Dhahran Fine Art Show - diverse talents and techniques 'Emerge' - 'smart cities and smart plants' - Saudi Aramco
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November 6, 2019 Vol. LXXIV, No. 43 a weekly Saudi Aramco publication for employees
‘smart cities and smart plants’
YLAB seeks participants for ‘digital hackathon’
see page 5
diverse talents and techniques ‘Emerge’
at the th annual
Dhahran Fine Art Show
see page 9
November 6, 2019 the arabian sun
2 company news
Amir of Eastern Province honors Saudi Aramco for
ensuring success of ‘Rad’ Business Entrepreneurship Forum
Dhahran — HRH Prince Saud ibn Naif ibn
Abdulaziz Al Sa’ud, Amir of the Eastern
Province, has honored Saudi Aramco for its
contribution to ensuring the success of the
2019 “Rad” Business Entrepreneurship Fo-
rum and Exhibition, and support for young
businessmen and women councils in the
Eastern Province.
This came on the sidelines of a two-day
forum held by the Eastern Province’s Cham-
ber of Commerce at Dhahran Expo. The
recognition plaque was received by Nabeel
A. Al-Jama’, vice president of Corporate Af-
fairs with Saudi Aramco.
Represented by the Saudi Aramco Entre-
preneurship Center (Wa’ed), the company
presented its achievements in supporting
business entrepreneurs — highlighting 55
success stories of young Saudi businessmen
and women entrepreneurs supported by
the center. This young generation had the
chance to present their projects in various
areas and industries.
The Wa’ed pavilion at the forum also
hosted a presentation about the In-King-
dom Total Value Add (iktva) program to HRH Prince Saud ibn Naif ibn Abdulaziz Al Sa’ud presents a recognition plaque to Nabeel A.
highlight Saudi Aramco’s role in establish- Al-Jama’ for Saudi Aramco’s contribution to ensuring the success of the 2019 “Rad” Business
Entrepreneurship Forum and Exhibition at the Dhahran Expo.
ing and promoting energy related local in-
dustries.
‘providing opportunities to creating jobs for young men and women in of the Kingdom to transform into a knowl-
the economic community’
the homeland.” edge-based economy that relies on innova-
Mohammad A. Al Shammary, vice pres- tion, technology, and diversified sources of
“Saudi Aramco was honored by HRH ident of Procurement and Supply Chain income to support entrepreneurship.
Prince Saud ibn Naif,” said Al-Jama’. “His Management with Saudi Aramco, said: Al Shammary stressed that the center is
Royal Highness’s sponsorship of the forum “Wa’ed supports Saudi business entrepre- adapting a methodology to achieve fruit-
boosts its objectives of providing opportu- neurs with the goal of encouraging new ful cooperation with the active parties and
nities to the economic community to ex- technologies and businesses — not to chambers of commerce Kingdomwide to
plore and support the projects of young mention promoting innovation in the King- develop the business environment.
men and women. “Wa’ed’s contributions dom. The center has given support to more Wa’ed supports value-based projects with
in this regard demonstrate Saudi Aramco’s than 100 companies since its inception in the goal of developing the domestic econ-
belief that the youth are the driving force 2011.” omy and creating quality job opportuni-
of the country’s economy. The success of Al Shammary added that Wa’ed was ties. The center has successfully supported
their pioneering projects in various areas is established to encourage the spirit of in- various sectors in several fields, including
evidence that small- and medium-sized en- novation among individuals and support projects in the energy, health care, food
terprises are the pillars of economic growth small- and medium-sized enterprises. The processing, education, entertainment, in-
— given their contribution to increasing the center, he said, plays a pioneering role that dustrial services, technology, and process-
added value of the national economy and is in harmony with the strategic approach ing.
your voice
protect yourself — and others — from ‘night loggers’
Older Arabs dub a person who chats of gossip can result in devastating lifelong gossip, what should I do? Well, two things:
aimlessly without separating the wheat consequences such as broken homes, job • Act like a firefighter: A bad rumor
from the chaff a “night logger” — pro- terminations, and tarnished reputations. starts like a small fire set by the night log-
nounced “Hateb Lail” in Arabic. Raymond Donovan for instance — the ger, and passing it on to others is just add-
He was called so, as collecting firewood former U.S. Secretary of Labor in the early ing fuel to the fire. It is always wise to stop
from the wilderness in the darkness may 1980s — was able, after a judicial battle it at your end and not allow it to spread —
put oneself at the risk of being bitten by that lasted more than two years, to prove especially when you know that ignorance,
harmful creatures. Societies, in the past his innocence from false accusations of envy, and hatred are common motives of
and present, were never short of night log- fraud. “Which office do I go to get my some people.
gers, but with a subtle difference — the reputation back?” the distressed Donovan • Trust, but verify: It simply denotes the
logging tool. famously asked. significance of verifying a story. On some
A logger in the old days used an ax, Many governmental agencies around the occasions, we may discover that some of
whereas the contemporary night loggers world, along with international organiza- the information passed to us by relatives
have “smart” phones that can be much tions and companies — including Saudi and friends — usually out of ignorance —
more cutting than a sharp ax. You may Aramco — realize the threat of unsub- is totally or partially untrue. But, this dis-
by Amin H. Qasim spot a night logger at a coffee shop, hold- stantiated accusations and have addressed covery may come late, after the damage
Dhahran ing his “digital ax,” while his fingers tap them with a twofold mechanism. is done. In the Holy Quran, there is a verse
Ameen.Qasem@aramco.com on the screen as he uses WhatsApp to pass First, by endorsing deterrent laws and that reads “... investigate, lest you harm
along a rumor or tweet a scandal. While regulations against the promoters of mak- people out of ignorance and become —
he is enjoying his coffee, others are suffer- ing falsehoods. over what you have done — regretful.”
ing from the gossip he spreads! Second, by establishing communication — Al-Hujuraat, Aya 6.
This bad habit of night logging might channels, such as hotlines and emails, to In the end, gossip can never be eliminat-
take sinister forms when a night logger — report acts of corruption and dealing with ed, no matter what we do. But, its dam-
deliberately or inadvertently — sets fire to them according to the regulations and pro- aging effects can be lessened by verifying
the sticks he collected by shifting from sim- cedures, while safeguarding the anonymity things — for the sake of an innocent per-
Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions
of the writer, and not necessarily those of the
ple gossip to slandering people and smear- of those who report such accusations. son who can find themselves in the flames
publication. ing their reputations. Spreading this kind So one may ask, as a prudent receiver of of the night logger’s fire.
the arabian sun November 6, 2019
company news 3
‘My Health, My Numbers’: taking care of our
employees offshore and at remote locations
The program
enables healthy
behaviors and
habits to reach
various areas in the
company — even
remote locations.
