King Salman received by President Essebsi on arrival in Tunisia for official visit

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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPA)
Updated 31 March 2019
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King Salman received by President Essebsi on arrival in Tunisia for official visit

RIYADH: King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

The king will head Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the 30th Arab League summit that will take place in Tunis on Sunday. 

The visit comes as a response to an invitation by President Essebsi. 

Essebsi said on Thursday that King Salman’s visit confirms that relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are at the highest level. 

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Tunisia Mohamed bin Mahmoud Al-Ali said that the Kingdom and Tunisia are working together to combat the growing phenomena of terrorism and extremism.

He added that the king’s visit confirmed the depth of the historic relations between the two countries. 

The Tunisian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Lutfi bin Qayed said that “President Beji Caid Essebsi is looking forward to meeting King Salman and supervising together the launch of a number of development and investment projects in Tunisia,” especially in the housing, health, and infrastructure sectors.  

Government ministers from the 22 Arab League states are holding preparatory meetings in Tunis all week for Sunday's summit.


Makkah’s Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition unveils 1,400 years of sacred architecture

Updated 10 sec ago
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Makkah’s Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition unveils 1,400 years of sacred architecture

  • Immersive experience showcases history, transformation of Islam’s most sacred sites
  • Exhibition fuses traditional and contemporary Islamic design, with rare artifacts, architectural models on display

MAKKAH: Visitors to Makkah are being offered an unprecedented journey through Islamic architectural history, showcasing the remarkable evolution of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque across 14 centuries of development.

The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition, housed in a renovated 1,200 sq. meter facility in the Um Al-Joud neighborhood, is presenting rare artifacts and architectural models that document the transformation of Islam’s most sacred sites.

The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition, housed in a renovated 1,200-square-meter facility in the Um Al-Joud neighborhood, is presenting rare artifacts. (SPA)

The exhibition building itself exemplifies the fusion of traditional and contemporary Islamic design, with architectural elements deliberately echoing the Grand Mosque’s distinctive style.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, this design philosophy creates an immersive environment in which visitors experience visual and cultural connections to the sacred spaces.

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The exhibition building exemplifies the fusion of traditional and contemporary Islamic design, with architectural elements deliberately echoing the Grand Mosque’s distinctive style.

Following comprehensive upgrades, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched the exhibition’s trial operations phase. The modernization included complete technical infrastructure overhauls, contemporary presentation methods for historical artifacts, and sophisticated lighting systems that illuminate intricate details while enhancing the visitor experience.

The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition, housed in a renovated 1,200-square-meter facility in the Um Al-Joud neighborhood, is presenting rare artifacts. (SPA)

The exhibition’s renewed mission extends beyond simple display, aiming to transmit the Two Holy Mosques’ heritage to both Islamic communities and global audiences, the SPA said.

Through interactive experiences and educational programming, the facility seeks to broaden understanding of Islamic architectural principles, while connecting contemporary visitors with their civilizational roots.

Those interested in visiting can schedule appointments through the official booking portal at https://visits.alharamain.gov.sa/

 


Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques launches Umrah season programs

Muslims pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah early on June 6, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 17 sec ago
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Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques launches Umrah season programs

  • The presidency will enhance the devotional atmosphere via religious and scholarly initiatives and programs throughout the season

MAKKAH: The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is preparing to enhance its program for the upcoming Umrah season through an initiative aimed at welcoming pilgrims, worshippers and visitors, and raising awareness about rituals.

The presidency explained that the centers for responding to religious inquiries have been enhanced through both on-site locations and telephone services. These are distributed across 10 sites inside and outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, in addition to four dedicated offices for phone-based inquiries.

A total of 62 participating scholars, including judges and university faculty members, are available around the clock to respond to inquiries.

The presidency will enhance the devotional atmosphere via religious and scholarly initiatives and programs throughout the season. The plan also seeks to recruit volunteers to serve in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

 


Saudi Arabia re-elected to IGC administrative committee

Updated 23 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia re-elected to IGC administrative committee

  • Saudi General Food Security Authority Chairman Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Fares said that Saudi Arabia’s renewed committee membership confirmed its expanding role in international forums

RIYADH: The International Grain Council re-elected Saudi Arabia as a member of the administrative committee for the 2025-2026 session during its 62nd meeting in London on Thursday, retaining the Kingdom among 16 elected members chosen from 30 countries.

Saudi General Food Security Authority Chairman Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Fares said that Saudi Arabia’s renewed committee membership confirmed its expanding role in international forums and its significant economic influence on both international and regional stages.

Since joining the board on Sept. 1, 2010, the Kingdom has actively contributed to board decisions that enhance global grain market stability.

 


Tabuk Municipality intensifies inspection campaigns

Around 46 kilograms of spoiled raw materials and 54 kilograms of rotten meat were confiscated. (SPA)
Updated 35 sec ago
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Tabuk Municipality intensifies inspection campaigns

  • Al-Atwi said that the most prominent violations included the absence of health certificates for workers

TABUK: Tabuk Municipality has launched intensified inspection campaigns aimed at monitoring the compliance of food and commercial establishments with municipal requirements.

Owaid Al-Atwi, deputy mayor for licensing and compliance, said that 1,253 field visits were conducted as part of the campaign, resulting in 184 establishments being issued warnings, and seven others being shut down due to more serious violations.

In addition, 46 kilograms of spoiled raw materials and 54 kilograms of rotten meat were confiscated.

Al-Atwi said that the most prominent violations included the absence of health certificates for workers. He emphasized that these efforts are made to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food services and to enhance establishments’ adherence to approved health standards.

 


Authorities thwart smuggling attempt through Jeddah Islamic Port

​​​The authority’s spokesman Hamoud Al-Harbi said that a shipment containing a grinder arrived through Jeddah Islamic port. (SPA
Updated 39 sec ago
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Authorities thwart smuggling attempt through Jeddah Islamic Port

  • Al-Harbi said that the authority then coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control and the intended recipient of the shipment was arrested

RIYADH: The Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has thwarted an attempt to smuggle 1,719,806 amphetamine pills through Jeddah Islamic Port. The pills were found hidden in equipment sent to the Kingdom through the port.

​​​The authority’s spokesman Hamoud Al-Harbi said that a shipment containing a grinder arrived through Jeddah Islamic port. Upon undergoing customs procedures and inspection using security technology and live detection methods, the pills were found hidden inside the shipment.

Al-Harbi said that the authority then coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control and the intended recipient of the shipment was arrested.

He added that the authority continues to strengthen customs oversight on the Kingdom’s imports and exports, with the aim of safeguarding society and protecting it from harm.