RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund recently celebrated the achievements of 15 Saudi startups in the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program, in partnership with AlMashtal Creative Incubator in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter.
Over 560 entrepreneurs and creators applied to the program, with 40 participants advancing to the final challenge phase and 15 projects being completed.
The program provided a competitive training framework involving a range of creative activities that aided local innovators in presenting their ideas with the aim of delivering them in high-quality formats that could find a place in the global market.
Additionally, the fund organized a specialized workshop in collaboration with the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator focusing on intellectual property protection.
During the event, Qusai AI-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, expressed his pride in the participants.
“We are proud of what the participants have accomplished through the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. The creative entrepreneurs have demonstrated their ability to transform ideas into products that tell inspiring stories,” said Al-Fakhri.
Princess Nourah bint Saud bin Nayef Al Saud, founder and CEO of the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator, highlighted the importance of collaborating with Saudi brands, as it “contributes to supporting small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector, enabling them to be ambassadors of contemporary Saudi identity through their products,” she said.
Kholoud Attar, CEO of DRB Saudiverse and Souvenirs, one of the event’s spotlighted Saudi brands, presented products inspired by the Arabic love story “Majnun Layla,” in which lovers Qays and Layla, although born into the same tribe, are unable to be together.
“Today in the accelerator, we are doing a product concept called ‘Diar Layla,’ which is inspired by … Saudi culture. We were surprised to find that the poet Qays is from an area in Saudi Arabia called Alflag (a village near Riyadh), which a lot of people, including us Saudis, don’t know,” she said.
In the classic story, Qays becomes obsessed with Layla, and his tribe gives him the nickname “Majnun Layla,” a term that is still used to this day to describe someone who is madly in love.
The souvenirs are a necklace in the shape of a lock and a brooch that serves as a key with a design inspired by the iconic Najdi doors, known for their geometric patterns and colors.
“We created the lock to be the necklace, and the keyhole is the brooch for the men to wear, so it’s a two-in-one gift. She gets to keep the necklace, and he gets to keep the lock,” Attar said.
Attar said that the accelerator provided her with an educational experience that was curated for each brand and individual.
“I have been in several accelerators before, but what was really special about this was that … it was customized to each person … I learned how to create a product, design it, and (pitch) it to the market successfully.”