— Ahmed S. Althukair
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare’s Feda H. Al Sanonah offers a well-being course to employees of the Northern Area Production Engineering and
Well Services Department as part of the ‘My Health, My Numbers’ initiative. The program supports and facilitates healthy behaviors to improve the
health and well-being of employees, in turn enhancing their productivity. (Photo: Mohammed AlShaikh/MPD)
by Shaistha Khan
range of information, counseling, and stress levels, control chronic medical con-
Ju’aymah — Working at offshore and support to help them lead a healthy and ditions, and provides them with the ap-
remote locations can be demanding and happy life. propriate tools and resources to assist and
strenuous. Long and irregular working “We are very proud to work collabo- help them improve their health by having
hours, a harsh environment, and intermit- ratively with NAPE&WSD and other de- their biometrics as targets.
impact at NAPE&WSD
tent seclusion from family and friends may partments, to reach out and make a dif-
have adverse physiological and psycholog- ference,” says Mohammed J. Al Ghamdi,
ical effects on an individual. JHAH chief population health officer. The My Health, My Numbers program
By providing amenities, such as recre- The program has three phases. In the is the first of its kind in the admin area,
ational centers, gymnasiums, and healthy first phase, JHAH health promotion advis- catering to more than 500 employees in
dining options, Saudi Aramco takes the ers conduct an initial health screening to NAPE&WSD — the first department to
lead in ensuring the well-being of its em- document the baseline of biometric mea- adopt the program companywide.
ployees. surements such as blood pressure, levels “I am excited to see that health and
In addition to physical resources, em- of blood glucose, and body mass index. well-being awareness is increasing and
ployees must be empowered with tools Also, employees complete a health as- spreading across NAPE&WSD employees
and resources that will assist them in sessment survey regarding their lifestyle in various locations,” said Ahmed S. Al-
maintaining a balanced lifestyle. In this and risk factors. So far, the team has con- thukair, NAPE&WSD Wellness Program
regard, the Northern Area Production En- ducted health assessments and physical champion, who added that as it is tailored
gineering and Well Services Department screening at five locations — Ju’aymah, to onshore and offshore employees in re-
(NAPE&WSD) has partnered with Johns Khursaniyah, Manifa, Tanajib, and the mote areas, the program provides a moti-
Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) to of- Abu Ali pier. vation and an incentive to follow through.
fer workplace wellness programs for em- In the second phase, the team visits the “The program enables healthy behav-
ployees working in offshore and remote respective department on a monthly basis iors and habits to reach various areas in
areas. and administers tailored sessions on top- the company, even remote locations,” he
the ‘My Health, ics such as smoking cessation, stress, and said.
My Numbers’ program
weight management, with progress being Abdulrahman A. Alghamdi, NAPE&WSD
tracked every month. manager, spoke about the impact to Sau-
A unique JHAH initiative, “My Health, In the third phase, a post-program di Aramco employees, noting they are
My Numbers,” is a workplace wellness health assessment survey is conducted critical assets to the company.
program that supports and facilitates and results are measured. By comparing “NAPE&WSD management is promot-
healthy behaviors to improve an employ- the initial program survey with the one ing an effective workplace program where
ee’s health and well-being, in turn en- carried out at the end of the program, health focused and employee-centered
hancing their productivity. health promotion advisers can objectively approaches have the potential to signifi-
Over the course of six months, a series view chronological trends with individual cantly benefit the department, employees
of group health education and coaching employees and adjust their wellness in- — their families, and communities.”
sessions were facilitated by JHAH health terventions based on trend analysis. Ulti- “A healthy, happy, and committed
promotion advisers at several NAPE&WSD mately, the program looks to help employ- workforce is vital to our business suc-
locations, with JHAH offering a wide ees adopt a healthier lifestyle, manage cess,” said Alghamdi.
November 6, 2019 the arabian sun
4 company news
working strategically to enhance
our reputation and value by Todd Williams
Company in the U.S. stakeholders based on perceptions built
The Corporate Affairs’ Business Com- “Our core goal with the affiliate offices on past and current experiences, as well
munications Planning Division (BCPD) re- is to have a unified data set, shared key as anticipated future behavior. In today’s
The importance of
cently shared the results of Saudi Aram- performance indicators, and aligned strat- business environment, understanding that
co’s first global reputation study with the egies to build the reputation the compa- emotional connection requires gathering
company’s affiliates around the globe. ny needs to deliver its business strategy,” and analyzing large amounts of data. For
corporate reputation In 2019, the division collected 11,000
surveys from global markets — Saudi
said Leonard J. Ponzi, a Public Relations
specialist with BCPD. “A significant com-
Saudi Aramco, this “big data” is collected
from a number of global markets across
has been growing Arabia, U.S., U.K., Europe, and China —
to establish a rich baseline of reputation
ponent to that is establishing a data-driv-
en reputation framework across our glob-
six key stakeholder groups, including:
• Energy
throughout data to understand and measure Aram-
co’s reputation as part of its Reputation
al network of affiliates.”
What is corporate reputation
• Finance and banking
• Chemicals
corporate Management Program.
Among those taking part were teams and how is it measured?
• Public administration and government
• Media and journalism
boardrooms from Aramco Overseas Company in Lon-
don, Aramco Asia, and Aramco Services
A company’s reputation is the emo-
tional connection it establishes with key
• NGO and academic
reputation as currency
globally. Reputation Reputation has always been important
is critical as we
to Saudi Aramco. For several years, BCPD
Saudi Aramco customized Reputation Framework: has collected data on Aramco’s reputation
move toward an
RepTrak® model in the Kingdom. But as the company pre-
Produ
pares for the initial public offering (IPO),
IPO — not only to ance c ts/S reputation equates even more closely to
r m er v
rfo
our license to operate and the direct val-
Pe •• PS rofitable ice
grow our value, but
ue of the company. So BCPD launched
trong growth • High quality s the global reputation study.
prospects
also to protect it.
• Reliable “The importance of corporate reputa-
•B etter results products and
than expected tion has been growing throughout cor-
services
• Balances • Meets customer porate boardrooms globally,” said Ponzi.
