. Guests at the reception included members of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committees. Speaking at the reception Richard Barrett, Atkins Managing DirectorMiddle East & Africa said: “Over the last six years, our people have spent the equivalent of almost 450,000 days designing, planning and managing engineering projects which will be vital to the success of the London 2012 Games. It is a great honour to be able to celebrate the 100 days to go milestone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where our expertise is also playing an important role to deliver key infrastructure projects.” 30

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The painting was also on show at the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in Riyadh. Sir Tom Phillips said: “It’s certainly a matter of pride for me that the capital of my country will host this year’s Olympics, and I know from the visit I made to the Olympics site towards the end of last year how thoroughly London is preparing for this task. In the words of Prime Minister David Cameron: ‘I know Britain will be looking its best. We’ve built

brilliant new venues - on time and within budget. We’ve got our city ready, and we are looking forward to welcoming the world.’” The Ambassador also highlighted that the global legacy of the London 2012 Games, saying: "The legacy of London 2012 is not limited to Britain. The International Inspiration programme is creating opportunities for more than 12 million people in 20 countries around the world."

ATKINS LAUNCH NEW AL KHOBAR OFFICE

Nina Amin The lead artist Nina, who composed the theme for the painting celebrating 100 Days to the London 2012 Games said, “It was interesting to compose a concept linking England and Saudi Arabia through a painting. The motifs picked were landmarks which immediately identify London & Riyadh with Islamic design motifs reflecting Saudi & Arab culture. I enjoyed giving an abstract effect to the painting by drips and broken calligraphy in bright colors." Riyadh based, Nina has experimented in various media including sculptures, but now mostly works in oil on canvas. Her paintings depict sub continental and middle eastern themes and culture and are full of color showcasing the beauty of eastern culture in vibrant colors. Over the last 10 years Nina has developed a passion for calligraphy and experimented with different styles. She has held many successful solo and group exhibitions; in the Diplomatic Quarter and more recently in May 2012, her solo show – Flow at Alhamra Compound – has been very well received.

Above L to R: Rob Ruse, Andy Wise, HMA Sir Tom Phillips, Tim Heading, Eda Almusawi, Keith Clarke and Head of the British Trade Office, David Harries.

Leading UK consultancy Atkins has opened an office in Al Khobar from where it will deliver engineering design expertise throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The office is Atkins’ third in the Kingdom, complementing those in Riyadh and Jeddah.

in the Eastern Province such as Dammam 3 Industrial City and Ras Al-Khair Industrial City (RIC). The company’s new office will provide Atkins with a permanent base in Eastern Saudi Arabia from which to deliver its full range of services across a wide range of sectors.

The launch event was hosted by the British Ambassador at the Residence of David Harries, OBE, Head of the British Trade Office in January. Atkins’ former chief executive Keith Clarke delivered his Brunel International Lecture entitled "Beyond rhetoric – delivering a low carbon society", that set out Keith’s views on the challenges of tackling climate change from the point of view of the engineering design sector.

Atkins and respected architect Mohamed Harasani formed a partnership in 2012 which licences the company to deliver its complete range of design services across the Kingdom, including construction supervision work. The partnership unites Atkins’ full breadth of technical expertise and multinational experience with Mohamed Harasani’s deep professional knowledge of the local market.

Tim Paul, General Manager for Atkins’ Khobar office, said: "We were delighted with the enthusiastic response from our guests, which illustrates the great appetite for establishing relationships and partnerships that will help support His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision." As one of the world’s leading engineering and design consultancies, Atkins is already delivering significant projects

Atkins has been working in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s, ranging from strategic investment studies for SABIC to key defence-related projects. More recently, the company’s work has included: transport infrastructure projects such as Makkah Metro; building design such as the Riyadh Tower; and high profile masterplanning exercises such as Oasis City, Sub-Centre East in Riyadh. Kingdom to Kingdom

