RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 18,428 people in a single week for breaching residency, work and border-security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
According to an official report, a total of 11,664 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,301 were held for involvement in illegal border crossings. A further 2,463 were arrested for labor-related issues.
The report stated that of 1,000 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 360 were Yemeni, 620 Ethiopian, and 20 were from other countries.
A further 61 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, while 11 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation or shelter, could face up to 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of SR1 million ($260,000), and could have their vehicles and property seized.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in Makkah and Riyadh, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Saudi authorities arrest 18,428 in one week for residency, labor breaches
https://arab.news/9vuwg
Saudi authorities arrest 18,428 in one week for residency, labor breaches
- 2,463 were arrested for labor-related issues
- 61 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries
Saudi culinary scene thoroughly deserves its place in Michelin Guide, says its international director
- Gwendal Poullennec tells The Mayman Show inspectors are busy exploring the Kingdom’s vibrant food culture, and the chosen restaurants will be revealed toward the end of the year
- ‘I think there are a lot of places that need to be in (the guide); hidden gems that deserve their time to shine. And through the restaurants, we are also putting the spotlight on the culture,’ he adds
RIYADH: The first restaurants in Saudi Arabia chosen for inclusion in the Michelin Guide will be unveiled toward the end of this year, Gwendal Poullennec, the guide’s international director, mentioned during his appearance on The Mayman Show this week.
He said they are being selected in collaboration with the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission, and inspectors are already busy in the field exploring the vibrant food scene in various parts of the Kingdom.
“When we consider a destination, because we have to establish a road map, we need to have a gradual plan, so as not to compromise with the value and the methodology,” Poullennec said.
“We need also to acquire the knowledge of all the different food cultures. So that takes time. But to set up a clear priority, we monitor, in the field, the evolution of the different food scenes.”
The guide announced in June that it was adding Saudi Arabia as a destination in its 2026 edition. The Kingdom’s diverse landscapes, from its vast deserts to the stunning Red Sea coastline, provide a backdrop for some unforgettable dining experiences, Poullennec noted, and the country is also home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Diriyah. This deep historical and cultural heritage helps to set it apart.
“You feel the dynamic, the talent joining the industry, the diversity,” he said. “And based on what is happening today — and even more on the potential it has to develop in the years to come — we decided to move to the next step, which is to publish a Michelin Guide selection … And this will happen at the end of the year, with three digital releases: Oct. 15, Nov. 15, Dec. 15.”
The recommendations will initially focus on culinary hot spots in Riyadh and Jeddah, he explained. During the process of expanding into Saudi Arabia Poullennec found there were still a lot of misconceptions about the country’s identity and authenticity in the eyes of foodies.
“I think there are a lot of places that need to be in (the guide); hidden gems that deserve their time to shine,” he said. “And through the restaurants, we are also putting the spotlight on the culture.”
He also shared some of the initial findings about the Saudi food scene based on the feedback from inspectors so far.
“What they found is the open-mindedness,” Poullennec said. “Not only do you have local restaurants inspired by the culinary heritage but you have a lot of creativity. You have inspiration from all around the world.
“So, you feel the dynamics; you feel that, definitely. There is a momentum and that’s the reason why we decided to move forward.”
With a mind for strategy and a palate shaped by curiosity, Poullennec has been quietly helping to shape the future of fine dining through his work for the guide for the past two decades.
From the launch of Michelin’s Tokyo guide to steering its digital transformation, he has helped bring the renowned red book to 45 destinations around the world. Known for his motto, “On the move,” he embodies the spirit of discovery, biking thousands of kilometers a year and sampling new dishes not out of hunger but wonder. He leads with discipline but eats with joy.
“When I joined Michelin, I wanted to contribute to expanding the Michelin Guide abroad because I felt it had an incredible potential to transform the world, to contribute to putting the spotlight on the cultures,” Poullennec said.
