1 year ago
“In A New Light”: Saudi Ministry Of Culture To Present Photography Exhibition In Venice
The Saudi Ministry of Culture inaugurated an exhibition in Venice on Thursday as part of “The Saudi Ministry of Culture in Abbazia,” a cultural program hosted at the Abbazia building in Dorsoduro 172. The exhibition presents works from the Kingdom Photography Award, an annual initiative launched in 2022 by the Visual Arts Commission to engage professional artists and support emerging talents in photography. Titled “In a New Light: Contemporary Photography from Saudi Arabia,” the exhibition moves beyond familiar representations of the Kingdom, highlighting its evolving and complex landscapes. Curated by Mohamed Somji, it features 50 photographic works selected from previous editions of the award. The Kingdom Photography Award operates along two tracks: a commission program for local and international practitioners producing new works that reflect the Kingdom’s diverse geographies and stories, and an open-call track that builds a platform for a growing community of photographers. Since its inception, the award has received more than 2,000 submissions, supporting over 50 artists from Saudi Arabia and around the world, including Argentina, Egypt, the Philippines, Morocco, the UK, the US, and Yemen. “Exhibiting works from the Kingdom Photography Award at the Abbazia building is a wonderful opportunity to showcase photography from Saudi Arabia […]
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia: ZATCA Thwarts Attempts To Smuggle Over 300,000 Captagon Pills At Border Crossings
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has foiled two separate attempts to smuggle a total of 301,325 Captagon pills into the Kingdom through the Al-Haditha port and King Fahd Causeway. ZATCA spokesman Hamoud Al-Harbi said the first attempt involved 209,759 pills hidden inside the spare tire compartment of a vehicle arriving via the King Fahd Causeway. In the second case, 91,566 pills were discovered concealed within parts of a bus at the Al-Haditha border crossing. Following the seizures, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, which arrested the intended recipient of the contraband inside the Kingdom. Al-Harbi affirmed that the authority continues to tighten customs controls on imports and exports, standing firm against smuggling networks in line with its strategy to enhance security and protect society from the dangers of narcotics and other prohibited items. ZATCA also urged the public to contribute to combating smuggling by reporting violations through its dedicated hotline (1910), email (1910@zatca.gov.sa), or international number (+9661910). Reports are handled confidentially, and financial rewards are offered to informants whose tips prove accurate.
1 year ago
Saudi Burger Chain Hamburgini Files For Bankruptcy After Food Poisoning Scandal
After more than a decade of rapid expansion, Hamburgini, one of Saudi Arabia’s most popular homegrown burger chains, has filed for bankruptcy following a food poisoning outbreak that devastated its reputation and finances. The Commercial Court in Riyadh ordered the liquidation of Asasiyat Al Ghitha Trading Co., Hamburgini’s parent company, in August, according to Mubarak Al Anzi, a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee. Creditors were given 90 days to submit claims. Founded in 2013 in Riyadh, Hamburgini quickly rose to prominence by marketing aggressively on social media and tailoring its brand to Saudi youth. Between 2015 and 2019, the chain became one of the fastest-growing food brands in the Kingdom, expanding to 57 outlets, including nearly 30 in the capital, with additional locations in Jeddah, the Eastern Province, Qassim, and Hail. In 2020, its then–chief executive, Nawaf Al Fawzan, boasted that Hamburgini was opening more restaurants than any other chain in Saudi Arabia and revealed plans to float a 20 percent stake on the country’s Nomu parallel market. But that trajectory came to a sudden halt in 2024, when more than 70 people fell ill and one person died after eating at a Hamburgini branch in Riyadh. Investigations by the Ministry of […]
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Skies Recognised by NASA With Astronomy Picture of the Day
The night skies over Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Governorate were seen like never before after a photograph taken in the region was selected by the NASA as the “Astronomy Picture of the Day” this week. The image, published by NASA on August 25 under the title “The Meteor and the Star Cluster,” shows a green glow from a meteor crossing the Pleiades star cluster in a one-hour-long exposure. It marks the first time an image captured from AlUla has appeared on NASA’s platforms, reinforcing the governorate’s global reputation as a destination for stargazing and astrophotography. NASA highlights Saudi photograph taken in AlUla The photograph was taken between Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Gharameel Nature Reserve—the only two sites in the Gulf to hold the prestigious Dark Sky designation from DarkSky International. This recognition was made possible with the support of Manarat AlUla, which is responsible for protecting the region’s pristine night skies and strengthening its position in astro-tourism. AlUla’s skies rank among the top 5 per cent of observing sites worldwide for darkness and lack of light pollution, offering conditions ideal for astronomy enthusiasts. Nasa credited the image to Yousif Alqasimi and Essa Al Jasmi. Accompanying the stunning image on social media, NASA said: “Sometimes […]
1 year ago
Flash Floods Sweep Cars Away In Saudi Arabia’s Asir
Heavy rain lashed the south-western region of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night, unleashing flash floods that swept through the streets of Muhayil Asir and washed away numerous cars. On Thursday, the National Centre for Meteorology warned of severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms and potential flash floods, across wide parts of the kingdom. The forecast indicated that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in at least 10 regions, with the heaviest impact in Najran, Jazan, Asir, Al Baha, Mecca and Medina. The rains may bring flooding, hail and strong winds, while dust and sandstorms could reduce visibility in some areas.
