Several young, avid animal rights activists have launched a campaign on social networking sites advocating the adoption of stray cats found on the streets and the opening of government-owned pet shelters with animal protection laws.
The campaign, under the slogan, “adopt, don’t buy,” encourages pet lovers to take in animals without shelters instead of spending money on high-end breeds, while warning of the cruel fate that awaits strays if left unsheltered.
Hussain Al-Dossari, a campaign participant, said that the idea of adopting cats is a wholly new concept within local society no matter how popular abroad.
“The goal of this campaign is to look for homes for stray cats and return lost cats to their owners or find them new homes. Our campaign also encourages residents to be kind to strays they encounter in the street,” he said.
“We also spread awareness on the fact that Islamic law permits the castration of cats whose owners cannot afford having more than one or a few,” said Al-Dossari. “This is pivotal in reducing the number of cats and the likelihood that so many will end up on the streets, some of which are picked up by authorities after receiving complaints from residents and dumped in the desert, where they die of starvation and dehydration.”
“We are appalled by shops that put cats in small cages to force them to mate and then sell the kittens off before they have been weaned because they are in high demand,” he said. “Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is quoted to have denounced taking baby birds away from their mothers after witnessing a newborn flapping its wings for help.”
Some shops do display cats that have been given up by their owners for adoption, he said. “Yet many private residential compounds are guilty of killing cats by drugging them or separating them from their babies, which is inhumane.”
Nada Ahmed, the owner of a profile for animal lovers on a social networking site, said: “I put up pictures of stray cats and animals on my page in a bid to find them homes.”
“I try to raise awareness about our religious obligation to be kind to animals,” she said. “There are many such pages on social networking outlets.”
Muhammad Al-Sofaian, spokesman for the Eastern Province Municipality, said: “We have a program in place to control the number of stray cats and dogs in residential neighborhoods. Residents are urged not to leave food on the street to avoid attracting a congregation of animals.”
Activists campaign to give stray cats a home
Activists campaign to give stray cats a home
Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse
- The collapse of the gold mine in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan killed 11 miners and wounded seven others
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia offered its condolences to Sudan on Sunday after a gold mine partially collapsed in the country, killing 11 miners and wounded seven others.
The mine is in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan.
The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom stands with Sudan during this tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Jeddah panel explores declining marriage rates among youth
- Discussion highlights changing views on commitment, societal pressures, search for meaningful connection
JEDDAH: Amid changing values, shifting priorities and growing alternatives to traditional partnerships, a panel titled “Why is there a decline in marriage today?” has explored evolving views on love, commitment and marriage.
Organized by Ta3mq, a platform focused on honest dialogue, the event at Hayy Jameel’s Rukn Space in Jeddah featured panelists from psychology, community leadership and youth engagement.
It was moderated by Tasneem Alshanqiti, Ta3mq founder, and Motaz Al-Safh, a Saudi engineer and entrepreneur. The session addressed generational concerns, fears and new definitions of partnership.
Reflecting on her role, Alshanqiti said: “I wasn’t just moderating — I was carrying the voice of younger women,” adding that she aimed to create a safe space that encouraged openness and reflection.
Panelist Rozana Albanawi, founder of Qeema and Jeddah_CM, said that the discussion explored marriage from societal, religious and psychological perspectives, focusing on self-understanding, compatibility over idealism, and the evolution of love.
Al-Safh said that he focused on creating a safe, judgment-free space for men to express vulnerability.
He described the conversation as “more like a talk between brothers than a formal panel,” aiming to help participants understand their fears and feelings about love and commitment.
The discussion highlighted recurring themes among Saudi youth. Al-Safh said that a few key issues kept emerging: Fear of failure, feeling unready, and pressure from expectations. Many question whether marriage today feels like love or a liability.
He added: “But beneath it all, there’s a real craving for connection, just done right, in a way that feels safe and meaningful.”