BRITISH WEEK AT LULU HYPERMARKETS April was a busy month, and in addition to the 100days to the London 2012 Games celebrations, Lulu Hypermarkets in Riyadh launched the British Week at Riyadh and Al Khobar. Sir Tom Phillips, British Ambassador and Lady Anne Phillips inaugurated the British Week in Riyadh which was a week-long promotion of the best of British food products the store has to offer. Lulu’s offered more than 3,000 exclusively imported British products for the first time in the Kingdom. This festival allows both Saudis and expats to enjoy some of the popular food products from UK, which most of them are familiar with because of their travel to UK. These products will continue to be available at Lulu’s even after the weeklong promotion. Sir Tom Phillips, HM Ambassador said, "We are happy that Lulu may soon be in the UK where they are in the process of setting up a large logistics centre in Birmingham targeting to double their export, which will also contemplate the possibility of a retail unit. This is an occasion for us to celebrate

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the partnership between the United Kingdom and Lulu Saudi Hypermarkets through the British Week in Riyadh." The British week also showcased the GREAT campaign which is an initiative designed to promote the UK abroad, and aims to deliver long-term economic benefits from the unprecedented level of interest generated by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Speaking on this occasion in Riyadh, Shehim Mohammed Unni, Lulu’s Regional Director said "The UK is an important

and growing market for us. The new distribution centre called "Lulu Sourcing and Logistics Centre" will be opened in UK and will be an integral part of our commitment to the UK. This centre will be located in Birmingham, the second most populous city in the UK. The prime focus of the British week is to portray Lulu Hypermarket as a unique shopping experience for its customers. In the Eastern province, The British Week was opened by David Harries, Head of the British Trade Office.

LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONDON’S VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA 24 -29 FEBRUARY 2012

lderman David Wootton, Lord Mayor of the City of London visited Saudi Arabia from 24 -29 February as part of a tour which took him to Jeddah and the Eastern Province accompanied by Sheriff Alan Yarrow and by a 25 strong business and PPP (Public Private Partnership) delegation. The Lord Mayor’s key role is to promote the businesses within the City of London and the services it has to offer. He is the “Ambassador” for the UK based financial services industry, headquartered in the City, but including the regional financial centres such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol. This was the Lord Mayor’s first visit to Saudi Arabia in his official capacity On his trip to Riyadh the Lord Mayor called on the Governor of Riyadh, HRH Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Minister of Housing, the Deputy Minister of Finance and the Deputy Governor of SAMA. He also visited the impressive construction site of the King Abdullah Financial Districy where he was received by the Governor of the Public Pension Agency and met representatives of UK companies involved in project design and engineering.. The King Abdullah Financial District is one of the largest infrastructure projects currently being developed in Riyadh. When completed it will house the Capital Markets Authority, the Tadawul Stock Exchange, the headquarters of many banks and financial services providers, and a new Financial Training Academy. In Jeddah, the Lord Mayor and his delegation called on the President of the Islamic

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Development Bank, HE Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali, who accepted an invitation to visit the UK, , and the Mayor of Jeddah HE Hani Abu Ras to discuss UK participation in urban regeneration projects. A visit was also made to the General Authority of Civil Aviation to discuss Saudi/UK cooperation in airport development, and the Lord Mayor attended a lunch hosted by Saudi Binladin Group.The calls on GACA and the Mayor of Jeddah included discussion of opportunities for public private partnerships in infrastructure development. In Al Khobar, the Lord Mayor opened a joint Saudi/ UK Partnerhip Seminar on SME Development at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce supported by UK Trade & Investment and Saudi British Bank (SABB). He also called on the Governor of Eastern province, HRH Prince Mohamed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, and had a useful discussion with the Vice President (Finance) at Saudi Aramco. It was noted that some 50% of Saudi Aramco’s

