Namira Mosque walkways cooled with white coating 

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The RGA has completed a project that covers the asphalt around Arafat’s Namira Mosque with a white coating that will lower temperatures for Hajj pilgrims. (SPA)
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Updated 04 June 2024
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Namira Mosque walkways cooled with white coating 

  • White coating, created using locally manufactured materials that absorb less sunlight, helps reduce surface temperature by about 20 degrees Celsius
  • Last year, the coating was used on pedestrian pathways leading to the Jamarat area, where the ritual stoning of Satan takes place

RIYADH: The Roads General Authority has completed a project that covers the asphalt around Arafat’s Namira Mosque with a white coating that will lower temperatures for Hajj pilgrims. 

The white coating, created using locally manufactured materials that absorb less sunlight, helps reduce surface temperature by about 20 degrees Celsius, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, the agency’s spokesperson, said the substance was applied in partnership with several agencies.

Last year, the coating was used on pedestrian pathways leading to the Jamarat area, where the ritual stoning of Satan takes place, and reduced temperatures by 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. 

An area of 25,000 square meters around Namira Mosque has now been covered. 

Al-Otaibi said this would create a more comfortable experience for pilgrims during the Hajj this year.


Departing pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality, organization during Hajj

Saudi authorities at the Halat Ammar border crossing in the Tabuk region say goodbye to departing Hajj pilgrims.
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Departing pilgrims praise Saudi hospitality, organization during Hajj

RIYADH: Saudi authorities at the Halat Ammar border crossing in the Tabuk region have been saying their goodbyes to departing Hajj pilgrims from around the world.

The farewell process reflects Saudi Arabia’s coordinated efforts to serve pilgrims under the supervision of Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan.

Government and service agencies have been working professionally to ensure procedures are completed smoothly and pilgrims have access to any necessary, health and guidance services, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

As well as taking their personal memories of a well-organized Hajj, each of the departing pilgrims is given a copy of the Holy Qur’an as a gift from King Salman.

Many commented on how well managed the Hajj had been and expressed their gratitude to the officials and organizers at the Two Holy Mosques and other holy sites.

Egyptian Mostafa Allam said: “We did not expect such organization and coordination at every stage, from reception to farewell.”

Kawthar Mohamed, also from Egypt, said: “Everyone treats us kindly, with constant smiles and good service.”

Mohammed Ibrahim Abdulrahman, a pilgrim from Jordan, said: “We felt as though we were among our own family. Thanks to the Kingdom, its government and people for their generosity and care.”

Palestinian Issa Abdulwahab said: “Not for a moment did it feel like a departure, but rather a farewell filled with love and appreciation.”


‘The Arts Tower’ brings new meaning and color to Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard

Updated 15 June 2025
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‘The Arts Tower’ brings new meaning and color to Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard

  • For Gharem, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, like “The Arts Tower,” constantly lifts eyes upward, motivating people to leap from the familiar into the unexpected, pushing them to embrace the future with imagination

RIYADH: As you venture down the promenade of the capital’s latest attraction, Sports Boulevard, a new landmark is sure to catch your eye.

A tower at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road bursts with color and character.  

The mind behind this work, named “The Arts Tower,” is renowned Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem, who has centered the mundane within the architectural landscape early on in his career with works like “Siraat” (The Path) and “Road to Makkah.”

The Arts Tower at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road bursts with color and character. (Supplied)

Gharem told Arab News: “This piece is a witness to the transformation that’s happening here. It’s a symbol of investment into the cultural infrastructure as proof of how important that is to any society or community. I think the tower represents this transformation, especially that it, in itself, transforms one of the symbols of energy into a beacon for creative expression.”

Previously one of numerous 83.5-meter electricity pylons, the tower was meant to be removed for the sake of the Sports Boulevard project.

“I asked if I could have one,” Gharem said, explaining that, as one of the nominated artists to propose a work to beautify the boulevard, he was keen to use the existing structure.  

HIGHLIGHTS

• The selected proposal features a total of 691 colored panels that were installed to bring the tower’s vibrant facade to life. 

• The pieces used are all related to the grand narrative of the Kingdom, including economic diversity, cultural transformations, and social changes. 

Author and curator Nato Thompson said about the work in a statement: “By repurposing a symbol of energy infrastructure and turning it into a beacon of artistic expression, Gharem highlights the evolving role of culture and art in Saudi Arabia’s development journey.

“It stands as living proof of the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing its cultural landscape, making arts and creativity an inseparable part of its identity just as oil and energy were in the past.”

The selected proposal features a total of 691 colored panels that were installed to bring the tower’s vibrant facade to life.

Abdulnasser Gharem, Saudi artist

It utilizes elements from Saudi architecture and patterns we recognize from our old homes, primarily the triangular shape.  

“I was lucky that the tower was made up of triangles, which is a geometrical shape that brings together the different regions of the Kingdom and the historical features of our beginnings, so it’s a symbol of unity,” Gharem said.  

The pieces used are all related to the grand narrative of the Kingdom, including economic diversity, cultural transformations, and social changes.

This piece is a witness to the transformation that’s happening here. It’s a symbol of investment into the cultural infrastructure as proof of how important that is to any society or community.

Abdulnasser Gharem, Saudi artist

“The colors are alluding to the connection between our history and heritage and the concepts of cheerfulness and mental hospitality. A tower always forces you to look up.”

For Gharem, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, like “The Arts Tower,” constantly lifts eyes upward, motivating people to leap from the familiar into the unexpected, pushing them to embrace the future with imagination.

“The piece is based on sunlight,” he said. “The daylight gives a completely, completely different dimension to the work compared to its urban illumination during the night.

