The short history of the Hijaz Railway in Saudi Arabia

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Hijaz Railway station in Al-Ula. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
Updated 04 April 2019
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The short history of the Hijaz Railway in Saudi Arabia

  • Volcanic rock was used as building materials for the stations and bridges between Al-Ula and Madinah
  • The railway station in Al-Madinah was also illuminated on this occasion, the first use of electricity in Madinah

JEDDAH: The line that was built from Damascus, Syria, to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, is a fascinating part of Hijazi history.
Sultan Abdul Hamid II put great effort into modernizing transportation and communication during the Ottoman Empire. He laid telegraph lines and railways to connect Ottoman villages and built the Hijaz Railway to connect Damascus with Madinah.
The line was built to meet the needs of pilgrims traveling to Makkah. Its construction took eight years. The first stage of the project from Damascus to Daraa began in September, 1900, and the first train reached Madinah in August 1908. The work was carried out by German and Turkish engineers and local workers recruited from the areas along the route.
The sultan planned to extend the railway on to Makkah and down the Red Sea coast to Yemen, but plans to extend the Hijaz Railway were disrupted by World War One (1914-1918).
The terrain between Tabuk and Madinah presented many challenges. One portion of Al-Akhdar valley required the building of both a tunnel and a 143-meter long bridge, the longest bridge in Saudi Arabia. In Al-Muazzam area high rubble landfills were used to lessen the steep angle of the track.
Small stations, all of the same design, were built along the line between Al-Ula and Hadiyya, where a mid-sized station was built and supplied with water. As the line approached Madinah the stations grew larger, such as at Istabl Antar.
Volcanic rock was used as building materials for the stations and bridges between Al-Ula and Madinah.
On Sept. 1, 1906, a ceremony was held in Tabuk to mark the arrival of the railway line. It was attended by an official delegation from Damascus, as well as sheikhs of tribes, nobles and merchants. One year later, a ceremony was held to mark the line reaching Al-Ula.
On August 22, 1908, the first train arrived in Madinah. The official ceremony was postponed until Dec. 1st to coincide with the anniversary of the accession of the sultan, and a grand ceremony was held to mark both events.
The railway station in Al-Madinah was also illuminated on this occasion, the first use of electricity in Madinah.
After 1918, the Arabs attempted to reopen the railway.
The train arrived in Madinah twice, once in 1919 and again in 1925. A lack of material and technical skills stopped the railway in Hijaz from working again. The Hijazi portion of the line is defunct, but the Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian sections have remained in service locally.


Training program in Asir focuses on traditional wall decoration

Updated 5 sec ago
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Training program in Asir focuses on traditional wall decoration

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, known as Wrth, in collaboration with Soudah Development Co., has opened registration for a specialized training program on Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art.

This centuries-old art form, traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes in the Asir region, features murals with straight lines, triangles, circles, and squares.

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri gained international recognition in 2017 when it was added to UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Scheduled for July 27-31 in Asir, the program lets participants explore the history and aesthetics of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, learning the traditional methods with geometric patterns and engravings inspired by the local environment.

It also offers hands-on training in creating natural colors and mastering traditional techniques, the SPA added.

The Arabic term “qatt” means lines, carvings, or cuttings, and represents the detailed interior work done by women. Colors flow gracefully from their hands in a style known as qattatah, forming patterns based on the nature of the surface.

Drawing inspiration from local culture, it showcases intricate geometric patterns reflecting the landscape and the vibrant colors of nature.

Artisans use colors derived from limestone, clays, plants, or powders, prepared with stabilizers and gloss agents. Primary red, yellow, and blue are complemented by green, orange, white, and black.


Biotech deal to enhance poultry safety, quality

Updated 31 min 8 sec ago
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Biotech deal to enhance poultry safety, quality

Riyadh: The National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program has partnered with global biotech firm PhageGuard and Saudi poultry producer Tanmiah Food Co. to introduce advanced solutions promoting sustainable livestock production.

The memorandum of understanding, signed in the presence of Vice Minister Mansour Al-Mushaiti, supports Saudi Arabia’s goal to improve product quality and competitiveness locally and globally.

The deal aims to enhance the quality and safety of local products by adopting innovative solutions that reduce health and environmental risks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Under the MoU, PhageGuard will provide its biotechnology solutions through its local agent, Portalis Capital, to Tanmiah Food Co., which will implement and localize these technologies in the Saudi market.

The deal supports poultry sector development, boosts operational and production efficiency, and fosters a knowledge- and innovation-driven livestock industry, the SPA reported.

It focuses on bacteriophage technology as a biological alternative to traditional antibiotics, addressing concerns over antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These phages target Salmonella bacteria, helping reduce its spread, lower antibiotic use and promote safer food production.

Applying this technology will help mitigate foodborne illness risks from salmonella in poultry and eggs, enhancing product quality and safety and strengthening competitiveness in local and global markets.


Kingdom arrests 23,167 illegals in one week

Updated 36 min 33 sec ago
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Kingdom arrests 23,167 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 23,167 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 14,525 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 5,511 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,131 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,593 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 69 percent were Ethiopian, 30 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 41 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 22 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


Saudi Arabia to support education for Yemeni children

Updated 19 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia to support education for Yemeni children

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a cooperation agreement to support education for children affected by conflict in the Al-Hawtah and Tuban districts of Yemen’s Lahij governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The project, in partnership with a local civil society organization, will directly benefit 6,833 people and indirectly reach 16,000 others, according to the report.

The agreement was signed via video conference by Ahmed Al-Baiz, KSrelief’s assistant supervisor-general for operations and programs.

The project will include awareness campaigns promoting education — with a particular focus on encouraging school attendance among girls; the distribution of school bags, uniforms, and hygiene kits; the provision of psychological and social support, child protection services, and referral mechanisms; teacher training for volunteers; and the provision of materials for classrooms.

Selected classrooms will also be refurbished “to improve the learning environment,” the SPA stated.

The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader humanitarian efforts through KSrelief, with the aim of supporting education and protecting children in crisis areas, ensuring access to a safe and sustainable learning environment.


Saudi Arabia suspends seven Umrah companies for housing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodations

Updated 19 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia suspends seven Umrah companies for housing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodations

  • The violations came as part of the Hajj and Umrah ministry’s oversight efforts to improve quality of services
  • The ministry called on all Umrah companies, institutions to fully comply with approved regulations, instructions

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended seven Umrah companies over violations of regulatory controls, including housing pilgrims in unlicensed accommodations, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported this week.

The violations were identified as part of the ministry’s ongoing oversight efforts to improve the quality of services provided to the ‘Guests of God,’ according to the SPA report.

“The Ministry explained that these violations constitute serious transgressions that affect the safety and comfort of pilgrims,” it said.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said it had immediately begun taking legal measures against the violating companies in preparation for the implementation of the penalties stipulated by the law, according to the report.

“The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah affirmed its keenness to ensure that pilgrims receive their full rights, in accordance with the highest standards of quality and efficiency, stressing that it will not be lenient with any party that fails to fulfill its contractual obligations or endangers the safety of pilgrims,” the report read further.

The ministry called on all Umrah companies and institutions to fully comply with the approved regulations and instructions, and to ensure the provision of agreed-upon services within the specified timetables to contribute to enhancing the experience of pilgrims and achieving their satisfaction during their stay in the Kingdom.