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia: Giant Sunspots Were Observed Over Arar Skies
Several massive sunspots were observed in the skies above Arar in the Northern Borders Region on Tuesday evening. Space and Astronomy Club member Adnan Khalifah said that sunspots are temporary dark regions on the sun’s surface, cooler than their surroundings due to intense magnetic activity, inhibiting the normal flow of heat. Despite their dark appearance, they remain radiant, and some exceed earth’s size many times over. Khalifah noted that the sunspots observed this week, including spots 4195, 4197, and 4199, are among the largest recorded this year. Each measures tens of thousands of kilometers in diameter and can be observed through small telescopes with safe solar filters. Sunspot activity can trigger solar flares or geomagnetic storms that affect communications and satellite navigation. Astronomers stressed that studying sunspots is vital to understanding the sun’s 11-year cycle, which regulates solar activity including flares and geomagnetic storms. They added that amateur observations help promote scientific awareness and public interest in space studies.
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia: SFDA Shuts 54 Erring Firms And Bans Entry Of 40 Tons Of Contaminated Poultry Products
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) announced that its inspection teams have carried out around 6,000 inspection tours during July, targeting more than 4,600 facilities under its supervision. These inspections resulted in the seizure of 1,137 violating facilities. Out of these firms, 54 were shut down, in addition to suspension of 52 production lines, and collection of approximately 1,000 samples for analysis to ensure their compliance with the authority’s specifications. The authority has banned the entry of 40 tons of frozen poultry products into the Kingdom after laboratory tests had revealed their contamination with salmonella bacteria, a leading cause of food poisoning. This prompted banning entry for the entire shipment of the poultry products and legal actions were taken against violators in accordance with the regulations. The violations, detected by the SFDA inspectors, included the seizure of a facility storing expired cosmetic products and medical devices inside a residential apartment. Packaging was found bearing forged expiration dates and operating numbers that differed from those printed on the original packaging. The violating products were confiscated, and those involved were summoned to complete the necessary legal procedures. A bakery was found using expired and moldy food products in the production of […]
1 year ago
Civil Defense Warns Of Thunderstorms Across Saudi Arabia Until Monday
The General Directorate of Civil Defense has called for caution as thunderstorms are expected to continue across most of the Saudi regions until Monday. The forecast for the coming days includes moderate to heavy rains in Makkah, Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Madinah, and Najran regions, and light to moderate rains in Riyadh, Hail, Qassim, and Eastern regions. The directorate advised the public to stay safe and avoid valleys and flood-prone areas. It urged adherence to all official instructions and warnings transmitted through media and social media channels. Moderate to heavy rains received in various regions of the Kingdom during the past days. The southern Jazan Region recorded the highest rainfall, with 35 mm in Sanbah in Abu Arish governorate. Other notable measurements in Jazan included 24 mm in Damad, 23.1 mm in Abu Arish, 19 mm at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport, 17.8 mm in Al-Rawdah, and 16.8 mm at the Jazan Naval Air Squadron, according to the daily rainfall report of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. A total of 51 hydrological and climate monitoring stations across the Kingdom recorded rainfall over the past 24 hours in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Asir, Jazan, Najran, and Al-Baha. In Al-Baha, […]
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia: 2-Year Jail And SR350000 Fine For Convicts In Commercial Cover Up Case In Qassim
A Saudi court sentenced one Saudi citizen and four expatriates to two years in prison each and a fine of SR350000 after convicting them of commercial cover-up. Another Saudi citizen was also convicted in the case. The court ordered confiscation of the proceeds of the concealment crime, amounting to more than SR293 million, and 26 vehicles. The penalties for concealment also included the closure of establishments, the liquidation of their operations, the cancellation of licenses and commercial registrations, the collection of zakat, fees, and taxes, and the deportation of the expatriate convicts after serving their jail term and payment of fines, in addition to a ban on their return to the Kingdom for work. The Qassim Court of Appeal upheld the verdict issued by a lower court after it was found that they were involved in cover-up crime in their businesses in the contracting, medical equipment, and tobacco sectors in the Qassim region. As per the court order, the Ministry of Commerce published the convicts’ names and crimes in the local media at their own personal expense. The convicts include Saudis, Yemenis and Palestinians. The court found that the citizens were involved in enabling four expatriates to conduct commercial activities […]
1 year ago
Saudi Arabia: 4 Expats Arrested For Prostitution In Al-Jouf
The Al-Jouf Region Police arrested four expatriates for engaging in prostitution in a residential apartment. The Public Security officials said that the expatriates were arrested in a security operation carried out in coordination with the General Department for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking. The suspects were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking legal measures against them.