The sketch of “The Arts Tower” by Abdulnasser Gharem. (Supplied)

“The colors do not just appear; they shift, transform, and come alive in different ways throughout the day. Here, nature becomes a crucial element to the structure.”

Even the wind has played a part in determining the number and placement of the colored pieces used. “It taught me that there needs to be some gaps in order to allow the piece to breathe and I was forced to humble myself upon the power of nature.

“The wind became my partner in design,” he said.

“The Arts Tower” is designed to make people feel represented and connected.

While the Sports Boulevard promotes physical activity, the creative landmark serves a deeper purpose: it is a thoughtful space meant to inspire human interaction and community — and more importantly, invite them to slow down, engage, and ponder the future.

“Culture is one of the key factors for our country’s development path. At the end of the day, culture is just as important as energy. It’s worth investing in, and it’s a certificate that the Kingdom is committed to nurturing its cultural scene,” Gharem said.

 


Acacia rebirth: Saudi royal reserve boosts green cover

Updated 14 June 2025
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Acacia rebirth: Saudi royal reserve boosts green cover

  • The reserve’s development authority focuses on increasing community awareness, supporting biodiversity protection and fostering a sustainable environment for wildlife reproduction and conservation

RIYADH: Nestled in the northeast of Riyadh, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is an environmental gem, boasting a mix of nature’s finest features and an array of awe-inspiring terrains.

As well as being a haven for distinctive geological formations, it also contains rare plants and animals featured on the Red List of Threatened Species.

The reserve is undertaking extensive restoration efforts, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, particularly Acacia, across its vast 91,500 sq. km area.

The  Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is undertaking extensive restoration efforts, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, particularly Acacia, across its vast 91,500-square-kilometer area. (SPA)

This initiative aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, aiming to revitalize the reserve’s vegetation and restore ecological balance, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role. They provide grazing, shade and habitat for wildlife while also helping to stabilize the soil and offering a vital nectar source for high-quality honey.

These comprehensive afforestation projects are crucial in combating desertification and enhancing biodiversity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

FASTFACTS

• Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role.

• This eco haven is the Kingdom’s second-largest royal reserve.

The reserve’s development authority focuses on increasing community awareness, supporting biodiversity protection and fostering a sustainable environment for wildlife reproduction and conservation.

The  Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is undertaking extensive restoration efforts, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, particularly Acacia, across its vast 91,500-square-kilometer area. (SPA)

The authority also provides guided tours and excursions led by environmental tour guides, making it a hotspot for eco-enthusiasts interested in hiking, climbing and other ecotourism activities.

This eco haven is the Kingdom’s second-largest royal reserve. It hosts diverse wildlife and plant species, making it ideal for hiking, wilderness adventures, camping and sustainable hunting.

Its vegetation cover provides a refuge for various bird species, crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling insects, small rodents and carrion.

The reserve stands out with its streams and valleys, where rainwater and floods flow from the Al-Urumah Plateau into the reserve’s valleys, such as Al-Thumama Valley and Ghilana Valley, leading to streams and parks such as Rawdat Khuraim.

 


Swift medical response saves pilgrim in Madinah

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City in Madinah. (SPA)
Updated 14 June 2025
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Swift medical response saves pilgrim in Madinah

  • The case “highlights King Salman Medical City’s capabilities as part of the Madinah Health Cluster and its readiness to provide specialized care for pilgrims”

MADINAH: A swift response from Saudi Arabia’s urgent care system enabled medical teams at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City in Madinah to save the life of an Iraqi female pilgrim suffering from a brain hemorrhage.

According to the Madinah Health Cluster, clinical assessment and interventional radiology revealed a ruptured artery that required immediate intervention, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Once the patient was stabilized, a targeted procedure using coiling technology was performed. The interventional neuroradiology team sealed the rupture, preventing further complications, the SPA added.

The Madinah Health Cluster said the pilgrim regained full consciousness with “no neurological deficits” and has begun rehabilitation before returning home.

The case “highlights King Salman Medical City’s capabilities as part of the Madinah Health Cluster and its readiness to provide specialized care for pilgrims,” the SPA wrote.

 


Saudi authorities intensify efforts against drug traffickers and dealers

Updated 14 June 2025
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Saudi authorities intensify efforts against drug traffickers and dealers

  • The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested four citizens in the Eastern Province for the possession of 108 kg of hashish and for selling regulated tablets

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Border Guard patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan region, arrested eight Yemenis trying to smuggle in a total of 240 kg of qat in multiple separate attempts. The same sector also saw authorities thwart the attempted smuggling of 42 kg of hashish.

In another attempt, land patrols in Al-Dayer prevented the smuggling in of 54 kg of hashish, 343,000 tablets regulated for medical use, and 2,000 amphetamine tablets.

In Jazan’s Fifa governorate, security patrols arrested two Ethiopians smuggling 35 kg of qat.

In Al-Raboah, Asir region, Border Guard patrols arrested five Yemenis and Ethiopians smuggling 100 kg of qat and also prevented the smuggling in of a further 280 kg of qat.

Also in Asir, a Sudanese resident was arrested with 125 kg of qat in Dhahran Al-Janoub, and an Ethiopian with 46 kg of qat in Al-Farsha.

Security patrols in the Eastern Province arrested an Indian resident for selling heroin.

Patrols from the General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two Ethiopians selling hashish, amphetamine, and regulated pills.

The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested four citizens in the Eastern Province for the possession of 108 kg of hashish and for selling regulated tablets.

Officials also arrested two Yemenis in Najran for selling amphetamines, locally known as shabu.

Preliminary legal procedures were completed in all cases, and all seized items have been handed to the relevant authorities, the SPA reported.

Authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or sales by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions. Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control via email at 995@gdnc.gov.sa or by calling 995.