Egyptian officials laud Saudi Hajj preparations

Pilgrims go through passport control upon their arrival at Jeddah airport prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. (AFP)
Updated 10 August 2018
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Egyptian officials laud Saudi Hajj preparations

JEDDAH: Egyptian officials and intellectuals have commended the Saudi government’s preparations to ensure the success of this year’s Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The editor-in-chief of Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper, Alaa Thabet, said the preparations reflect the Saudi leadership’s keenness to provide pilgrims with the best services and ensure their comfort and safety.
The Kingdom leaves nothing to chance, developing plans that exceed all expectations by studying many scenarios and considering all possibilities, he added.
The head of the Egyptian Parliament’s Religious Affairs and Endowments Committee, Osama Al-Abd, commended the expansion projects of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the development projects in Mina and Muzdalifah, and the services offered in all fields. He expressed confidence that the Saudi leadership harnesses all its capabilities to ensure peace and security during the Hajj season.
Al-Abd thanked King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi people for their efforts and the services provided to pilgrims.
A member of the Egyptian Supreme Committee for Hajj and Umrah, Ashraf Shiha, commended the Kingdom’s role in serving pilgrims and facilitating their rituals.
“Saudi Arabia harnesses its human and material resources to serve pilgrims who visit the holy places every year,” he said.
“Obtaining a visa can now be done through an online portal, which reflects the Saudi government’s keenness to ensure pilgrims’ comfort.”
The chairman of Al-Ahram Foundation and head of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, Abdul Mohsen Salama, said Saudi Arabia makes every effort to serve pilgrims and ensure their comfort, as well as harnessing all resources to develop the holy sites.
“Every year, the Kingdom tries to provide all services that ensure the comfort of pilgrims from around the world without discrimination,” he added.
The chairman of El-Osboa newspaper and a member of Egypt’s Parliament, Mustafa Bakri, commended Saudi efforts to serve all pilgrims without discrimination.
“Facilitating Hajj procedures every year indicates that the Kingdom is performing its role perfectly and providing pilgrims with all required services,” he said.
“Continuous development projects and strong infrastructure are proof of this, and that the ultimate goal is to ensure pilgrims’ comfort.”
Meanwhile, the deputy speaker of the Arab Parliament, Adel Al-Assoumi, praised Saudi efforts to ensure the success of the Hajj season every year, saying the Kingdom’s preparations are universally admired. The Arab Parliament appreciates the Kingdom’s care for pilgrims, he said.
The director general of the Arab Administrative Development Organization, Dr. Nasser Al-Hitlan Al-Qahtani, said: “The Kingdom’s tremendous efforts are an integral part of its commitment to serve the Two Holy Mosques and provide pilgrims… with security and safety.”
He commended the ongoing expansion projects at the Two Holy Mosques and other holy sites.


King Salman appoints Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court

Updated 10 July 2025
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King Salman appoints Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court

  • Al-Fayyad has been executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre since 2017
  • He graduated in 1990 from King Saud University’s medical school and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience

JEDDAH: In a royal order issued on Wednesday, King Salman appointed Majid Al-Fayyad as an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court.

Al-Fayyad is the executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which has facilities in Riyadh, Madinah and Jeddah. He graduated in 1990 from the medical school at King Saud University in Riyadh, and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience.

In the US, he undertook specialized training in pediatrics at Tufts University, and in pediatric cardiology at Columbia University. He holds several certifications and degrees, including a master’s in medical administration awarded by the University of Southern California in 2015.

He was appointed in 2017 to his current position at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, where he has helped spearhead key reforms to the Saudi healthcare sector. He has also played important roles in national healthcare committees and initiatives, earning recognition for his contributions to research and administration.


Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh

Updated 09 July 2025
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Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh

Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi was visited by UK Ambassador to the Kingdom Neil Crompton in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The ambassador visited to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

Al-Rassi praised the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries.


Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids

Updated 09 July 2025
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Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids

JEDDAH: The National Museum in Riyadh will launch its third interactive summer camp, themed “Made in the Museum,” for children aged 10 to 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The initiative is part of the “Year of Handicrafts,” celebrating Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and its role in shaping national identity and intergenerational bonds.

The camp has two sessions: July 21-31 and Aug. 4-14, running daily from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both inside the museum and outdoors.

Designed as an educational and immersive experience, the camp invites participants to explore and revive traditional Saudi crafts, the SPA added.

Children will engage in hands-on activities in four core tracks: clay crafts, textiles, woodworking, and supportive crafts, blending play, learning, and exploration.

This year’s camp strengthens the museum’s role as a community hub, providing children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and design skills while inspiring their imagination and showing the cultural and economic importance of handicrafts.

The camp encourages children to make and show their projects at the end of each session, helping them feel confident and encouraging new ideas and creativity.


Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment

Updated 09 July 2025
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Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment

  • The hospital has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition.

Diagnosed in infancy with congenital plasminogen deficiency, the patient required ongoing treatment to manage fibrous deposits affecting her tissues and organs, according to a press release.

Over the two decades, a multidisciplinary team including hematology, transplant specialists, nursing, nutrition and IT supported her care, the report said.

The patient’s father said: “She suffered from birth and couldn’t nurse. We had no clear answers until we found hope through the care provided by the Saudi government. After 22 years of struggle, we witness our daughter’s recovery.”

The treatment involved regular plasminogen infusions and eyedrops to reduce the disease’s effect on her vision, with annual costs exceeding SR6 million ($1.6 million), fully covered by the government.

Dr. Hazzaa Al-Zahrani, director of the adult hematology and stem-cell transplant division at the center and supervising physician, said that managing the case required a precise and long-term approach to prevent complications and ensure stability.

He said that the decision to proceed with a liver transplant came after careful consideration as an extraordinary therapeutic option for this exceptionally rare case.

The procedure’s success marked a turning point in her medical journey and was a beacon of hope for patients with similar conditions worldwide, Al-Zahrani added.


Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy

Updated 09 July 2025
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Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy

RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Guarantee Program, known as Kafalah, in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber, will hold interactive sessions on July 15 to mark World Youth Skills Day.

The initiative aims to raise awareness and develop entrepreneurial skills among youth, entrepreneurs and SMEs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The sessions will cover key topics to boost youth contributions to national economic development, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.

Focus areas include access to finance, building administrative and financial capabilities, enhancing SME sustainability, and turning ideas into viable projects.

These sessions highlight the collaboration between entities supporting the SME sector in the Kingdom, the SPA added.

The Kafalah program and Riyadh Chamber aim to foster youth growth and strengthen their role in the national economy.

Kafalah supports micro, small and medium enterprises by providing financial guarantees, improving their access to financing and reducing lending risks for banks.