RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s interior minister has approved the general emergency plan for this year’s Hajj.
Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, who is also the chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, signed off the plan on Tuesday for the annual pilgrimage, which for the second year has been limited to residents of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has had to put in placed precautionary measures to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, limiting the event to 60,000 pilgrims this year. That number would have been above 2 million before the pandemic.
The Hajj operation is being implemented by a number of government agencies.
Lt. Gen. Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Amro, director general of the Civil Defense, said that the authority had completed its preparations for the Hajj season, in line with the general emergency plan, a statement on the Saudi Press Agency said.
The plan “was prepared to achieve the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to provide the highest levels of security and safety for pilgrims, and is being implemented with their follow-up and support in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites,” Lt. Gen. Al-Amro said.
He added that inspection tours have been intensified in all facilities and sites that have been prepared for the pilgrims’ accommodations, and included all preventive and executive measures and providing the necessary services to maintain public safety.
Saudi Arabia approves general emergency plan for Hajj
https://arab.news/2hnpx
Saudi Arabia approves general emergency plan for Hajj
Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations
- Events taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla over 4-day holiday
- Traditional arts, theater events also on the schedule nationwide
RIYADH/JEDDAH/ALKHOBAR: With the Saudi National Day holiday running from Friday to Monday, what better way to mark the annual Sept. 23 occasion than by immersing oneself in the Kingdom’s most breathtaking landscapes as well as fireworks, music and art shows.
The General Entertainment Authority has announced there will be fireworks displays across Saudi Arabia. On Sept. 22, Umm Ajlan Park in the capital is hosting, for free, the nation’s biggest fireworks display, a drone show, and a folklore event, starting at 9 p.m.
There will also be fireworks displays at Jeddah Promenade from Friday to Monday starting at 6 p.m. On the same day, as a part of the festivities, there will be an air show at Jeddah’s North Corniche with planes flying in formation and leaving green smoke trails across the sky.
Having started on Sept. 19, the Mishkat Interactive Exhibition is hosting the “Energy of Glory” celebration until Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., focusing on Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation’s sustainable energy goals.
At Nakheel Mall Riyadh, Fontana Circus will be performing with gravity-defying aerialists. There will also be a musical fountain on display.
At The Globe, one of Riyadh’s most iconic dining spots, which is a glass-enclosed venue with panoramic city views, diners can enjoy afternoon tea from Sept. 20 to 23.
Other dining options in the capital include the Mandarin Oriental and Al-Faisaliah where cuisine from the Kingdom’s 13 regions is on the menu.
At Jeddah Yacht Club and Jeddah Art Promenade, a local band will perform traditional and modern songs, in addition to a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show on Sept. 23.
One of the standout events this weekend is “Shojaa,” a family-friendly musical show at The Club in Al-Shallal Theme Park. Running from Sept. 20 to 23, this performance celebrates Saudi Arabia culture with music, storytelling, and a homage to the Year of the Camel.
In Jeddah’s Historic District, the cultural history of Saudi Arabia will be presented at the Tariq Abdulhakim Center. From Sept. 21 to 24, the center will host museum tours, karaoke sessions, art workshops, face painting for children, and an Arabic calligraphy booth.
Zawiya 97 in the Historic District will have an artisan souq on Sept. 23, with handmade crafts for sale, and educational and cultural offerings. From Sept. 22 to 23, there will be performers playing traditional music on the oud at Social Shot Lounge & Bar.
In AlUla, the Azimuth Festival is on from Sept. 19 to 21 at Wadi Al-Fann, featuring international and regional artists. Also, Hero Experiences Group is offering hot-air balloon flights above AlUla’s ancient landscapes
Also on offer is the Sharaan Platinum Dinner Safari, a tour of the nature reserve led by expert guides in the afternoon. There will be tours of canyons with ancient petroglyphs and rock formations. Canapes will be available as the sun sets over the valley.
In the evening, a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, will be on offer in a canyon aglow with lanterns, and later a stargazing session under the vast desert sky.
In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. The activities include live performances, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings which highlight Saudi heritage.
In addition, there will performances of traditional Saudi art forms, including the Al-Ardah dance.
From Sept. 19 to 23, Alkhobar’s new performing arts center, Fantakah, will stage an original play titled “The Law of Attraction.” Fantakah founder and chief operating officer, Husain Zaber, is the writer and director.
Saudi tourism practices in spotlight in Jazan
JAZAN: The Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, in cooperation with UN Tourism’s regional office in Riyadh, recently organized a workshop called “Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Tourism Practices” at the institute’s headquarters in Jazan.
The workshop featured an introduction to sustainable tourism, under the supervision of Luis Nicolas Barrios, regional manager for innovation, education and investments at the UN Tourism Regional Office.
Those participating in the event undertook brainstorming sessions aimed at promoting critical thinking and the generation of ideas.
Ali bin Saeed bin Jaber, director of the institute, explained that the initiative was part of the body’s ambitious plans for providing job opportunities for Saudi youngsters while helping them toward meeting the needs of the international hotel and tourism industry through the institute’s programs. These had been designed in cooperation with international academic institutes and the local private sector.
4 Ethiopians arrested for drug smuggling in Saudi Arabia’s Asir
- In Al-Ardah, also in Jazan, they thwarted an attempt to smuggle 435 kg of qat
ABHA: The Kingdom’s Border Guard land patrols in Dhahran Al-Janub, Asir, arrested four Ethiopians for illegal entry and attempting to smuggle 40 kg of hashish into the country.
The initial regulatory procedures were completed, and the seized narcotics were handed over to the relevant authority.
Meanwhile, Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 165 kg of qat.
In Al-Ardah, also in Jazan, they thwarted an attempt to smuggle 435 kg of qat.
Security authorities urge citizens and residents to report all information regarding activities related to drug smuggling or selling by calling the numbers 911 for Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region, and 999 for the rest of the Kingdom.
Saudi aid center expands relief efforts in Chad and Sudan
- KSrelief extended its humanitarian reach to Sudan, where it distributed 600 shelter kits in the Merowe area of Northern State
N'DJAMMENA: In a significant humanitarian initiative, the Saudi aid agency KSRelief recently distributed aid packages in Chad and Sudan, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in Africa.
In Chad, KSRelief distributed 3,299 food baskets in several cities. This distribution, part of the 2024 food security support project in Chad, benefited 19,794 individuals from the neediest families. The operation underscores the agency’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in the region.
Simultaneously, KSrelief extended its humanitarian reach to Sudan, where it distributed 600 shelter kits in the Merowe area of Northern State. This initiative, which is part of the 2024 urgent shelter assistance project for Sudan, helped 3,056 individuals from families severely affected by heavy rains and flooding.
The distributions are part of a broader series of relief and humanitarian projects implemented by KSRelief. The agency serves as the Kingdom’s humanitarian arm, providing assistance to the Sudanese people during the ongoing humanitarian crisis in their country.
Gambia’s president visits Madinah
MADINAH: President Adama Barrow of the Republic of the Gambia arrived in Madinah on Friday to visit and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.
On his arrival at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, he was received by the Deputy Governor of Madinah Region Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal and a number of officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
