Eid celebrations unite families around the Kingdom 

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Events took place across 50 venues. (SPA)
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Updated 22 April 2023
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Eid celebrations unite families around the Kingdom 

RIYADH: Saudi families began their preparations for Eid almost 10 days before the big day.

Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and each family has its own way of celebrating the three-day annual festival.  

Homes are cleaned, and family members go shopping for their favorite sweets, clothing, furniture and gifts for loved ones.  




Events took place across 50 venues. (SPA)

On the first day of Eid, after offering the Eid prayers, families, friends and relatives traditionally gather at the head of the family’s house to exchange greetings, share gifts and feast on wholesome food.

Young children line up in front of each adult family member before the special Eid feast is served to receive gifts of money.  

“We teach children to spread love and kindness, and to socialize and interact with other children, which makes them eager to attend Eid prayers and celebrate it, said Hatoon Khalid from Jeddah.

“I enjoy taking my children to the mosque and giving them a basket full of candy and money as a giveaway for the other children and adults in the mosque.”  

Jeddah-based Hatoon Nabeel celebrates Eid by gathering in her grandfather’s house with children and grandchildren.




Events took place across 50 venues. (SPA)

“Every Eid, after the Eid prayer, we head to grandfather’s house, where we exchange gifts of money and eat traditional Hijazi food like areeka, masoob, aalabia and many other dishes. Children gather around their uncles and aunts in anticipation of receiving sweets and gift envelopes.”

Basmah Zaki, from Qatif in the Kingdom’s east, has breakfast with her family after Eid prayers and then visits relatives and friends.

“At Eid, my family and I eat lamb meat and rice cooked the traditional Saudi way,” she said.




Events took place across 50 venues. (SPA)

“Some people may choose to have chicken and rice for lunch. For me, the most important part is the Saudi coffee and tea, including dates, mamoul and baklava, and sweets that my family members prepare.” 

She added: “Usually children don’t get gifts, they get money, which they are much happier with because it means they can buy themselves whatever they want. Recently, families started gifting other family members with small gifts such as perfume as a gesture of sharing the happiness of Eid.” 




Events took place across 50 venues. (SPA)

Faisal Al-Bilal, from the Kingdom’s central region, said once the crescent moon is sighted and the Eid Al-Fitr announcement made, celebrations begin.

“Our custom is to celebrate the holiday known as ‘Hawamat Al-Eid’ in each neighborhood. This holiday is very popular in Riyadh and is celebrated by all children who visit their neighbors’ homes to receive gifts while singing a special song. It has been customary for each neighborhood to bring an ice-cream truck. This custom vanished, but has returned in the past five years.” 

He added: “Some neighbors gather in the streets and prepare a feast so that everyone in the neighborhood can enjoy breakfast together. Each house brings food with them, and we eat meat and rice at breakfast that day.”


Turaif traces historical, cultural mosaic to pre-Islamic era

Updated 03 July 2025
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Turaif traces historical, cultural mosaic to pre-Islamic era

  • Evidence of Stone Age settlements in the region
  • Has Tapline, Kingdom’s first industrial heritage site

TURAIF: Located in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, Turaif governorate stands as a crossroads of ancient civilizations and a gateway to Iraq and the Levant.

The governorate is home to a range of rich cultural and heritage sites, many of which date back to pre-Islamic times.

Heritage Commission sign board at the archaeological site of Qasr Duqrah, located 40 kilometers southwest of Turaif governorate. (SPA)

Among the most prominent heritage landmarks is the archaeological site of Qasr Duqrah, situated 40 km southwest of the governorate.

Adjacent to it lies a mountain known as Aqran, also referred to as Duqrah Mount, which has been recorded under the Comprehensive Archaeological Survey Program.

Zahi Al-Khalawi, a member of the Saudi Historical Society, said the site is among the Kingdom’s most significant archaeological locations because there is evidence of human settlements dating to the Stone Age.

He said habitation at the site continued through the later Roman period (2 to 6 centuries C.E.) and persisted into the Umayyad era (661 to 750 C.E.).

Another landmark is the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, or Tapline, one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant industrial heritage sites.

The pipeline stretches from the east of the Kingdom to its north, passing through Turaif, and has been registered in the National Industrial Heritage Register.

Known as the Tapline, this oil pipeline stretches from eastern Saudi Arabia to the northwest, passing through Turaif. (SPA)

It is the first documented industrial heritage site in the Kingdom, representing the early stages of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry and its developmental and economic significance.

Also noteworthy is the culturally significant site of Qaru Turaif, a water source developed by the Tapline Co. in the 1950s to help settle nomadic communities by order of the late King Abdulaziz.

To the east of Turaif, about 25 km away, stands Jabal Umm Waal, a historic landmark and northern gateway into the Arabian Peninsula.

The mountain tells the stories of Bedouin life and the passage of trade caravans and pilgrims traveling from the Levant and Iraq. For centuries, it served as a safe route for travelers making their way southward.

 


Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli minister’s call for sovereignty over occupied West Bank

Updated 02 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli minister’s call for sovereignty over occupied West Bank

  • Kingdom’s foreign ministry said the move would violate international laws

RIYADH: A government minister’s threat for Israel to apply full sovereignty over the occupied West Bank was strongly condemned by Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom “condemned and denunciated” the statement made by the Israeli official calling for the imposition of sovereignty over the Palestinian territory.

Such action would be a violation of international law, the statement said. Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to expand settlements on Palestinian land, the ministry added, while reiterating the Kingdom’s position on the importance of Israel abiding by international resolutions.

The statement followed comments from Israel’s Justice Minister Yariv Levin saying “the time has come” for Israel to apply sovereignty across the West Bank.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967 and has built dozens of settlements, deemed illegal under international law, across the territory.

The Saudi foreign ministry offered its support for the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate rights and in establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 


Saudi ministry recalls faulty chargers over fire risk

Updated 02 July 2025
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Saudi ministry recalls faulty chargers over fire risk

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has announced the recall of 88,518 Anker portable chargers across multiple models due to a potential internal electrical short circuit that may cause overheating and pose a fire risk.

The ministry urged consumers to immediately stop using the affected products and contact Anker at the toll-free number 8008500030 to arrange a replacement or full refund, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Consumers can check if their device is included in the recall and start the replacement or refund process by visiting anker.com/mmrc2506.

Users are also advised to verify the model number of their charger against the list of affected products on the Defective Products Recall Center website ecalls.sa.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to consumer safety and stressed the importance of promptly addressing product defects to prevent potential hazards.


GCC passports departments chiefs hold meeting

Updated 02 July 2025
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GCC passports departments chiefs hold meeting

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi participated in the 39th Meeting of the Directors-General of Passports of the GCC countries, held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh.

During the meeting, he reviewed the latest developments, including the Gulf visa project.

The passport departments of the interior ministries of GCC countries, through a series of joint meetings, are making efforts to launch a unified tourist visa project in the near future, the General Secretariat said in a report.

“Everyone is working as one team to keep pace with technological developments and security requirements in a world characterised by rapid change,” Albudaiwi said.


Saudi FM discusses regional developments in call with US secretary of state

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his US counterpart State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. (AFP)
Updated 02 July 2025
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Saudi FM discusses regional developments in call with US secretary of state

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his US counterpart Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During the call, Prince Faisal and Rubio reviewed US-Saudi relations and ways to enhance the strategic partnership between their countries. The latest regional and international developments were also discussed.