Joy on streets of the Kingdom on 94th National Day

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Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)
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Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)
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The parade started from the Royal Commission in Yanbu Industrial City and continued to the historic district in Yanbu Al-Bahr. It involved local security forces, industrial security from the commission, and 21 volunteers, all expressing their joy for Saudi National Day. (SPA)
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Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)
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Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)
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The General Entertainment Authority also organized fireworks displays throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the day. (SPA)
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Updated 23 September 2024
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Joy on streets of the Kingdom on 94th National Day

  • Art, music, parades, fireworks and more mark occasion enjoyed by children and families

RIYADH: Monday marked a day of joy and expressions of pride as people throughout the Kingdom took to the streets flying the Saudi flag high at various events organized by local authorities to mark the occasion.

The Royal Guard Presidency organized a celebration of the 94th Saudi National Day on Sept. 23 in Jeddah, in the presence of Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Hudhaili, the commander of the Royal Guard Group in the Western Region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The celebration included musical performances of Saudi melodies, a motorcycle parade, a show by the Honor Guard, and other activities.

The official ceremony began with the national anthem and recitation of verses from the Qur’an, followed by a performance of an operetta titled “And Blessings,” presented by Dar Al-Tarbia Al-Hadetha School, a documentary film about the occasion, and a film by the Royal Guard, all themed around the special day.




The General Entertainment Authority also organized fireworks displays throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the day. (SPA)

The ceremony also featured welcoming words, poems and national melodies, with attendees gathering to enjoy the festive atmosphere and promote the values of national unity.

The 94th National Day celebrations in the Jazan region, organized by the municipality in the northern coastal area of Jazan city, also attracted a large and diverse crowd of visitors of all ages.

Locals with their children thronged the event venue adorned with the national flag, enjoying shows, parades and cultural exhibitions organized by local associations and clubs in partnership with the Ministry of Sports. The activities took place along the cultural street in Jazan.

People visited art stations to admire national-themed artworks symbolizing allegiance, patriotism and admiration for the nation and its leadership.




Locals with their children adorned with the national flag, enjoyed shows, parades and cultural exhibitions. (SPA)

The cultural street, stretching more than 450 meters, featured a wide range of attractions for visitors along its length. People could stroll shaded pathways adorned with decorative motifs featuring the national flag, relax in designated seating areas, and pose for photos next to beautiful sculptures.

Families and children in Madinah also enjoyed an atmosphere of happiness at events and programs held in parks and squares. The events were held under the slogan “We Dream, We Achieve.”

In Hail and Tabuk, thousands of children draped in the national flag and dressed in its colors, also celebrated National Day, joining their families at various public spaces for celebrations organized by the local municipalities.

A bicycle parade in Yanbu featured 130 cyclists carrying national flags to celebrate the day. The event was attended by Yanbu Governor Saad bin Marzouq Al-Suhaimi, government officials and numerous enthusiasts.




A bicycle parade in Yanbu featured 130 cyclists carrying national flags to celebrate the day. (SPA)

The parade started from the Royal Commission in Yanbu Industrial City and continued to the historic district in Yanbu Al-Bahr. It involved local security forces, industrial security from the commission, and 21 volunteers, all expressing their joy for Saudi National Day.

In the Northern Borders region, cities and governorates were decorated with more than 6,000 flags raised in gardens, public parks, streets and squares, and 650 advertising boards.

Festivities included entertainment and cultural events organized by the region’s municipality and held in Arar Water Tower Park.

The General Entertainment Authority also organized fireworks displays throughout the Kingdom to celebrate the day. The fireworks were launched simultaneously in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlKhobar, Buraidah, Tabuk, Madinah, Abha, Hail, Arar, Najran, Baha, Al-Jouf and Jazan.


Arab leaders congratulate Saudi leadership on 94th National Day

The Kingdom celebrated the 94th Saudi National Day on Monday. (SPA)
Updated 23 September 2024
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Arab leaders congratulate Saudi leadership on 94th National Day

RIYADH: Arab leaders congratulated Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the 94th Saudi National Day which fell on Monday.

The UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Sudan’s army chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, congratulated the Saudi leadership on national day. 

King Salman, in a post on X, said the day “is a dear memory renewed in the pages of our proud homeland, rooted in the conscience of the great Saudi people.”

He prayed for the security, prosperity, and stability of the Kingdom. 


Saudi FM calls for UN reform

Updated 24 September 2024
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Saudi FM calls for UN reform

  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan: International institutions are ‘unfit for purpose’
  • ‘We need to do everything to build a better world, a greener world’

NEW YORK CITY: The UN system must be reformed to create a fairer and more equitable world order, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Monday.

Addressing the UN at its headquarters in New York City, Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned that international institutions are “unfit for purpose,” as demonstrated by the UN’s inability to hold Israel accountable for “all the atrocities it has committed.”