— Leonard J. Ponzi
national and needs “Reputation is critical as we move toward
corporate
priorities
an IPO — not only to grow our value, but
ip
Inno
also to protect it.
esteem
Leadersh
•W ell organized
•A ppealing leader
• Innovative “Corporate boards now recognize that
• E xcellent managers
•A dapts quickly
• L eader in
vation reputation is important, but they don’t
•C lear vision for
research always know how to improve it,” Ponzi
its future
building reputation
said. “That’s where the Reputation Man-
admire
feeling
and tech
• World-class
development agement Program comes in. It quantifies
standard
U.S. investor Warren Buffett reputation and treats it as a business
famously said, “It takes 20 years strategy.”
to build a reputation and five min- • Environmentally
responsible
trust • Offers equal
opportunities
Next year, BCPD plans to expand to 15
utes to ruin it. If you think about markets, beginning a process of collect-
• Committed yo • Employee
that, you’ll do things differently.” safe operations well-being
ing and analyzing data against past num-
But in today’s world, he may have • Positive influence • Attracts the most bers to note variance and changes.
• F air in business
been understating the matter. on society talented people “Reputation management is a contin-
Citi
•B ehaves ethically
ce
“I’ve said that with social media • Support good •O pen and ual process,” said Ponzi, noting that by
pla
ze
causes transparent
and the internet, it’s now like two understanding and measuring our repu-
ip
ns
o rk
W
•A ccountable to
seconds to ruin it,” said Leonard J. tation across multiple markets, the com-
h
stakeholders
Ponzi of the Business Communica- • Sustainable pany can better allocate resources, better
tions Planning Division. “And it might business practices shape discussions internally and external-
actually be more like half a second.” ly, and develop key performance indica-
Governance tors.
spotlight
Saudi Aramco recently signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Project
Management Institute to form a strategic
alignment. Abdullah O. Al-Baiz, vice president
of Engineering Services, signed on behalf
of Saudi Aramco. The signing ceremony
was witnessed by Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi,
senior vice president of Technical Services,
Fahad E. Al-Helal, vice president of Project
Management, Motaz A. Mashouk, who is with
Maritime, Building, and Infrastructure Project
Management, and Project manager Badr
Burshaid. On hand for the occasion from PMI
were Sunil K. Prashara, CEO of PMI, and Alwin
Magimay, a strategic executive. The main
objective of the MoU is to delineate Saudi
Aramco and PMI’s respective responsibilities,
identify areas in which they may assist each
other, and share knowledge — and to do
so in a relationship characterized by clearly
defined goals, required outcomes, effective
communication, and long-term commitment.
The MoU is designed to establish mutually
beneficial activities in the areas of strategic
alliance, capability building, value and project
delivery, and collaboration. (Photo: Moayed
Al-Qattan/MPD)
the arabian sun November 6, 2019
company news 5
ideation recognition winners build award contribute to prototype networking
announced capabilities development
‘smart cities and smart plants’
YLAB seeks participants for ‘digital hackathon’
Dhahran — Can you code? Great!
Can’t code? Even better.
In collaboration with the Digital Transfor-
mation and Corporate Innovation teams,
the Young Leaders Advisory Board (YLAB)
will be hosting and facilitating a “digital
hackathon” under the theme of “Smart
Cities and Smart Plants.”
A hackathon is a high-energy event,
where people with diverse backgrounds
and skills come together to propose solu-
tions to problems. The hackathon is a cor-
poratewide competition that will be held in
two stages.
Smart cities and smart plants is a track
within the Digital Transformation program
that looks to leverage emerging technol-
ogies to enhance operational efficiency
in Saudi Aramco communities, streamline
services, and improve safety, security, and
quality of life.
The hackathon will identify and evaluate To learn more about the ‘digital hackathon’ and to register, please visit the YLAB ShareK page:
optimal solutions to enable Saudi Aramco https://sharek.aramco.com.sa/orgs/30003060/YLAB/Lists/Digital%20Hackathon/NewForm.aspx?Source=https%3A%2F%
to become the leading, digitized oil and 2Fsharek%2Earamco%2Ecom%2Esa%2Forgs%2F30003060%2FYLAB%2FLists%2FDigital%2520Hackathon%2Foverview%
gas company of the world by 2021. 2Easpx%3FPageView%3DShared%26InitialTabId%3DRibbon%2EWebPartPage%26VisibilityContext%3DWSSWebPartPage.
On Nov. 18, participants will come to-
gether and compete as teams at the Pla-
za Conference Center for the “Ideation” Finally, winning ideas and teams will be di Aramco
stage, where they present feasible ideas. recognized and awarded at the Saudi Ar- • Gain exposure for your good work
Qualifying teams will move on to the sec- amco Innovation Week on Dec. 16 and 17 from peers and colleagues
ond, “Prototyping” stage, where they will at the Meridian Hotel. • Build your capabilities and share knowl-
Why participate?
develop a prototype and present a full edge
business case to a panel of judges from • Network.
Dec. 3-5 at the 4IR Center. • Contribute to the development of Sau-
Saeed M. Al-Mubarak earns SPE’s Distinguished Service Award
Calgary, Canada — Six Aramcons took time, effort, thought, and action as to set
Saeed M. Al-Mubarak,
home prestigious awards from the Soci- them apart from other contributions.” right, accepts the Society of
ety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) 2019 In addition to intelligent fields, Al- Petroleum Engineers
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibi- Mubarak has led important teams, in- Distinguished Service
tion held recently in Calgary, Canada. cluding the strategic team managing Award from organization
The SPE is the largest individual orga- the world’s largest intelligent fields. He president Sami A. Alnuaim.
