Saudi ministry sets deadline for international offices to complete Hajj service contracts
Updated 20 January 2025
Arab News
MAKKAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that Feb. 14 will be the deadline for Hajj affairs offices in various countries to finalize their contracts for services related to this year’s Hajj season.
The ministry said that these contracts must be completed through the Nusuk Masar platform, designated for Hajj pilgrims from abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
To ensure the best services for pilgrims, the ministry highlighted the importance of adhering to regulations set by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, including requirements for air and ground transportation.
It also urged compliance with security, health and procedural guidelines outlined in the Hajj agreement between the ministry and the pertinent offices in various countries, the SPA added.
The ministry said that after the deadline, no additional contracts will be accepted, and the actual quotas for pilgrims from various countries will be determined.
The visa issuance process will commence immediately afterward, the SPA reported.
The ministry requested Hajj offices to educate their pilgrims about the necessity of following Hajj regulations and instructions, ensuring that they obtain visas and permits through official channels.
Pilgrims also need to carry identification documents, such as the Nusuk Card, from the moment of their arrival in the Kingdom.
Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history/node/2600268/saudi-arabia
Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history
Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven
Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself
Updated 7 sec ago
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: In the heart of Wadi Qarn in Taif governorate, one man’s vision has resulted in one of Saudi Arabia’s most striking heritage landmarks: the National Historical Palace for Islamic Civilization.
Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven.
In an interview with Arab News, Al-Thabiti said: “The number symbolizes perfection and completeness in several Qur’anic verses, including the seven heavens, the seven earths and the seven shaded by God in his shadow, among others.”
The palace includes flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. (SPA)
The project was born out of Al-Thabiti’s strong will. He believed in his dream and devoted his effort, time and energy to bring it to life.
Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself.
The museums offer distinct cultural and education experiences. Exhibits cover Islamic architecture, local heritage, plastic arts and sculpture, rare collections, astronomy, military history documenting the unification of the Kingdom and an agricultural museum featuring seeds mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.
The palace includes 600 square meters of flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.
Al-Thabiti said that he personally cuts, shapes and stacks the stones himself. “The manual labor is what gives the project its true spirit, as every corner bears (my) imprint, effort and dedication,” he added.
He used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. His attention to detail is reflected in features such as hand-shaped facades, floor mosaics inspired by Sadu art and stonework colored in seven hues that mirror the Kingdom’s geological diversity.
Majid Al-Thabiti used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. (SPA)
Highlights at the palace include an Abbasid-style minaret with a water fountain in honor of Zubaida, the wife of Harun Al-Rashid; an observatory used to track the crescent moon; and stone engravings of Saudi megaprojects like NEOM and The Line.
The site also includes engravings on stone of the Kingdom’s military vehicles, such as a fighter jet and ship.
Al-Thabiti also built a 700-meter sports track along the banks of Qarn valley, a stable for purebred Arabian horses, as well as replicas of symbolic gates like Makkah Gate, Taif Gate and King Abdulaziz Islamic Gate, with stones from Mounts Al-Nur, Thawr and Uhud. Other exhibits, like Diriyah and Yawm Badina (The Day We Began), commemorate key moments in Saudi history.
According to Al-Thabiti, his goal is to transform the palace into a cultural and educational destination that celebrates the Kingdom’s history and heritage.
“We possess a great civilizational legacy and a deep-rooted history. It is our duty to present it to the world in the finest way. This palace is the beginning,” he said.
Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage
Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes
Updated 23 min 9 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: For centuries, the people of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region have cultivated food on steep mountain slopes using stone terracing systems.
They began with the construction of stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height.
They serve as critical infrastructure for mountain agriculture by creating level growing surfaces on otherwise impossible terrain.
Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height. (SPA)
“The thumalah represents a stone containment system designed to capture sloping mountain terrain,” Ahmed Al-Bariqi, an architectural heritage researcher, said in an interview with the SPA. “After building the stone barrier, the enclosed space is filled with a mixture of clay, soil and rocks to create a flat, arable surface suitable for both farming and habitation.”
Local builders adapted to their surroundings, often reinforcing these structures with juniper and sidr tree trunks, as well as massive stones to withstand the pressure of heavy seasonal rains.
Water management is equally sophisticated. The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields.
The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields. (SPA)
“Ancient builders displayed remarkable engineering precision in the mughayyid’s construction,” Al-Bariqi has said in his book “Antiquities and Heritage in Bariq Governorate.”
He added: “Square or elongated stones formed the base structure, while carefully polished flat stones were placed at the top, precisely leveled to allow water to flow at calculated rates between terraces.”
Positioned at strategic elevations, the mughayyid retains optimal water volumes while preventing destructive flooding that could compromise the entire terrace system.
Terraces were reinforced by stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil.” (SPA)
These terraces do more than support agriculture. According to Dr. Ghaithan bin Jurais of King Khalid University, they reflect a deep-rooted civilization in Asir dating back thousands of years.
“These structures preserve soil resources, establish clear property boundaries between neighboring farms, and historically served as recognized markers of family and tribal land ownership,” he said.
Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes.
Saudi, British foreign ministers discuss regional and international developments
Two ministers also discussed Saudi-UK relations
Updated 10 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday spoke with his British counterpart David Lammy, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two ministers discussed Saudi-UK relations, as well as regional and international developments and the efforts being made in this regard, SPA added.
The call came on the same day as Prince Faisal's meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah.
Crown prince holds phone calls with King of Bahrain, Emir of Kuwait
Updated 10 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the calls, the crown prince reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Bahrain and Kuwait, SPA added.
They also discussed a number of issues of common interest.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan welcome India-Pakistan ceasefire, urge dialogue
Kingdom commends both parties for prudence, self-restraint amid heightened tensions
Updated 10 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday welcomed the US-mediated ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India, expressing hope that the development will pave the way for restoring security and stability in the region.
In an official statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom commended both parties for their prudence and self-restraint amid heightened tensions, and reiterated its support for resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
Saudi Arabia emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of good neighborliness in a manner that promotes peace and prosperity for both countries and their peoples.
The ceasefire announcement came on Saturday after both Islamabad and New Delhi confirmed the agreement following a period of escalated hostilities.
The de-escalation followed US-mediated talks late on Friday night, with President Donald Trump stating that Washington had played a key role in brokering the understanding between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the ceasefire agreement, describing it as a key step toward enhancing regional stability, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah emphasized the importance of resolving crises through diplomatic channels and reiterated Jordan’s support for peaceful efforts based on the principles of good neighborliness.
He praised both sides for promoting dialogue and exercising restraint.
