Breaking News
11 months ago
The Ministry of Tourism confirmed that holders of visit visas of all types and names are not entitled to perform Hajj in accordance with the regulations and instructions prevailing in Saudi Arabia. Fines amounting to SR10000 will be imposed on Saudi citizens, expatriates and visitors who were caught while entering Makkah without a Hajj permit. The penalties will be slapped on anyone who is caught without a Hajj permit within the holy city of Makkah, the Central Haram Area, the Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, the Haramain train station in Rusayfah, security control centers, pilgrims’ grouping centers, and temporary security control centers. The penalties will be imposed on those who violate the regulations and instructions issued by the authorities regardless of their nationality or legal status. The ministry emphasized that the security authorities will double the fine of SR10,000 on violators in the event of repeating the violation, stressing the importance of adhering to Hajj regulations and instructions so that the guests of God may enjoy security, safety, and comfort while performing their rituals. The Ministry of Tourism called on those coming to the Kingdom with all types of visit visas to abide by the undertaking given and […]
11 months ago
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) stated that testing confirms a Chinese company’s products in Saudi Arabia are free from harmful substances. “Based on media reports circulated in several countries regarding the association of products from a Chinese e-commerce company with diseases threatening consumer safety, direct coordination has been made with relevant government entities to address the parent company,” SASO said in a statement while noting that this aimed to obligate the parent company to remove all mentioned products as a precautionary measure and prohibit them from appearing on e-commerce platforms or being sold to consumers in the Kingdom until their safety and absence of harmful substances are ensured. SASO said it has taken promptly precautionary and regulatory measures by withdrawing around 70 random samples imported through e-commerce platforms for consumers in the Kingdom. These samples were shipped using three different shipping sources. The test results showed that the products were free from harmful substances and did not exceed the permissible levels in the manufacture of those products, as revealed by SASO. It added that results from all laboratories confirmed that these products meet the requirements of the adopted standard specifications. The withdrawn samples underwent rigorous testing according […]
11 months ago
The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and related entities hold 97.62% of the issued shares of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), according to the latest shareholder composition update. As part of the final allocation of the fully marketed offering of 1.545 billion shares, a significant portion was allocated to institutional investors outside the Kingdom. This allocation leaves international institutional investors with 0.73% of issued shares, domestic institutional investors with 0.89%, and retail investors with 0.76%. International and domestic institutional investors are comprised of institutions that purchased shares through Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO), subsequent offerings, or through open market purchases since the IPO. Retail investors include individual investors, such as high-net-worth individuals (excluding executives, directors, and other insiders), who acquired shares via the IPO, offerings, or open market purchases. The remaining shareholdings include shares owned by the government, shares acquired by or transferred to government-owned entities and subsidiaries (not through the IPO, offerings, or open market purchases), executives, directors, and other insiders, along with 163,758,663 shares held in treasury.
11 months ago
The Green Riyadh project announced the start of construction work of three major parks in the capital city of Riyadh, with an area exceeding 550,000 square meters, in the neighborhoods of Al-Munsiyah, Rimal and Al-Qadisiyah. Green Riyadh aims to make Riyadh one of the most liveable cities in the world. The new projects will raise the quality of life, provide recreational places for the city’s residents and visitors, and raise the per capita rate of green spaces 16 times more than it is now and transforming the city of Riyadh into one of the most sustainable cities in the world. The designs of the three major parks located in the east of the city of Riyadh are distinguished by integrating and linking the nature of Wadi Al-Sulay with it, which extends through its east, in addition to its connection to the sports track through wooded pedestrian paths. The percentage of green spaces represents 65 percent of the parks’ area, as more than 585,000 trees and shrubs will be planted. The parks include 18 km of walking paths, 8 km of running paths, 8.5 km of bicycle paths, and 22 play areas for children that will give them an educational experience […]
11 months ago
The King Fahad Causeway Authority has unveiled a transformative upgrade to its processing areas and passenger lounges, setting the stage for a new era of enhanced travel between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. With a dramatic increase in capacity and a commitment to a seamless travel experience, the Causeway is poised to become an even more critical link connecting the two nations. The phased poject has expanded the processing areas by 50%, boosting traffic flow. This expansion allows up to 2,500 vehicles per hour, up from the previous limit of 1,800. Additionally, the Authority has introduced passenger lounges for public transportation users, featuring comprehensive departure and arrival halls. This initiative aims to streamline the travel process and offer a comfortable waiting environment for passengers. The development signifies the King Fahad Causeway Authority’s focus on continuous improvement and its goal of enhancing connections between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The project represents a strategic advance, driven by collaborative efforts and guided by digital transformation and sustainable mobility principles. The project includes the development of processing areas for both Saudi and Bahraini passport control.
