2 weeks ago
Passports Directorate: First-time issued Saudi passports do not require activation
The Saudi Passports Directorate clarified that passports issued for Saudi citizens for the first time do not require activation. It also called on citizens, who have renewed their passports, to have their previous passports checked and their new passports activated at any passport office or branch office or international port of entry. The directorate stated that neither the checking nor the activation process requires a prior appointment. To complete the process, citizens must present their previous passport and verify its activation status through the Absher platform. It is worth noting that the Saudi Passports Directorate has enabled citizens to issue passports electronically through the Absher platform without the need to visit its offices. The process can be completed quickly after submitting the application and fulfilling the necessary procedures. The process begins by logging into the Absher platform and selecting “My Services,” followed by “Passports” and then “Issuance of Saudi Passport.” Applicants can then request passport issuance, specify the renewal period, agree to the required conditions, select the delivery options, agree to the required declarations, enter the delivery address, choose the delivery method, agree to the required declarations, review the information, and pay the applicable fees.
2 weeks ago
Dubai Police offer 10 tips to avoid online scams disguised as vehicle insurance
The Anti-Fraud Centre within the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police has warned the public about online fraud schemes targeting individuals seeking to renew or obtain vehicle insurance policies. These fraudulent activities often involve advertisements, links, and online profiles posing as legitimate insurance companies, authorised entities, or brokers with the intent to steal money or extract personal and banking information. Scammers typically attract victims with exceptionally low insurance offers or insist on urgent policy renewals. They then request that customers click on a link and input vehicle details, personal information, and bank card data, or share verification codes. The Centre emphasises the importance of confirming the recipient’s legitimacy before making any financial transactions. To help individuals avoid falling victim to vehicle insurance fraud, the Centre has shared ten precautionary tips: • Verify the insurance company’s credentials to ensure they are licensed and authorised before proceeding with any monetary transfers. • Check that the beneficiary bank account directly belongs to the insurance firm, avoiding personal accounts or those unrelated to the company. • Do not trust advertisements or messages received through social media without first verifying the authenticity and official information of the advertiser. • Review insurance policy details […]
2 weeks ago
New road lanes open in Makkah to ease traffic congestion
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has opened traffic on several newly developed lanes along the Third Ring Road and Prince Saud Al Faisal Road, reducing travel times by more than 90 percent. The expansion includes an additional 1.5-kilometer stretch on the Third Ring Road connecting the Prince Metab intersection to the Grand Mosque intersection via the Prince Sultan intersection. Traffic flow was also inaugurated on the final section of Prince Saud Al Faisal Road, linking the Prince Mohammed bin Salman axis to Abdulqadir Koshak Street through the Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz intersection. These openings are part of integrated infrastructure projects, which are designed to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety, and streamline access for residents, visitors, and pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
2 weeks ago
Saudi Arabia recalls 391 Jeep vehicles over tire pressure warning fault
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce recalled 391 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L vehicles due to a fault in the tire pressure monitoring system. According to the ministry, the fault may prevent warning indicators from appearing when tire pressure drops, increasing the risk of an accident. Owners were urged to check whether their vehicle identification number (VIN) is included in the recall through Recalls.sa and contact Petromin Stellantis to have the necessary updates carried out free of charge. Affected vehicle owners can contact Petromin Stellantis at 8003030040.
2 weeks ago
Saudi Arabia has not ruled out nuclear weapons: US intelligence
Classified assessment says Riyadh has kept open the option of developing nuclear weapons Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, according to a classified US intelligence assessment that has intensified congressional concern over President Donald Trump’s civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh, The Washington Post reported. The assessment was contained in classified documents sent to Congress last month, US officials told the newspaper. The intelligence findings have not been made public, and the CIA declined to comment. The documents were provided as Congress reviews an agreement that would permit American companies to begin nuclear energy projects worth tens of billions of dollars in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration says the partnership would strengthen relations with Riyadh, create opportunities for US companies and prevent Saudi Arabia from turning to Russia or China for nuclear technology. The State Department defended the agreement and said Washington “does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program”. It said the agreement combined expanded nuclear energy cooperation with the strongest non-proliferation standards that were diplomatically achievable. The Saudi government did not answer the Post’s questions about the intelligence assessment. It referred the newspaper to an earlier statement by Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin […]
2 weeks ago
Saudi Arabia travel update: Jeddah airport opens Terminal 4 — airline move dates revealed