Both Aramcons have
nization serving managers, engineers, has also worked in reservoir, production, received the coveted
scientists, and other professionals world- drilling and completion, facilities, and award, with Alnuaim
wide in the oil and gas industry. knowledge management positions. receiving his in 2011. The
Each year during its Annual Technical Alnuaim said: “On behalf of the SPE award was established in
Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), SPE board of directors, I would like to take 1948.
honors members whose outstanding this opportunity to thank Saudi Aramco
contributions to SPE and the petroleum for supporting the active involvement of
industry merit special distinction. Recip- Saeed in the SPE. Member participation
ients of the 2019 International Awards and leadership are important factors that
were recognized at the annual reception enable the SPE to achieve its mission of
and awards banquet in Calgary. collection, dissemination, and exchange guished Member, has been recognized Saudi Arabia. Gupta’s research has ad-
Presenting the awards was SPE presi- of technical information.” three times as an outstanding technical vanced the disciplines of unconventional
dent Sami A. Alnuaim, manager of Saudi Alnuaim was himself the first Saudi editor, and received the Asia Pacific and reservoirs, reservoir characterization, en-
Aramco’s Petroleum Engineering Applica- winner of the SPE Distinguished Service Middle East regional SPE service awards. hanced oil and gas recovery, petrophys-
Aramcons earn memberships
tions Services Department. Award in 2011. The award was estab- ics, and drilling.
intelligent field expert earns lished in 1948. In addition to these awardees, the SPE
vaunted designation Another recipient of the SPE Distin-
guished Service Award was David G.
Receiving Honorary Membership was
Anuj Gupta, a senior petroleum engi-
also awarded Distinguished Membership
to the following:
Taking home the SPE Distinguished Ser- Kersey, recently retired from Saudi Ar- neering consultant at the Aramco Re- • Sameeh I. Batarseh, a petroleum en-
vice Award was Saeed M. Al-Mubarak, a amco as senior petroleum engineering search Center-Houston, where he con- gineering consultant at the EXPEC Ad-
petroleum engineering consultant who consultant in the Upstream Professional ducts and leads research on simulation vanced Research Center
has led the Intelligent Field Unit in the Development Center. modeling workflows for unconventional • Frank Chang, a senior research scien-
Production and Facility Development De- Kersey has been chairman of the SPE reservoirs, an area of growing impor- tist at Aramco Research Center-Houston
partment. Al-Mubarak was recognized Java Indonesia and Saudi Arabia sections. tance as Saudi Aramco increases its un- • Kenneth Kibodeaux, a research sci-
for his “contributions to the society that He also initiated the formation of a Ha- conventional exploration activities in the ence consultant at Aramco Research
exhibit such exceptional devotion of waiian SPE section. He is an SPE Distin- Rub’ al-Khali and the northern regions of Center-Houston.
November 6, 2019 the arabian sun
6 company news
optimizing the way we do business
Drilling and Workover looks to streamline billing and collection
by Musherf Alamri
tial solutions with the focus on the second
Al-Khobar — Saudi Aramco Drilling and phase of the billing process — pre-invoic-
Workover (D&WO) recently brought to- ing.
gether more than 120 professions, includ- Representatives from each service com-
ing management from five major oil field pany shared their processes for pre-invoic-
service companies and key personnel from ing and suggestions on optimization. At
across the company, to better streamline the end of each presentation, a panel from
the billing to collections process. each of the participating service companies
D&WO has set a goal of significantly re- answered questions.
ducing the cycle time of the billing process.
potential enhancements
and processes
The scope of activity for invoicing and
collecting across admin areas is far reach-
ing, with about 150,000 invoices at any The workshop also featured a number of
given time, with an average invoice cycle panels manned by Saudi Aramco subject
time of 100 days — 45 days for pre-invoic- matter experts, who answered questions
ing and signatures, and 55 days for veri- and proposed enhancements to the invoic-
fication. D&WO is looking to reduce the ing process. Representatives from several
average time to 20 days while maintaining organizations participated on the panels,
internal controls. including Finance, IT, Reservoir Description
automating for accuracy, and Simulation, Procurement and Supply
efficiency, and value
Chain Management, Contracting Admin-
istration, Accounting Policy and Systems,
Abdul Hameed A. Al Rushaid concludes his opening remarks by commenting, “I want you to leave this
A key way to do that is through auto- and D&WO Engineering and Operations.
workshop with two things in mind — the first is accuracy, and the second is cybersecurity.” (Photos:
mation, said Abdul Hameed A. Al Rushaid, Yara Ziyad/MPD) Al Ghamdi led participants in an interac-
D&WO vice president, who called the pro- tive session on the short-term solution of
cess an “opportunity to ensure accuracy “We need to work hard to achieve this ob- Al Ghamdi discussed the research already optimizing paperwork and processes for
and boost efficiency, while adding value in jective for the benefit of all of us. It is chal- completed, including collecting data and pre-invoicing, sharing a preliminary design
line with the industry trend of leveraging lenging, but I believe it is doable,” he said. interviewing stakeholders to find opportu- for a fully automated process.
big data and automation to optimize op- The goal is to fully automate the three nities for better efficiency in invoicing. He concluded the discussion by offering
erations. invoicing phases — job request and execu- The plan relies on gaining efficiency in to keep the service companies updated on
“More importantly, expediting the in- tion, pre-invoice paperwork/signature, and the near term through partially digitizing the implementation of the enhancements
voicing process will enhance the cash flow invoice verification and payment. and streaming the current process while and development of the new system. In
and budgeting for all parties involved,” he
seeking efficiency in working on a long-term solution that will turn, the services companies will provide
invoicing and pre-invoicing
added. be fully automated. input on the new system to achieve com-
Al Rushaid underscored the challenging The workshop sought to obtain input patibility, and invest in the necessary in-
scope of digitizing the invoicing process, as D&WO Finance and Performance Man- from the service companies and relevant frastructure to be able to benefit from the
the scope of D&WO’s operations are huge. agement Division head Abdulrahman A. Saudi Aramco departments on the poten- automation.
Halim Messaoudi, a Reservoir Description Abdulrahman A. Al Ghamdi leads a question- Khalid S. Al Madhi, head of the Finance and Karina Rodrigues, a global AR process leader,
Division petroleum engineering specialist with and-answer session to obtain feedback and Project Management Division’s Capital presents Baker Hughes GE’s current workflow
Saudi Aramco, explains the challenges his recommendations from participating oil field Expenditure Group in Drilling and Workover, and proposed processes during the event. She
organization faces in receiving quality data and service companies and Saudi Aramco subject discusses quick wins, verification flowcharts, and recommends moving from a manual ticket
accurate invoices from all of the oil field service matter experts. long-term strategy for Saudi Aramco’s billing and generation process to e-Ticketing and
companies. Messaoudi also recommended a collection process. e-Signatures for approval.
standard format from oil field service companies
for invoicing.