EXCHANGING EXPERIENCE ON SME DEVELOPMENT specialist engineering services are sourced via the UK, and that Saudi Aramco make good use of London as a source of financial and professional services. The Lord Mayor said at the conclusion of his visit that: “Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is hugely important and this longstanding partnership is one that I was pleased to continue building upon during my visit. I was highly impressed by the development of the King Abdullah Financial District and the ambitious plans for economic diversification. . London remains a leading global financial centre and the single most internationally focused financial market place in the world. We have a wealth of expertise and innovative financing models that can mobilise the two-way flow of capital. We view this relationship very much as one of sharing skills and experiences to grow both our financial sectors. Closer partnership will support Saudi Arabia’s goals of economic diversification, growth, and infrastructure development.”

UK Trade and Investment has just completed the Saudi/UK SME Partnership Programme, a joint venture with the Saudi Chambers of Commerce in Al Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh. Three seminars were kindly supported by Saudi British Bank (SABB) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Gulf Prosperity Fund, and managed by Veronica Plunkett at the British Embassy. The aim of the programme was to address some of the challenges of growth facing local SMEs. At each seminar three workshops focused specifically on managing finance, planning for growth and marketing for growth. Moreover, the seminars acted as a valuable meeting point for the exchange of policies and practice in supporting SMEs to grow in both the UK and Saudi Arabia. Speakers from Exemplas, the largest provider of small business support in the UK, contributed enormously, as did business advisers from SABB and local entrepreneurs and SME support organisations. The seminar at Asharqia Chamber on 29 February was opened by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Wootton, and the seminar in Riyadh on 27 March was opened by Lord Marland, Chair of UKTI’s Business Ambassadors Network. British Consul-General Mohammed Shokat presided at the opening of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce seminar on 25 March. Speaking at the opening of the Riyadh seminar with Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy, Chair of the Riyadh Chamber, Lord Marland said: "SMEs are the beating heart of the British economy. Both the UK and Saudi governments are committed to supporting small business growth

and encouraging entrepreneurship. By sharing best practice, we hope to improve our understanding of what SMEs really need to help them grow". Over 450 participants, mostly small business owners attended the sessions. There was a high turnout and enthusiastic participation by women entrepreneurs, particularly in Al Khobar and Jeddah. The programme represented a commitment by the UK public and private sectors to support Saudisation through encouraging entrepreneurship, exchanging good practice and transferring skills. It provided a useful forum for sharing knowledge on SME development, and brought a number of support organisations together and around the same table. It also allowed small business leaders to discuss what more can be done to support SME growth in both countries, and highlighted similar challenges faced in both Saudi Arabia and the UK. It is hoped the programme will be followed by other entrepreneurship development activities within the framework of UK/Saudi trade development, and with the support of Chambers of Commerce and UK and Saudi investors. Kingdom to Kingdom

INAUGURAL VISIT OF THE ROYAL NAVY’S MOST MODERN SHIP HMS Daring is the first of the Navy’s six £1bn Type 45 destroyers and she is the first of class to deploy. In preparaion she conducted workups with an American Carrier battle Group back in 2010 and has gone through a series of upgrade programmes to ensure she met the high standards required for deploying RN units. Daring is designed to create a defensive shield around a task force – and troops ashore – protecting them from air attack. The ship was launched on a bitterly cold day at BAE Systems’ yard in Scotstoun on the Clyde in February 2006 by her sponsor, the Countess of Wessex. The vessel has a displacement of 8,000 tons has a top speed of 30 knots, has a ships company of 190 and has a range of 7,000 nautical miles. In January this year a new chapter in the history of the Royal Navy began when Daring deployed for the first time. The Portsmouth-based warship – hailed by her commanding officer as ‘staggeringly capable’ – set sail for a seven month deployment east of Suez safeguarding sea lanes and working with the UK’s allies in the region. She has been participating in support Operation Kipion and has been providing support to Commander Task Force (CTF) 152. CTF 152 is responsible for ensuring the security of the commercial activities in the Arabian Gulf and in doing so promotes stability and prosperity in the Gulf. This engagement is an indication of the commitment 36