“And that’s basically what happened, because I’ve been working 20 years now for the Michelin Guide and I have been able to make it happen, you know, to make the dreams come true and to contribute to
the international expansion of the guide, starting with the US, outside of Europe, and then Asia, where we landed the guide in Japan.”
The more authentic and unique a destination is, the more appealing an option it is for inclusion in the guide, Poullennec said, because it means it can recommend places that offer “something that you will find nowhere else. It is a reason to travel for, based on the Michelin Guide criteria. And from that perspective, Saudi (Arabia) has a lot to offer and truly deserves its place in the world of culinary conversation.”
Nonprofits central to developing education, realizing Vision 2030 goals — Al-Benyan
- Ministry has taken serious steps toward ‘humanizing’ schools and improving educational environment, says Saudi education minister
- Riyadh hosts 2nd nonprofit education, training forum
RIYADH: Serious steps have been taken towards “humanizing” schools and improving the educational environment, helping raise the quality of learning, Saudi Arabia Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan has said.
The minister was speaking during “Promising Opportunities and Future Foresight for the Nonprofit Sector,” the main session of the second Nonprofit Sector Forum in Education and Training taking place in Riyadh.
The two-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Education, ended on Wednesday. Taking the theme “Qualitative Partnerships and Sustainable Solutions,” it was attended by government officials and stakeholders in education and training, as well as non-profit sector representatives.
The minister said that the school environment accounted for roughly one-third of the factors influencing educational outcomes, alongside curricula and teachers.
“We have begun improving the humanization of schools and are working to leverage the ministry’s programs to support the educational environment within an integrated vision that seeks to provide a healthy and stimulating environment within schools,” he said.
He added that the non-profit sector was a key partner, alongside the public and private sectors, in developing education and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The ministry was working to develop teachers through capacity-building programs and ensure the quality of outcomes, said Al-Benyan, highlighting the establishment of a national center for curriculum development for the first time, in partnership with experts and specialized institutions.
He also talked about the launch of initiatives to improve the educational environment and create attractive and stimulating school facilities, in addition to strengthening governance and accountability to ensure the sustainability of impact and measure returns.
The ministry established the Tatweer foundation to support the needs of teachers and last year signed 18 agreements encompassing more than 2,400 programs. It also implemented initiatives worth more than SR400 million through the Ehsan platform and contributed to providing more than 2,700 scholarships in cooperation with the Martyrs, Missing Persons and Prisoners Fund.
Cabinet decisions have enabled the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, to allocate buildings and sites to non-profit schools using new methods that help expand the scope of support and providing sustainable resources.
The minister emphasized the importance of programs such as vocational training for teachers through the National Institute for Teacher Development and the National Curriculum Center to enhance the quality of education and promote community partnerships.
The forum also featured a “Volunteer Hour” in which several education, training and non-profit sector officials took part.
Other sessions included “Building Human Capacity in the Non-Profit Sector: Programs and Initiatives,” which discussed linking training programs to the labor market and the role of employers in identifying them.
“Empowerment Across Sectors: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Non-Profit Training” addressed mechanisms for improving the quality of non-profit training and the potential of the national skills system, while “Early Childhood in the Nonprofit Sector: Empowerment Opportunities and Impact Models” reviewed opportunities for expansion and excellence in nonprofit kindergartens. “The Nonprofit Sector and Programs for People with Disabilities” focused on the reality and expectations of nonprofit organizations in programs for people with disabilities.
The first day of the forum featured three specialized workshops addressing services provided by the National Center for Strategic Partnerships to empower nonprofit entities, while around 50 exhibitors the "Generation Alpha: Research Insights for Understanding the Next Generation and Formulating Inspiring Educational Programs" workshop by Ithra Center, and the "Empowering Nonprofit Kindergartens: Practical Steps" workshop.
About 50 exhibitors presented the opportunities they offer for collaboration in the education sector.
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.
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.
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
- 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
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.
