Saudi Arabia leads worldwide Eid Al-Fitr celebrations marking end of Ramadan

Eid Al-Fitr, a highlight of the Islamic calendar that marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramadan, is being celebrated with religious fervor and joy as Saudi Arabia led worldwide celebrations with Eid prayers on Sunday morning. (SPA)
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Updated 30 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia leads worldwide Eid Al-Fitr celebrations marking end of Ramadan

  • King Salman performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah
  • Weeklong celebration ushers in the most festive period in the Islamic calendar

RIYADH: Eid Al-Fitr, a highlight of the Islamic calendar that marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramadan, is being celebrated with religious fervor and joy as Saudi Arabia led worldwide celebrations with Eid prayers on Sunday morning.

Many Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, celebrating Eid Al-Fitr were joined by Muslims in Europe and the US, while several other countries — among them Oman, Jordan, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia —announced that the holiday will begin on Monday.

The variation, common in the lunar Hijri calendar, is the result of differences in moon sightings that determine the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and spiritual reflection observed by Muslims worldwide.

Eid Al-Fitr — the annual Islamic celebration that runs for the first five days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Hijri calendar — began on Sunday with early morning Eid prayers, 15 minutes after sunrise in accordance with the Umm Al-Qura calendar.

Anticipating the Eid prayer, worshippers in the pre-dawn hours filled designated prayer halls and mosques prepared in cities, governorates, and villages throughout the Kingdom.

King Salman performed Eid Al-Fitr prayers at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. Joining him were several princes and senior officials, who conveyed their congratulations on the joyous occasion of Eid, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman performed Eid prayers with worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Thousands of Muslims filled the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah for the Eid Al-Fitr prayer in an atmosphere of faith, joy, security and tranquility.

The imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, led the prayer and delivered a sermon, extending his congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

Madinah Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan performed the Eid Al-Fitr prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque with crowds of worshippers on Sunday morning, where the mosque’s imam, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Buaijan, led the prayer and delivered a sermon.

Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud extended the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to ministry employees on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, and expressed their appreciation to all security sectors for their exceptional efforts and dedication.

Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman was at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah to receive commanders and senior officials from the ministry, while Minister of National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz was in Jeddah to receive commanders of the ministry along with senior civil and military officials. The ministers conveyed greetings from the king and the crown prince to the officials for their services to the nation.

There were 122,286,712 visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan, according to the CEO of the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Ghazi Al-Shahrani.

Al-Shahrani said the number of Umrah performers was 16,558,241, while worshippers totaled 92,132,169 at the Grand Mosque and 30,154,543 at the Prophet’s Mosque.

He expressed his congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, and also his gratitude to all who contributed to serving the guests of God.

With the Eid Al-Fitr prayer over, worshippers exchanged celebratory greetings.

“The week-long festivity, with the culmination of the fasting month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid holidays, has ushered in the most festive celebration in the Islamic calendar as families organize get-together meetings and feasts, and people exchange greetings offering presents and delicacies,” Sara Aldossary, a Riyadh resident, told Arab News.

“The dawn of Eid Al-Fitr in Saudi Arabia is a time of vibrant tradition and heartwarming connection. As worshippers rise between Fajr and Eid prayers, a special atmosphere fills the air, where warm greetings are exchanged, homes are adorned with festive displays, children gleam in new clothing, and Eid gifts are lovingly prepared for awaiting guests. The aroma of traditional dishes mingles with fragrant incense, and colorful decorations create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors on this special occasion,” she added.

“On this biggest festive occasion, we get together with our relatives and friends to enjoy it together. This evening some of my friends are coming to our house for the celebration. We will also visit them the next day and this will continue during the holiday continuing until the next weekend. We exchange greetings, share presents and delicacies. Some families also go out to picnic spots and spend time together,” said Bilal Ahmed, a Jubail resident.

“Eid is a time of joy, gratitude and togetherness with your loved ones. One of the most beloved Eid Al-Fitr customs is exchanging Eid gifts, or Eidiyah, as a sincere way to express gratitude and love to family and friends,” said Alaa Alshammari, a Riyadh resident.

