MINA: Agencies involved in Hajj preparations are ready to serve more than 2 million pilgrims, a senior Saudi official said.
Pilgrims have arrived in preparation for the “Day of Tarwiyah,” which falls today, said Interior Ministry Spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki.
He said the Hajj plan would serve over 2 million pilgrims, including 1,747,440 who have already arrived from abroad and another 200,000 from inside Saudi Arabia, including citizens and residents.
Al-Turki stressed the efforts made at the entrance to the holy sites to detect any violations of Hajj regulations. He said more than 400,000 people have been turned away for lacking Hajj permits.
A total of 208,236 cars driven by those without the correct permits were turned away, while another 3,296 vehicles were seized at the entrances to Makkah, officials said.
Hatim bin Hassan Qadi, adviser to the minister of Hajj, announced the completion of the first phase of the pilgrim-receiving plan through the entry points in Makkah and Madinah.
He said 19,500 buses transported pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah while another 38,000 buses transported pilgrims from other areas. Pilgrims will later be transported to Mina by 9,000 buses.
Qadi affirmed the readiness of camps in Mina to receive pilgrims and said that both public and private sectors are working to serve the pilgrims.
The Hajj plan also includes myriad medical facilities for pilgrims.
Ahmad bin Rayan Barayan, general supervisor of public relations and media at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA), said the facilities include 133 ambulance centers run by 78 physicians and specialists and 2,500 administrative employees and technicians.
He said there are 25 teams assigned for advanced response that will support field-ambulance teams, in addition to other ambulance teams.
There are four well-equipped air ambulances while 500 male and female volunteers will serve at the Grand Mosque and Arafat sites.
Health Ministry Spokesman Mishaal Al-Rabian announced the completion of the ministry’s preparations for the current Hajj season through the preparation of 25 hospitals and 155 medical centers at the holy sites. These are supported by 100 small ambulances working as mobile intensive-care units, which are capable of reaching crowded areas to attend to the injured.
Al-Rabian said 21 pilgrims who were earlier admitted to hospitals in Madinah were on Tuesday transferred to Arafat General Hospital to allow them perform the Arafat Day ritual.
He said the ministry prepared more than 285 special rooms to receive cases of heat stress and sunstroke, while medial teams carried out free-of-charge operations including open heart procedures, cardiac catheterization, dialysis and other medical services.
Civil Defense Spokesman Col. Abdullah Al-Harthi said the first phase of the emergency plan of the current Hajj season had been completed without any incident that could have adversely affected the safety of pilgrims.
He said the number of agencies involved in the emergency plan had increased from 19 to 32, with five mock incidents carried out to prepare them.
Saudi Arabia’s Hajj agencies ‘ready to serve over 2m pilgrims’
Saudi Arabia’s Hajj agencies ‘ready to serve over 2m pilgrims’
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
- Engineering, AI and cross-sector partnerships are driving sustainable solutions to manage 110 million tons of waste annually
- New laws, financial incentives and rising investor interest are reshaping the Kingdom’s waste management and recycling landscape
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.
Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.
To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News.
Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s circular economy ambitions.
To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure.
Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes.
Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment.
Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom’s updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices.
He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom’s progress toward its environmental and development goals.
While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy.
He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. “Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,” he said.
Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030’s broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy.
He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm.
To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040.
• Half of the Kingdom’s waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent).
(Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management)
Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency.
Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions.
He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030’s environmental goals.
Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy.
She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation.
To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector.
Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success.
Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy.
“Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,” said Al-Gharib.
She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Hayy Cinema hosting classic movie program for children in Jeddah
- The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films
JEDDAH: Hayy Cinema in Jeddah is running an entertainment program that provides an interactive experience to evoke childhood memories and strengthen cultural bonds between generations.
The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films.
Hayy Cinema, which is an Art Jameel initiative, provides a unique approach to film presentation. Its facilities include a 168-seat theater, private screening room, multimedia library and an educational exhibition, all designed with architectural inspiration drawn from the history of Gulf cinema.
The children’s program runs until Sunday.
Falcon breeders auction to be launched in August
- The season will start with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, running from Aug. 5-25, showcasing top local and international falcon farms
RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced its schedule for the current year, featuring six major events spanning a total of 122 days in Malham, north of Riyadh, and other venues across the Kingdom.
The event is designed to engage a broad audience interested in falconry, hunting and related cultural traditions.
The season will start with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, running from Aug. 5-25, showcasing top local and international falcon farms.
The Saudi Falcons Club Auction will run from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, serving as a key platform for presenting top local falcons and providing a reliable economic avenue for falconers.
The International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, the largest of its kind in the region, will take place from Oct. 2-11. It will feature exhibitors from both within and outside the Kingdom, showcasing the latest equipment and supplies for falconry, hunting, travel, weapons and outdoor adventures.
Saudi transport officials conduct more than 317,000 inspections in June
- Makkah region reported the highest number of offenses at 21,000, followed by Riyadh at 13,000, Eastern Region at 4,508, and Madinah at 3,557
RIYADH: The Saudi Transport General Authority carried out more than 317,000 inspections covering land, sea, and rail transport activities across the Kingdom in June, identifying 51,143 offenses.
Of these, 27,756 were detected through field inspections and 23,387 through automated monitoring, while all efforts involved collaboration with relevant authorities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Compliance rates were robust, with land transport achieving 94 percent compliance and maritime transport recording an impressive 99 percent. These figures highlight licensees’ strong adherence to the rules and regulations.
Makkah region reported the highest number of offenses at 21,000, followed by Riyadh at 13,000, Eastern Region at 4,508, and Madinah at 3,557. Qassim recorded 1,914 violations, Tabuk 1,316, and Aseer 1,073, while the remaining violations were from other parts of the Kingdom.
Japan’s crown prince visits Saudi pavilion at Osaka Expo
- Visited in the company of Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.
TOKYO: Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Akishino visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on Thursday, in the company of Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.
“We were deeply honored by the visit of their Imperial Highnesses,” Binzagr told Arab News Japan. “It was a beautiful visit.”
He noted how much the pair had enjoyed the music of the oud, which was being played as the imperial guests entered the courtyard of the pavilion and which echoed throughout the building owing to the design of the walls and corridors to amplify the sound.
“The imperial couple also enjoyed Saudi coffee and (a selection of various) dates,” Binzagr said, adding that the variety and color of Saudi dates is influenced by the minerals in the soil of each region where they are grown in the Kingdom.
Binzagr said they had discussed the similarities in the cultures of Saudi Arabia and Japan, adding that despite appearing different, they shared a deep pride in their heritage and history, and both countries' ability to link the East and West.
He added that Japan is authentic with what it has but is also able to blend it with foriegn best practices with its great openness. Binzagr said that he believes this makes for something very special that Saudi Arabia also shares with Japan.
“We both value our roots and connectivity, and we both seek to celebrate balance in everything we do,” he said.
At the pavilion, the imperial couple viewed the plan for Riyadh Expo 2030 and indicated they were keen to visit at that time or even before, Binzagr said.
“We are keenly looking forward to more visits between members of Japan’s Imperial Family and members of our Royal Family of Saudi Arabia,” Binzagr added.
”Such visits add a special dimension to an already special relationship.”
