Tag: AlUla

sports

AlUla wins 2023/24 SAFF Women’s First Division League: New champions crowned following penalty shootout victory against Al Taraji in Jeddah final

Mar 16, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #AlUla, #First Division League, #Jeddah final, #SAFF Women

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 16 March 2024:

AlUla was crowned SAFF Women’s First Division League champions following a captivating showdown against Al Taraji on Wednesday night – clinching the 2023/24 title with a penalty shootout victory at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium.

AlUla celebrating their victory

With promotion to the SAFF Women’s Premier League already assured for next season, the two went head-to-head to determine which team would win the championship. After a hard-fought final which ended 1-1 after extra time, AlUla clinched the title by winning 4-2 on penalties.

The championship trophy was proudly presented to the AlUla club by Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), in the esteemed presence of Aalia Al-Rasheed, Head of the Women’s Football Department at SAFF.

As for Al Taraji, they enter next season’s Saudi women’s top flight as runners-up after narrowly missing out on the title. Al Amal also joined AlUla and Al Taraji in the 2024/25 SAFF Women’s Premier League after securing the third and final promotion spot thanks to a 3-1 win against Al Taqadum in Wednesday’s third-place play-off.

A thrilling campaign from start to finish, this season’s second edition of the SAFF Women’s First Division League welcomed 26 clubs – beginning in group stage format with four groups of five teams and one group of six. After facing each other home and away across five cities, 12 qualifiers progressed to the final rounds – again using a group stage format with four groups of three teams. The winners from each progressed to the semi-finals, where AlUla beat Al Amal 3-0 and Al Taraji overcame Al Taqadum 1-0 – paving the way for Wednesday’s incredible final.

Over the 2023/24 SAFF Women’s First Division League season, 122 matches were played with 111 wins and 979 goals. These figures illustrate the positive direction of travel for professional women’s football in Saudi Arabia, as well as the skill, development, and performances of players and clubs alike.

The SAFF Women’s First Division League is one of several competitions playing a crucial role in the strategic growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia. By increasing the number of football competitions and enhancing standards, the aim of SAFF is to foster the development of talented female players within the Kingdom and provide pathways to representing the national team across age groups.

Business

AlUla stars on Samsung’s global content platforms

Aug 4, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #AlUla, #Chief Management and Marketing Officer, #Hegra, #Hyung Bin Joo, #Managing Director of Samsung Saudi, #Phillip Jones, #RCU, #Samsung, #The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), #UNESCO World Heritage Site

AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The globally significant heritage and culture destination of AlUla is featured on Samsung’s 2021 TV lineup worldwide as part of an agreement between Samsung and The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).

AlUla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, the abandoned Hijaz Railway Station, AlUla Old Town and the Elephant Rock formation Jabal AlFil in AlUla, Saudi Arabia are currently featuring on Samsung’s new ambient 2021 TV app with five artworks and four cinema-graphs. The AlUla images are being showcased in demo mode at 20,000 retail outlets in 62 countries around the world.

Hegra, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Samsung Ambient TV Mode
Hegra, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Samsung Ambient TV Mode

Millions of Samsung’s Galaxy Phone owners will also be able to set their wallpaper on one of AlUla’s many stunning desert landscapes including aerials views of the 20km green oasis and Nabataean tombs.

The agreement forms part of ongoing activity between RCU and Samsung which is to include a photography competition launched by a group of Samsung influencers who will be visiting AlUla this summer to take pictures through Samsung’s #withGalaxy lens.

With travel set to resume around the world in 2021, Phillip Jones, Chief Management and Marketing Officer for RCU says the timing is perfect.

“As an unexplored destination to most people around the world, the exposure that AlUla will achieve through our initiatives with Samsung is unprecedented. We know people are itching to travel and we also know that as a new and unexpected destination with vast open spaces and deep rich heritage and culture, AlUla will be an exciting prospect for many. We are excited to work with such an innovative brand and hope to continue developing interesting ideas as the past of AlUla connects with the future of tech.”

Hyung Bin Joo, Managing Director of Samsung Saudi, commented on the strategic partnership with RCU.“At the forefront of Saudi Vision 2030, AlUla is a destination with captivating sceneries and a deep routed heritage. Samsung’s collaboration with AlUla enables our consumers around the world to #experienceAlUla, Saudi Arabia’s Hidden Gem, on our latest Samsung TVs with Ambient Mode.”

Business World

Winter in the World’s Masterpiece

Feb 17, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #AlUla, #Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
AlUla, the world’s masterpiece, is a living museum that holds 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history. The vast desert landscape features preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings, and monuments, both natural and human-made.

This winter, AlUla also offers a range of new adventure and nature experiences that will appeal to those looking for the thrill of something new, knowing that their health and safety come first. AlUla’s outdoor experiences continue to operate in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines with strict COVID-19 safety measures in place.

Fair temperatures during the day and chilly nights make winter the perfect time to try AlUla’s newest experiences, be it one of the longest ziplines in the world, a fun bump and pump bike track with the mountains as the backdrop, or a night under the stars.

AlUla’s new zipline experience has caused quite a stir among adventure-seeking travelers. One of the longest in the world, visitors will race along to a speed of over 100km/hr while enjoying the incredible scenery of the Hijaz Mountain range – this one is not for the faint-hearted. Operated by experienced adventure tourism operator, Warrior Group, it is the Kingdom’s most thrilling zipline.
AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Also new from warrior Group is the exciting AlUla Bike Park. This purpose-built bump and pump track offer hours of fun for the whole family no matter what skill level. Wooden beams have been seamlessly blended with the terrain on this looped track where instructors are on hand to make sure you’re at the right skill level. The venue has a scenic viewing deck and coffee shop for those who prefer to spectate.

Operated by Husaak Group, the one-hourAlUla Cycling Trail is a more leisurely ride on special desert bikes. The 14km trail across the sand dunes passes by some of AlUla’s unique rock formations.

Far away from city lights in the vast open space of AlUla’s remote Gharameel desert lands, a magical evening of stargazing is a must-do experience for nature lovers. Led by a star expert, visitors will learn about the constellations and their relation to the ancient land’s culture and history as they marvel at the brilliance of the dark sky sprinkled with infinite stars. The Bedouin-style camp surrounded by Gharameel’s mystical rock formations includes a dinner of traditional food and drinks.

AlUla’s vast open spaces provide the perfect backdrop for safe, fun, exploration with more experiences opening up over the coming months. See experiencealula.com for inspiration and booking.