The Kingdom made extensive arrangements for citizens and residents to celebrate the Kingdom’s 82nd National Day today.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs instructed all its local bodies to decorate their cities and towns with illuminations and national flags to observe the day in a fitting manner.
Riyadh is fully dotted with national flags, banners with National Day slogans and digital displays conveying greetings to people on this day. Large banners carrying the picture of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman are prominently displayed all over the
capital.
This year, the National Day celebrations in the capital city are held under the direct supervision of the new Mayor Abdullah bin Abdulrahman bin Muhammad Al-Meqbel
The city will be fully illuminated to give a festive atmosphere.
The government declared today a public, bank and mercantile holiday to enable citizens and residents to have their celebrations with their friends and relatives in the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Education closed all schools in the Kingdom on Saturday and Sunday on account of the National Day. Public servants would also enjoy Saturday and Sunday as holidays.
The Ministry of Education issued directives to all government schools to hold National Day celebrations in their institutions. Students will be celebrating for a week, commencing Monday.
Governorates throughout the Kingdom will hold their celebrations, while the state television and radio will carry programs related to the National Day of the country.
The Riyadh municipality has arranged seven locations in the city for people to take part in the National Day celebrations. Three of those sites will be for men only, three for families and children, and one for people with special needs.
There will be cultural shows including Ardha dance and folk dances at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Malaz, which can accommodate 15,000 men. The show is confined only to men.
A total of 300 parks in 15 districts within the Riyadh municipality are well illuminated with billboards of the king’s image and national flags of the country.
Major parks such as Al-Salama at Oteiga, Manaaq Abdulaziz, near Saqr Al-Jazeera, King Abdulaziz Historical Center on the West Ring Road and Kindi Plaza in the Diplomatic Quarter will be opened for families today till 12 midnight.
The Ministry of Culture and Information will hold a cultural show at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. The show, coupled with an exhibition, is scheduled for four days. The exhibition will highlight the Kingdom’s progress during the past eight decades.
Saudi Telecom Company has announced that all MMS messages within the STC network could be sent free-of-charge today.
The Foreign Ministry said all its missions abroad would hold National Day celebrations in their countries.
Meanwhile, a number of officials, citizens, and foreign organizations have expressed their greetings and wishes to the king and his government on the National Day.
Traffic police have upped their operations during these two days. Special squads have been allocated to control the heavy flow of traffic before and after cultural events.
Lulu Hypermarkets have lined up a series of activities to mark the day. The program includes photo exhibitions, free medical check-ups and a blood donation campaign.
The hypermarket has arranged these programs in collaboration with organizations such as the Saudi Commission For Tourism and Antiquities, (SCTA) Central Blood Bank and the Shifa Al Jazeera Polyclinic.
Almarai, the largest integrated dairy foods company in the world, has organized its Saudi National Day Open Golf Tournament on Sept. 25.
Meanwhile, expressing his greetings and good wishes to King Abdullah, his government and people, US Ambassador James B. Smith reaffirmed that the United States values Saudi Arabia as a close friend and ally.
Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Thamer bin Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah congratulated Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people on the eve of the day.
Speaking on behalf of Kuwait’s Emir, the envoy hailed the great contribution made by the Kingdom’s founder, the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdul-Rahman Al Saud, for the unification of the Kingdom and laying out a solid foundation with Islam and the Sunnah as guidelines of the government. The ambassador also extolled the great achievements of King Abdullah that won the appreciation and admiration from all nations of the world.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahmed A Jawad said: “ Saudi Arabia has come a long way since its founding. This is in significant measure due to the vision of its rulers. Under the wise leadership of King Abdullah, the country has developed in leaps and bounds in all areas of the economy. There has also been a significant development in the social sphere too. King Abdullah is without a doubt one of those rare leaders who have fundamentally altered the course of his country’s history and Saudis are extremely fortunate to have such a visionary at the helm. I am confident that this development stride will continue in the future as well and that Saudi Arabia will occupy a place of importance in the committee of nations.”
Bangladesh Ambassador Muhammad Shahidul Islam has said that this is a memorable day in the annals of the Kingdom. “We hope to strengthen our bilateral relations with the Kingdom to reach new heights,” the envoy added.
Elaborate arrangements made for N-Day
Elaborate arrangements made for N-Day
Saudi Arabia displays cultural depth at Seoul, Beijing book fairs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is taking part in the Seoul International Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair, both being held from June 18 to 22.
The Kingdom inaugurated its pavilion at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 on Wednesday at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in the South Korean capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Commission CEO Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Wasel said Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its growing presence in global cultural events.