Aramco Chemicals Co. earns L&D recognition
The Aramco Chemicals Company re- of the leading conference and event or- Other award winners included:
cently received recognition as the Learn- ganizers covering approximately 30 cities • Oman Airport, Excellence in Learning
ing and Development (L&D) Team of the worldwide, more than 30 industries, and and Development
Year. with offices in 10 cities in different con- • Riyadh Bank, Excellence in Resourc-
The prestigious awards ceremony rec- tinents. ing, Retention, and Talent Management
ognized the achievements and innova- ACC took home one award in the first • Etisalat, HR Innovation Award
tions shown by visionary and influential year they were established, which is a • SERVEU, Excellence in Employee De-
L&D experts who are pushing the bound- major milestone and achievement. velopment.
aries of learning and development in the This is a great success for ACC, espe-
Middle East. cially considering the short time since its
Organized by IQPC, the ceremony took “go live” earlier this year. The recognition
Rakan Mansour and Rami H. Busbait accept the
place during the Future Training Develop- reflects the hard work and dedication of Learning and Development Team of the Year
ment and Learning Leaders Conference its staff, as well as the great support re- award at the Future Training Development and
in Dubai on Oct. 21 and 22. IQPC is one ceived from its management. Learning Leaders Conference in Dubai.
the arabian sun November 6, 2019
company news 7
spearheading the drive to excellence
Training and Development conducts fourth annual Quality Forum
by Mark Fletcher
by Abdulhamid Al-Abduljabbar, who dis-
Dhahran — More than 400 professionals cussed national accreditation of training
and experts from external organizations, for raising standards within Saudi Arabia
partnership academies, and internal orga- and the three spheres of excellence the
nizations through the company recently organization is integrating into its opera-
participated in Saudi Aramco Training and tions — processes, results, and knowledge
Development’s (T&D) fourth annual Quality sharing.
Forum. • A video featuring Saudi Aramco T&D
With the theme “Quality as a Driver to and the recent additions to its portfolio of
Excellence,” this year’s event highlighted excellence, including focus areas such as
the message that quality is critical to all or- training our industrial workforce, instilling a
ganizations. safety culture into programs, the Saudi Ar-
experts share their methods
amco Talent Essentials Program, the impact
of knowledge transfer companywide, and
Even before the event began, subject mat- the recent addition of the Saudi Aramco
ter experts were showcasing quality meth- Driving Center.
odologies and approaches used by their • A talk about management of quality
organizations to drive excellence, including systems in academic research by Michael
Dania Ghazi from Drilling and Workover, Berumen, director of the Red Sea Research
Ibrahim Mugahwi from Saudi Petroleum Ser- Center at King Abdullah University of Sci-
At Saudi Aramco Training and Development’s William Troy elaborates on the difference of
vices Polytechnic, Naser Sherif from the Ajyal ence and Technology. Berumen discussed
(T&D) fourth annual Quality Forum, Faisal A. good failure compared to bad failure in
Home Ownership Project, and Mohammed Al-Hajji describes three main links in the quality continuous improvement as part of his session at four key areas where universities allocate
A. Hantoul from the Riyadh Refinery. chain within T&D. Al-Hajji was just one of several the forum. With the theme “Quality as a Driver resources to maintain quality standards —
Also, Mohammed Al-Otaibi from the officials and subject matter experts to share at to Excellence,” this year’s event highlighted the internal reviews, accreditation, benchmark-
Learning Solutions and Services Depart- the event. message that quality is critical to all ing, and external peer review — and their
organizations.
ment provided an overview of the Associa- importance in driving excellence and stay-
tion for Talent Development’s Middle East/ ing at the forefront of research. He further
Northern Africa Learning and Development future leaders. the American Society for Quality elaborated noted that merely meeting a KPI does not
Network. Describing the embedded approach to on the difference between good failure and always positively impact the core purpose
This year’s event kicked off with a simula- quality within T&D products, Al-Hajji out- bad failure, and provided some well-known of a program, initiative, or service.
tion of how classroom delivery has changed lined three main links of the quality chain, examples of failures that have led to key discussing quality
through the generations from a tradition- which are key drivers to success. The first lessons being learned.
and excellence across
multiple domains
al classroom to an integrated, technolo- link is sourcing, developing, and retain- Troy discussed how Brooklyn Bridge
gy-driven, learner-centered approach using ing highly qualified human capital. This is builder John Roebling spent his career re-
iPads and the latest technology. followed by building assets to the highest searching bridge failures rather than suc- The forum concluded with a panel discus-
three key links in the quality standards. The final link is operating cesses, using the lessons learned from each sion moderated by T&D consultant Abdul-
quality chain
and maintaining those assets in accordance project to avoid a similar outcome for the rahman Y. Dirbashi. Joining Al-Hajji, Troy,
with quality key performance indicators Brooklyn Bridge. and Berumen were Jarallah AlGhamdi from
Faisal A. Al-Hajji, T&D general manager, (KPIs) that are best in class. Troy also underpinned the need for lead- E&TEC. The panel discussed a range of top-
followed the simulation with his opening Al-Hajji went on to emphasize the impor- ers to step up when faced with failure, as ics, with each panelist sharing some of their
remarks, highlighting key enhancements tance of people development in organiza- their teams will look to them to show how experiences and best practices that can be
in T&D throughout the decades — from tion quality. to take the situation under control and find applied across organizations and functions.
the initiation of Al Jabal School in 1944
failure provides quality a way to move forward. As part of the session, audience members
opportunities
to modern training, including provision- Other presentations included: were able to ask specific questions to the
al instruction for young Saudi operational • An overview of the Education and experts based on their areas of specializa-
personnel and the professional training of Keynote speaker William Troy, the CEO of Training Evaluation Commission (E&TEC) tion and interest.
Knowledge Café Master Classes: stimulating conversations
by Arshad Ahmed
dividuals with the skills required to run
Training and Development’s Knowl- their own café by attending a Knowl-
edge Management Group (KMG) is con- edge Café Master Class.
necting people, generating new ideas, The Master Class covers core concepts
and overcoming challenges with its of the café approach, such as the role
Knowledge Cafés. of conversation in business, the environ-
The KMG has delivered five Knowl- ment required to maintain effective col-
edge Cafés with 128 attendees so far laboration, and how to practically imple-
this year. Four Knowledge Café Master ment knowledge cafés.
