Saudi Arabia and Italy share vision for future

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Updated 19 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia and Italy share vision for future

  • Lombardy president highlights similarities between Saudi Arabia and Italy
  • Culture sector offers ‘highway of collaboration’ for countries, says Italian ambassador

RIYADH: Italy and Saudi Arabia share similar visions for the future, according to the president of the Lombardy region.

Attilio Fontana and his delegation expressed confidence in the potential for stronger cooperation during their visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

They aimed to explore new opportunities with Saudi officials and engage with Italian companies at the Interior Design and Furniture Exhibition in Riyadh on Tuesday.

“I believe that between Italy and Saudi Arabia, it’s possible to work very heavily together. And I think that we can engage,” Fontana told Arab News.

“The important thing … in Italy and in Saudi Arabia, is a view of the future, a vision of the future that is very similar. So, on this object, we can work together.”

Highlighting the significance of Italian participation at the exhibition in Riyadh, Fontana said: “You know, I believe that it’s very important for our entrepreneurs to know this merchant (Saudi Arabia) and to have the possibility to come here and to export because your country is very similar to our region.”

Ambassador of Italy to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci also attended the exhibition.

“Italy is the second (largest) number of exposures in the firm, which means that there is a huge potentiality for stronger collaboration,” he said. “It looks very interesting and very promising; a lot of new companies are coming from Italy.”

“A big group of companies was also present last year in the past editions and the fact that Italians are increasing their numbers means it is very significant to us,” the ambassador said.

Baldocci underlined the importance of Fontana’s visit to Riyadh for Saudi-Italian cooperation: “It is very important; Lombardia is a model, a significant model also for Italy and Europe.

“We can establish strong collaboration in many fields, bilateral on both sides, so there would be advantages for the Italian side and Saudi side; it’s a win-win situation.”

Asked about sectors for growing partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Italy, he said: “I see many areas of technology, from high technology to fashion, design, automotive.

“On the cultural field, there is a highway of collaboration between Lombardia in Italy and Saudi Arabia, and in many other sectors too,” he said.

The president of Lombardia and the ambassador of Italy toured the exhibition areas and met Italian company representatives during the exhibition.

Among the more than 78 Italian companies present at the exhibition were Chairs and More, AMG, ArcaHorn, MIDJ, Vigano, Zanetto, and many others.

Discussing the many Italian companies showcased at the exhibition, Romano Baruzzi, director of the Riyadh office of the Italian Trade Agency, said: “All of the sectors are represented.”

Baruzzi said that while many Italian companies were already active in the Saudi market and had established local partnerships, several were still seeking to explore new avenues for growth in their collaborations.

“It’s a good opportunity if you consider that this is the fourth edition in terms of growth and the presence of companies; it’s a very big number,” he said.

Baruzzi said that some of the feedback he had received from Italian companies indicated that they were aware of the continuing expansion of Riyadh.

“I think we can offer very good opportunities for the Italian companies here,” he said.

Fontana, along with his delegation, will hold multiple sideline meetings with Saudi officials in culture, fashion, technology and innovation during the visit to the Kingdom.

The INDEX exhibition, focusing on interior design, takes place from Sept. 17-19 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition Center, welcoming local and international participants to showcase the latest innovations in design.


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.