Mohammed Shahid Alam, the Indian consul general in Jeddah, has a ready smile and exudes enthusiasm for his role.
Mr Alam told The National he was keen to focus on the significant milestones, friendship and strong strategic ties between the countries.
It comes as India marks 75 years of independence.
“We are also celebrating 75 years of India-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties,” Mr Alam said with a smile.
Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations within a few months of India gaining independence in 1947, Mr Alam said. High-level visits from both sides followed, with the late King Saud visiting India in 1955 and then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visiting the kingdom in 1956. State visits these days are regular.
When Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited India in 2019, he targeted $100 billion in investment in India. The kingdom also increased India’s Hajj quota by 30,000, lifting the figure to 200,000 per year.
Mr Alam said: “We celebrate the centuries-old friendship between the two countries. Our relations are built on the long history of the movement of people between India and the kingdom for mercantile trade and Hajj pilgrimage. The people of Hijaz were fascinated by India’s spices, pearls, precious stones, silk, sandalwood, oud and perfumes."
He said political will, economic engagement and warmth and goodwill have nurtured a strategic partnership.
In 2019, during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saudi Arabia recognised India as a key ally for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which has helped transform the kingdom. The countries also signed agreements on energy, security, drugs, defence, civil aviation and strategic petroleum reserves, among others.
“The Saudi Vision 2030 program has been a landmark social and economic transformation program," said Mr Alam. "The flagship initiatives of the Government of India and Vision 2030 complement each other. As the kingdom is looking to diversify its economy, India can be an important partner in other areas like manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and food security, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, higher education and IT."
India is now one of Saudi Arabia's main trading partners, with exports amounting to SAR46.4 billion ($12.4bn). The countries have moved towards a strategic partnership in the hydrocarbons sector with investments from Saudi Aramco.
Mr Alam said there are no limitations on areas India and the kingdom could explore, from energy to cricket and yoga.
“There is a great scope for co-operation between India and Saudi Arabia in areas like training and skill development, the entertainment sector, clean and renewable energy, SMEs, handicrafts and sports," he said.
Since Vision 2030 was announced, Saudi Arabia and India have strengthened cultural ties further with live entertainment events showcasing Indian talents, cinemas showing the latest Indian movies and collaboration on art and cultural platforms to engage the Indian community.
Mr Alam said until a few years ago, the social changes were "unimaginable".
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
MATCH INFO
England 2
Cahill (3'), Kane (39')
Nigeria 1
Iwobi (47')
