{"id":4034,"date":"2022-07-20T14:35:17","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T13:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/?page_id=4034"},"modified":"2023-02-02T10:07:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T10:07:26","slug":"press-releases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/press-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0627\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0646\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0635\u062d\u0641\u064a\u0629"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4034\" class=\"elementor elementor-4034\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-67b0be1 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"67b0be1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-afe1709\" data-id=\"afe1709\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fd3fb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2fd3fb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 05-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u0627\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0646\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0635\u062d\u0641\u064a\u0629<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-53b845a3 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"53b845a3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f686842\" data-id=\"5f686842\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6db56a0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6db56a0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Heart of Arabia Expedition Arrives in Jeddah<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3981b3b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3981b3b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 05-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/arrival-at-Jeddah.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5161\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b03cfdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b03cfdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">30 January 2023<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52625682 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52625682\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 05-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Wind, rain, blistering sun and 1300 kilometres after leaving Al Uqair in November, the Heart of Arabia Expedition team have arrived in Jeddah this morning to be warmly welcomed by top ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Culture as well as by family and friends.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-59dce5ec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59dce5ec\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3bf0e065\" data-id=\"3bf0e065\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fb3d072 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fb3d072\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On arrival they received a message from the office of The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, Patron of the Expedition. The message said: \u201cThe Princess Royal congratulates all members of the expedition and their support team, for successfully finishing the Heart of Arabia trans Peninsular expedition. Her Royal Highness is well aware what a demanding feat this was, and congratulates the organizers and participants. The Princess Royal would also like to thank the supporters of the expedition who made this journey possible. Her Royal Highness looks forward to receiving a report of the full journey in due course.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Team leader Mark Evans said: We are delighted to finally have arrived &#8211; by foot not an camels like Philby. It has been an amazing and memorable expedition and experience which none of us will ever forget. As for Philby, a challenge for us has been the cold and sometimes wet weather, but as for him, the comradeship of a shared journey has more than overcome those hardships\u201d<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mark was accompanied on the expedition by Reem Philby, Harry St John Philby\u2019s granddaughter; Ana Maria Pavalache, photographer and Alan Morrissey, logistics expert.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The expedition has been supported by HSBC, Al-Jazirah Ford, Leica, Saudi Satellite and Telecommunications, the Camel Club and by the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia and by the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in London and KAUST.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eb3c8ea elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eb3c8ea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-92646c3\" data-id=\"92646c3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-334b0c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"334b0c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Philby family gathers at Heart of Arabia Expedition Riyadh launch<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b238582 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b238582\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1912\" height=\"1276\" src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Leg-2-PR-.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5152\" alt=\"Mark Evans and Reem Philby on the Heart of Arabia Expedition 2022\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb6bec7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bb6bec7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">15 January 2023<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-238ee85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"238ee85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"http:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/\u0661\u0665-\u064a\u0646\u0627\u064a\u0631\u0662\u0660\u0662\u0663-_-_-______-_\u062e\u0628\u0631-\u0635\u062d\u0641\u0649.pdf\">\u0627\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u062d\u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-200fa37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"200fa37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The British and Saudi sides of the Philby family will come together for the first time this weekend in Riyadh as the Heart of Arabia expedition team, following in the footsteps of Harry St John (Abdullah) Philby prepares to set out on the second half of their gruelling 1300K trek across Arabia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e98f61 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e98f61\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-cc8503c\" data-id=\"cc8503c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78a7317 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78a7317\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is the first time any of Philby\u2019s British grandchildren have visited the Kingdom where their grandfather made his home. Their Saudi cousin and expedition team member Reem Philby said: \u201cThis leg is preceded by a very special event where the British and Saudi sides of the family come together for the first time in\u00a0Riyadh\u00a0celebrating our grandfather\u2019s life and legacy in his second home.