9 hours ago
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has proposed a maximum fine of SR50000 for any shop or facility that practices any food activity without obtaining a municipal license. It has also proposed fines up to SR 2000 as a penalty in the event of detecting cats or dogs or rodents inside a food facility. The penalty will be doubled in the event of the repeat of the violation. The SFDA published the proposals on the public survey platform Istitlaa, seeking public opinion and suggestions before putting the draft into its final shape. The authority proposes to make amendments in the table of violations and the penalties prescribed for them in the Food Law and its executive regulations. This is aimed to make fines proportionate to the size of the violations and their impact. It also targets to increase the efficiency of imposing penalties on violating establishments, and contributing to achieving the objectives of the law and its regulations so as to ensure food safety and security. According to the draft amendments, violators will be imposed with a maximum fine of SR5,000 in the event of practicing any commercial activity after the expiry of the license, or practicing an activity […]
9 hours ago
Saudi Arabia’s population reached 35.3 million until the middle of the year 2024, according to the latest estimates of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Saudi citizens constitute 55.6 percent of the total population while non-Saudis represent 44.4 percent. There has been an annual increase of 1.6 million in the number of people, with a growth rate of 4.7 percent during the period until mid-2024, compared to mid-2023. The annual growth rate stood at 4.6 percent compared to the base period in May 2022. The authority report stated that the total population of Saudis exceeded 19.6 million by mid-2024, with an annual growth rate of two percent, compared to 19.3 million in mid-2023, while the population of non-Saudis reached nearly 15.7 million by the middle of last year, compared to 14.5 million people until mid-2023. The GASTAT estimates indicate that non-Saudis accounted for 75.6 percent of the total population increase during the one-year estimation period, and the Saudi population accounted for 24.4 percent of this annual increase. The annual increase of male population accounted for 70.8 percent during the period from mid-2023 until the middle of last year. On the basis of nationality and age group, the Saudi population in […]
23 hours ago
MPs have backed a move to put Bahrainis first in hiring, arguing it’s the only way to get a grip on unemployment and stop businesses from taking the easy route by hiring cheaper expat workers. The proposal, backed by a joint committee of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee and the Services Committee, is part of a wider push to get locals into jobs. Tamkeen’s efforts alone have seen 5,400 Bahrainis hired, with another 4,900 put through training schemes. Supporters Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata, Jameel Mulla Hassan, Mohammed Al Olaiwi, Hisham Al Awadhi, and Mohammed Al Rifai are among those driving the move. They argue it’s about making sure Bahrainis get a fair go, rather than being muscled out of their own job market. But, they say, the shift needs to be gradual, not a sudden change that leaves businesses floundering. Unemployment MP Al Olaiwi was blunt. Unemployment, he said, is a problem getting worse, not better. Every year, thousands of Bahraini graduates leave university with nowhere to go. “We are a small country of just 750,000 people, yet we still haven’t sorted this out, while our neighbours have managed to,” he said, calling jobs a basic right, just […]
23 hours ago
Retired Bahraini doctors could be called back into service after Parliament gave the nod to a plan aiming to put them in part-time and temporary roles in fields currently filled by foreign specialists. MP Maryam Al Dhaen, who pushed for the move, said it was time to stop relying on overseas hires when Bahrain had trained doctors with decades of experience. “These doctors have spent years — sometimes up to 15 — training under state-funded programmes. To let that knowledge go to waste is a loss not just for them, but for the health system as a whole,” she said. The motion, backed by Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, Ali Al Dossary, Khalid Buanaq and Ahmed Al Musallam, calls for the government to bring Bahraini doctors out of retirement, particularly in fields where foreign staff were only brought in due to shortages. Al Dhaen said the current situation made little sense. Return “We had to bring in foreign consultants when our own specialists retired. But now they’re willing to return, why should we keep spending more on overseas hires instead of putting our own doctors back to work?” she said. Money was a key factor in the push. The MPs pointed […]
23 hours ago
The much-anticipated 9th edition of the Bahrain Food Festival is set to launch today at Marassi Al Bahrain in Diyar Al Muharraq. Spanning an impressive 35,000 square meters, this year’s festival is the largest in its history, bringing together 120 restaurants and cafes to offer a culinary extravaganza for food enthusiasts. Running for 20 days until February 26, 2025, the festival promises a vibrant lineup of activities, programs, and entertainment events designed to delight visitors of all ages. With four distinct zones, attendees will have the chance to explore a wide array of culinary offerings, including food trucks, kiosks, and a traditional food village that highlights Bahraini culinary heritage. Key Features of the 9th Bahrain Food Festival: Extensive Food Selection: More than 100 participating restaurants and cafes, offering diverse cuisines to cater to all tastes. Themed Zones: Four dedicated areas, including a traditional food village and spaces for various food services. Family-Friendly Attractions: A large children’s play area with games, ensuring a complete family tourism experience. Unique Dining Experience: For the first time, visitors can indulge in sweets and coffee on a 50-meter-high table, offering a stunning panoramic view of the Diyar Al Muharraq skyline. Convenient and Free Entry Entry […]
23 hours ago
The Ministry of Health has summoned an unlicensed alternative medicine practitioner after publishing false information that ginger is causing 80 percent of strokes. This is part of the ministry’s legal measures before referring him to the competent authorities. This was after detecting that the person is not licensed to practice medicine or complementary and alternative medicine in the Kingdom. The ministry urged citizens and expatriates to obtain health information only from official sources. It called on everyone to verify the accuracy and credibility of the circulated health information and adhere to the provisions of the Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions. The ministry also urged the media to verify the authenticity of the received information from the official sources before disseminating them to the public so as to avoid confusing society or affecting their health by spreading inaccurate information.
