International organizations hail KSRelief humanitarian efforts
KSR has contributed to several humanitarian projects worth $4.4 billion since 2015
Updated 21 May 2020
Hebshi Al-Shammari
RIYADH: Appreciating the efforts of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), international organizations described their partnership as “strategic.”
Since its inception in May 2015, the center has contributed to several humanitarian projects worth $4.4 billion in partnership with different global nonprofit organizations.
According to a recent KSRelief report, the countries that benefited the most from its various projects include Yemen ($3 billion), Palestine ($358 million), Syria ($295 million) and Somalia ($192 million).
Shalhoub Al-Shalhoub, director of KSRelief media and public relations, said the center complements Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian role.
“The Kingdom realizes the importance of humanitarian aid. It focuses on helping the impoverished and victims of disasters around the world. We are partners with the UN and local as well as international nonprofit organizations,” he said.
Hana Hamadeh, public partnerships specialist for UNICEF, Gulf Area Office, told Arab News that the UNICEF is proud of its strategic partnership with KSRelief.
“In just five years, our cooperation successfully saved and improved the lives of millions of children. Our biggest collaboration has focused primarily on Yemen,” she said.
Hamadeh said the cooperation has expanded beyond Yemen to other countries in the Middle East and Africa.
This partnership, she said, has succeeded in achieving significant results. She said that the common goal of both organizations is to provide humanitarian assistance to children and families suffering from devastating crises.
She said in just five years, KSRelief has emerged as a global player with a strong influence and it is able to leverage support to many causes.
Zaid Al-Nahi, an external relations official at the World Health Organization (WHO), said within a short time KSRelief has become an efficient organization with a highly motivated team.
He told Arab News that WHO is now one of KSRelief’s main partners in various humanitarian projects in Yemen, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Since its establishment, KSRelief has implemented over 1,295 projects in 51 countries.
Al-Nahi said it is no ordinary feat. He said WHO acknowledges the center’s pioneering role and is eager to expand its partnership to serve humanity.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Why expats love to celebrate in the ‘homeland of Islam’
Muslim expatriates blend Saudi customs with home traditions
Spiritual practices and social gatherings enjoyed by people of all nationalities
Updated 18 March 2025
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: Many Muslim expatriates in Saudi Arabia, despite being away from their families and home countries during Ramadan, cherish the time spent in the “homeland of Islam” during the holy month.
“The expats spending the holy month in the homeland of Islam are fortunate, both in terms of spiritual satisfaction and piousness as well as personal experiences, and for those who are new to the Kingdom, there is a lot to look forward to for a whole new experience,” said Nafisa Usmani, an Indian homemaker who has lived in Riyadh for more than two decades.
“You can sense the Ramadan vibes here everywhere you go. The streets at night during Ramadan are packed and everything that is dull during the day comes to life in the night,” she added.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia has become a model of brotherhood that transcends borders and nationalities, with increased gatherings among families and friends in homes. (SPA/Supplied)
“I can say from my decades of experience here that there is no other place better than Saudi Arabia to spend time in Ramadan and celebrate its spirit including the opportunity to go to the mosque and do group Taraweeh prayers,” Usmani said.
“Ramadan is a time of great significance for Muslims and it is observed with great importance in Saudi Arabia. You also have the opportunity to go to the two holy cities — Makkah and Madinah — and perform Umrah and Ziyarah during the holy month while staying here,” she added.
Echoing the sentiments, Lebanese expat Farah Fouad said that she is very excited to celebrate yet another Ramadan in Saudi Arabia due to the special significance of the holy month in the Kingdom.
I can say from my decades of experience here that there is no other place better than Saudi Arabia to spend time in Ramadan and celebrate its spirit.
Nafisa Usmani, Indian homemaker
“Being in the heartland of Islam you can sense the Ramadan spirit here everywhere you go,” she added.
Iffat Aabroo, another Indian homemaker in Riyadh, said: “It’s very nice to spend Ramadan here. Markets are open until suhoor, there is the crowd bustling in the streets keeping the night alive and those that are shopping to prepare themselves for the Eid Al-Fitr festival.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia has become a model of brotherhood that transcends borders and nationalities, with increased gatherings among families and friends in homes. (SPA/Supplied)
“Hotels make elaborate Ramadan tent arrangements, both delicacies as well as decorations.”
She added that Ramadan is not just a religious observance, but also a cultural phenomenon, reflected by acts of spirituality and social bonding.
Sharing her experience, Ambreen Faiz, a Pakistani writer living in Yanbu, told Arab News: “I have been living in Saudi Arabia for the past 27 years.
An Indian community iftar party in Riyadh. (Supplied)
“When I first arrived in Riyadh in 1998, I was sort of mesmerized witnessing the festivities of the holy month of Ramadan in the Kingdom. Every Muslim anxiously waits for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.”
