Saudi Arabia Honors Best National Media Productions

Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG) CEO Joumana Alrashid honors social media influencer Thawab Alsubaie with his prize. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG) CEO Joumana Alrashid honors social media influencer Thawab Alsubaie with his prize. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
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Saudi Arabia Honors Best National Media Productions

Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG) CEO Joumana Alrashid honors social media influencer Thawab Alsubaie with his prize. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG) CEO Joumana Alrashid honors social media influencer Thawab Alsubaie with his prize. (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

In partnership with the Saudi Tourism Commission, the Saudi Ministry of Media, represented by the Government Communication Center, celebrated the winners at the 3rd edition of the Media Excellence Award for national day 2022.   

Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi announced the expansion of the forthcoming edition of the award, which will become an annual event known as the “Media Excellence Award”. It will celebrate the national creative works throughout the year, and allow the participation of more creators from across Saudi Arabia.  

This year’s event saw 30 finalists out of 1,000 participants compete for prizes in nine media categories. 

The best media campaign prize was awarded to the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority; the best photograph prize went to photographer Hamad al-Okaili for his photo “Falcon and the Falcons”; and the best video from the private sector prize went to the Half Million company.  

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (MiSK) won the best video from the non-profit sector prize for its production “Watan Hader Lak”.  

Social media influencer Thawab Alsubaie won the best creative work in the social media for individuals prize.  

The Riyadh Newspaper bagged the best media coverage prize for its production “Riyadh Capital of the Universe…History was Made Here.” 

The Saudi Broadcasting Authority won the best TV production for its documentary “The Saudi Ardah”. The best broadcast and podcast prize went to the “Qafilah Podcast” for its episode “Flag…Symbol of Pride and Honor”.  

Aramco’s “Ithra” initiative won the best national song prize for its song “We Sing for our Home Country”. 

The tourism film prize went to the Tourism Development Fund for its production “People of Tourism”. 

This year’s edition of the Media Excellence Award for national day dedicated a special tribute to figures who had major contributions in media and culture in Saudi Arabia. The honored personalities are composer of the national anthem, late poet Ibrahim Khafaji; singer Mohammed Abdu; photographer Bandar Al-Jaloud; and French photographer Tchékof Minosa. 



Germany Goes Nuts for Viral 'Dubai Chocolate’

Pieces of Dubai chocolate with gold leaf are pictured at Abu Khaled Sweets oriental pastry shop in Berlin's Wedding district on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Pieces of Dubai chocolate with gold leaf are pictured at Abu Khaled Sweets oriental pastry shop in Berlin's Wedding district on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Germany Goes Nuts for Viral 'Dubai Chocolate’

Pieces of Dubai chocolate with gold leaf are pictured at Abu Khaled Sweets oriental pastry shop in Berlin's Wedding district on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Pieces of Dubai chocolate with gold leaf are pictured at Abu Khaled Sweets oriental pastry shop in Berlin's Wedding district on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

When Ali Fakhro lays out a row of pistachio-filled chocolate bars in the morning at his bakery in Berlin, he knows they will be gone in a matter of hours.

Inspired by the viral success of the crunchy delicacy known as "Dubai chocolate", Fakhro, 32, hunted down a recipe and began making his own version two months ago.

"On the first day I made 20 bars, but they went fast. The next day, I made 50 -- all gone too," he said.

So-called Dubai chocolate was invented in 2021 by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda, who is based in Dubai.

The chunky treat consists of a blocky, hand-decorated chocolate bar with various quirky fillings -- the signature flavor being a rich pistachio cream.

The treat went viral when TikTok food influencer Maria Vehera posted a video of herself eating a bar in her car, which has since been viewed more than 100 million times.

The real thing is only available to local customers in limited quantities, but the trend has led to an explosion of copycat versions of the chocolate around the world.

Shop owner Ali Fakhro prepares Dubai chocolate at his Abu Khaled Sweets oriental pastry shop in Berlin's Wedding district on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

- Queueing in the cold -

Fakhro, who runs Abu Khaled Sweets in Berlin, experimented "several times" with different recipes before finally landing on the right ingredient to give the pistachio cream its famous crunch -- a finely shredded Middle Eastern pastry known as kataif.

Germans have been scrambling to get their hands on the chocolate with bars selling for over 100 euros ($104) on the internet.

Last week, a 31-year-old man was caught by customs attempting to smuggle 45 kilograms of the sweet treat into Germany from Switzerland.

When Swiss manufacturer Lindt launched its own version of the Dubai chocolate in Germany this month, customers queued for hours in the cold to get their hands on a bar.

At up to 20 euros per bar, the delicacy is far more expensive than your average chocolate bar -- but that didn't seem to be putting anyone off.

"I waited 10 hours. I've been here since midnight just to taste this chocolate," 18-year-old student Leon Faehnle told AFP outside a Lindt shop in Stuttgart.

Customers line-up in front of a branch of chocolate producer Lindt before the sale of 100 Dubai Chocolate bars starts in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on November 15, 2024. (AFP)

- 'Easy money' -

Lindt launched the chocolate in Germany with 1,000 numbered bars in 10 shops, a spokesman for the group told AFP, and is planning a similar launch in Austria on November 30.

Dubai chocolate has also been a hit in France, with a version by chocolatier Jeremy Bockel on show at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris earlier this month.

Yannick Burkhard, 21, queued for three hours in Stuttgart to get his hands on the chocolate -- but is not planning to eat any of it himself. Instead, he will sell it on the internet.

"I would never pay that much for this. It's quick and easy money," he said with a smile.

"This bar cost 15 euros, but it can sell for almost 100 euros... There are lots of offers on eBay, up to 300 euros," said a customer who gave his name only as Lucas, 24.

Faehnle had a more wholesome plan for his bars as he exited the shop in Stuttgart beaming with pride at his purchase.

"Now I'm going to go home and share them with my grandparents," he said.