Phased launch of Jeddah’s Terminal 4 to boost capacity to 15 million passengers King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah will begin the phased opening of Terminal 4 on Sunday, with selected airlines moving from existing terminals as part of a wider transition plan. Jeddah Airports Company said the move aims to redistribute passenger traffic, increase airport capacity and improve travel procedures following the completion of Terminal 4’s operational and service readiness. Airlines moving to Terminal 4 Airline transfer schedule Tuesday, September 29: Akasa Air flights will move from the Hajj and Umrah Terminals (B3). Thursday, October 1: SyrianAir and Pegasus flights will move from the North Terminal. Saturday, October 3: Azerbaijan Airlines and Tunisair flights will move from the North Terminal. Additional airlines will be transferred gradually based on operational requirements. Airline relocation plan The transition aims to: The plan includes relocating foreign airlines operating from the North Terminal, along with selected carriers from Terminal 1 and the Hajj and Umrah Terminals. Equipped with advanced operational systems and modern facilities. Includes dedicated group check-in facilities for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
2 weeks ago
More than 13,600 arrested in Saudi residency and labour crackdown
More than 31,000 expats are undergoing procedures linked to residency, labour violations Saudi Arabia deported 12,628 illegal residents in one week following a nationwide security campaign that led to the arrest of more than 13,600 people for residency, border and labour violations, the Ministry of Interior said. The deportations were carried out during joint inspections conducted with relevant government agencies between September 17 and September 23. Authorities arrested 13,628 people during the campaign, including 6,593 for violating residency laws, 3,531 for breaching border security regulations and 3,504 for labour law violations. Security forces also detained 1,197 people while they were attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally. Of those, 63 per cent were Ethiopian nationals, 36 per cent were Yemeni nationals and 1 per cent were of other nationalities. A further 27 people were arrested while attempting to leave the kingdom illegally. In addition to the 12,628 deportations, 18,549 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,815 were referred to complete travel arrangements, according to the ministry. Authorities also arrested 22 people accused of transporting, sheltering or employing violators. A total of 31,398 expatriates, 29,018 men and 2,380 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce legal measures linked to their violations. The Interior Ministry warned that anyone who helps people enter […]
2 weeks ago
Heavy thunderstorms threaten flash floods across parts of Saudi Arabia
Red fog alert covers six Eastern Province areas, with visibility falling to 1km or less Heavy thunderstorms, flash-flood risks and dense fog are forecast across parts of Saudi Arabia on Sunday, with the National Center for Meteorology issuing severe-weather warnings for several regions. Moderate to heavy thunderstorms are expected over Jazan, Asir and Al Baha, with conditions potentially producing flash floods, hail and strong winds capable of raising dust and sand. A red alert for dense fog was issued for parts of the Eastern Province, including Al Ahsa, Al Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Buqayq and Ras Tanura, with horizontal visibility expected to fall to 1km or less during the morning. The warning was in effect from midnight until 9am, while other NCM alerts remained active across the kingdom on Sunday. Parts of Medina are also expected to see light to moderate thunderstorms, while active winds could stir up dust and sand across Hail, Al Qassim and the Northern Borders. An NCM alert for Al Mahd in Medina warned of rain, active winds, reduced visibility and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. Fog could also develop overnight and during the early morning in parts of the Mecca Region. Temperatures will remain high across much of the country. Riyadh, Medina, Dammam and Buraidah are […]
2 weeks ago
Saudi Arabia climbs to 29th in global tourism index
Saudi Arabia climbed three places from its 2024 ranking to 29th in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, reflecting the Kingdom’s continued expansion of its tourism sector. The Kingdom has risen 17 places since 2019, according to the WEF report, as tourism becomes an increasingly important part of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has already surpassed its original target of 100 million tourists and has raised its ambition to 150 million visitors annually by 2030. The Kingdom recorded about 123 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism. “This progress reflects the growing competitiveness of the tourism sector and its increasing impact on the national economy,” the ministry said in a post on X. The UAE ranked 22nd globally in the 2026 index, while Qatar and Bahrain ranked 47th and 55th, respectively. Japan topped the index, followed by the US, Spain and Australia in second, third and fourth place, respectively. France, Germany, the UK, China, Switzerland and Italy completed the top 10. High-income economies accounted for 19 of the top 20 TTDI performers, combining strong tourism infrastructure, connectivity, major commercial centers and favorable enabling conditions, the […]
2 weeks ago
Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy pipeline reaches 63.8 GW across 53 projects
Saudi Arabia’s tracked renewable energy pipeline stands at 63.8 gigawatts across 53 projects, as the Kingdom advances its ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, an analysis showed. According to the Saudi Arabia Renewables Tracker, released by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, the Kingdom’s cumulative operating renewable-energy capacity has increased more than 63-fold since 2020, reaching 19.3 GW in 2026. This development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to expand power generation capacity while incorporating cleaner technologies, including carbon-capture readiness. The Kingdom aims to produce 100–130 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. KAPSARC said on X that the figures embody “the Kingdom’s ambition and its promising future in the energy and sustainability sector.” The dashboard also said that additional projects are expected to be announced as the Kingdom accelerates progress toward its 2030 renewable-energy goals. Solar accounts for 81 percent of tracked capacity, while wind accounts for 19 percent. By status, about 30 percent of capacity is installed, 37 percent is under development and 32 percent is tendered. Projects are spread across Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Al-Qassim, Hail, Aseer, Jazan, the Eastern Province, Al-Jouf, Najran and the Northern Borders. […]
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