Comprehensive civil and security arrangements are in place for the annual festival to be safely enjoyed.

The capital has been adorned with special decorative arrangements, including banners bearing “Eid Saeed” on main roads in the city greeting passersby.

The Saudi General Entertainment Authority has unveiled a nationwide celebration featuring concerts, theatrical performances, fireworks, and a variety of activities across the Kingdom’s entertainment zones, offering unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors on Eid Al-Fitr.

Musical concerts will take place in Riyadh, Shaqra, Abha, Qassim, Jeddah, and Eastern Region cities, while theatrical productions will take center stage in Riyadh (April 1-19), Jeddah (April 1-6), and Dammam (April 1-3).

Fireworks will illuminate the sky at 9 p.m. in key locations, including Boulevard World in Riyadh, Jeddah Art Promenade, Alkhobar Corniche, and Arruddaf Park in Taif.

Eid celebrations kicked off on Day 1 at Riyadh’s Boulevard City, Boulevard World, VIA Riyadh, and Jeddah Art Promenade, with City Hub in Alkhobar hosting festivities on Day 2, providing diverse and family-friendly entertainment.

Streets in major cities including Riyadh and Jeddah have been decorated with colorful lights to celebrate the annual event.


Tabuk camel riders celebrate Eid to the rhythms of Al-Hijini

Updated 02 April 2025
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Tabuk camel riders celebrate Eid to the rhythms of Al-Hijini

  • • The tempo of the verses aligns with the camels’ steady strides, creating a harmonious blend of words and motion
  • • Traditionally performed solo, Al-Hijini often becomes a communal chant during celebrations

TABUK: In Tabuk’s vast, Eid is a radiant celebration infused with the scent of the land, the memory of ancestors and deeply rooted traditions passed down with pride across generations.

Here, where the sands stretch endlessly, camel riders known as hajjanah form majestic processions, offering greetings to locals while chanting Al-Hijini, poetry that stirs the heart tales of pride, love and loyalty, preserving the soul of the desert.

Al-Hijini is deeply tied to Bedouin culture, serving as a medium for expressing emotions. (SPA)

Among the people of Tabuk, customs steeped in authenticity and dignity come to life during vibrant Eid celebrations.

They are a blend of heritage and contemporary life, rooted in the nomadic rhythm of the desert. Camels, specially adorned for the occasion, play a central role in the festivities as riders set out across the sands, joyfully chanting traditional verses.

Al-Hijini poetry derives its name from the well-trained camels used for riding and racing. The riders recite lyrical verses that encompass various themes of life, often focusing on patriotism and romance. The rhythm matches the camels’ steady strides, creating a harmonious blend of words and motion.

Caption

Noted for its simple melodies and brisk tempo, Al-Hijini uplifts the spirits and eases the solitude of travelers and desert caravans. It is deeply tied to Bedouin culture, serving as a medium for expressing emotions, recording daily experiences, relaying wisdom and preserving ancestral proverbs.

Traditionally performed solo, Al-Hijini often becomes a communal chant during celebrations such as Eid, with collective recitation reflecting the unity and solidarity of Tabuk’s desert communities.

Noted for its simple melodies and brisk tempo, Al-Hijini naturally accompanies travelers and desert caravans. (SPA)

 


Saudi Arabia welcomes Tajik-Kyrgyz-Uzbek border treaty and ‘eternal friendship’ pledge

Updated 02 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes Tajik-Kyrgyz-Uzbek border treaty and ‘eternal friendship’ pledge

  • Deal formalized the point where the three Central Asian countries’ borders meet in the mountainous Fergana Valley
  • Borders in Central Asia were often drawn up under the Soviet Union and never properly demarcated

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed the border deal forged between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the Fergana Valley, a long-disputed region that has ignited bloody clashes.

In a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom also congratulated the three Central Asian neighbors for signing a Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship, wishing them “continued stability and prosperity.”

Saudi Arabia has maintained deep ties with Central Asian countries, even hosting the GCC Central Asian Investment Forum 2024 in May last year.

