AlUla Scholarship Program launches fourth phase

Specialist fields targeted the jobs created by the royal commission to make AlUla a tourist and cultural attraction. (File: Royal Commission for AlUla)
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Updated 31 July 2022
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AlUla Scholarship Program launches fourth phase

  • The RCU also launched the University Forum featuring 50 international institutions
  • Scholarship program had four phases and targeted 1,000 male and female students

MAKKAH: The Royal Commission for AlUla has launched the fourth phase of the AlUla Scholarship Program, which supports participants through training opportunities and workshops to prepare them for the job market and its requirements.

The RCU also launched the University Forum featuring 50 international institutions.

The forum brings together scholarship candidates and university representatives to know more about the institutions, the application and acceptance requirements, and the academic programs on offer.

It also helps candidates to know more about the requirements of their host countries before traveling.

The program relies on growing capabilities that serve the commission’s vision and goals to develop the governorate through tourism, hospitality, agriculture, history, archeology, arts, museums, environmental sciences, urban design and planning, and the management of facilities and services.

RCU official spokesman Abdul Rahman Al-Trairi told Arab News that the scholarship program had four phases and targeted 1,000 male and female students.

The first phase was in 2018. The second was in 2019. The third phase, in 2020, was interrupted due to the pandemic and relaunched in February this year.

He said the specialist fields targeted the jobs created by the commission to make AlUla a tourist and cultural attraction. He said the selection mechanism prioritized countries with the best universities and faculties in certain fields and sectors.

The UK had the best specialization in museum management, Switzerland specialized in hospitality, and Germany and France led the way in archeology, he said.

He added that a Language Institute was launched last November.

He explained that the program did not directly send students on scholarships. Instead, it exposed them to a qualifying and training program lasting between six to eight months at AlUla Al-Fatih Institute, with the first track focusing on enhancing language skills.

There was a forum on July 27 with the participation of 50 universities from four countries to introduce students more broadly to the specializations of the academic tracks in various faculties.

It was aimed at providing more opportunities for applicants accepted for a diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s degree program, in conjunction with the inauguration of the AlUla Scholarship Program Center.


Strict permit checks, heat safety rules in focus ahead of Hajj

Updated 12 sec ago
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Strict permit checks, heat safety rules in focus ahead of Hajj

  • The Day of Arafah, the most significant day of Hajj, falls on Thursday, June 5 this year

MAKKAH: Pilgrims without a Nusuk card will not be granted access to the Grand Mosque, the holy sites or transportation services during this year’s Hajj, Saudi authorities have said.

Speaking at a meeting with heads of official Hajj missions during the 49th Grand Hajj Symposium in Jeddah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah highlighted the importance of adhering to movement regulations to protect pilgrims and enhance their spiritual experience.

He described the Nusuk card as a “fundamental regulatory tool to ensure orderly performance of the pilgrimage and prevent violations,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Addressing concerns about extreme weather, the minister advised pilgrims to remain in their tents on the Day of Arafah from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid heat-related illnesses.

He warned that uncoordinated group movements compromise safety and disrupt the flow of pilgrims.

The Day of Arafah, the most significant day of Hajj, falls on Thursday, June 5 this year.

Al-Rabiah added that pilgrims must not walk from Arafat to Muzdalifah and should use designated transport systems instead.

He said that effective crowd management and transportation plans are essential for safety and require collective compliance.

Al-Rabiah added that this Hajj season will see stricter enforcement of permit regulations, in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to a safe, organized and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage.

The Nusuk card, issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is a mandatory ID and entry pass for pilgrims and workers at the holy sites.

In addition to identification, it aids logistics, facilitates communication with Hajj missions, grants access to schedules and services, and allows pilgrims to submit feedback.

It also helps authorities monitor crowd movement and send alerts to ensure a safe and organized pilgrimage. Pilgrims receive the card through their service provider, which is responsible for its distribution.

A digital version is available via the official Nusuk app, but it does not replace the printed card, which must be carried at all times.

According to the ministry, the card expires at the end of the Hajj season, with all data erased. However, pilgrims may keep the physical card as a souvenir and proof of completing Hajj.

 


Digital solutions to support Hajj sacrifices this year

Adahi has finalized preparations at seven specialized field complexes spanning more than 1 million sq. meters. (SPA)
Updated 18 min 37 sec ago
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Digital solutions to support Hajj sacrifices this year

  • So far, 770,000 livestock have been received, surpassing the initial target of 750,000, with continuous deliveries from supplier farms underway

RIYADH: The National Platform for Charitable Work, Ehsan, continues to provide sacrificial animal services for the Hajj season in partnership with the Kingdom’s Project for the Utilization of Hady and Adahi.

The initiative offers pilgrims a seamless and reliable way to fulfill the ritual through trusted digital solutions, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The operation is coordinated with more than 500 charitable and civil society organizations to ensure that sacrificial meat reaches those most in need, both locally and internationally. (SPA)

Adahi has finalized preparations at seven specialized field complexes spanning more than 1 million sq. meters. These are supported by more than 25,000 trained personnel, including 600 Islamic scholars, more than 500 veterinarians, 16,500 butchers and assistants, and 400 technicians.