\u201d<\/p><p>She is eager to begin the second part of the expedition: \u201cI think I\u2019ve had enough of the luxury of a bed and I\u2019m ready to be back in my tent in the desert for leg 2 of the Heart of Arabia expedition exploring new parts of the centre and\u00a0west of Saudi Arabia in the harsh cold of January.\u201d<\/p><p>She and the other team members will be joined at Al Diryah where the team start the second phase by two of Philby\u2019s British grandchildren. British grandson Michael Engelbach said: \u201cIt is difficult to summarise all our feelings and emotions. We are so looking forward to being in Riyadh and also going to Al Hofuf which was an early stopping point for our grandfather on his 1917\/18 voyage across the Arabian peninsula.\u201d He is visiting the Kingdom with his cousin Mandy Oates.<\/p><p>\u201cOur experience of our grandfather was through holidays spent with him as schoolchildren in London and Cornwall. Having read many of his letters and his books giving the account of his travels and his love of Arabia we are very excited to be finally viewing the country and the people first hand.<\/p><p>\u201cMark&#8217;s expedition has brought this long Arabian period of his extraordinary life alive in our imaginations and following its progress closely has enabled us to identify with the scale of his achievement. We are enormously grateful to Mark for that and for enabling a heart-warming introduction to our Saudi cousins. We are looking forward to spending time with them in Riyadh and excited to be meeting their parents for the first time. We hope that the two families can maintain a close contact going forward as well as a common interest in our grandfather&#8217;s legacy.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d7e057\" data-id=\"0d7e057\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-796a3c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"796a3c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The second leg of the Expedition, which is led by explorer Mark Evans, will set out from Al Diriyah just outside Riyadh on Monday morning (16 January) and take the same route through the hills towards Jeddah. \u201cAbdullah Philby is considered by many as one of the greatest early explorers of Arabia,\u201d said Mark. \u201cHe not only set out across uncharted land, but took time to record everything he saw, something not done before with as much detail, increasing our geographical knowledge and understanding of the region.\u201d<\/p><p>He said the second leg of the expedition would be more challenging physically than the first. \u201cIt will be longer, the terrain more varied, colder and wetter. Historically perhaps this leg of the expedition is more significant as this was where Philby saw the opportunity to demonstrate that Ibn Saud had the allegiance of the tribes to the west. It was a journey that was pivotal in understanding the Kingdom and in the evolution of the modern state of Saudi Arabia.\u201d<\/p><p>Mark and Reem will be joined of the second leg of their expedition by fellow team members, logistics expert Alan Morrissey and photographer Ana Maria Pavalache.<\/p><p>The expedition is supported by HSBC and the Saudi Arabian British Bank. Other team sponsors and partners are Al Jazirah Ford who have supplied the team with trucks, Leica who have supplied Ana Maria\u2019s cameras and STC, the Saudi satellite company providing telecommunications in the desert. \u201cWe are sincerely grateful and indebted to our official partners and sponsors who have made this historic expedition possible,\u201d said Mark.<\/p><p><strong>To interview team members before or during the expedition please contact either Ann Morris: <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:ann@mia.gb.net\"><strong>ann@mia.gb.net<\/strong><\/a><strong> or Wajod Al Khamis <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:w.alkhms@gmail.com\"><strong>w.alkhms@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c9dc01 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c9dc01\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-405f5ff\" data-id=\"405f5ff\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc1aafa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bc1aafa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Heart of Arabia expedition begins<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ddf0ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9ddf0ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PHOTO-2022-11-14-17-50-35-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5150\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adefbf1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"adefbf1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">14 November 2022<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b18ea3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b18ea3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"http:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/151122-press-release-arabic.pdf\">\u0627\u0642\u0631\u0623 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u062d\u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53b751a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"53b751a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The trucks are packed tight: water, fuel, emergency equipment, a ton of food from rice and baked beans to coffee and dates, and the team is ready to set out tomorrow (Tuesday 15 November) for the first stage of their 1300-kilometre expedition across the Arabian Peninsula from East to West.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-67d51e3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67d51e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-96fd874\" data-id=\"96fd874\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac94a8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac94a8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>British explorer and team leader Mark Evans MBE, Saudi explorer Reem Philby, British logistics expert Alan Morrissey and Swiss photographer Ana-Maria Pavalache will leave Riyadh at 6am to drive to their first base camp at the remote port of Al Uqair where they will camp before setting out early on Wednesday in the footsteps of Reem\u2019s grandfather explorer Harry St John (Abdullah) Philby who started his journey from the same coastal village 105 years ago.<\/p><p>\u201cThis is a journey with purpose, \u201csaid Mark Evans. Like Philby the team will be using the expedition to expand our knowledge of the desert. \u201cWe are undertaking research for three important international science projects which look at how our world has evolved and learning from that look towards our future, leading to greater understanding of our world.\u201d<\/p><p>Philby closely mapped and monitored his journeys enabling cartographers, botanists and zoologists to gain a much more detailed knowledge of the Arabian Peninsula. Mark said: \u201cWe are carrying the Explorers Club flag that went to the moon, a great privilege only given to those expeditions where the aim is to expand human knowledge. I think Philby would approve.