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16 hours ago
Four-time Asian champions Al Hilal are gearing up for another high-stakes clash against Spain’s Real Madrid, this time in the group stage of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The Saudi giants were drawn into Group H alongside Real Madrid, Pachuca of Mexico, and Austria’s FC Salzburg during Thursday’s draw in Miami. The tournament, featuring 32 teams, will take place across the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. The format mirrors that of the FIFA World Cup between 1998 and 2022, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Al Hilal’s draw against Real Madrid brings back memories of their dramatic 2022 FIFA Club World Cup final in Morocco. In that encounter, Al Hilal showcased remarkable resilience but ultimately fell 5-3 to the European champions, marking the closest any Asian team has come to dethroning the Spanish powerhouse in the tournament’s history. Goals from Moussa Marega and Luciano Vietto kept Al Hilal in the contest, but Real Madrid’s lethal attack proved insurmountable. As Al Hilal sets its sights on a new chapter in their rivalry with Real Madrid, they will also be aware of the other challenges in Group H. Mexican […]
16 hours ago
As mercury drops in most parts of the Kingdom during the current winter season, the General Directorate of Civil Defense cautioned the public to take utmost vigil and care while using heating devices. It emphasized the importance of following safety procedures when using heating devices, and ensuring the necessity of preventing children from approaching or tampering with them. The directorate underlined the need to ensure proper ventilation of closed spaces when using them, as well as to turn off the heater when going out or when sleeping, and avoid using it to heat food and drinks, and keep it away from curtains, furniture and flammable materials. The directorate called for following the safety guidelines and instructions announced through various media and social networking sites. It urged to contact the Civil Defense over the phone number 911 in the regions of Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province, and the number 998 in the rest of the regions in the event of any emergency cases.
20 hours ago
The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced the opening of the Chedi Hegra Hotel in the historic city of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It marks a significant step in developing AlUla as a premier tourist destination. The hotel has 35 rooms designed to blend luxury with the natural surroundings. Chedi Hegra Hotel in Saudi Arabia It integrates contemporary design with historic structures including an old railway station, preserving the cultural heritage of the region while adding a modern touch. Guests can enjoy three restaurants with scenic views, a heritage gallery, a wellness centre, and a traditional Saudi coffee house. The main restaurant, set in the station, includes a rare 1906 train carriage as a centrepiece.
2 days ago
Saudi Arabia has registered the “Crafting and Playing of the Semsemiah Instrument” on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was announced by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, who is chairman of the board of directors of the Heritage Commission and president of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The achievement was made through a nomination file led by Egypt, with significant participation from Saudi Arabia, represented by the Heritage Commission in collaboration with the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science and the Kingdom’s permanent delegation to UNESCO, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The registration of Semsemiah is to be added to the list of Saudi cultural components registered on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including Majlis, Arabic coffee, Saudi Al-Ardah dance, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, Saqqar (Falconry), date palm, traditional weaving of Al-Sadu, Arabic calligraphy, Alheda’a (oral traditions of calling camel flocks), Khawlani coffee beans, Harees dish, and engraving on metals arts. The Semsemiah instrument is a major component of traditional arts used in social events and celebrations in coastal areas, such as weddings and local festivals. The instrument is played during communal gatherings, where people come together […]
2 days ago
The Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced one Saudi citizen and an Egyptian national to two months in prison for their involvement in commercial cover-up. The penalties also include fines, canceling the commercial registration, canceling the license, liquidating the company’s activity, preventing the citizen from practicing commercial activity for two years, collecting zakat, fees and taxes, deporting the Egyptian from the Kingdom and not allowing him to return to the Kingdom for work, and publishing the court verdict in the local media at the convicts’ personal expense. The Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that the citizen was found guilty of allowing the Egyptian resident in commercial cover-up in contracting activities in Al-Zulfi governorate. The ministry revealed that it was proven that the two parties were partners in project contracts, with a share of 50 percent for each of them, without the Egyptian resident obtaining an investment license, thus enabling him to work commercially on his own account. It is noteworthy that the National Program to Combat Commercial Cover-Up has set 10 criteria for establishments’ compliance with the market rules approved by government agencies, and they are monitored continuously. The Anti-Commercial Cover-Up Law stipulates the imposition of prison sentences of […]
2 days ago
Tuwaiq Academy in Riyadh has opened registrations for more than 150 advanced technical bootcamps and programs scheduled for Q1 2025, in partnership with leading global organizations. The schemes will improve the skills of the workforce in advanced technologies and connect people to job opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Training is open to employees, university students, graduates and high school students, covering fields such as programming, cybersecurity, AI, cloud computing, user experience and interface design, metaverse technologies, digital manufacturing, game development, robotics and drone programming. It reflects the academy’s commitment to addressing job market needs and preparing the workforce, the SPA added. Register for training at tuwaiq.edu.sa. Established in 2019, Tuwaiq Academy works with more than 1,000 in-person trainees daily and offers professional certifications in collaboration with global organizations such as Apple, Meta, Amazon, Alibaba, Dell, CompTIA, OffSec, IBM and Microsoft. As the training arm of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, the academy has trained more than 32,000 people, with 80 percent of graduates securing placements through its Tuwaiq Job Fair program involving government and private sectors.