Classes have been held with 40 attend- Feedback from attendees of the Mas-
ees to instruct facilitators on how to use ter Class has been positive. Attendees
the Knowledge Café concept. said they enjoyed the short, content-rich
The café concept, which uses conver- nature of the courses and the activities
sation as a basis, has been established used to foster a collaborative environ-
for more than 20 years as a means of ment.
networking, information sharing, and Abdullah A. Ghabbani, director of the
problem solving. Learning Solutions and Services Depart-
In common with many knowledge ment (KMG’s home department), was
management approaches, the cafés are equally positive.
a simple, common sense idea. Common “At a time where employee engage-
sense, but perhaps not common practice ment, innovation and knowledge shar-
Doha Alawdah speaks during a Knowledge Café event. Training and Development’s Knowledge
— which is why KMG is actively driving ing and collaboration are critical to Saudi Management Group has delivered five Knowledge Cafés with 128 attendees so far this year. Four
the use of cafés to support collaboration Aramco’s success, the café concept is a Knowledge Café Master Classes have been held with 40 attendees to instruct facilitators on how to
until it becomes more embedded in Sau- simple, tried and tested approach that use the café concept.
di Aramco culture. practically supports these critical success
conversations, factors,” said Ghabbani. “This support- Attending the Café Master Class of giving employees a voice, getting con-
collaboration, and cafés
ing Master Class will provide others with would be a useful learning opportunity sensus on issues, and helping to develop
the know-how required to implement for facilitators (or those who play a fa- innovative ideas and strategies.
In light of this, KMG has embarked on the café approach in their respective or- cilitator’s role) to add to their business Contact KMG@Exchange.Aramco.com.
a train-the-trainer approach to equip in- ganizations.” toolbox. The café concept is a great way sa if you’d like to understand more.
the arabian sun November 6, 2019
health page 8
well-being
caring for your health and wellness
nutrition and exercise during pregnancy caring profile
you are obese or underweight.
Whether or not you were active before
you were pregnant, ask your doctor about
a safe level of exercise for you. Aim for at
least 30 minutes of moderately intense
physical activity on most, if not every day of
the week as exercise ensures you gain the
right amount of weight, boosts your mood,
reduces discomfort, and improves sleep.
The following are the five steps for safe
exercise during pregnancy:
1. Choose moderate activities unlikely
to injure, such as walking, water aerobics,
swimming, yoga, or using a stationary bike. Dalal A. Al-Abdulazeem
2. Stop exercising when you start to feel director of Patient Relations Division
tired, and never exercise until you are ex- Corporate Affairs Department
hausted or overheated.
3. Drink plenty of water. Education History
You can do a lot to ensure a safe and mackerel, and tilefish during pregnancy. Eat 4. Wear comfortable clothing that fits • 2001 — Joined Saudi Aramco
healthy pregnancy for you and your baby. no more than 350 grams of any fish per well, and supports and protects your breasts. Medical Services Organization as a
Eating high fiber foods, including fruits and week. 5. Stop exercising if you feel dizzy, be- CDPNE (College Degree Program for
vegetables, is a great start. You should not eat soft cheeses such as come short of breath, feel pain in your back, non-Employees)
If you have heartburn or morning sick- feta, brie, and goat cheese and ready-to-eat experience swelling or numbness, feel sick • 2004 — Graduated from King Faisal
ness, try eating smaller meals more often. meats, including lunch meats, hot dogs, and to your stomach, or your heart beats too University in Dammam with a B.S. in
Don’t skip breakfast. If you don’t take vita- deli meats. These foods may contain bacte- fast or at an uneven rate. Medical Laboratory Technology
min and nutrient supplements already, start ria called listeria that are harmful to unborn For you and your baby’s health and safety, • 2005 — Accredited as a technologist
taking them. You need extra calcium, iron, babies. Cooking hot dogs, lunch, and deli it is best to avoid the following during your in Chemistry from the American
and folic acid (600 mg a day) to help your meats until steaming hot can kill the bacte- pregnancy: Society of Clinical Pathology
baby develop normally. ria and make these meats safe to eat. Avoid • Being active outside during hot weather. • 2014 — Certified in Advanced Public
What steps can I take to ensure my eating raw fish such as sushi, sashimi, or • Avoid steam rooms, hot tubs, and sau- Relations and Communication from
diet meets the nutritional needs of ceviche, and raw or undercooked meat and nas. Michigan State University
pregnancy? poultry. These foods can contain harmful • Certain yoga poses or other activities • 2017 — Certified trainer, Saudi
Eat breakfast every day. If you feel sick bacteria. that call for lying flat on your back after the Technical and Vocational Training
to your stomach when you first wake up, Cook fish, meat, and poultry thoroughly 20th week of pregnancy. Corporation
choose dry whole-wheat or whole-grain before eating. Stay away from drinking large • Sports such as tennis and basketball that Work History
toast, even before you get out of bed. Eat amounts of caffeine containing beverages. If make you jump or change directions quickly. • Al-Abdulazeem has eight years of
the rest of breakfast (fruit, oatmeal, cere- you drink lots of coffee, tea, or soda, check • Horseback riding, in-line skating, down- experience working in different
al, milk, yogurt, or other foods) later in the with your health care provider about cutting hill skiing, and other activities that can result laboratories, including hematology
morning. Eat high fiber foods. back on caffeine. Instead, try decaffeinated in falls. and histopathology.
Whole-grain cereals, vegetables, fruits, versions of your favorite beverages, or warm Even before you become pregnant, exer- • She joined JHAH’s Patient Relations
beans, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice low fat/fat free milk, or sparkling mineral cising and good nutrition are important to Division in 2013 and worked in
can prevent constipation. Drinking plen- water. your well-being. However, as you become multiple leadership roles. Leading
ty of water and daily physical activity also Sometimes pregnant women crave some- pregnant, you have to do some changes in the Patient Relations team in the
can help. Keep healthy foods on hand. A thing that is not food, such as laundry starch your eating and exercising habits to accom- Dammam/al-Khobar area, she helps
bowl of apples, bananas, peaches, oranges, or clay. Talk to your health care providers if modate pregnancy. to serve patients registered in the
and grapes makes it easy to grab a healthy you have such a craving. As a pregnant woman, you need more Medical Designated Facilities.
snack. Fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and Should I exercise while I am pregnant? of certain vitamins, minerals and proteins, Quote
vegetables make healthy and quick addi- Almost all women can and should be including calcium, folic acid, and iron. You “In Patient Relations, we have the
tions to meals, as do canned beans. physically active during pregnancy. First, talk need to rest and try not to overdo it. privilege of improving our patients’
What about morning sickness and to your health care provider — particularly Talk to your doctor to make sure you are health care experience at JHAH with
heartburn? if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, getting everything you need for a healthy every visit made. We aspire to provide
If you have “morning sickness” (hyper- anemia, bleeding, or other disorders, or if pregnancy. a quality of health care that exceeds
emesis), talk with your health care provider. the expectations of our patients.