\u201d<\/p><p>The expedition was launched in London by its patron HRH the Princess Royal. A send off reception and press event is being held by British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Neil Crompton.<\/p><p>The three science projects being carried out by the team<\/p><ul><li>Extreme Environments and Remote Location psychology. The DRIFT project led by Dr Nathan Smith at Coventry University looks at our understanding of the psychological impact of living in extreme isolated environments. The aim is to produce a psychological support tool to enable humans to thrive on the moon, mars and beyond. Mark will lead this research<\/li><li>Bat Distribution &#8211; a project led by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. More than 30 species of bat live in Arabia and play a vital role in desert ecology, controlling insect populations and pollinating and dispersing the seeds of date palm. Reem will lead research into their roosting sites.<\/li><li>Green Arabia \u2013 a project headed by Michael Petraglia, Director of the Australian Centre for Human Revolution. Recording archaeological artefacts found in the desert. This research will lead to better understanding of environmental changes in the desert over the past one million years. Alan will carry out this research.<\/li><\/ul><p>The expedition will be recorded on camera by Ana Maria who has been lent cameras particularly suited to the desert environment by Leica.\u00a0\u00a0 She will also lead on social media. The team will communicate daily using satellite communications provide by STC the Saudi Telecoms Company.<\/p><p>Careful preparations for the expedition have included mapping of the route and preparing for any potential hazards the team and their 4 x 4 support vehicles &#8211; lent to them by Al Jazirah Ford &#8211; will face. It\u2019s the sand dunes that worry logistics expert Alan Morrissey the most. He\u2019s packed four pairs of sand ladders and six different types of rope as well as several shovels in case the vehicles get stuck in soft sand of the Rub Al Khali.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3a3a840\" data-id=\"3a3a840\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3d0706 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3d0706\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The trucks will be heavy with 28 jerry cans of additional fuel as well as equipment and food. As well as an allocation of 5 litres per team member a day, their desert diet will include foul (cooked fava beans) and local Tamees bread for breakfast which they will make over the camp fire.\u00a0 They will also carry a supply of Arabic coffee for hosting guests visiting them as well as several different date varieties for an energy sugar boost, items Philby also survived on during his expedition.\u00a0<\/p><p>Each of the team are taking something with them that they consider essential to their expeditions. Mark is taking his <em>farwa<\/em> a fur lined camel coat which he bought in Riyadh 30 years ago. \u201cIt is perfect for the desert and is extremely warm when huddled around the fire at night.\u201d Daytime temperatures in the desert can soar to well above 40 C in the desert and plunge to below\u00a0 -5 C at night.\u00a0<\/p><p>Reem is taking reminders of her home: \u201cI tie two bandanas which belong to my kids to my trekking poles and wear an old faded bracelet I got before my first big trek and have worn ever since.\u201d<\/p><p>Alan is taking a Saudi headscarf or <em>shemagh:<\/em> \u201cIt serves for heat protection, sandstorm protection and helps keep me warm at night \u2013 it\u2019s my favourite comfort item.\u201d<\/p><p>Ana Maria \u2013 the team photographer \u2013 will pack a small pouch of pebbles that she has collected from expeditions she has undertaken across the world. \u201cAnd a bottle of tea tree oil for its multi-purpose use as everything from an antiseptic to an insect repellent.\u201d<\/p><p>While preparing physically for the journey, walking, hiking, jogging and climbing, Reem and Mark have been inundated with requests to join the journey and with offers of help. \u201cI\u2019ve had numerous friends who offered to be my personal bodyguards or porters or even cooks!\u201d said Reem. \u201cIt\u2019s a great reminder of how truly lucky I am to be part of this team and expedition.\u201d<\/p><p>Mark\u2019s aim is for the expedition to inspire young people to explore the world around them. \u201cIf we inspire one person to get out and ask questions then we will have helped to move society forward.\u201d Students from both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom will be invited to spend the penultimate night in the desert with the team before they reach Riyadh where stage one of the expedition will end at Al Masmak Fortress at the end of this month.<\/p><p>Mark said: \u201cWe are grateful to the British Ambassador Neil Crompton for hosting a send-off reception for us and to all the support we have been given by so many organisations and people including particularly the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, HRH Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud.\u00a0 We are also very grateful for the significant financial support and enthusiasm of HSBC SABB. This expedition would not have been possible without them.\u201d <\/p><p>NOTE: <strong>There will be a Photo Call with the team members and the expedition trucks at the British Embassy, Riyadh at 4.30pm on Monday, 14<sup>th<\/sup> November. To attend please contact Saba Said in the British Embassy press office \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:Saba.Said@fcdo.gov.uk\"><strong>Saba.Said@fcdo.gov.uk<\/strong><\/a><\/p><p><strong>To interview team members before or during the expedition please contact either Ann Morris: <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:ann@mia.gb.net\"><strong>ann@mia.gb.net<\/strong><\/a><strong> or Wajod Al Khamis <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:w.alkhms@gmail.com\"><strong>w.alkhms@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a77c070 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a77c070\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-adce8b2\" data-id=\"adce8b2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47789fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47789fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Into the Heart of Arabia - Expedition Launch<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ad7086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3ad7086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ME-HRHs-Anne-and-Bin-Bander.jpg\"  loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:eco\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ME-HRHs-Anne-and-Bin-Bander.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5041\" alt=\"HRH The Princess Royal attends the expedition launch\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/mlsxlyggzj7h.i.optimole.com\/cb:6F7F~3c484\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ME-HRHs-Anne-and-Bin-Bander.