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of the UK and coalition partners to the security and stability of the region. During the visit of Daring to Jubail ( 28-30 April) the ship achieved a great deal of engagement with the Royal Saudi Naval Force. The Commanding Officer Captain Guy Robinson hosted a reception onboard which was attended by Rear Admiral Abdul Kareen Al Olou, The Eastern Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Maclough, The Commandant of the Naval Academy and approximately 30 of their staff. The UK was represented by Mr Roddy Drummond the Deputy Head of Mission, Brigadier Alasdair Wild the Defence Attaché and Commodore Simon Ancona the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander based in Bahrain. Officers from the Royal Saudi Naval Force based

in Jubail took the opportunity to look around the ship to investigate the capabilities of the fighting edge in Naval technology. The Ship’s Company enjoyed a game of football against the Eastern Fleet and Rugby against an expat team based in Al Khobar. They were also hosted at various compounds in Jubail and Al Khobar. Interesting Facts The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square metres of steel. Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people. She has 404 telephones (mainly internal) and is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 three times. The Sea Viper air defence missile is the size of a public telephone box, weighs almost as much as a small car, and from launch accelerates to a speed twice that of Concorde in under 10 seconds.

STRONG PRESENCE FOR UK UNIVERSITIES

ENGLISH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. It is not unusual to be sitting in a café in Riyadh and be surrounded by people all glued to their smartphones. Saudi Arabia is actually at the leading edge of smarphone penetration – mobile subscriber penetration is set to reach an incredible 216% by 2015 according to a recent report on researchandmarkets.com. Saudi Arabia is also in the top three large markets for mobile language learning applications along with Hong Kong and Thailand.

Sir Tom Phillips visiting the British universities exhibiting at the 3rd International Exhibition & Conference on Higher Education in Riyadh, 1720 April. The event has rapidly become a major international exhibition, and attracted more than 100,000 visitors over three-and-a-half days. The theme of this year’s event was "World Class Teaching Universities". 75 UK universities took part, meaning the UK was the largest overseas delegation for the third year running. In total more than 440 institutions took part. The UK receives the second largest number of King Abdullah Scholarship Programme funded Saudi students, and 4 of the world’s top ten universities are British. A Memorandum of understanding was signed during the exhibition between London’s Imperial College and Dammam University.

Vocabulary, grammar and listening are often mentioned as the most difficult elements for learners to improve when learning a language. It is commonly acknowledged that without sufficient vocabulary and grammar structures, it is difficult to convey a lot of meaning. Learners also realise that an ability to listen well is key in communication. With so many demands on their time in the classroom, teachers often leave the responsibility of mastering these three areas to the student and most practice and learning takes place outside the classroom. Mobile learning provides a wonderful opportunity for learners in this respect. The key advantages of mobile phone technologies are well documented, especially the possibility for “anywhere, anytime” learning, of transcending the barriers of a classroom, and having access to an “always on” device. Mobile phones provide an efficient use of waiting time for spontaneous and fun just-in-time learning activities. These aspects of mobile learning encourage high-level learning, as the users are able to apply the information right away — something particularly useful for language learning where repetition and use are key to long term retention. Neil Ballantyne recently carried out a small-scale case study with learners of English in Hong Kong to find out more about how language learners use and perceive mobile phones for education. As

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which directly address learners’ concerns about mastering vocabulary and grammar.

the case study progressed it became clear that language learning was taking place aided by the tools afforded by the phones. However, it was not just the obvious referential tools that provided learning opportunities and specific language learning tools; there were strong links between learning and social networking tools as well as incidental learning through other non-language specific apps.

