JEDDAH: A clip posted by a Saudi man on Twitter showing the wedding function of a Saudi bride and a non-Saudi groom has created a buzz on the social networking site with people commenting on the Kingdom’s social politics, racism and women’s rights.
The clip, said a BBC blog, shows men dancing in a circle, with a traditional Syrian chant heard in the background, marking the union of the Saudi woman and her Syrian hubby in the holy city of Madinah.
More than 50,000 people have used the hashtag “a woman from the Harb tribe marrying a Syrian man in Madinah.”
The tribe to which the bride belongs as well as the nationality of the groom were the major points of contention in the online debate.
Some commenters were jubilant at the thought of an inter-country marriage: “What happened tonight in Madinah is a good example of the Qur’anic verse: Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you,” was one message. Others discussed the consequences of marrying foreigners.
“It is her right to marry whom she chooses, but she can’t come later and shout that her husband and children are foreigners and demand that the nationality be given to them. Think well before you take such a decision,” wrote one tweeter.
Many congratulated the couple, expressing their support for the marriage as a means of combating racism and promoting equality between Saudi men and women: “The most important thing is that he is a Muslim. Say ‘no’ to racism. The law should be equal to both man and woman…”
There are examples of interracial relationships in the Holy Qur’an. And one tweeter gave examples from the time of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to show that intermarriage was accepted.
“Bilal bin-Rabah Al-Habashi (a companion of the Prophet, who came from Habash (Ethiopia) married Hala, from the Quraysh tribe (one of the most respected Arab tribes which controlled Makkah). Islam took away these ignorant and racist traditions and you are resurrecting them,” wrote a Saudi architecture student.
Many Saudis were angry that the hashtag was even created to discuss such a personal event. However, many others brought to the fore notions of the superiority of some groups over others. One tweeter wrote: “Marriage is a whole life; so it is a big mistake for a Saudi girl to marry a foreigner, a ‘Syrian’ specifically. I wish that she becomes the last Saudi woman who marries a foreigner.”
Racism knot acceptable: Twitterati hail union of Saudi woman, Syrian groom
Racism knot acceptable: Twitterati hail union of Saudi woman, Syrian groom
KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport
- KSrelief dispatched dozens of aid trucks and planes after collapse of Assad regime
RIYADH: The 11th Saudi relief plane landed at Damascus International Airport in on Wednesday as part of a humanitarian airlift launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre.
After the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime early in December, KSrelief has sent dozens of trucks and planes loaded with food, shelter, and medical supplies to meet the urgent basic needs of Syrians.
Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences
- Discussions at Jeddah conference focus on crowd control, personalized services, sustainable solutions
- Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah
JEDDAH: Industry experts gathered to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience for millions of pilgrims worldwide.
The discussions took place at the fourth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, running until Jan. 16.
The event, themed “The Road to the Nusuk,” is hosted by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, featuring over 300 local and international organizations showcasing innovations to improve the pilgrim experience.
The conversation began with an overview of the current state of Hajj and Umrah, with speakers noting that only 5 percent of available technical capabilities have been utilized so far.
Mohammed Al-Hamid, director of the AI Center at the Ministry of Interior, shared in the session “Personalizing Services for the Guests of Allah: Data and Digital Solutions” that the ministry has made significant progress in data and AI infrastructure.
He added that the ministry has played a key role in transforming the Hajj and Umrah experience into a seamless journey driven by technological innovation.
Al-Hamid said that AI can help manage crowds by tracking movements, identifying potential hazards, and making real-time adjustments to traffic flow.
“We are using AI to develop long-term solutions that enhance the sustainability of Hajj services, including managing human density by analyzing crowd flow and predicting congestion, offering multilingual guidance, utilizing big data to anticipate pilgrims' needs, and efficiently distributing human and technical resources,” he added.
Speakers then expressed optimism about how AI could address the urgent need for faster and more effective services.
Abdulaziz Al-Matahami, deputy minister of planning and digital transformation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the ministry first digitized traditional services, then moved to integrate government agencies to offer customized services for each pilgrim and Umrah performer.
He highlighted the new version of the Nusuk app, which provides comprehensive services such as hotel and flight reservations, historical tours, and permits for the Two Holy Mosques.
Al-Matahami also announced the launch of the Nusuk Business platform, aimed at enhancing integration with entrepreneurs to deliver innovative solutions for serving pilgrims.
In another session titled “Advanced Solutions and Technologies for Effective Crowd Management,” Fahad Al-Ghamdi, CEO of human resources at National Security Services Co., explained that the company operates as an integrated security system, offering consulting, risk analysis, and advanced technical solutions, such as mobile command and control centers with cameras supported by AI to analyze data in real time.
Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah.
He said: “Technologies such as facial and fingerprint recognition, along with simulating crowd flow using supercomputing, have improved planning and reduced waiting times at ports and airports.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Spain Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin visited the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the conference. She was briefed on the ministry's efforts and initiatives to ensure a safe Hajj experience, including AI-enhanced security systems, digital solutions for crowd management at holy sites, the “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign, and the Makkah Route initiative.
Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday.
The prince is set to discuss the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.
Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites
- Newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha
- Commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 3,202 new sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total to 28,202.
This reflects the richness of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and efforts to document and protect it, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha.
This registration follows the promulgation of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law; and a decision by the commission’s board of directors authorizing its CEO to register and protect heritage and archaeological sites.
The commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches.
Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Russian counterpart
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and bilateral relations during a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.
The ministers discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, a statement on the Saudi foreign ministry account on platform “X”.