He said the initiative underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering partnerships with international publishing houses and building cultural bridges.
The Saudi delegation includes representatives from the King Abdulaziz Public Library, King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Association, and local publishing houses, as well as the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, and Nashir publishing and distribution company.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Washmi said the fair provides a platform for engaging with those interested in the Arabic language and culture. It also offers an opportunity to underscore Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support the Arabic language and promote its use in academic and technical fields.
The academy is presenting a selection of its latest publications and introducing visitors to its digital platforms and initiatives for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, compiling dictionaries, and developing linguistic resources to support Arabic digital content.
The Saudi pavilion is also at the Beijing International Book Fair 2025, which kicked off at the China National Convention and Exhibition Center on Wednesday.
The book fair is part of 2025 being celebrated as Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, reflecting the strength of bilateral relations built on decades of friendship and cooperation and embodying both countries’ aspirations to enhance cultural and intellectual exchanges between their peoples.
During the five-day book fair, the Saudi pavilion presents a diverse literary and cultural program that reflects the growing momentum of the Saudi cultural scene, displaying the Kingdom’s evolving creative and intellectual landscape.
The pavilion reflects a spirit of cultural dialogue and openness, making the exhibition a key international platform to present Saudi initiatives in the book sector while deepening literary and cultural relations with intellectual figures and global publishing houses.
Saudi fashion showcased in Selfridges
- London store to host designs by Kingdom’s rising stars
RIYADH: The Saudi Fashion Commission has teamed up with the Cultural Development Fund and British high-end department store Selfridges to showcase some of the Kingdom’s leading stylists.
Selected labels from the Saudi 100 Brands program and CDF beneficiaries, all of which blend modern Saudi aesthetics with innovative design techniques, will be on display at the store in London for the next two months, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The commission’s CEO Burak Cakmak said: “This is more than retail, it marks a new era for Saudi fashion, from Riyadh to London.”
The Saudi 100 Brands program supported designers in refining their craft and building global business opportunities, he said.
The partnership with Selfridges represents a significant milestone for the Saudi fashion industry, reflecting its rising momentum and evolving talent base. It also coincides with the Kingdom’s Year of Handicrafts 2025.
CDF CEO Majed Al-Hogail said the event highlighted the sector’s growing role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s cultural economy.
“Saudi talents are redefining our creative identity, rooted in heritage, expressed globally,” he said.
New award honors top Hajj hospitality centers
- The award recognizes top-performing hospitality centers affiliated with Ekram Al-Dayf
MAKKAH: Amr Al-Maddah, undersecretary for Hajj and Umrah services at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has launched the inaugural Ekram Excellence Award for Hajj season 2025.
The award recognizes top-performing hospitality centers affiliated with Ekram Al-Dayf, a division of Ashraqat company serving Arab pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Adnan Saleh Al-Shehri, adviser for excellence and awards at Ekram Al-Dayf, said the initiative aims to inspire excellence in administration and operations.
It seeks to deliver high-quality, sustainable services in line with Vision 2030, the ministry’s goals, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and Ekram Al-Dayf’s strategy.
The award honors outstanding centers, promotes a culture of quality and commitment, and encourages compliance with service standards.
It also aims to boost competition among providers, improve performance indicators, and support innovation, according to the SPA.
The initiative further promotes social responsibility, volunteerism, and enhances the overall pilgrim experience. It aligns with the ministry’s broader efforts to raise hospitality standards and ensure an exceptional Hajj journey.
JIAT clears coalition of alleged rights violations in Yemen
- Coalition forces identified four locations and carried out an air mission on what was considered a legitimate military target and in line with international humanitarian law
RIYADH: The Joint Incidents Assessment Team on Wednesday issued a statement in response to allegations of human rights violations in Yemen over the targeting of Sarwah Rural Hospital in Harib directorate, Marib governorate on April 24, 2015.
After examining various documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, after-mission reports and satellite images, the JIAT concluded that the hospital is located in Sarwah village and included on the coalition forces’ no-strike list.
Specialists studied satellite images of the hospital and found no trace of damage to its structures caused by aerial targeting.
Analyzing coalition air missions on April 24, 2015, the JIAT found no evidence of operations in Sarwah village. Similarly, missions on April 23 and April 25 showed no activity in the area.
In a press conference in Riyadh, JIAT spokesman Mansour Al-Mansour addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted a mosque in Al-Sawad in Yemen’s Amran governorate on Sept. 23, 2019.
After reviewing air missions, the JIAT found that no coalition operations were carried out in Amran on that date.
