Pupils on Monday dressed in traditional Saudi apparel to mark Founding Day across schools in the kingdom.
Bakeries are creating special cakes for Founding Day, which is on Wednesday.
“My girls wore the jalabiya — the long Saudi dress and we took some customised Founding Day cupcakes for the class,” said Tala Hasan, a resident of Jeddah.
“Munch Bakery is doing great ones.”
Founding Day falls on February 22 and commemorates the establishment of the Saudi state.
This is its second year, and staff from the public and private sectors will have the day off work.
Public sector employees also have February 23 off, followed by the two-day weekend.
Landmarks around the kingdom will be the focus of celebrations.
“Expats in the kingdom are excited to witness the kingdom's change and progress,” said Fatima Khan, a Canadian who lives in Riyadh.
Public spaces like malls have been playing traditional Saudi songs, while shops are advertising special offers and selling Founding Day merchandise such as flags and other memorabilia.
“We plan to buy Founding Day flags and watch the fireworks with our kids,” Ms Khan said.
“I think it’s more important than any other holiday except Eid, of course.”
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture has flooded social media with informative posts, while banners in streets around the kingdom build up the festive atmosphere.
“Fireworks and aircraft shows are our favourite. We plan to get ice cream and have a picnic by the corniche as all of us have long weekend and it’ll be great fun outdoors,” said Aya Hisham, a Saudi resident of Jeddah.
Celebratory theatre performances at Princess Nourah University in Riyadh will take place from February 22 until February 27.
“It’s a proud moment for Saudis, and we look forward to celebrating our national day together,” said Alanoud Albakr, a Saudi who lives in Riyadh.
“I will visit Diriyah, the birthplace of the kingdom, with my mum and sisters then head to the Bujairi Terrace for dinner afterwards.”
A horse parade and march will take place at Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road in Riyadh on February 24.
“It’s going to be packed this whole weekend because schools are off and so are parents, so it’s a great time to mark such a great occasion,” said Maha Ahmed, who lives in Riyadh.
“We will be going to the Riyadh Boulevard world to enjoy the festivities and weather.”
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The five pillars of Islam
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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