You may need to adjust the way you eat and Nothing gives me more satisfaction
drink, such as by eating smaller meals more
tips to start on than a smiling patient.”
an exercise program
frequently and drinking plenty of fluids.
Your health care provider can help you deal
while pregnant
with morning sickness while keeping your
healthy eating habits on track.
If you have heartburn during pregnancy,
eat small meals more often. Also, eat slow- 1. Go for a walk around the block or through
ly, avoid spicy and fatty foods (such as hot a shopping mall with your spouse or a
peppers or fried chicken), drink beverages friend.
between instead of with meals, and do not 2. Join a prenatal yoga, water
lie down right after eating. Certain foods aerobics, or fitness class,
and beverages can harm your baby if you and let the instructor Become a patient at Johns
eat and drink them while you are pregnant. know you are pregnant Hopkins Aramco
Ask your health care provider for a complete before beginning. Healthcare (JHAH)
list of foods and beverages to avoid. 3. Follow an exercise video for Eligible Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents are
What foods and beverages should I pregnant women. invited to register for healthcare at JHAH.
For more information on how to change your registration,
stay away from while I am pregnant? 4. At your gym or community center, sign up contact your local HR Service Center or visit HR Online, or
You should not consume alcohol. Drink for a fitness session for pregnant women. scan the QR code below for detailed instructions.
apple cider, tomato juice, sparkling water, 5. Stand up, stretch, and move at least once
or other nonalcoholic beverages. Do not an hour — if you sit most of the day, as well
eat fish that may have high levels of mercu- as during commercials when watching TV.
ry, and avoid eating shark, swordfish, king
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All health and health related information contained in this Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare company material is intended to be general in nature and should not be used
as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional. The advice is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals to discuss their health and medical conditions with their health care
provider. Your health care provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the medical condition, treatment, and needs of you and your family.
November 6, 2019 the arabian sun
9 community news
diverse talents and techniques
‘Emerge’ at the th annual
by Shaistha Khan
Dhahran Fine Art Show with their artwork, others explore tech-
Dhahran — The Dhahran Art Group (DAG) niques to create innovative pieces. Inspired
recently held the 65th edition of its annual by geodes and colors of nature, Rajaa Abu-
fine arts show, the Dhahran Fine Art Show baker and Hala Sekak use resin in their
at Ad Diwan in Dhahran. Over a four-day mixed media (3-D metallic pigments, glitter,
exhibition, artists from the Saudi Aramco pearls, wood, and sculpture) to create stun-
community came together to display their ning artwork.
artwork. Self-taught artist Ghazala Shaji soaked
Opening the event, Muhammad M. Al walnuts in water and used the neutral resi-
Saggaf, senior vice president of Operations due, along with 24-carat gold paint, to repli-
and Business Services, spoke on the legacy cate a 15th century Tirmurid mosaic. Training
of the art show. under a DAG veteran, Christine Wharton
“In its 65th year, the art show is older than used palette knives to paint the jacaranda
some of Saudi Aramco’s buildings and facili- flower fields of Johannesburg.
ties,” said Al Saggaf. Debuting at this year’s art show, Samaa
Established in 1954 with eight members, Mansour explains that one should step away
Muhammad M. Al Saggaf visits with artists at the 65th annual Dhahran Fine Art Show. “The art
DAG held its first art show in 1955. Today, it and squint at her painting “Solitude” to tru-
group and its annual exhibition provide the community with a venue to release their creative
is a 400-member strong community. energies. You support and celebrate the artist, who represents an important pillar of the ly appreciate it. Passionate about art history,
“As the event gets bigger and bigger ev- community,” Al Saggaf said. (Photos: Mayameen AlHamoud/MPD) Mansour describes the 19th century tech-
ery year, we are excited to see more artistic nique of Alla Prima — in which layers of wet
talent and their contributions to the com- believes the group provides a creative ha- out of a subject’s head. Another young art- paint are applied to previous wet layers —
munity,” said Al Saggaf. ven for the community. Her glass artwork ist, Dalal Alghaithi, creates pencil drawings as opposed to the traditional technique of
He also thanked everyone who contrib- represents hope for a world ravaged by cli- of emerging trends and pop culture ele- slower, longer, and more deliberate artwork.
utes to DAG. mate change, where nature is held together ments like the Powerpuff Girls. The art show has always been a popular
“The art group and its annual exhibition by a delicate balance of green. Smith also For Erik Melver, who has been showcasing event in the community, and the 3,800 visi-
provide the community with a venue to re- showed DAG vice president Ayisha Toor’s his work at the art show from the past sev- tors at this year’s event provides further tes-
lease their creative energies,” he added. porcelain sculpture of a circle, transforming en years, Emerge signifies new talents and tament to its popularity.
“You support and celebrate the artist, who into a sphere, as an example that reflects a greater diversity of artists that have been Aseel Awaad, co-chairwoman of the art
represents an important pillar of the com- the theme. featured in this year’s event. Using quick show, thanked Recreation and Commu-
munity.” For young artist Jood Albattat, Emerge brush strokes, he converts abstract ideas nity Services for their continued support
Under the theme of “Emerge,” 72 artists means stepping outside of her comfort zone into images that an onlooker can recognize. throughout the event.
displayed 450 works of art. and exploring unconventional ideas. Inspired
using different mediums and “Every year, the bar is set higher and high-
exploring art using the theme techniques to explore art
by her grandmother’s forward-thinking er. The entire committee came together to
philosophies, Albattat paints a young wom- pull off an impressive and successful art
DAG president and artist Amola Smith an with bright, vibrant butterflies emerging While some artists explore the theme show,” she said.
international flavor, Abqaiq Women’s Group gives ‘The Friendly City’ a night to remember
Participants in
the Abqaiq
Women’s
Group special
night to
celebrate
diversity in
‘The Friendly
City’ pose for
a photo
following the
event.