Dr. Khalid Sindi, a relationship and marriage psychotherapist, offered a broader national perspective by linking personal challenges to policy and social change.
Speaking to Arab News, he noted the ongoing transition in Saudi marriage values — from traditional to more modern — while emphasizing the preservation of core Islamic principles.
He highlighted government efforts under Vision 2030, such as the Saudi Marriage Fund and Sakani housing program, aimed at easing economic barriers for youth.
Sindi added: “Younger generations are seeking marriages that blend our cherished traditions with contemporary expectations of emotional connection and mutual growth. This represents not a rejection of our values but their natural adaptation to modern life.”
The panelists said that changing views on love and commitment reflected maturity rather than uncertainty.
Albanawi said: “There is high awareness among the generation now on marital topics, and many are seeking marriage with the right tools.”
She explained that conversation and dialogue help young people to commit while accepting uncertainty in relationships.
“The younger generation is looking for new ways to shape their marriage, such as avoiding unnecessary rules like high financial burdens or societal expectations that don’t match their reality.”
On the event’s outcome, Albanawi added: “A common theme was that marriages work best when couples marry early, are ready, and have family support.”
She noted that many believe delaying marriage increases fears and makes adaptation harder.
Sindi expressed a similar view on marriage’s evolving nature, saying that the changing views reflected progress and natural generational dynamics rather than fear or uncertainty.
“Rather than seeing shifting perspectives as problematic, the older generation should guide younger Saudis with wisdom and empathy.”
Highlighting the national context, Sindi noted the vital role of government initiatives in supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision for marriage and family life, demonstrating a commitment to making families society’s cornerstone.
Reflecting on the session’s emotional honesty, Al-Safh said that hearing men express concerns such as, “I don’t want to fail someone’s daughter,” revealed deep care often left unspoken.
Alshanqiti echoed the need for open, non-judgmental spaces, saying fears about failure and not being enough reminded her that many seek places where they can be truly seen and heard. She described the session as a step toward that openness.
Global sculptures at open-air museum in historic Jeddah
- The sculptures form a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, blending the site’s heritage with the language of contemporary art
JEDDAH: As part of a broader effort to revive the region’s visual identity through art, Al-Arbaeen Lake in historic Jeddah has been transformed into an open-air gallery featuring a curated collection of sculptures by international artists.
Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city’s visual landscape, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sculptures form a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, blending the site’s heritage with the language of contemporary art.
Notable works on display include “The Illusion of the Second Cube” by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely; “Rouge” and “Flexibility of Balance” by Alexander Calder; “Circular Mass” by Arnaldo Pomodoro; “The Bird” by Spanish sculptor Joan Miro; and “Giving and Receiving Love” by Lorenzo Quinn — a powerful piece that reflects human values through striking aluminium forms.
FASTFACTS
• Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the urban art initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city’s visual landscape.
• Notable works on display include ‘The Illusion of the Second Cube’ by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely and ‘Giving and Receiving Love’ by Lorenzo Quinn.
The installations are part of a wider artistic movement that reimagines public spaces as platforms for cultural engagement.
By transforming urban environments into art experiences, the project invites both residents and visitors to explore the intersection of architectural heritage and modern creativity.
It underscores the growing role of art in shaping urban identity and fostering public appreciation for visual beauty in shared spaces of the Kingdom.
Saudi FM receives Djiboutian counterpart
- The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Djiboutian counterpart, Abdul Kader Hussein Omar, in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.
The two ministers also chaired a meeting of the Political Consultations Committee between the two countries, during which they discussed coordination on key regional and international issues.
Saud Al-Sati, deputy minister for political affairs, was among the officials in attendance.
Saudi FM receives written message from Russian counterpart
- Al-Khuraiji and Kozlov elaborated on relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The message, regarding Saudi-Russian relations and ways to support and strengthen them in various fields, was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh during a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov.
During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji and Kozlov elaborated on relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed, SPA added.
