Saudis praise schoolboy for carrying sisters' heavy bags

A photo of the 9-year-old boy doing the good deed has gone viral on social media

Saudis have applauded a schoolboy for carrying his sisters’ heavy bags on his back. An image of Mishal Al-Shahrani went viral on social media, with many who commended him for his act of kindness. Photo: SuppliedShow less

Saudis have applauded a schoolboy for carrying his sisters’ heavy bags on his back.

An image of Mishal Al Shahrani went viral on social media, with many people praising him for his act of kindness, local media reported.

The 9-year-old was seen carrying his own bag, as well as his sisters’ – Sarah and Noura – on their way home from school, in Khamis Mushayt in Saudi Arabia’s southern Asir region.

“I always like to help my family, especially my sisters Sarah and Noura while returning from school,” Mishal said. “The bags were not heavy, but I wanted to help them in the crowd and the hot weather.”

Turki bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of Khamis Mushayt, praised the schoolboy after seeing the viral social media post. “This reflects the outcome of a good [upbringing], preparing the child to shoulder responsibility despite his young age,” he said.

Dr Ahmed Al Omari, Asir education director, said the image was “a beautiful snap, embodying a great meaning.” “Everyone is a partner in making it — home, school and society — and it is not surprising that this child has embodied such an approach,” he said.

Tourism in Saudi Arabia's Al Namas - in pictures

Mist at 2,800 metres above sea level at the Jabal Marir park in Al Namas in Saudi Arabia. All photos: AFP

At Al Namas, humid monsoon weather keeps temperatures below 30°C, dropping as low as 15°C at night, as fog blocks out the sun over verdant hills.

The area is a stark contrast to much of the vast, largely desert country where summer temperatures of up to 50°C are an annual challenge.

Holidaymakers – some of whom have driven 12 hours from Riyadh to escape the heat – in raincoats and woolly hats.

'Before we came, we packed all our winter things,' says Nouf, who did not want to give her surname.

Tourist authorities built a 'fog road' for hikers and cyclists traversing a high summit that overlooks the mist-shrouded mountains.

In 2020, a study published by 'Science Advances' magazine showed that the Gulf region has the hottest and most humid climate on the planet.

Thanks to its altitude and strong winds, Al Namas escapes the worst of the heat, says Hassan Abdullah, a Jordan-based official from the Wasm weather technology company.

The area has become a top destination at a time when Saudi authorities, searching for new, non-oil income streams, are heavily promoting domestic and international tourism.

As airfares surge after the pandemic, Saudi families spent 80 billion riyals (about $21 billion) on domestic travel last year, a 30 per cent increase from 2019, ministry of tourism figures show.

'Summer is the peak tourist season, going from May to October," says Abdullah Al-Shahri, a hotelier at Al Namas, where winter temperatures sometimes plunge to 0°C.

At the top of a hill that overlooks the valley, Mushabab Al-Omari takes in the view, sitting next to his wife. 'I've been here nearly three months,' the retiree says. 'And I'm ready to stay another four or five months if the weather stays like this.'