The border deal signed on Monday by presidents Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and Sadyr Japarov Kyrgyzstan, formalized the point where their countries’ borders meet in the mountainous valley.

The densely populated region has been the scene of numerous conflicts — mainly for control of water that is running out in a region badly hit by climate change.

The three leaders met several days before an EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan. Relations between the former Soviet republics, long strained by rivalries, have warmed recently.

A map of the Fergana Valley. (Wikimedia Commons: Uwe Dedering)

Borders in Central Asia were often drawn up under the Soviet Union and never properly demarcated.

But in recent years, Central Asian countries have announced border agreements to regulate the sharing of water, facilitate trade and ensure the stability of this resource-rich region.

In the Tajik city of Khujand, the three presidents also called in similar statements for “reinforcing the cooperation between brotherly nations” — including in energy and transport.

The Tajik and Kyrgyz leaders also inaugurated a section of a joint high-voltage line to supply Pakistan and Afghanistan with energy produced by Central Asian hydroelectric power stations.

The summit follows the signing of border treaties in mid-March between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 2023.

(With AFP)

 

 

 


Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in May, White House confirms

US President Donald Trump. (File/AFP)
Updated 02 April 2025
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Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in May, White House confirms

  • Trip to Kingdom will be first foreign trip of president’s second term

RIYADH: US President Donald Trump is to visit Saudi Arabia in May, the White House confirmed on Tuesday.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The president will be heading to Saudi Arabia in May. As for specific dates and details, we will be reading those out to you as soon as we possibly can.”

 

 

The trip to the Kingdom will be the first foreign trip of Trump’s second term as president.

Regarding a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Leavitt said that Trump “has made it clear that’s what he wants to see” and “his team remains engaged on it every day.”

Saudi Arabia has hosted talks involving the US and Russia, and the US and Ukraine as Trump facilitates moves toward a ceasefire.


Saudi leadership offers condolences to ruler of Umm Al-Quwain after death of mother

Updated 02 April 2025
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Saudi leadership offers condolences to ruler of Umm Al-Quwain after death of mother

RIYADH: The leaders of Saudi Arabia offered their condolences to Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al-Mualla, the ruler of the emirate of Umm Al-Quwain in the UAE, following the death on Monday of his mother, Sheikha Hessa bint Hamid Al-Shamsi.

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their heartfelt sympathies along with their prayers that God will grant eternal rest to Sheikha Hessa, as well as solace and strength for her family and loved ones during this time of sorrow.

Authorities in Umm Al-Quwain have declared three days of mourning in her honor.


Madinah Retreats: Culture, spirituality to power up the soul

The Madinah Retreats experience is usually hosted in a traditional farm resort surrounded by nature. (Supplied)
Updated 01 April 2025
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Madinah Retreats: Culture, spirituality to power up the soul

  • Paradigm shift blends wellness practices, cultural expeditions, spiritual experiences

JEDDAH: In the sacred embrace of Madinah, one of Islam’s holiest sites, a new culture-oriented wellness experience is offering a journey that integrates spirituality, culture, and heritage.

The inspiration behind Madinah Retreats stems from founder Moatassem Al-Bitar’s experience in the wellness and spiritual tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Recognizing key gaps in traditional retreat models and leveraging Saudi Arabia’s tourism vision, he envisioned a paradigm shift that blends modern wellness practices, cultural expeditions, and spiritual experiences into a single journey.

Rehbah, where the first wellness retreat in Madina was held earlier in 2024. (Supplied)

With a background as a corporate culture change and people engagement manager, Al-Bitar has curated over 50 retreats across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the US, serving more than 400 participants.

His academic training spans diverse fields, including organizational behavior, Islamic spirituality, and intercultural studies.

Officially launched in 2024 after five years in the making, the initiative held its second retreat, under the theme “The Arrival,” earlier this year in Madinah.

FASTFACTS

• Madinah Retreats stems from founder Moatassem Al-Bitar’s experience in the wellness and spiritual tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

• It blends modern wellness practices, cultural expeditions, and spiritual experiences into a single journey.