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5041\" alt=\"HRH The Princess Royal attends the expedition launch\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/></noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec08ad2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ec08ad2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">27 September 2022<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e9721c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e9721c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An extraordinary expedition across the desert heartland of Arabia was launched today at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London by HRH The Princess Royal. The 1,300 kilometre Heart of Arabia expedition from Al Uqair on the East coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah on the West, follows in the footsteps of one of the earliest expeditions into the region in 1917 by Harry St John (Abdullah) Philby and celebrates his remarkable achievements.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8a2b565 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8a2b565\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-01264b8\" data-id=\"01264b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4eb8138 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4eb8138\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Launching the expedition The Princess Royal said she had studied geography at school: \u201c I always\u00a0 thought it had such scope and it was such an important place to start.\u00a0 If you want to understand where you live and who you live with.<\/p><p>She said travelling with her mother the late queen was \u2018real geography to me because you had the opportunity to see and speak and understand a bit more about other places.\u2019<\/p><p>She said she admired Philby\u2019s attitude to learning about places and his \u201cattitude and belief that you only really achieved something if you made really good records of what you did and to use that skill of observation, to leave what we now simply call data which is now collected automatically and robotically and which we just search it later.<\/p><p>\u201cOne of the reasons I am so delighted to be a part of this expedition is that it underlines the importance of observation, physical observation. It\u2019s not about the narrow view of what is on the end of your phone. This is about real observation about taking in things and understanding how you fit and all the things that went with it. How did people live in the environment that he observed? What was different about it? It is\u00a0 important in modern terms to understand what has changed what existed before.\u201d<\/p><p>She said that many of those following the expedition would envy the involvement of the explorers taking part.<\/p><p>She said she hoped the expedition would be inspirational for the younger generation and to \u201cunderstand the importance of observation and that that is the key to being able to understand the planet where we live and the people we share it with and that has much greater long term value than almost anything else.\u201d<\/p><p>She said expedition was as important today and in the future as it was in the past.<\/p><p>Following the launch, the Princess Royal, met the expedition team and member of both the British and Saudi branches of the Philby family.<\/p><p>The 2022 expedition will be led by Oman based British explorer Mark Evans, MBE, who will be accompanied on the journey by Philby\u2019s Saudi granddaughter Reem Philby. Others on the expedition include photographer Ana Maria Pavalache who will be using a Leica camera and logistics expert Alan Morrissey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ddd7df2\" data-id=\"ddd7df2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88901e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"88901e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is the second time Mark will have traced the route of one of the great desert explorers across the Arabian desert. Seven years ago he followed the route taken in the 1930s by Bertram Thomas from Oman through the Rub Al Khali to Qatar, which was the first crossing of the vast moving sand dunes of the Empty Quarter.<\/p><p>Philby\u2019s journey across this previously uncharted heartland of Arabia provided much needed geographical information about the region and resulted in new maps being drawn up and in his receiving the Founders Medal form the Royal Geographical Society, awarded by King George V.<\/p><p>\u201cHe is considered by many as one of the greatest early explorers of Arabia,\u201d said Mark Evans. \u201cHe not only set out across uncharted land, but took time to record everything he saw, something not done before with as much detail, increasing our geographical knowledge and understanding of the region.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cWe are thrilled to be a part of the Heart of Arabia Expedition to support ongoing scientific research programs aimed at showcasing the geographical aspects that distinguish Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people&#8217;s cultural and social heritage,\u201d said Tony Cripps, SABB Managing Director and CEO. \u201cThis journey is an extension of the two kingdoms&#8217; strategic collaboration in various fields, which reflects the depth of the shared historical tie.\u201d<\/p><p>In line with Philby\u2019s commitment to add to our understanding of Arabia, the Heart of Arabia Expedition, supported by HSBC and Saudi Arabian British Bank will gather data in the field to support a variety of ongoing scientific research projects.<\/p><p>Like Philby the expedition team will either walk or travel across Arabia by camel with support from the Ford Expedition Timberline provided by Al Jazirah Ford.<\/p><p>HRH The Princess Royal is Patron of the Heart of Arabia Expedition which sets out on November 15<sup>th<\/sup>, exactly 105 years after Philby stepped out into this unknown territory. The launch will be her first public engagement following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a3d6178 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a3d6178\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6bf981\" data-id=\"e6bf981\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3106432 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3106432\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/media\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Media<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Press Releases Heart of Arabia Expedition Arrives in Jeddah 30 January 2023 Wind, rain, blistering sun and 1300 kilometres after leaving Al Uqair in November, the Heart of Arabia Expedition team have arrived in Jeddah this morning to be warmly welcomed by top ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/press-releases\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Press Releases&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4034","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4034\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartofarabiaexpedition.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}