performances bring
by Shama Egbe
with delightfully decorated stalls from 10 resentation of a beautiful Indonesian bride,
Abqaiq — Abqaiq women recently came
together to give the community a night to
countries/regions — Azerbaijan, Colombia,
Nigeria, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangla-
celebration to life the rocking Bollywood numbers from India,
or the elegant wedding traditions show-
remember, as the Abqaiq Women’s Group desh, Venezuela, the Middle East group, The highlight of the evening were the per- cased by Pakistan — it was an entertaining
hosted an international party that saw wide and Morocco. formances from each country — whether it evening to say the least.
participation. Each stall was adorned with the country’s be the wonderful documentary on Azerbai- The women’s group gave a huge “thank
Led by Nadia Shah and supported by a special colors, beautiful artifacts, and an ar- jan, the nostalgic poem from Colombia, the you” to all of the participating countries
crew of board members (Iram Mahmood, ray of their best dishes — making it literally smashing greetings from Nigeria, the dabka and the Abqaiq Community as a whole,
Zineb Zimran, and Samren Khan), the eve- a feast for the eyes. dance from the Middle East group with that which came together to celebrate the rich
ning at Ain Nakhl Golf Club was lit up mesmerizing drum roll, the wonderful rep- diversity of this lovely community.
the arabian sun November 6, 2019
community 10
SAEA trip gives employees
a chance to take in the real
by Chiara Ciampricotti Iacoangeli
pharaohs, Luxor Temple was the largest and
The Nile, forever new and old, most significant religious center in ancient
Among the living and the dead, Egypt.
taking in the real Luxor
Its mighty, mystic stream has rolled.
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
In what was then Thebes, Luxor Temple
After four long months of planning and was “the place of the First Occasion,” where
organization, the Saudi Aramco Employees Amon experienced rebirth during the pha-
Association was able to offer a fascinating raoh’s annually re-enacted coronation cere-
Egyptian itinerary, including a cruise along mony. Today, the remains of this vast com-
the Nile from Aswan to Luxor. plex include the colossal Great Colonnade
The journey started in Aswan, where a Hall, 60 meters long, with 28 21-foot-high
group of traditional instrument players and columns. Its decoration was largely under-
a dervish dancer warmly welcomed us. From taken by Tutankhamun around 1330 BCE.
there, we visited the Aswan High Dam. It The last day gave us an exciting experience
lies just north of the border between Egypt of flying in a hot air balloon above the city
and Sudan. It is a huge rock-filled dam that of Luxor and the Kings’ Valley. The Kings’
holds back the world’s longest river, the Nile, Valley, also called Valley of the Tombs of the
creating the world’s third-largest reservoir Kings, is a long narrow gorge just west of
— Lake Nasser. The dam was completed in the Nile River in Upper Egypt. The valley it-
1970, after 10 years of work to avoid annu- self does not appear particularly spectacular
al floods. at first glance — nothing more than a ravine
Soon after we visited the unfinished Obe- of reddish rock beaten by the sun — but be-
lisk, laying as a sleeping giant in a bed of low the ground level are the graves of about
granite; it is an incredible look at the build- 70 pharaohs. The visit is worth it because
ing methods of these monolithic monu- of the precious wall decorations that cover
ments. Archaeologists are unsure which every single centimeter of the walls of these
pharaoh created this structure. It just so tombs.
happened that perhaps the builders got a Nearby, we saw the Colossi of Memnon,
little greedy about their capabilities, as it a pair of gigantic statues that bear witness
would have been one-third larger than any to the size of one of the greatest Egyptian
previously erected obelisk had the work temples. Each made from monolithic blocks;
gone to completion. Instead, a huge crack these giants are 18 meters high.
appeared as it was being freed from the Our last visit was dedicated to another
bedrock, causing it to lay abandoned. wonderful temple. Beneath the sheer, stark
In the evening, we were able to enjoy this idate his Nubian neighbors. These are now stands on the remains of an ancient place cliffs of Deir el Bahri, the mortuary Temple of
special corner of the world in the most ro- part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. of worship, commissioned by Thutmose III in Hatshepsut reveals one of the most extraor-
mantic way, on a traditional felucca carried Built to withstand the test of time and to im- the Ptolemaic period. dinary reigns in Egyptian history. Stepped
by the current and gusts of wind, captured press anyone who came to visit them, they On Sunday, we reached Edfu and we visit- platforms, pillared porticoes, and vibrant re-
by a triangular sail hanging from a nine-me- pay homage to Ramses II as a god and his ed its evocative temple. This Ptolemaic tem- liefs set against the desert backdrop make it
ter high mast. We sailed along the shores of wife Nefertiti. The Abu Simbel temples, still ple, built between 237 and 57 BCE, is one one of the world’s most striking architectural
Elephantine Island, with the ever-changing today — 3,000 years after their construction of the best-preserved ancient monuments in masterpieces, but perhaps even more note-
hues of light over the river at sunset. We — excellently continue to perform this task. Egypt. Preserved by desert sand, the temple worthy is the woman who commissioned
also visited the colorful Nubian Village, a Once back on the cruise, we sailed to Kôm is dedicated to Horus, the avenging son of it. The eldest daughter of King Thutmose I,
place with a rhythm of life that is now be- Ombo, which stands on the west bank of Isis and Osiris. Hatshepsut first assumed the role of queen
yond our time — a window on a world that the Nile, 40 kilometers from Aswan, be- In the evening, we went to Karnak — an regent during the 18 th dynasty after the
seems frozen in time. tween the maize and sugar cane. Kôm extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, death of her husband, Thutmose II.
walking through history
Ombo was built where the ancient city of pylons, and obelisks dedicated to the The- Although her stepson, Thutmose III, even-
Pa-Sebek once stood — the heart of the ban triad, but also to the greater glory of tually came of age, she adopted the title of
The day after, we woke up early in the cult of Sobek — the crocodile-god of water pharaohs. pharaoh and ruled for more than two de-
morning to reach the Abu Simbel temples, and floods. Located on a small hill, with a In the night, through a magical festival cades. She was one of ancient Egypt’s first
which were built by the pharaoh to cele- splendid view of the Nile and the island of of lights, we saw the Luxor Temple. Con- female pharaohs.
brate his victory against the Hittites in the El-Mansuriyah, the temple of Kôm Ombo structed over hundreds of years by Amenho- We took home wonderful memories of
battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE and to intim- tep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun, and other our journey along the river cradle of an
ancient civilization, full of ancient history,
from the era of the Egyptian pharaohs to
present-day. What an opportunity for great
discoveries, adventures, explorations, and
knowledge!You can also read
