JEDDAH: The Interior Ministry on Sunday launched a “A Nation Without Violations” campaign to give residency and labor law violators 90 days to leave the country without penalties.
Prince Mohammed bin Naif, crown prince, deputy prime minister and minister of interior, urged violators to take advantage of the 90-day grace period, which becomes effective March 29, to correct their status and make use of the assistance provided.
The crown prince directed authorities to facilitate the procedures of people who seek to leave the country within the specified period and relieve them from all sanctions.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said that 19 government agencies will carry out the campaign. He said the decision covers those who overstayed their Haj or Umrah visit, or any other type of visa.
He said procedures will be finalized for violators with no residence or work permits who infiltrated the borders illegally. Travel permits will be issued for those individuals.
The General Directorate of Passports and the Immigration Department completed preparations to facilitate the departure of violators.
Al-Turki said residents with no identity cards or who overstayed their Haj visa must visit the nearest Passport department to complete the procedures.
He also urged citizens and residents not to employ individuals who violated their work or residency permits, or cover up for them. He urged people to report violators by calling 999.
Once the grace period passes, penalties will levied against violators who remain.
Al-Turki said the same campaign was launched three years ago with more than 2.5 million violators departing under the program.
Marine Col. Saher Al-Harbi, spokesman of the Border Guard, said his department had returned thousands of illegal infiltrators who arrived via land and seaports.
90-day amnesty granted to residency, labor violators in Saudi Arabia
90-day amnesty granted to residency, labor violators in Saudi Arabia
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Innovators discuss future of STEM at Riyadh summit
- Prince Sultan emphasizes empowering Saudi youth in science, technology
- UNESCO’s Lidia Arthur Brito praises Mawhiba’s role in shaping future scientists
RIYADH: Innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics from Saudi Arabia and around the world gathered in Riyadh on Monday for the Eye on the Future Summit, which aimed to share insights and discuss the future of STEM.
“Today’s gathering is a celebration of talent, creativity, and vision,” Lidia Arthur Brito UNESCO assistant director general for natural sciences, said.
“The scientists, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow are here with us today, and it is our duty to ensure they are equipped with all the tools, opportunities, and inspiration they need to address the complex challenges of our world,” she said.
The event was hosted in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the Abdullah Al-Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in STEM, the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Ministry of Culture.
Brito praised Mawhiba’s efforts in supporting the next generation of innovators in STEM, concluding: “Let us continue working together to nurture a generation of scientists who will not only imagine the future but lead it.”
The session “From the stars to STEM” featured prominent speakers, including Prince Sultan bin Salman, special advisor to King Salman, who delivered the keynote on empowering Saudi youth.
Prince Sultan delivered a heartfelt speech emphasizing valuable life and career lessons, including the importance of listening to one’s parents, staying connected to nature, preserving Saudi identity, and valuing continuous education.
He reflected on his years with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage since 2000, highlighting the generosity and unmatched hospitality of Saudi Arabia.
“Everyone comes to Saudi Arabia today to find their way, to learn things to enjoy life. They will not come to a better people who are more hospitable and generous, and I have heard that from all the people who have come to Saudi Arabia,” Prince Sultan said.
Following his remarks, the panel sessions began, featuring a distinguished lineup of local and international pioneers, innovators, and supporters in STEM, including Dr. Majd Abdulghani, a genomics lead at Lean Business Services and deputy national secretary for the Rhodes Scholarship in Saudi Arabia.
Abdulghani was also the first Saudi to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, and is dedicated to promoting the integration of genomic data into personalized, preventive healthcare in Saudi Arabia.
During the summit, she spoke about youth empowerment in STEM, emphasizing her mission to raise awareness of the opportunities available to Saudi youth in the field. “What I am focused on is trying to avoid missed opportunities,” she said.
The summit featured an memorandum of understanding signing between Mawhiba and Abdullah Al-Fozan Foundation for Education, which aims to continue support in providing access to STEM studies for the youth in Saudi Arabia.
During a visit to Mawhiba’s headquarters ahead of the event, Brito praised the foundation’s efforts to discover and nurture talented individuals in scientific fields.
“I think what unites UNESCO and Mawhiba is the true belief that STEM is very important for young people because it equips them with scientific knowledge, but also with critical thinking,” Brito said.
KSU professor honored with cybersecurity lifetime achievement award
- The award celebrates a visionary whose contributions have fortified digital trust, security, and sovereignty across borders and generations
RIYADH: A King Saud University professor has been honored with a lifetime achievement award for his work in cybersecurity.
