RIYADH: With the holy month of Ramadan drawing to a close, preparations for Eid Al-Fitr celebrations and the week-long holiday are underway in Saudi Arabia.

Mosques across the Kingdom are preparing for the Eid Al-Fitr prayer and crowds can be seen gathering in shopping centers to buy clothing, sweets, and toys for the annual celebration.

As Eid draws near, families are gearing up for the big occasion.

“We are a few days away from Eid Al-Fitr, the week-long celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and religious introspection, and preparations have already begun for the annual celebration,” said Abdulaziz Ali Saleh, an Eid shopper in Dheera Market, Riyadh.

He added that an important part of Eid shopping is preparing the dresses and thobes that will be worn at gatherings hosted by his family.

“New clothes are a big tradition on Eid Al-Fitr, so we go to shops, choose some really nice fabrics, and get the outfits for us, which we wear when we wake up on the day of Eid. We also buy sweets and chocolates for the kids,” said Rumana Shahid, a homemaker in Riyadh.

“It’s the time for reconnection, feasting to celebrate the culmination of the fasting month and celebration with families and friends. The focus of this annual big day is on maintaining and nourishing family ties and reaching out to our most beloved people,” she added.

With the shopping malls bustling with crowds for Eid, Manal Al-Harbi, a Riyadh resident, said: “People, along with their family and children, flock to shopping centers for new garments, chocolates and other Eid gifts to be shared with their loved ones on the Eid Al-Fitr, the most celebratory occasion in the Islamic calendar.

“I visited some shopping malls in the city today and last night, and I found them crowded with people busy in last-minute Eid shopping.

“You will see the Eid spirit here everywhere you go during the night. The streets decorated with colorful lights at night are going to be more busy and everything that is dull during the day will come to life at night, ahead of the biggest celebration in the Islamic calendar,” she added.

Official preparations have also begun to prepare places of worship for the holiday.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has undertaken extensive preparations at mosques and open-air prayer areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported

Across the country, meticulous cleaning and sterilization has taken place to maintain a hygienic atmosphere within these sacred spaces.

Furthermore, maintenance has been conducted on electrical systems, air-conditioning units, and audio equipment, guaranteeing optimal functionality and comfort for those performing prayers.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance’s Madinah branch has finalized preparations for Eid prayer, equipping 925 mosques and open prayer halls across the region.

Field inspections and maintenance have ensured the venues are ready for an influx of worshippers.

The Eid prayer will commence 15 minutes after sunrise, according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar.

RIYADH: The second anniversary of the Saudi Green Initiative highlighted the efforts of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority to protect the environment and restore ecological balance.

The authority has launched field initiatives, awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programs, restoring over 700,000 hectares of land, planting 3 million trees and distributing 4 tonnes of seeds with help from more than 11,000 volunteers.

The SGI was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, prime minister and chairman of the Higher Committee for the SGI, in 2021. It aims to unite community efforts in implementing effective and measurable actions for environmental protection, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The authority has worked to protect vegetation cover from vehicle damage, educated the community about the importance of restoring vegetation and safeguarding the environment, and promoted land sustainability to create safe habitats for wildlife.

Additionally, it has shared awareness messages with local communities about the impacts and seriousness of logging practices.

Thursday’s celebrations highlighted the efforts of the SGI to increase environmental awareness across the Kingdom and motivate people to play their part in securing a healthier future for future generations.

The program also seeks to bind sustainable programs with the nation’s broader green objectives, such as reducing toxic emissions, improving afforestation and land restoration, and preserving land and marine ecosystems.