JEDDAH: Thirty-two people have been arrested in Saudi Arabia as part of a corruption investigation into the illegal transfer of SR11.6 billion ($3.1 billion) out of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) is taking legal action against those involved.
An official source at Nazaha said that the authority, with the cooperation of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), received information that bank employees received bribes from an organized gang of expats and businessmen to accept cash deposits from unknown sources and then transfer the money out of the Kingdom.
“After conducting field investigations, bank account analysis of the involved commercial entities, and linking them to the customs imports, we found that the deposited cash to the bank accounts of these entities was more than SR11.6 billion and was all transferred abroad,” the source said.
The source added that five expats were arrested while on their way to a bank to deposit more than SR9.8 million in cash.
“Twelve bank employees, seven businessmen, five Saudis, two expats, and a non-commissioned police officer were also nabbed for being involved in bribery, forgery and illegally exploiting their job powers for an illicit financial gain, commercial concealment and money laundering,” the Nazaha source said.
The source said that one businessman set up a number of spurious commercial entities under his own name, and under the names of his wife and son.
According to Nazaha, the businessman opened bank accounts and allowed access to some expats, who used the accounts in exchange for monthly payments. The expats deposited cash from unknown sources and, with the collusion of bank employees, transferred the money abroad.
Bank employees received money and gifts from the expats in exchange for their help, the source said.
The businessman also paid SR300,000 to a noncommissioned police officer, the source said, in exchange for stalling charges against him over suspicious financial dealings that were already under investigation by the police.
“He also paid SR4 million to Saudi mediators for their efforts to stall the same case in the Public Prosecution,” said the source, adding that five other businessmen and a bank branch manager were also detained over similar indictments.
According to the source, a businessman recruited one of the arrested expats and enabled him to work freely inside the Kingdom in exchange for monthly payments.
Talat Zaki Hafiz, founder and member of the Saudi Financial Association, told Arab News: “Since 2017, Saudi Arabia has decided to crack down on corruption and corrupt individuals regardless of who they are or their position in both the government and private sectors.”
He said that a committee set up as part of the crackdown and headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has succeeded in returning more than SR100 billion back to the government as well as fixed assets and other money illegally earned by individuals accused of misconduct.
Hafiz believes this “excellent move” by the government will guarantee justice in the Saudi financial system.
“This will also ensure fair dealings in all our government transactions.”
He explained the term “unknown sources” as money that cannot be traced or confirmed by legal and legitimate sources.
Hafiz said that the corrupt individuals pursued different channels to disguise the original source of the “dirty money.”
“They may create artificial businesses, buy fixed assets and financial securities,” he said.
According to Hafiz, SAMA has granted any bank operating in Saudi Arabia the ability to seize provisions when it suspects fraud or wrongdoing.
Saudi legal consultant Dr. Majed Garoub told Arab News that international treaties and agreements allow countries to trace and confiscate money that has been illegally earned or smuggled outside countries.
“There are international cooperation departments in the Ministry of Interior and Public Prosecution that demand such money. This happens in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after, of course, they (prove) the money has been embezzled or taken illegally,” said Garoub.
This can happen only after a court ruling, he added.
Large amounts of money that have been transferred to bank accounts outside the Kingdom could be regained, said Garoub, but only after long and relatively complicated legal and judicial procedures.
“With their efficiency, the Saudi authorities will be able to get the money back,” he said.
Garoub said that the entire process, including the time needed to regain the funds, depends on the country where the money was sent.
“Different countries have different legal regulations and rules,” he said.
Saudi Arabia arrests 32 in $3bn corruption case
https://arab.news/45p7z
Saudi Arabia arrests 32 in $3bn corruption case
- Five people were arrested while trying to deposit SR9.8 million at a bank
- Bank staff among those held over illegal cash transfers, investigators say
Saudi and French experts explore opportunities for cooperation in sustainable agriculture
Saudi Arabia’s National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, also known as Estidamah, welcomed a delegation from the French National Federation of Seed Potato Growers for an official visit during which they discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation and exchanges of expertise.
The visitors learned about the center’s activities, including its research and technical programs and prominent projects that support the development of sustainable agricultural solutions in the Kingdom.
The center said the visit reflected its commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading international organizations, and the sharing of experience that can contribute to the development of the agricultural sector and improved food security.
The French federation, which specializes in support and development of potato seed production, oversees a number of research and technical institutions.
AlUla Skies Festival 2025 returns next week
- The festival features a variety of additional activities, including illuminated hot air balloon shows, tethered-flight and free-flight balloon rides over AlUla’s iconic landmarks, and musical concerts blending culture, exploration and entertainment
RIYADH: AlUla Moments has announced the return of the “AlUla Skies Festival 2025” from April 18 to 27, featuring a variety of new experiences.
The festival highlights the area’s clear, light-pollution-free skies and AlUla’s deep, ancient connection to astronomy, as it is home to Gharameel and AlUla’s Beacon, the first designated Dark Sky locations in the Middle East, recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association, solidifying AlUla’s status as a global hub for astro-tourism.
The festival offers visitors a rare opportunity to stargaze in a pristine natural environment, showcasing IDA-certified locations such as Gharameel and AlUla’s Beacon.
These spots are among the first official Dark Sky Sites in the region, reinforcing AlUla’s role as a leading destination for stargazing tourism.
Visitors can head to the Gharameel Reserve to view the Milky Way in one of the clearest skies in the region. The experience also includes night walks, camping sessions and grilled dinners around campfires.
The festival features a variety of additional activities, including illuminated hot air balloon shows, tethered-flight and free-flight balloon rides over AlUla’s iconic landmarks, and musical concerts blending culture, exploration and entertainment.
