Saudi Arabia’s National Day is being celebrated by some of the Arab world's biggest pop stars.
In honour of the 91st anniversary of the kingdom's founding on September 23, Saudi stars Mohammed Abdullah and Majid Al Mohandis have released tracks celebrating their homeland.
They are joined by fellow Gulf artists including Kuwait’s Nawal El Kuwaitia and Bahraini crooner Rashed Al Majed.
Here are some of the heartfelt messages behind these odes to Saudi Arabia.
1. ‘Dimat Dakhran’ by Majid Al Mohandis
The Saudi singer addresses the kingdom's leadership and resilience with this up-tempo track.
"Determined, capable and successful. A verb that translates ambitions and paths,” Al Mohandis says.
“You point the goal, how and where. By God, we are not known for breaking."
2. 'Abnaa Al Watan' released by record label Rotana
This choral piece highlights how Saudi Arabian society is built on faith and kinship.
The lyrics have a conversational quality and take on the prospective of a Saudi youth asking elders about the country's history.
"Talk to us about Najd [a region] and the Sarat Mountains," the choir sings.
"Tell us about the straggles of our grandfathers who cleared our borders from sea to sea."
3. 'Foug Al Omam' by Rabeh Saqer
The much-loved Saudi crooner dedicates the track to Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
Over languid Gulf rhythms, Saqer praises the royal’s steady hand and vision.
"He is the protector of the homeland," the lyrics state.
"He leads our country, the world bears witness to him, with our souls and children."
4. ‘Bayariq Aalia’ by Nawal El Kuwaitia
The veteran Kuwaiti singer pays tribute to the kingdom’s landscape, "from the north to south" and the strength of its leadership.
Over strident percussion and swooning strings, El Kuwaitia declares "Saudi Arabia is up for the occasion".
5. 'Ya Watan'a' by Rashed Al Majed
The romantic crooner turns his affection to the country, which throughout his 20-year career afforded him a dedicated fan-base.
The song title means "Oh homeland" and Al Majed praises the new generation of Saudis in the track.
"We are proud of you and you are proud of youth," he says. "We are soldiers and guards in front of your gate."
The song, featuring a call-and-response vocal style, ends with Majed wishing greater success and continued stability for Saudi Arabia.
The video’s end credits also reveal the track was composed by Ahmed Al Hermi, the Bahraini singer-songwriter renowned for his collaborations with Saudi artists Saqer and Al Mohandis.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