Al-Bitar told Arab News: “Every retreat we design starts with clear intentions and objectives, supplemented by a story and a theme that aligns with a particular destination.”

The retreats feature a collective of facilitators who work together toward a unified intention, ensuring a balanced and immersive experience.

“One of our main goals is to promote different destinations in Saudi Arabia that are perfectly ideal for wellness-centric experiences, in addition to its unmatched culturally enriching character,” Al-Bitar said.

“We seek to partner with pertinent governmental initiatives and entities that fulfill the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for wellness tourism and exceptional experiences.”

Al-Bitar explained that each retreat is meticulously structured around three core pillars: spirituality (meditative practices and inner reflection); culture (heritage site visits, traditional storytelling, and local experiences); and wellness (movement–based practices, mindfulness exercises, and healing foods).

By integrating these elements into daily programs, Madinah Retreats offers a journey tailored to the needs of participants and is a “philosophy of being rooted, real, and rich.”

The retreats target individuals and groups seeking genuine transformation in their well-being, spiritual connection, and cultural enrichment. They provide a safe and accepting space where participants are respected on their unique paths to healing.

Madinah, which is the spiritual capital of Islam, is popularly known as the Illuminated City. It offers an atmosphere of peace and rejuvenation, and its diverse topography and climate make it ideal for nature-based healing.

“Madinah is widely recognized as a destination where the heart feels at peace, the body feels rejuvenated, the mind feels clarity and the soul feels enriched,” said Al-Bitar. “The city’s rapid development and recognition as a top global tourism destination further enhance its appeal.”

The Madinah Retreats experience is usually hosted in a traditional farm resort surrounded by nature. Participants visit cultural and historic sites, explore the city’s vibrant social scene, and experience local cuisine, contemporary art, and community traditions.

“During the retreat we offer meditation, breathwork, self-reflection, yoga, tai chi, and other somatic therapies, creative expression as a healing tool, as well as locally sourced, nourishing meals,” Al-Bitar added.

The somatic practices guided by expert facilitators enhance body awareness and overall well-being.

Al-Bitar said: “Connecting with nature and animals has proven therapeutic benefits. Madinah Retreats incorporates nature-based and equine therapy to help participants reconnect with their original disposition, providing an irreplaceable form of healing.”

Cultural storytelling is also an essential component, allowing participants to explore the hidden wisdom of each landmark and understand local traditions and historic practices.

No prior experience in meditation or wellness practices is required, making the retreats accessible to all.

Honoring his Egyptian roots, Al-Bitar is expanding the retreats to Siwa, Egypt.

Siwa Oasis, nestled within a breathtaking desert landscape, is characterized by vast dunes, striking limestone outcrops, and distinctive geomorphological features that enhance its appeal as a tourist destination.

“The expansion to Siwa, Egypt, was inspired by the oasis’ 160-year-old tradition of reconciliation — Eid El-Solh, a celebration of harmony,” Al-Bitar said.

“Siwa’s natural healing elements, such as salt lakes, hot springs, and lush landscapes, mirror many of Madinah’s restorative qualities.”

Al-Bitar said that Madinah Retreats will also explore the Kingdom’s hidden gems by hosting retreats in Abha, Aseer, Al-Ahsa, and other locations rich in healing nature and cultural heritage.

Retreat prices range from SR5,000 ($1,333) to SR10,000, depending on the location, program, facilitators, transportation, and accommodation.

Madinah Retreats follows a collaborative model, partnering with local service providers, facilitators, and experts to provide an experience that remains true to the cultural essence of each destination.

Al-Bitar said: “Our content caters to people from different backgrounds, both English and Arabic speakers. Our agenda is characterized by being spacious and offers ample time for self-guided practices. Our way of delivery is strictly non-intrusive.”

Participants leave Madinah Retreats feeling “transformed, enriched, and connected to their most authentic selves.”

Al-Bitar said that the experience embodied the profound wisdom: “You presume you are a small entity, but within you is enfolded the entire universe.”

Madinah Retreats also provides a customized retreat model that caters to corporations and teams, as well as add-on visits such as expeditions in AlUla.