PREVIOUS LECTURES

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19th September 2012: A talk by Sir Alan Munro about his recently published book of memoirs, Keep The Flag Flying, which covers his career in Saudi Arabia, including his experiences there during the First Gulf War, and across the Arab world. The talk was held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ.

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21st March 2012: A special evening for members of the Society was held at the British Museum's exhibition Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam. Members and their guests were given an introduction to the exhibition by co–organiser Qaisra Khan and, after a tour of the exhibition, there was a reception in the Great Hall.

12th October 2011: A talk by Sir Tom Phillips, British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, entitled Saudi Arabia in the Region and in Itself was held at the Arab–British Chamber of Commerce.

29th June 2011: The Society’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Arab–British Chamber of Commerce and was followed by a talk by Mr. Daniel Kawczynski, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Saudi Arabia, on the links between Parliament in London and the Majlis ash–Shura Council in Riyadh.

19th April 2011: Talk entitled "Being Saudi in Britain: Views from 2 young women". Two Saudi students in London gave a talk about their experiences of living and studying in London, at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ, at 5.30 p.m.

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25th November 2010: Mr. Peter Upton gave a talk entitled "The Arab Horse in Saudi Arabia and Britain: how pure Arab horses reached Europe from their original home in Arabia", at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1, at 6pm.
Mr. Upton, artist, author and international judge of the Arab horse, launched his recent publication "Out of the Desert: the influence of the Arab horse on the light horse and pony breeds of Britain" with an exhibition of his paintings at the Mathaf Gallery in June 2010. He has written extensively on the Arab horse and his latest work "Royal Heritage: the story of Jordan’s Arab Horses", co-authored with Princess Alia al Hussein of Jordan, is due to be published in April next year.

20th October 2010: Prof. Bruce Ingham gave a lecture on "The Tribes of Arabia with a particular focus on the tribes of Saudi Arabia" at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.
Prof. Bruce Ingham was, until his retirement, Emeritus Professor of Arabic Dialect Studies in the Department of Linguistics at SOAS, University of London. His particular interest focused on the dialects and oral literature of the Arabian Peninsula, especially the dialects of the Arabian Bedouin.

29th June 2010: The Society’s Annual General Meeting, held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, was followed by a talk by Dr. Samar Fatany, entitled "The media as a catalyst for change in Saudi Arabia". The talk was followed by a question and answer session and a Reception. 

14th April 2010: Mr. Ali Almihdar, gave a lecture entitled “The Law Does Not Protect Fools – Or Does It?” at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

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27th October 2009: Robert Lacey, author of the 1980s bestseller, The Kingdom, launched and talked about Inside the Kingdom, his latest publication. Held in the Middle East Association.

See Publications for a review of the book by Sir Alan Munro.

30th September 2009: H.E. Eng. Mubarak Al–Khafrah gave a talk entitled “The Remarkable Story of the Origins of Saudi Arabia’s Industrialisation“ at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

9th July 2009: The Society’s Annual General Meeting, held at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, was followed by a 1960s film of Saudi Arabia and a talk by Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki and by a buffet Reception.

25th March 2009: Sir William Patey, British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, gave a talk entitled "Saudi Arabia: Continuity or Change".

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11th September 2008: The Hon. Secretary, Mrs Ionis Thompson, gave a talk entitled "Tourism in Saudi Arabia Today" at the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

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2nd July 2008: Society's Annual General Meeting and Reception were held at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

21st May 2008: The Society co-hosted a talk with the Society for Arabian Studies entitled "From Mayfair to Mecca" by William Facey – the life of Lady Evelyn Cobbold.

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12th March 2008: "Saudi Women Today: a Personal View" by Dr. Samira Osailan.

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9th September 2007: Mr. James Barr, author of "Setting the Desert on Fire: T.E. Lawrence and Britain's Secret War in Arabia, 1916–18".

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6th July 2006: "Diving for Pearls" – Lecture given by Ms Julia Johnson to the Saudi–British Society following the Society's Annual General Meeting.
Ms Julia Johnson spoke about the pearling industry, diving for pearls as a way of life as well as the real value of pearls and their cultural significance.

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22nd March 2006: Speech by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al-Saud at a buffet reception in honour of Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki at the Travellers Club in London.
Prince Mohammed spoke about continuing the traditions of cooperation and friendship and furthering understanding between Britain and Saudi Arabia in an ever changing and modernizing world. He recognised the need for a continuous dialogue and assistance in the fight against ignorance and economic self interests in order to achieve peace, security and prosperity for all.

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10th November 2005: "Out and About with the Military in Saudi Arabia" – Lecture given to the Saudi–British Society by Brig. Nicholas Cocking.
Brigadier Nick Cocking spoke about his time in Saudi Arabia between 1960 and 1991. He reflected on the changes that had taken place within Arabia during his lifetime and the remarkable developments that the society had experienced and adapted. He distinguished the vast advancement in the Arab world.

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10th November 2005: Report by Mr Patrick Forbes, Head of External relations of Arab–British Chamber of Commerce, on his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Patrick Forbes, Head of External Relations at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, spent 10 days touring the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of an exchange scheme aimed at familiarizing young men from Britain and Saudi Arabia with the two Kingdoms. The exchange takes place on an annual basis under the patronage of the Saudi General Presidency for Sports and Youth Welfare as a part of an inter-governmental Memorandum of Understanding.

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13th October 2005: "Fiefdoms and Bureaucrats: Building the Saudi State 1953–1980s" – Lecture given by Mr Steffen Hertog to the Saudi–British Society.
The presentation informs about and tries to explain the interplay of personalities and institutions in the history of the Saudi state and bureaucracy since the 1950s. Mr Steffen Hertog talks about the segmentation of organizations, the power of the elites and the influence of industrialization, globalization and resources on state-building.

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