2 days ago
Arabic Language Month activities in Thailand by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language have concluded, reported the Saudi Press Agency. The initiative, in cooperation with Krirk University in Bangkok and Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, aimed to enhance Arabic curricula, improve teacher performance and promote the language. Activities included a scientific symposium on teaching Arabic to non-native speakers which focused on Saudi contributions to Arabic education, challenges faced by educators and students, and the development of dual-language curricula. Workshops, training sessions and panel discussions further enriched teaching methodologies and improved learning outcomes for Arabic language students. Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy’s secretary-general, expressed gratitude for support from Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan. As part of the academy’s global Arabic teaching program, the initiative has been implemented in countries such as Indonesia, China, India, Uzbekistan, Brazil and France, expanding its international reach and fostering global partnerships.
2 days ago
Al-Hilal defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0 on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite group with two games of the group stage remaining. The four-time champions, who are already guaranteed a place in the round of 16 as the top eight from each of the two groups of 12 progress, found it easy as they strolled past the visitors. The win moves them onto 16 points from six games, above Al-Ahli on goal difference and three points above Al-Nassr in third, although both their Saudi Pro League rivals have also booked their spots in the next round ahead of schedule. Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes. Yasser Al-Shahrani had possession of the ball on the right side of the area and pulled it back to the Brazilian who shot first time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the tournament. The Saudi Arabians were in control for much of the match but it took the Blues until the 82nd minute to add to the scoreline and seal the win, the goal coming courtesy of in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic. Salem Al-Dawsari drove at the defence and fed the Serbian […]
2 days ago
Saudi Arabia has announced a sustainability strategy for the Red Sea region as it looks protect marine and coast environments in line with national goals. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, launched the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy. The environmental strategy aims to protect the Red Sea, empower communities and pave the way for the transition to a blue economy, to achieve economic diversification and is in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Red Sea in Saudi Arabia It also reflects the recently announced national priorities for RDI, specifically Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs. The Crown Prince said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to unleash its enormous economic, geographical and cultural potential, and its pioneering efforts in sustainability and environmental conservation. “Through this strategy, the Kingdom positions the blue economy as a fundamental pillar of its diversified economy and aspires for the Red Sea region to become a global reference for leading blue economy activities, and for the Kingdom to become a global leader in the field of research, development and innovation in blue economy. “The Kingdom also reaffirms its commitment […]
2 days ago
Saudi Arabian driver Dania Akeel secured a sensational victory in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup to secure the overall title at last weekend’s three-day Dubai International Baja. Akeel tackled the four rounds of the prestigious regional Baja series with two different co-drivers and three car preparation companies to amass enough points to win the overall championship and also secure success in the flagship Ultimate category. Akeel recorded consistent performances at each of the four rounds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Dubai and finished on the FIA Middle East Baja Cup podium at each event. The Jeddah-based driver secured points with an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux at the opening two Bajas and even led the Qatar event outright after day one. She then switched to the SSV category for the final two rounds to record a valuable finish in the Aqaba-based Jordan Baja with a Santag Racing Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR and then a sensational victory at the final round in Dubai with the South Racing Can-Am Team. The success marked a first by a female driver in the history of Middle East motorsport, as Akeel continues to break boundaries and create new benchmarks for women in motorsport. […]
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