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Google Launches Short Videos Promoting Tourism in Saudi Arabia

Google has launched the first episode of a new series of short videos dubbed “Saraina m3 Google”
Google has launched the first episode of a new series of short videos dubbed “Saraina m3 Google”
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Google Launches Short Videos Promoting Tourism in Saudi Arabia

Google has launched the first episode of a new series of short videos dubbed “Saraina m3 Google”
Google has launched the first episode of a new series of short videos dubbed “Saraina m3 Google”

Google has launched the first episode of a new series of short videos dubbed “Saraina m3 Google” aimed at promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia with the help of Saudi content creators. The series includes three tours in Jeddah, during which the content creators use Google to explore special historic, artistic, and natural destinations. The series is produced in Arabic, and subtitled in English to connect with a wide audience that speaks both languages around the world.

Featuring content creators Sultan al-Badran and Mosab al-Maliki, the first episode covers the artistic and cultural aspects of the city. They tour in the Islamic Arts Biennale and Hayy Jameel, considered the creativity hub in the city center. The second episode highlights the historic “Al Balad” area in Jeddah, while the third episode celebrates the natural aspect of the city with a boat trip in the heart of the Red Sea.

During their tours, Badran and Maliki used google tools including search, maps, and lens to find the local related information.

Dina Al Samhan, head of Google Advertising Partnerships in Saudi Arabia, said: “This series is our first collaboration with Saudi talents to promote the Kingdom in new and creative ways. Google looks forward to collaborate with more local creators to help explore and promote tourism across the kingdom.”

The series features other Saudi content creators including Yazeed al-Dereni and Maram Beeko, as well as Abrar, a Saudi local guide on Google Maps, who shed lights on the importance of supporting local businesses by adding credible reviews on Google Maps.

According to Google's internal data, global searches on Google for Saudi Arabia as a travel destination increased by 160 percent in 2022 year over year. Jeddah was the second most searched travel destination by residents in the Kingdom last year. “Saraina m3 Google” will be posted on Google’s social media channels, and on Google’s official blog in Arabic.

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The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
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The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

Navin Singh Khadka grew up in Nepal's capital watching the Himalayas. Ever since he left, he has missed sweeping, panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks on Earth.

“Each time I visit Kathmandu, I hope to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountain range. But these days, there's usually no luck,” he told BBC, adding that the main culprit is severe air pollution that hangs as haze above the region.

“And it's happening even during the spring and autumn months, which once offered clear skies,” Singh Khadka said.

Just last April, the international flight he was in had to circle in the sky nearly 20 times before landing in Kathmandu, because of the hazy weather impacting visibility at the airport.

“The hotel I checked in at was at a reasonable height from which mountains are visible on a clear day – but there was no such day during my two-week stay,” he said.

Even from the major vantage point of Nagarkot, just outside Kathmandu, all that could be seen was haze, as if the mountains did not exist, he added.

Yogendra Shakya, who has been operating a hotel at Nagarkot since 1996, said, “I no longer brand the place for views of 'sunrise, sunset and Himalayas' as I did in the past.”

“Since you can't have those things mostly now because of the haze, I have rebranded it with history and culture as there are those tourism products as well here,” Shakya added.

During an earlier trip a year ago, Singh Khadka was hopeful he would be able to see the mighty Himalayan peaks on a trek in the mesmerizing Annapurna region – but had hardly any luck there either.

Scientists say hazy conditions in the region are becoming increasingly intense and lasting longer, reducing visibility significantly.

Haze is formed by a combination of pollutants like dust and smoke particles from fires, reducing visibility to less than 5,000 m. It remains stagnant in the sky during the dry season - which now lasts longer due to climate change.