She added: “Many women that I know of from Pakistan become as excited as I do when the holy month arrives. We do not want to go for vacation during Ramadan and in fact want to stay in the Kingdom to welcome Ramadan and enjoy the festivities that it brings along.
“We women friends chalk out our programs of iftar parties. And we prepare Pakistani delicacies of Ramadan — chole, pakore, samose, dahi barey, fruit chaat and whatnot. Such delicacies are liked and enjoyed by all ages,” she said.
Delicacies from Iftar table of a Sri Lankan expat in Riyadh. (Supplied)
“Ramadan is very much enjoyed by the kids especially when we go to Haramain to perform Umrah,” Faiz said, adding: “I am thankful to Allah that he has blessed us with the opportunity to live in Saudi Arabia and enjoy the festivities of Ramadan.
“Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is way better than it is in the sub-continent or any other country,” said Mohammed Naeem, a Pakistani expatriate.
“I always prefer spending Ramadan here because everything is so smooth and there is so much dedication to the almighty Allah during Ramadan. People actually know the true value of the holy month and they act accordingly here.”
Delicacies from the Iftar table of a Pakistani expat. (Supplied)
Ramadan for many expatriates is often marked by a mix of traditions from home and the Kingdom.
Ifthikar Ansari, a Sri Lankan working in the Eastern Province, told Arab News: “We love staying here during Ramadan and enjoy a mix of Sri Lankan and Saudi delicacies.
“In Sri Lanka, where a significant percentage of the population observes fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan, their iftar meals are characterized by a special blend of flavors and traditions.
“A customary dish on their iftar table is a porridge made with rice and coconut, often complemented by the addition of beef or chicken, along with a spicy chili chutney.
“Bringing it to our iftar table here with dates, an essential component of an iftar meal, and some Saudi delicacies are a routine thing, and the iftar spread is further enriched with other delicacies such as cutlets, and patties,” he added.
“To quench the thirst, tropical fruit juices featuring wood apple, pineapple and king coconut are favored choices, ensuring a healthy and refreshing conclusion to the day of fasting,” Ansari said.
Grand Mosque in Makkah furnished with 33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets for Ramadan
High-quality carpets are known for their durability and designed to handle heavy foot traffic
Carpets are used on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan
Updated 18 March 2025
Arab News
MAKKAH: Saudi authorities have furnished the Grand Mosque in Makkah with thousands of luxury carpets during the holy month of Ramadan.
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said that the 33,000 luxury carpets were made in Saudi Arabia, and known for their high quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and durability.
The carpets, each measuring 1.2 meters by 4 meters or 1.2 meters by 3 meters, are used on Fridays, during the month of Ramadan, and in other peak seasons, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Carpets are 1.6 cm thick and able to cope with heavy foot traffic, the SPA added.
One of the authority’s missions is to provide services and attend to the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
The authority announced this week that it provided almost 11 million iftar meals to Umrah pilgrims and other worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah during the first half of Ramadan, a time of worship for Muslims who fast from sunrise to sunset.
Saudi regional emirs' annual meeting reviews security and sustainable development
A number of topics were reviewed including enhancing security and stability, achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, and serving the nation
Updated 17 min 18 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif chaired the 32nd annual meeting of the emirs of the Kingdom’s regions at the ministry’s headquarters in Jeddah on Tuesday.
Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and emphasized the directives to maintain security and facilitate all matters for citizens, residents, and visitors around the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, a number of topics were reviewed including enhancing security and stability, achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, and serving the nation.
Cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage
Updated 18 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Riyadh Municipality will host a cultural tent event with family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday in Tahlia Oasis, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The event will include activities for families, including a children’s face-painting corner, and attendees will be able to join PlayStation League competitions that offer challenges suitable for different age groups.
Live cooking shows will allow visitors to learn about the diversity of Saudi cuisine, and local entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to display their products in local stores.
Additionally, the cultural tent will exhibit books, pictures and manuscripts about Riyadh’s heritage.
The cultural tent celebrates the diversity of the cultural and artistic scene in the Kingdom, allowing visitors to interact with literature, arts and heritage.
The event is part of efforts by Riyadh Municipality to improve quality of life for residents in the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Everyone is welcome to attend the events, which run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians
Updated 18 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned and denounced renewed violence in Gaza after Israel unleashed its most intense strikes overnight since a ceasefire was established two months ago.
The health ministry in Gaza said more than 400 people were killed after the strikes that took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.
The Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to Israeli killing, violence, and destruction, and the protection of Palestinian civilians.
Saudi Arabia also said it was important that the international community fulfilled its responsibilities by intervening immediately to put an end to Israeli crimes and stop the severe humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people.
Gaza’s health ministry said the bodies of 413 people had been received by the territory’s hospitals, adding “a number of victims are still under the rubble.”