Advanced technologies have been integrated into the operation, such as automated weighing, real-time tracking, and modern refrigeration and sterilization systems, to ensure the safety, quality, and efficiency of meat processing and distribution.

Sacrifices will be carried out at a rate of one every seven seconds using a fully digitized system, enabling donors — both inside and outside the Kingdom — to perform the ritual through the Ehsan platform with ease and peace of mind.

The project offers a secure, three-language website for the convenient purchase of sacrificial bonds, catering to people of diverse nationalities. So far, 770,000 livestock have been received, surpassing the initial target of 750,000, with continuous deliveries from supplier farms underway.

The upcoming humanitarian distribution will cover all 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom and extend to more than 27 countries worldwide. The operation is coordinated with more than 500 charitable and civil society organizations to ensure that sacrificial meat reaches those most in need, both locally and internationally.

 


Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide

Updated 03 June 2025
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Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide

  • It provides detailed instructions for pilgrims, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of routes to key ritual sites
  • It also highlights peak times at the mosque, guidance on the use of vehicles and explains crowd-management protocols

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior on Tuesday published a comprehensive guide designed to ensure the safety, security and smooth movement of pilgrims during Hajj.

It provides detailed instructions for the pilgrimage experience, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of pedestrian routes and walkways leading to key ritual sites such as the Tawaf and Sa’i zones.

To help manage the crowds and ensure orderly movement of pilgrims, the guide highlights peak times within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards, as well as guidance on the use of vehicles during Hajj season.

It also explains crowd-management protocols, and stresses the important need for all pilgrims to adhere to designated grouping times when performing rituals during the various stages of the pilgrimage, including Tawaf, Sa’i and the stoning of the Jamarat.

The ministry said the guide is designed to help pilgrims perform their rituals safely, easily and with peace of mind, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It reiterated that official regulations require all pilgrims performing Hajj to have a permit, and warned of penalties for any person who breaks these rules.

Citizens and residents were urged to comply with all Hajj-related regulations and report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.

Click here to view the Hajj guide online. Hajj begins on Wednesday, June 4, and concludes on Monday, June 9.


Palestinian pilgrims express gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive Hajj support 

Updated 03 June 2025
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Palestinian pilgrims express gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive Hajj support 

  • Palestinian pilgrim Ayman Saleh expressed joy at being selected for Hajj this year

MAKKAH: Several Palestinian pilgrims hosted under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah — supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs — offer their thanks to the Kingdom. 

They said the initiative reflected King Salman’s care for Muslims worldwide and his commitment to ensuring they can perform Hajj with dignity and ease, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Palestinian pilgrim Ayman Saleh expressed joy at being selected for Hajj this year and thanked the Saudi leadership for the exceptional services and warm welcome extended to Palestinian pilgrims. 

Pilgrim Hussein Kamal praised the outstanding facilities, saying they reflect the Kingdom’s dedication to serving Palestinian pilgrims and helping them perform Hajj comfortably. He expressed deep appreciation to the Saudi leadership for this generous gesture.

Hundreds of relatives of Palestinian political prisoners and martyrs have arrived to perform Hajj under the program. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday, bringing the total number of Palestinians to 1,000. 

Since its launch in 1996, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program has hosted thousands of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This year, the program is hosting 2,443 pilgrims from 100 countries.


Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

Updated 03 June 2025
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Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

  • Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing launched the Home Delivery Permit service for food and non-food delivery establishments via the Balady platform, Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.

This initiative supports ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life and elevate safety and compliance standards within the delivery sector across the Kingdom.

The delivery service aims to regulate delivery operations within cities by ensuring establishments comply with health and technical requirements, thereby contributing to a safe and efficient environment that enhances consumer confidence.

The requirements for the permit include obtaining a health certificate for all home delivery service workers, securing approval from the authority supervising the commercial activity, clearly displaying the establishment’s name or trademark on delivery vehicles, and ensuring these vehicles comply with the technical and health standards necessary for safe product transportation.

The ministry explained that mandatory enforcement of license issuance will begin on July 1, 2025.

Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators.

Business owners can apply for the home delivery permit through the Balady platform by visiting: https://balady.gov.sa/en/services/issue-home-delivery-permit.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to develop the regulatory framework for the services sector and to ensure the provision of safe delivery services, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Last month, the ministry announced the launch of the Balady Plus app — an intelligent platform aimed at enhancing quality of life in Saudi cities and facilitating daily mobility for residents and visitors.

According to the ministry, Balady Plus was developed by national talents to be more than just a navigation tool. It offers an interactive 3D map experience with precise local content that reflects the real landscape of Saudi cities and adapts to their changes in real time.

The application features smart mobility services, including live updates on roads, locations, and services. It also supports indoor navigation in commercial centers, alerts users about speed bumps, obstacles, and road closures, and integrates data from government entities and the local community.