For more information about the AlUla Skies Festival, visitors can check the official website: https://www.experiencealula.com/en.
SFDA CEO meets German food safety president
- The meeting took place as part of the bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum, held in Chile from April 9-11
RIYADH: The chief executive officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, on Thursday met in Santiago with President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Dr. Andreas Hensel.
The meeting took place as part of the bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum, held in Chile from April 9-11.
According to a press release from the SFDA, both sides underscored the crucial role of regulatory authorities in forging robust partnerships with the private sector.
This collaboration is vital for developing and improving product quality, driving progress, and enhancing operational efficiency within a unified system that prioritizes product safety.
Discussions also centered on the importance of establishing an integrated regulatory system underpinned by reliable reference data, accurate quality testing, and transparent regulatory frameworks.
This foundation will foster greater confidence in regulatory information, improve the capacity for proactive risk assessment and response, and ultimately enhance product reliability and food safety.
Officials from the SFDA delegation also conducted a series of bilateral meetings with several counterpart regulatory bodies, including the UK Food Standards Agency, the Chilean Food Safety and Quality Agency, the New Zealand Food Safety branch of the Ministry of Primary Industries, and the Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority.
These meetings were geared toward fostering cooperation frameworks and enhancing integrated work with international organizations to serve food quality and safety objectives.
Saudi Arabia was green corridor 8 million years ago: Saudi Heritage Commission
- Mesfer Alqahtani: The core findings of this study is that the Arabian Peninsula was not always a desert, it underwent repeated humid phases that supported rich biodiversity
- SHC, in collaboration with leading local and international institutions, led a scientific mission that looked into the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes preserved in cave formations
RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission unveiled new findings this week that prove the Kingdom was a vital oasis eight million years ago.
Mesfer Alqahtani, archaeology consultant at the commission, said on Wednesday: “The core findings of this study is that the Arabian Peninsula was not always a desert, it underwent repeated humid phases that supported rich biodiversity and sustained both land and marine ecosystems, making it a natural bridge for the movement of species between Africa and Asia in the ancient world.”
The SHC, in collaboration with leading local and international institutions, led a scientific mission that looked into the oxygen and hydrogen isotopes preserved in cave formations. It used a combination of dating techniques such as uranium-thorium and uranium lead analysis studies to document the longest-known record of ancient climate in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back about eight million years.
The study analyzed 22 speleothem samples extracted from seven desert caves located northeast of Riyadh near Shawayyah in Rumah governorate. The caves are locally known as Duhool Al-Samman.
Experts at the SHC underlined that these findings provide clear evidence of recurrent humid and rainy periods in the region’s past.
The study also found fossils pointing to the presence of a fertile environment.
Dr. Ajab Alotaibi, director general of the commission’s antiquities sector, said that the study highlighted the Arabian Peninsula’s crucial role as a corridor for the dispersal of organisms between Africa, Asia and Europe.
The study is part of the commission’s flagship initiative, the Green Arabia Project, which aims to explore the region’s natural and environmental history.
Michael Petralia, professor and director, Australian Research Center for Human Evolution, said: “Our archaeological work on the lakes of Arabia has now indicated that humans and early humans were in Saudi Arabia 500,000 years ago; that tells us immediately that Arabia acted as a crossroads between continents, between Africa and Asia, so this is a landscape that is very important in terms of documenting heritage, paleontology, archaeology, through time.”
The SHC-led findings have been published in the scientific journal, “Nature,” under the title “Recurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years.”
The research brought together 30 scientists from 28 organizations — local and international — including the Heritage Commission, the Saudi Geological Survey, King Saud University, the Max Planck Institute in Germany, Griffith University in Australia, and several universities and research centers across Germany, Italy, the UK and the US.
According to the SHC, the study marks a major milestone for the Green Arabia Project, one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious efforts to promote scientific research and document the natural and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.
These findings also offer valuable insights into restoring Saudi Arabia to its original, greener state, supporting pivotal projects such as Green Riyadh and the Saudi Green Initiative.
The project seeks to better understand how environmental and climatic changes have shaped the region across eras — contributing to a richer, more complete understanding of Saudi Arabia’s natural history.
Jasir Al-Herbish, CEO of the SHC, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to advancing research and fostering international collaborations.
Endangered species find new home in Saudi royal reserve
- Five Arabian oryx, 15 Arabian sand gazelles, two steppe eagles and three Egyptian vultures have been released in an effort to reestablish native species in their natural environments
- Initiative, in partnership with the reserve’s development authority, is part of a broader program to breed and reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has released 25 animals from endangered species into the King Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve.
The initiative, in partnership with the reserve’s development authority, is part of a broader program to breed and reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats.
The animals — five Arabian oryx, 15 Arabian sand gazelles, two steppe eagles and three Egyptian vultures — have been released in an effort to reestablish native species in their natural environments, restore ecological balance and enhance biodiversity in Saudi Arabia’s protected areas.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said it was “another step toward achieving our vision for wildlife development in the Kingdom.”
He emphasized it demonstrated the center’s commitment to breeding endangered species according to international standards, enhancing biodiversity and achieving environmental sustainability targets under Saudi Vision 2030.
The program also reflects the center’s dedication to collaborating with environmental partners to achieve common goals that reflected the Kingdom’s efforts to balance economic development with the protection of natural resources. It continues the center’s work in ecosystem rehabilitation and endangered species breeding, supporting the National Environment Strategy and Saudi Green Initiative.
Qurban added the work also boosted tourism, created jobs and led to improved quality of life in local communities.
The initiatives are implemented through specialized centers considered among the world’s best in breeding and reintroduction, applying international standards and practices to ensure successful releases and ecological balance.