He was speaking a day after UN member states voted to adopt the “Pact for the Future,” a campaign to bring multilateralism “back from the brink” and galvanize support for achieving the organization’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Saudi Arabia “spared no effort” in taking part in negotiations over the pact, he said, thanking attendees for their cooperation during intense debate over the outcome document.

“We did this because we’re convinced that we need to do everything to build a better world, a greener world,” he added.

“We must also promote multilateralism so as to effectively confront today’s challenges and future challenges, achieving peace and security for the benefit of future generations.”

The pact is “aligned with fundamental principles,” Prince Faisal said, adding that achieving its objectives requires a “doubling of efforts to confront the various challenges and meet the needs of people all over the world.”

He added: “This pact marks a qualitative step forward in multilateral action. It promises a fair and equitable world order, a world order which promotes the implementation of the SDGs and meets the needs of all states, specifically developing countries.

“It’s a pact which calls for the closing of the digital gap, and which also promotes economic development in developing countries.”

Saudi Arabia has been working intensely to strengthen multilateral cooperation, but achieving a brighter future demands UN reform, Prince Faisal said.

As part of the “pressing matter,” the UN must be reconstructed to shoulder its responsibility in upholding international peace and security, he added.

On climate change, Saudi Arabia is “committed to a diversified approach that is context specific and tailored to the capacities of each and every country,” he said.

Energy security, economic development and mitigation of the effects of climate change are the three pillars that offer a solution to the challenge, Prince Faisal added.

“We need to ensure that our commitments enshrined in the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) are upheld,” he said.

“We’ll be welcoming the next meeting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. This will be the 30th anniversary meeting of parties to the convention.”

Saudi Arabia, which is “committed to meeting the SDGs” and the objectives of the “Pact of the Future,” will “make every effort to bolster cooperation,” Prince Faisal said.

“We hope that our collective efforts will allow us to uphold various values such as sovereignty, and to build a better future for current and future generations.”


Saudi minister visits US to boost ties in industry

Updated 23 September 2024
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Saudi minister visits US to boost ties in industry

  • Alkhorayef’s schedule also includes a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, a visit to Columbia University, and MINExpo in Las Vegas, meeting representatives from leading mining companies to explore advanced technologies

RIYADH: The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef began an official visit to the US on Monday to boost cooperation in industry and mining, strengthen ties, attract investments, and explore opportunities in aviation and space.

Alkhorayef, whose visit ends on Sept. 28, is scheduled to travel to New York, California, and Nevada, meeting government officials and CEOs to discuss knowledge transfer, innovation, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

He is set to engage with industry ministers and leaders at a UN Industrial Development Organization event in New York, seeking support for the 21st UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh in 2025 and the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum in October.

His schedule also includes a tour of the New York Stock Exchange, a visit to Columbia University, and MINExpo in Las Vegas, meeting representatives from leading mining companies to explore advanced technologies.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is also due to participate, while Alkhorayef is scheduled to host a roundtable in Los Angeles with major US companies to discuss sectors in the National Industrial Strategy and incentives for foreign investors.

In addition, he is to hold meetings with private sector leaders and visit advanced industrial companies like JetZero and SpaceX, and also meet Saudi students in the US.

 


Saudi economy minister meets Argentinian counterpart in New York

Updated 23 September 2024
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Saudi economy minister meets Argentinian counterpart in New York

  • Alibrahim also met UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network President Jeffrey Sachs at the event

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim met his Argentinian counterpart, Luis Caputo, at the Summit of the Future in New York on Monday.

The two sides discussed relations between their nations and explored further opportunities for cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alibrahim also met UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network President Jeffrey Sachs at the event.

The pair discussed cooperation and reviewed the progress in achieving sustainable development.

 


Authorities bust drug smugglers across the Kingdom

Updated 23 September 2024
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Authorities bust drug smugglers across the Kingdom

  • Border Guard patrols in Jazan’s Al-Ardah governorate arrested seven Ethiopians for smuggling 170 kg of qat
  • In the Al-Raboah sector of Asir, patrols arrested four Ethiopians for smuggling 112,350 regulated medical tablets

RIYADH: Saudi authorities recently made several drug-related arrests and confiscations across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Border Guard patrols in Jazan’s Al-Ardah governorate arrested seven Ethiopians for smuggling 170 kg of qat, while patrols in Al-Dayer governorate thwarted an attempt to smuggle 150 kg of qat.

In the Al-Raboah sector of Asir, patrols arrested four Ethiopians for smuggling 112,350 regulated medical tablets, along with firearms.

The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested a citizen in Hail for selling regulated medical tablets and another in Jouf for selling 1.1 kg of hashish.

In Jeddah, a Yemeni and a Somali resident were arrested for selling 10,110 amphetamine tablets and hashish.

All suspects and seized items have been handed over to the relevant authorities.

The government has called on the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.

Reports to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control can be submitted by calling the number 995 or by emailing [email protected].