Muhammad Khurram Khan from the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance at KSU was recognized at the Saudi Critical Infrastructure Security Summit, or CyberForge, held April 22–23.
The award represents the highest level of recognition for a cybersecurity professional in acknowledgment of their groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and exceptional contributions to advancing the field, both nationally and internationally, KSU said Monday on its official website.
The award celebrates a visionary whose contributions have fortified digital trust, security, and sovereignty across borders and generations, it added.
Speaking to Arab News, Khan said: “Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cybersecurity is an immense honor and a reflection of years of dedicated effort to advance the field both locally and globally. This recognition not only validates the hard work and collaboration of countless colleagues and students, but also highlights the critical role cybersecurity plays in our interconnected world.
“This award is a testament to the unwavering support and vision of the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance, KSU, where I have had the privilege to conduct and lead transformative cybersecurity research,” he said.
Khan added that the university has been a catalyst for innovation, providing a platform for researchers to explore cutting-edge technologies and solutions.
“I am proud to be part of an institution that champions academic excellence and significantly contributes to the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity,” added the professor.
“This recognition fuels my dedication to driving transformative change in cybersecurity through advanced research, innovation, policy development, and collaboration with industry and public sector organizations. By fostering innovation, we can ensure a secure digital future that meets the needs of today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” he concluded.
Ranked among the world’s leading cybersecurity scientists, with over 35,000 citations and an h-index of 99, Khan, according to KSU, has authored more than 500 high-impact publications and holds 10 granted US patents in key areas such as smart systems security, artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, Internet of Things security, vehicular and automotive cybersecurity, and digital authentication.
Khan has played a pivotal role in shaping global cybersecurity policy, particularly through his involvement in the G20 Digital Economy Task Forces during Saudi Arabia’s (2020) and Italy’s (2021) presidencies.
He has also co-developed several industrial standards in security and communication technologies. He has also provided consultancy to local and international cybersecurity startups and business organizations to scale up their research and innovation.
Khan has also been a key figure in cybersecurity education reform across Saudi universities, reviewing academic programs to align with Vision 2030, which reflect his unwavering commitment to advancing global cybersecurity and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a tier-1 nation in cybersecurity, as recognized by the International Telecommunication Union.
Crown prince donates SR1bn for Saudi housing projects
- The crown prince has mandated that the housing projects designated for donation be completed within a year
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged an SR1 billion ($266 million) donation on Monday to support housing projects for eligible Saudi beneficiaries and families in need.
The donation at his own private expense to the National Development Housing Foundation aims to help beneficiaries achieve home ownership.
It reflects the prince’s “continuous attention and support for providing a decent life for citizens, by supporting the initiatives and projects aimed at providing housing for them in various regions of the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The crown prince has mandated that the housing projects designated for donation be completed within a period not exceeding 12 months, and that they are implemented by national companies.
He also ordered authorities to submit monthly reports on the progress of home ownership, in order to ensure the handover of all housing units within one year as well as transparency and accountability.
Mangrove scheme to plant 3m trees in Jubail
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife and the Saudi Arabian Mining Co., known as Maaden, have launched an initiative to plant 3 million mangrove trees in the Jubail Marine Protected Area.
It supports the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030 to enhance coastal vegetation and preserve biodiversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The project aims to rehabilitate degraded habitats and strengthen the role of mangrove trees in carbon sequestration, as they are among the most efficient plants in storing carbon dioxide.
This helps combat climate change, protect coastal areas from erosion and provide safe environments for marine species reproduction, the SPA reported.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, highlighted the organization’s commitment to protecting ecosystems and expanding vegetation cover.
These efforts align with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of planting 10 billion trees, including more than 100 million mangroves along Saudi coasts, reinforcing the Kingdom’s global environmental leadership, he said.
Saudi FM discusses US-Iran talks with Iranian counterpart
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi the latest developments in US-Iran talks via a phone call, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on X.
Prince Faisal received a phone call Monday from Araghchi during which they discussed the third round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, which was held Saturday in the Omani capital Muscat.
The ministers also discussed bilateral ties and issues of common interest, the ministry statement added.
سمو وزير الخارجية الأمير #فيصل_بن_فرحان @FaisalbinFarhan يتلقى اتصالاً هاتفياً من معالي وزير خارجية الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية السيد عباس عراقجي. pic.twitter.com/9mwbuNMMB4
— وزارة الخارجية (@KSAMOFA) April 28, 2025