24 hours ago
The international reaction to President Trump’s Tuesday declaration that the US will “take over” the Gaza Strip and that Palestinians would “love to leave” the largely destroyed enclave which has suffered in the midst of the Hamas-Israel war (though a fragile truce has held for a couple week) has been as expected. Various countries have issued condemnation, including predictably from the United Nations chief, given it smacks of ethnic cleansing of a historic territory, though few actual details have been defined in terms of how such a plan involving US troops would be executed. Saudi Arabia has been one major US regional ally to react swiftly in condemnation. The Saudis have said Wednesday that Trump’s desired ‘normalization’ with Israel based on the Abraham Accords would definitely be off. Riyadh said the Palestinians must be guaranteed an independent state if were to ever implement diplomatic relations with Israel. “The establishment of the Palestinian state is a firm, unwavering position,” the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said said on X. “His Highness [Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman] has affirmed this position in a clear and explicit manner that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances.” “His Highness stressed the Kingdom of […]
24 hours ago
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim told the World Economic Forum during last month’s Davos Summit that “We’ve been invited to the BRICS, similar to how we’ve been invited to many other multilateral platforms in the past historically. We assess many different aspects of it before a decision is made and right now, we are in the middle of that.” Saudi Arabia has good reason to dillydally on formally joining BRICS too for the reasons that’ll now be explained. It was posited here in January 2024 when the country first revealed that it hadn’t yet accepted the group’s official membership invitation that this “is due to Western perceptions about this association, Iran’s involvement in the Red Sea Crisis, and Israeli-US pressure”, which still holds true. Regarding the first, Saudi Arabia would arguably feel uncomfortable with its name and national brand being included in the plethora of agenda-driven promotional materials misportraying BRICS as an anti-Western alliance. The Kingdom used to be solidly in the Western camp but has taken a page from India’s book in recent years by multi-aligning between them and what Russia now calls the World Majority. This grand strategic recalibration is due to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), whose character and vision […]
1 day ago
A proposal to make private schools prioritise Bahraini teachers over expats—potentially affecting thousands of jobs—was approved by Parliament on Tuesday after being postponed from the 7th January session due to the Education Minister’s absence. Lawmakers argue the move is needed to curb reliance on foreign hires and get more local graduates into work. Acting Labour Minister Yousef Khalaf assured MPs that the government is already laying the groundwork to help Bahrainis land these roles. ‘We’re putting together a training scheme with the Education Ministry to equip Bahrainis with the skills they need for jobs in private schools,’ he said. ‘The plan will be announced soon, and those keen to take part can sign up.’ Education Minister Mohammed Mubarak Juma said efforts were already in motion to keep Bahrainis in the sector. ‘Tamkeen is still helping to cover the wages of Bahrainis working in private schools,’ he said, stressing that keeping jobs steady was key. He also confirmed that his ministry and Tamkeen were keeping an eye on contract terminations. ‘We’re across every case and will step in when needed.’ Juma also addressed concerns over career progression, revealing that more than 5,300 education workers were promoted last year, including teachers, senior […]
1 day ago
More Than Just an ID! Your Gateway to Smarter Services. The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) is set to introduce a fully revamped and enhanced identity card, aligning with the latest international technologies and standards. This initiative comes as part of the government’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, under the directives of His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT). The iGA has urged citizens and residents planning to renew their ID cards to wait until their cards expire unless they require immediate renewal. This recommendation is also in line with ongoing maintenance activities at the Customer Service Center in Isa Town, which will continue until February 15. Due to upgrading works, the number of available appointments for card services is currently limited. However, customers can conveniently access eServices through the National Portal at bahrain.bh. This latest move reflects iGA’s continuous efforts to enhance the efficiency of the ID card system, streamline government operations, and improve customer satisfaction for citizens, residents, businesses, and organizations. By integrating state-of-the-art technology, the revamped ID card aims to elevate the information and communications technology sector in Bahrain both regionally […]