By studying missions conducted the day before, the JIAT reported that intelligence indicated Houthi militia fighters were gathering at mobilization sites in Harf Sufyan in Amran in preparation for a major attack.
Coalition forces identified four locations and carried out an air mission on what was considered a legitimate military target and in line with international humanitarian law.
“The coalition forces have taken all possible precautions to avoid accidental loss or damage to civilians and civilian objects, or in any case, to minimize it to the lowest possible level, during the planning and execution of the military operation,” Al-Mansour said.
The precautions included the use of “guided bombs proportionate to the size of the military targets and ensuring that there were no civilians present before or during the targeting,” he said.
The JIAT concluded that the strike was lawful. It noted that while the targeted structure was claimed to be a mosque, no indications such as a minaret were found.
It also addressed an allegation that a coalition airstrike hit a pickup truck in Al-Jarr village, Hajjah governorate, followed by a second strike 10 minutes later that destroyed a house on June 16, 2019.
After reviewing air mission data, satellite images and visiting operational centers, the JIAT found no evidence of coalition activity on that date, nor on the days before or after. Satellite imagery also showed no signs of aerial targeting.
The JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target Al-Jarr village, as claimed.
It also addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted houses in Al-Hijrah village, Markhah Al-Sofla directorate in Shabwah on Jan. 4, 2019.
After reviewing air tasking orders, mission schedules, post-mission reports and satellite images, it found that no coalition air missions were conducted in Shabwah.
The JIAT also confirmed that no air missions were carried out in the governorate on Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, 2019, and concluded that coalition forces did not target houses in Al-Hijrah village as claimed.
FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlights exhibitors powering sports, leisure solutions for urban future
- Saudi Arabia’s plan to become center for world-class sports infrastructure gaining momentum
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to be a center for world-class sports infrastructure and recreation spaces are gaining momentum, with more than $2 billion in committed investments and a projected $5.9 billion in sports sector revenue by 2030.
With major international events, including the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, Asian Winter Games in NEOM’s Trojena in 2029, Riyadh Expo 2030, FIFA World Cup 2034 and the Asian Games in Riyadh in 2034 on the horizon, the Kingdom is accelerating development as part of Vision 2030.
Aligned with this ambition, the inaugural FSB Sports Show Riyadh — organized by DMG Events and Koelnmesse — welcomed thousands of industry leaders and professionals this week at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Rob Hetherington, group business development director at Gebal Group, which was among the exhibitors, said: “Saudi is our most important market that we are focusing on right now.
“We have been working in Saudi for five years now and have already developed over 40 to 50 outdoor spaces. So we have got a team that’s growing into double figures. Our company has 400-plus people and we are going to rapidly grow into the Saudi market.”
The company designs and supplies outdoor recreation areas and has developed skate parks for the Red Sea Project and at the Qiddiyah entertainment city, NEOM and Sports Boulevard, among other places.
“We delivered lots of fanzone spaces in Qatar for the World Cup. Our plan is to do the same thing for the World Cup in Saudi Arabia,” Hetherington said.
Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president for construction at DMG, said: “From active cities and giga-projects to school playgrounds and public parks, Saudi Arabia is transforming how it designs and delivers spaces for sports, wellness and recreation.”
Denis Steker, senior international vice president at Koelnmesse, said: “FSB is the international benchmark for innovations in sports and leisure facilities. As Saudi Arabia scales up investment across public parks, playgrounds or stadiums to increase the health and well-being of the public, now is the ideal time to bring this event to Riyadh.”
At the show, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, Scott Van Der Kleij, sales director at exhibitor GreenFields, told Arab News: “We are here to get a better understanding of what the Saudi market is and especially towards the FIFA World Cup 2034.”
Ramsha Asghar, director for sports flooring at Neo Sports, said the event had “been a really good opportunity to showcase our material and speak to really high-end individuals, and I am really excited for what’s to come from the sports projects.”
Bill Lennox, managing director at Yardex, which supplies artificial grass and is FIFA-certified, told Arab News he saw “tremendous volume and potential for the product” in Saudi Arabia.
The sports show was held concurrently with the International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia.
Gerald Bose, president and CEO of Koelnmesse, said: “Launching both FSB Sports Show and International Hardware Fair marks a significant step in connecting global expertise with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly advancing sectors.”
With more than 200 exhibitors and brands, the FSB Sports Show supported the Kingdom’s plans to develop inclusive and modern environments for community wellness and active living.
Among the standout attractions were TeleiosX, which gave visitors the chance to experience competitive, full-motion racing on the show floor, and a virtual golf simulator presented by Marafei Almarefah.