11 months ago
The Al Mashaaer Train plays a crucial role in developing and organizing the transportation of pilgrims between the holy sites, significantly improving their experience. The train prepares more than 2,000 trips to facilitate the movement of pilgrims to and from their locations. The train network consists of 9 stations distributed across the holy sites, connected by a double railway line spanning 18 kilometers. With a speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the train can cover the distance between Mina and Arafat in approximately 20 minutes. The Holy Sites train fleet comprises 17 trains, each with a capacity of 3,000 passengers. The train’s seating capacity is 20% of its total passenger capacity, bringing the total capacity of the Holy Sites Train to 72,000 passengers per hour. It facilitates the transport of more than 350,000 pilgrims between the various Holy Sites during Hajj. The design of the stations focuses on easing the movement of pilgrims when entering, boarding, and exiting the train to accommodate the large number of users. The waiting area is separated from the boarding area, and the boarding platform is separated from the departure platform. The stations feature connecting bridges for passenger movement to the ground floor from the […]
11 months ago
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the cancellation of Hajj permits for some domestic pilgrims due to their failure to meet health requirements, including receiving necessary vaccinations. According to a statement on the ministry’s “X” platform account, 90 per cent of domestic pilgrims had adhered to health protocols by receiving vaccinations that help prevent infections common in crowded conditions. However, a minority’s reluctance to get vaccinated has led to permit cancellations. The ministry urged the remaining pilgrims to promptly obtain the Neisseria meningitis vaccine to avoid similar consequences. This step is part of a broader effort to ensure the health and safety of all attendees during Hajj. Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior reported the arrest of 21 individuals at the entrances to the Holy Capital for violating Hajj regulations. The violations, occurring on July 6, 2024, involved 8 residents and 13 citizens who facilitated the transport of 61 unauthorized individuals. The General Directorate of Passports issued 21 administrative decisions against the violators, including 15-day imprisonment terms, fines up to 10,000 riyals, and deportation for expatriate violators after serving their sentences. Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Bassami, Director of Public Security, highlighted that despite the sanctity of the Hajj pilgrimage, challenges […]
11 months ago
Saudi Arabia is gearing up to introduce a host of new entertainment and aquatic parks as the Ministry of Investment partners with Nowaar Entertainment, with the first park slated to open its doors in Riyadh in 2025. In collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority, MISA signed an agreement on Sunday with Nawaar Entertainment to develop entertainment and splash parks across the country, with Riyadh being the inaugural location set to launch in 2025. Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector has seen exponential growth, with the number of companies skyrocketing to 4,000 from fewer than 10 since the inception of Vision 2030, according to a senior official. Speaking at the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh on Feb. 21, GEA CEO Faisal Bafarat revealed that the industry has already generated over 150,000 local jobs since the Kingdom embarked on its economic diversification initiative in 2016. Bafarat emphasized the significance of fostering high competitiveness among various business sectors to introduce innovative forms of entertainment, which are now attracting increased investment in the Kingdom, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Reports also indicated the organization’s efforts toward developing entertainment options tailored to the diverse needs of people from all walks of life in the Kingdom. […]
11 months ago
The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association is participating with over 220 members of the Saudi Girl Scouts to assist pilgrims in collaboration with General Security at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This participation is part of the public service camps organized by the association in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites. Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mdiris, the association’s vice president, explained that the collaboration with the Grand Mosque security aims to increase the participation of female scouts in the camps, empowering them, and investing in their energies and capabilities. It also seeks to expand their volunteer work options and ensure equal opportunities for both young men and women in the youth stage. “Today, Saudi girls are active partners in national development and play a pivotal role in various fields, including volunteering and community service.”
11 months ago
Saudi security agencies have caught more than 153,000 visit visa holders for violating Hajj rules as part of a clampdown on irregular pilgrims and their collaborators ahead of this week’s annual Islamic pilgrimage, a senior official has disclosed. Saudi authorities have repeatedly said a visit visa does not qualify its holder to perform the Hajj in and around the holy city of Mecca.
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