Riau is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the central eastern coast of Sumatra along the Strait of Malacca. The province shares land borders with North Sumatra to the northwest, West Sumatra to the west, and Jambi to the south, and a maritime border with the Riau Islands and the country of Malaysia to the east. It is the second-largest province in the island of Sumatra after South Sumatra, and is slightly larger than Jordan. According to the 2020 census, Riau had a population of 6,394,087 across a land area of 89,935.90 km²; the official estimate of population as of mid-2022 was 6,614,384. The province comprises ten regencies and two cities, with Pekanbaru serving as the capital and largest city.
Pekanbaru is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau, and a major economic centre on the eastern side of Sumatra Island with its name derived from the Malay words for 'new market' . It has an area of 632.26 km2 (244.12 sq mi), with a population of 897,767 at the 2010 Census, and 983,356 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 1,007,540. It is located on the banks of the Siak River, which flows into the Strait of Malacca, Pekanbaru has direct access to the busy strait and has long been known as a trading port.
Zapin is one of the most popular dance and musical forms in traditional Malay performing arts. Dance movements are choreographed to melodies which are performed using musical instruments such as the gambus, accordion and rebana. It is believed to have been introduced by Persian and Arab Muslim missionaries from the Middle East to Malay Archipelago around the fourteenth century where back then only males were allowed to perform; nowadays, female dancers are included. It used to be performed exclusively for religious ceremonies but through the years it has become a form of traditional entertainment, hence the participation of female dancers is allowed.
Siak, is a regency (kabupaten) of Riau Province, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It has an area of 8,556.09 km² and had a population of 376,742 at the 2010 Census and 457,940 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 477,550, comprising 246,186 males and 231,364 females. The administrative centre of the regency is located at Siak Sri Indrapura. The northern part of this regency contains a large part of the Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve.
The Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura, often called Sultanate of Siak, was a kingdom that was located in the Siak Regency, Riau from 1722 to 1949. It was founded by Raja Kechil, who was from the Johor Kingdom, after he failed to seize the throne of the Sultanate of Johor. The polity expanded in the 18th century to encompass much of eastern Sumatra as it brought various communities under its control through warfare and control of trade between the interior of Sumatra and the Melaka Straits. The Dutch colonial state signed a series of treaties with Siak rulers in the 19th century, which reduced the area of state influence to the Siak River. For the remainder of the Dutch colonial era, it operated as an independent state with Dutch advisors. After Indonesia's Independence was proclaimed on 17 August 1945, the last sultan of Siak declared his kingdom to join the Republic of Indonesia.
Persatuan Sepakbola Duri is an Indonesian football club based in Duri, Mandau District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau. They currently compete in the Liga 3.
Tuan Guru Haji Ahmad was an Indonesian ulama, teacher, and trader. He was known as the first ulama in the Bengkalis Regency.
Haji Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin was an Indonesian ulama, politician, writer, and patriarch of the Zakaria family from Bangkinang, Kampar. He was an ulama in Bengkalis Regency, and was the first head of Islamic religious administration in Bengkalis. Zakaria was the son in law of Tuan Guru Haji Ahmad, the first ulama of Bengkalis Regency, who along with him founded Al-Khairiyah, the first Islamic boarding school in Bengkalis Regency, in 1937, and teaching there until 1943. He was also the founder of MDTA Mahbatul Ulum, an Islamic school made as successor for Al-Khairiyah, in 1963, and Al-Ishlah Mosque, to support the teaching activities at MDTA Mahbatul Ulum, which both operates until now. In 2023, Zakaria was posthumously awarded the title of Regional Hero of Riau by the Riau Regional People's Representative Council. He became the subject of Zakaria: Pahlawan Dalam Kenangan, a documentary film from the thanksgiving ceremony of his regional hero awarding.
Abdullah Nur, also known as Andak Dolah, was an Indonesian ulama, soldier, and politician.
Andris Wasono is an Indonesian civil servant. He served as Assistant for Government and People's Welfare, and Regional Secretary of Bengkalis Regency starting on 1 September 2021.
Rita Puspa Zakaria, also known as Rita Puspita, is an Indonesian civil servant, lecturer, teacher, activist, and actress who currently serving as the Vice Director of the Bengkalis Regional General Hospital and Fourth Deputy Chairman of Empowerment of Family Welfare in Bengkalis Regency, Riau. She is known as a women leader in Bengkalis, Riau, who made various contributions in public health by inventing programs to improve community nutrition, reduce maternal mortality rates, and reduce stunting rates in children. Zakaria is the daughter of ulama Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin and actress Siti Zainab, and is the younger sister of educator Gamal Abdul Nasir Zakaria.
MDTA Mahbatul Ulum is a public Islamic school for children and young adults in Bengkalis, Indonesia. It is located on Jalan Gerilya, Kelapapati. The school was established by Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin in 1963 as the successor to the Al-Khairiyah Islamic boarding school which was previously founded by him and Tuan Guru Haji Ahmad in 1937. As of 2020, the school curriculum is managed by Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Kasmarni is an Indonesian politician who currently serves as 15th Bengkalis Regent from 2021 until 2026 and became the first woman to held the position.
Gamal Abdul Nasir Zakaria is an Indonesian lecturer and writer based in Brunei.
Muhammad Wisra Okarianto is an Indonesian Islamic judge and civil servant. He served as administrator at Bengkalis Regency Regional Secretariat. He is the grandson of ulama Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin and the great-grandson of ulama Tuan Guru Haji Ahmad.
Mariah binti Ahmad was an Indonesian homemaker who was the first wife of ulama Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin and former matriarch of the Zakaria family.
Al-Ishlah Mosque is a mosque in Kelapapati, in the village of Bengkalis, Indonesia. It was founded by Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin to provide Islamic education as the successor of MDTA Mahbatul Ulum.
Asy Syifa Kaila Saidah is an Indonesian artist. She is the youngest daughter of Islamic preacher Muhammad Yahman and civil servant Rita Puspa Zakaria.
Muhammad Asyrof Al-Ghifari is an Indonesian character actor, director, and writer.
Nashruddin Zakaria, also known as Pak Tuo, was an Indonesian civil servant, preacher, and Imam in Bengkalis, Riau. He was a first-generation employee at the Bengkalis Regency Religious Affairs Department Office and later served as an administrator at Al-Ishlah Mosque in his later years. Zakaria was a member of Zakaria family.
