Destination KSA - Your Guide to Saudi

Destination KSA - Your Guide to Saudi
Hajer Al Alwan
Hajer Al Alwan

Dining

Who Needs a Library

coffee shop khobar, Cafés to sit and get working. cafes in khobar Haseer Café cafe khobar Haseer is that no fuss, no muss coffee spot. With minimal interiors that lean towards an effortless industrial feel, the setup is perfect to for just plopping your laptop on the table and starting your work as you order […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Who Needs a Library
Dining

Picture-Perfect Restaurants

Eat, drink and be merry in stylish spots. Sunroom So far, this place has one of the prettiest interiors in Sharqiya. Even though it’s not the first to have a sea view, the coziness you feel when you walk in is a good indication of careful and thorough design. Every little detail tells something and […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Picture-Perfect Restaurants
Local Designers

Arabia’s Awesome Attire

The world of bisht-making, then and now. Origins of the Bisht Originating in the Arabian Peninsula long before Islam, the bisht was historically called an aba’a. Regardless of social class, Arab men wore the bisht whenever they went out. Today, the bisht is only worn on certain occasions and is considered a much more formal and […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Arabia’s Awesome Attire
Hair & Makeup

Embrace Them Curls!

Your guide to happier curly hair. Shampoos and Conditioning Products It all goes back to the basics: using the right shampoo and conditioner will make a huge difference. Shampoos with sulfate in them will cleanse your hair from its natural oils, making it super frizzy and dry. Avoiding substances like sulfate, silicon and paraben in […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Embrace Them Curls!
Business

The Queen of Resumes

Meet the best weapon for your job hunt. Need a resume? Then you need Isra’a Garatli and Resume Reborn, the first Saudi-based resume writing service. How did you come up with the idea of Resume Reborn? I started working at a young age and was lucky to have a boss, Ahmed Alshargawi, who was patient, […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
The Queen of Resumes
Activities

Dream a Little Dream of You

Budoor Shadawi shares her dream social network. Tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Khobar. I’m 35, going on 20! I’m also a certified skydiver, I’ve hiked two of the seven summits, I love kayaking and I love trying out anything new that would give me a rush of excitement. I did […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Dream a Little Dream of You
Community

Movers & Shakers: Highlighting Awesome Individuals

A conversation with Sharqiya’s running hero: Somaya Al Ghazali. Currently studying English Literature at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Somaya Al Ghazali juggles her time between being a student, working her graphic design job, doing social work and running every single day. Back in 2009, Al Ghazali’s mother pushed her to go out walking or […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Movers & Shakers: Highlighting Awesome Individuals
In Bahrain

From Dilmun, With Love

Meet Bahrain’s resident travel couple. Sharing a deep passion for photography, traveling and cultural arts, Maryam Al Arab and Hussain Al Mosawi went on an exciting trek through Kashmir and the Indian Himalayan mountains for their honeymoon in 2012. This trip was a catalyst that transformed their lifestyle in many ways. First, they started their […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
From Dilmun, With Love
Dining

One Plus One = Delicious

Traditional food combos to inspire you this month. Wadma, Limes and Rocca Wadma is made using a young fish dried and crushed. Then you drench it in some lime juice, toss it with a bunch of arugula and you have yourself a classic combo that tastes simply delicious. Dates and Tahina Sharqawis can’t survive without […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
One Plus One = Delicious
Offbeat

Life is a Journey

Meet Sharqiya’s not-so resident nomad. Albara Al Ohali is a storyteller on the go, looking at his own life in terms of chapters. “Each of us has a unique story to tell, writing it as we go along. The idea that we’re all a copy of each other is something that I hate so much, […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Life is a Journey
Business

A Business Journey

Deena Al Faris shares her story of success. Tell us all about yourself. I was born and raised in Khobar and attended finishing school in Switzerland where I got to practice French and learn a few things about business. That time was a starting point for me. I had a year off during which I […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
A Business Journey
Explore

Home is Where the Palm Trees Are

A pictorial journey of one woman’s heart and home. I grew up among palm trees and water springs. I played hide and seek around citron and pomegranate trees and grape vines. I made little tent homes under vast lime trees that filled our family farm. My childhood was awesome. I can still feel the fresh […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Home is Where the Palm Trees Are
Dining

Turkish Delight

Big Chefs, the restaurant for those with big appetites. Before we get to the meat of the matter, let’s give kudos to the ambiance of Big Chefs. From the hanging lights that look like twinkling fairies in the high ceiling to the beautiful bookcases filled with, well, books, this place is just a lovely spot […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Turkish Delight
Fitness

A Life of Yoga

Calm your mind, hone your body. As we sat down with Marleni – both a yoga teacher and student for life – we were mesmerized by her positive energy and passion for the practice of yoga. She kept on reciting quotes from the book “Light on Yoga” by B.K.S. Iyengar, telling us it was her […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
A Life of Yoga
Healthy Living

Thank God it’s Friday

You cannot top Haya’s weekends, ever. “Be fearless; you’ll never know if you never go!” – Haya Al Samari Petroleum system analyst in Saudi Aramco by weekday and surfer, hiker and fearless expedition guide by weekend, Haya Al Samari is an outdoor adrenaline junkie extraordinaire. “I’m also a certified advanced diver and part of a […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Thank God it’s Friday
Online Magazine

Have Camera, Will Travel

Never let it be said that boredom is useless. When Hesham Al Humaid dropped out of college for a few months, he got bored, bought a camera and started taking photos just to fill the time. Soon, he was obsessed. In 2011, he was named one of best 10 national artists in Saudi and went […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Have Camera, Will Travel
Community

Yes, She Can

A historic event highlighting Saudi women. Thanks to the patronage of Princess Lamia bint Majed, CEO of Alwaleed Philanthropies, Saudi Arabia recently had its very first Saudi Women Conference at the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue in Riyadh. Under the theme of “Saudi Women Can”, the conference highlighted Saudi women’s achievements and growth through […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Yes, She Can
Dining

Tea-Tastic Journey

How do you like your tea? In the movie “Siberian Education,” grandfather Kuzya tells us the rules of drinking tea: “First, we enjoy its warmth and we appreciate its aroma. And only then do we taste its flavor. Three pleasures in one. And to think, it’s only just water!” Jesr el Musayab Resturant – Chai […]

By Hajer Al Alwan
Tea-Tastic Journey