GULF NEWS ROUND UP

 The World Cup superseded all expectations and saw various Arabic highlights – who can forget Saudi beating the now World Champions, Argentina, and Morocco coming 4th.

• Qatar Tourism won several prestigious international accolades for its global campaign, ‘Experience a World Beyond’.

• Qatar will also have another Guiness World Record added in 2023, with Ahmed Al Shahrani achieving the fastest crossing of Qatar by wheelchair, taking one day, 17 hours and 55 minutes to complete the feat.

• Lion Messi was centre of the “Bisht” storm that many Western countries didn’t understand – he was actually offered USD 1 million for the garment after the final.

 Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr and has already relocated to Riyadh. Of his new signing he said the following: “I want to give a different vision of this country and football.” – making this a huge win for Saudi Arabia.

• Finally tourists can now experience Diriyah, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The original home of the Al Saud family, and the seat of governance of the First Saudi State. Visitors will be able to walk through a vast heritage site of restored mudbrick palaces, mosques, and beautifully curated galleries – and did we mention that DJ Khalid visited recently?

• A 70-work Andy Warhol exhibition is headed to Saudi Arabia this winter as part of the Arts Al Ula Festival – it is due to open on February 17, 2023

• In Al Ula a photographer called Khaled Al Enazi did spot a giant fish-shaped rock emerging from the sands

• The first luxury island destination for NEOM was also announced and is called Sindalah. It will be home to superyachts and high-end apartments. This will be the main gateway to the Red Sea and welcome guests from early 2024.

 Dubai has scrapped alcohol taxes which was very much welcomed by the hospitality industry.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Don’t forget the following important dates for the region:

14th February - Sports Day in Qatar

22nd February - Foundation Day in Saudi – this is a new holiday and there will be huge celebrations with fireworks and drone shows

25th February - Kuwait is celebrating its National Day and Liberation Day on 26th February

Ramadan starts 22nd March

American and Omani archaeologists have found a silver ring that dates back 5000 years in Oman.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• The Middle East digital economy will hit $500 billion in 2023.

• The Dubai real estate market grew 46% in 2022.

SPOTLIGHT:

Riyadh Season is now in the Guinness Book of Records because:

• Marwas is the largest music studio in the world.

• The Skyloop is the largest metal model of a character in the world.

• You can find the world’s largest LED light ball there.

• It has the largest artificial lake in the world, Lakwasa. So go and check it out…

Corina Goetz is the Founder of Star-CaT, a 5 star Middle Eastern Consulting and Training company based in London, UK. She specialises in helping her clients wow their Middle Eastern customers by understanding their culture.