MyWordBook 2 is an innovative new language learning tool from the British Council and Cambridge University Press that provides learners with the most important vocabulary for their personal needs. Learn, Practice and Review sections provide learning opportunities with words presented with audio, images, example sentences, definitions, notes and Arabic translations. The app is free to download and comes pre-installed with three packs of sample words at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Other packs are available in the app store. All word data comes from Cambridge University Press’ English language learner dictionaries a world-leading publisher of English learning materials. MyWordBook 2 allows you to practice the language through adaptive activities. The app learns as you do and tests you on the words you need most. Learners can personalise the application by creating their own vocabulary flashcards.

The British Council has been working on ways to help learners improve the key areas of listening, vocabulary and grammar for some time and now have a range of free English language learning apps available from Apple, Android, Ovi, Bada and Blackberry marketplaces, just search ‘british council’ on your marketplace or store to see what is there. The popular LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts app is a series of short programmes for learners to download and listen to on their phones and is available on all devices. Big City Small World is an audio soap opera which follows the lives of a group of regular customers at a café in London. There are several series and the cartoons that accompany them are good fun. These help learners build listening competence.

LearnEnglish Grammar is an interactive grammar practice app designed for all learners from beginner to advanced. Learners can achieve better grammar accuracy with questions across ten unique activity types, from fill-in-the-blanks, reordering words and labelling. The free app comes with sample questions at the Elementary and Intermediate levels. Users can download over 1000 questions at Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced levels for even more practice. There is also a test section which incorporates scores, times and a breakdown of performance on each question. Help files are provided in Arabic. It is now available on apple and Android devices and will soon be available on Nokia and Blackberry.

Two new apps have been released recently

Seamus Harkin

Kingdom to Kingdom

"OUT OF BRITAIN” - 100 YEARS OF BRITISH LANDSCAPE ART competition will encourage new Saudi art responding to the theme of Saudi landscape art which will be exhibited in London later this year. This will enable UK audiences to learn more about contemporary Saudi art and society.

Above: Photograph by Rigel Klingman

ut of Britain, an art exhibition featuring over 50 artworks representing 100 years of British landscape art opened 23 April 2012 at the National Museum in Riyadh. In a unique collaboration, the works of art were jointly selected by National Museum staff and British Council, from the British Council’s own Art Collection, which is the 5th largest collection of contemporary British art. This was the first exhibition’s world premiere, and it is already booked to tour Jeddah, AlKhobar, Kuwait, Oman, Sharjah, and Bucharest. The exhibition, continues the long-standing collaboration between the British Council the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and the National Museum. There is a virtual tour of the exhibition, and it is supported by a month-long programme of public lectures, workshops for artists and teachers, as well as a nationwide online art competition. The art 40

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The exhibition was opened by the Minister of Culture and Information HE Abdul Aziz Khoja, the British Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips, and Adrian Chadwick, Director of the British Council in Saudi Arabia. The British ambassador expressed delight that cultural relations between the two countries are

today stronger than ever. He cited examples including the recent British Museum Hajj exhibition, an exhibition in May also at the British Museum conceived as a Diamond Jubilee gift to the Queen entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Horse: Ancient Arabia to the Modern Worldâ&#x20AC;?, and the growing collaboration between the two Kingdoms museums.

Below: Adrian Chadwick, Director British Council Saudi Arabia(left), shows some of the exhibits to the Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, The British Ambassador Sir Tom Phillips and Director of the National Museum, Dr. Abdullah bin Saad Al Saud.

Above: by Eric Ravilious

Kingdom to Kingdom

British Embassy - Riyadh

Tel: 01 488 0077 Fax: 01 488 2373

Sir Tom Phillips KCMG Her Majesty’s Ambassador

Roddy Drummond Deputy Head of Mission

Brig. Alasdair Wild MBE Defence Attaché

Steven Dick Press & Political Officer

Paul Stevens H.H. Consul

Chris Innes-Hopkins Director of Trade and Investment, Saudi Arabia

Peter Broom First Secretary, Head of Trade & Investment Section

Edwin Samuel First Secretary Defence & Security

Syed K Zaman Trade & Investment Officer

Mohammed Farooq Trade & Investment Officer

Saad Al Adhami Trade & Investment Officer

Promila Caughey Marketing Manager Saudi Arabia and MENA

Selina Welham PA to First Secretary Defence & Security

Kingdom to Kingdom

British Consulate-General - Jeddah Tel: 02 622 5550 Fax: 02 622 6249

Mohammed Shokat HM Consul General

Michael Cockle Deputy Consul-General & Head of Trade & Investment Section

Omar Saeed Trade & Investment Officer

Abdul Muqtadar Trade & Investment Officer

Yamish Yakoob Trade & Investment Assistant

Vaqar Ahmed Alvi Trade & Investment Assistant

British Trade Office - Al Khobar Tel: 03 882 5300

David Harries Head of Trade Office

Bill Kelly Deputy Head of Trade Office

Sharif Mousa Snr. Trade & Investment Officer

Mumtaz Abdulla Trade & Investment Officer

Fahad Anees Trade & Investment Assistant

Fax: 03 882 5384

General Enquiries in respect of this publication may be made to the compiler: Andrew Mead at MMS Ltd.,Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 3YB e-mail: andrew@sbtd.co.uk Tel: 0044 7940 559 925 Fax: 0044 1249 460 602 KSA Mob: 00966 506 271 151

In Saudi Arabia, contact Suresh at Jumana House, Tel: 01 292 0451 Fax: 01 472 6962 Kingdom to Kingdom

UKTI Events Calendar 2012 MAY 13 - 15 22 - 23 27 - 29

WEPOWER Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference Inward Mission visit to GACA

Dhahran Riyadh Jeddah

JUNE 17 - 20 18 - 20 18 - 22

MEDEXPO Environment Trade Mission to UK IsDB procurement Seminar

Jeddah London, Birmingham Jeddah

JULY 08 - 11 27

Air Show Opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games

Farnborough

SEPTEMBER 01 - 05 TBA 23 - 24 12 - 27 30 - 03 Oct

Mass Transport / Rail Trade Mission Saudi British Medical Forum Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Exhibition (SAOGE) Invest Northern Ireland Trade Mission UKTI / ABTI Trade Mission

Kingdomwide Riyadh Dammam Kingdomwide Riyadh / Jeddah

OCTOBER 01

Opportunity Arabia (MEA Conference)

London

NOVEMBER 11 - 14 Saudi Build

Riyadh

DECEMBER 02 - 05

Al Khobar

Saudi British Energy Week

Please Note: All dates are provisional. Please verify with Embassy staff before making any commitments. or email: commercial.riyadh@fco.gov.uk for more information

British Business Groups in Saudi Arabia RIYADH GROUP FOR BRITISH BUSINESS Chair: Gary Richardson Tel: 0559 640 157 chairman@rgbb.org

Secretary: Brigitte Davenport Tel: (01) 488 0088, ext 2263 Fax: (01) 488 2373 E-mail: secretary@rgbb.org Website: www.rgbb.org

BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP, JEDDAH Chairman: Capt Stephen Thomas Secretary: Anita Wright Tel: 0503 270 957 Tel: (02) 662 4000 ext 2366 Fax: (02) 622 0090 steve@fadallah.com E-mail: bbg.office@bbg-jed.org Website: www.bbg-jed.org BRITISH BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, EASTERN PROVINCE Chairman: Geoff Fennah Tel: (03) 357 4912 Fax: (03) 358 9801 geoff.fennah@saudichevron.com

Kingdom to Kingdom

Secretary: Julie Czarnota Tel: (03) 882 5288, ext 1651 Fax: (03) 882 5384 E-mail: secretary@bbaep.com Website: www.bbaep.com

The 2012 edition SAUDI / BRITISH TRADE DIRECTORY is available from The British Embassy, British Consulate or British Trade Office