MADINAH: Beggars of different nationalities are using a variety of means and tactics to gain the sympathy of pilgrims in Madinah, reportedly swarming the different locations that are frequently visited by Umrah performers and pilgrims, such as known Islamic and historic places in the city.
Beggars normally take advantage of the compassion and kindness shown by the pilgrims and their eagerness to give alms in this holy city, which beggars see as the best and quickest way of gaining money without any hardship. They often resort to exhibiting some disability, most often, though, simply sitting on road and begging.
Arab News spotted a number of men and women beggars of Asian nationalities who took the top of Al-Rumat Mountain as a place to beg from, away from authorities’ control.
Hiding behind cloaks, the beggars chase pilgrims and utter certain phrases in their own languages, such as Indonesian, Turkish, Urdu of African languages.
In one of the incidents, Arab News detected one woman beggar giving back change to one pilgrim. An Asian male beggar showed his disability to beg.
In a related development, Pakistani pilgrim Shuwaib Abdulrazzaq said beggars were chasing pilgrims and insisting to get money from them which, he said, is uncivilized.
Indian pilgrim Shakir Islam-ul-Deen said he saw many beggars on Al-Rumat Mountain bothering pilgrims and chasing after them everywhere.
Exploiting their kindness, beggars never leave pilgrims until they give them money, he pointed out.
Beggars exploit kindness of pilgrims in Madinah
Beggars exploit kindness of pilgrims in Madinah
Hira winter season gets set to welcome visitors during mid-year school vacation
- Experience runs until Jan. 10
MAKKAH: The Hira Cultural District in Makkah has launched its Hira Winter Activities to celebrate the mid-year school vacation, offering an enriching experience for visitors until Jan. 10.
The week-long winter season activities feature a range of events, including the Revelation Exhibition on the Holy Qur’an, and a heritage-inspired walk designed to promote Arabic literature, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Visitors can also partake in horse and camel-riding experiences that simulate ancient travel, reflecting an integral part of the Kingdom’s authentic culture.
The Winter Theater is presenting a variety of dramas and offers engaging entertainment games.
In addition, the Challenge Arena provides a variety of fun and exciting games, encouraging participation from those attending.
The Hira District also features a unique shopping experience, showcasing an array of handicrafts and traditional products.
The Hira District is regarded as a cultural monument and is located near to the renowned Cave of Hira and next to the famous landmark of Makkah, Jabal Al-Nour.
The cultural district, which covers an area of about 67,000 sq. meters, provides a uniquely enriching experience on a cultural, historic and entertaining journey to the worlds of the past.
Saudi Food and Drug Authority joins management committee of the ICH
- Milestone highlights the organization’s significant contributions
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has been elected as a member of the management committee of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, The Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The SFDA has become the first entity in the Middle East to achieve the distinction and joins seven international counterparts and eight representatives from global organizations on the prestigious body.
The milestone highlights the SFDA’s significant contributions, with 42 technical experts from its team actively participating in the council’s scientific committees, according to the SPA.
The ICH is the only global council that brings together regulatory authorities and leading pharmaceutical manufacturers to collaboratively address the scientific and technical aspects of pharmaceutical development.
It develops guidelines, establishes technical standards, and provides evidence-based requirements for the registration and production of medicines. Its outputs serve as a fundamental reference for evaluation processes worldwide.
The ICH strives to enhance coordination among stakeholders, promote constructive dialogue on scientific matters, and adapt to the rapid advancements in global drug regulation and manufacturing on a global scale, the SPA added.
The management committee includes the SFDA alongside prominent international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the European Commission, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Health Canada, and the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products.
AlUla celebrates citrus harvest with Citrus Season 2025
- Such initiatives ‘showcase beauty of agricultural heritage and position AlUla as a premier agritourism destination’ top RCU official tells Arab News
ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla launched Citrus Season 2025 on Friday. The event coincides with the peak harvest period, and “underscores the RCU’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and establishing AlUla as a premier agritourism destination,” according to a statement.
Rami AlMoallim, the RCU’s vice president of destination management and marketing, told Arab News: “AlUla’s growth as a destination has always been rooted in supporting the local community, with farmers playing a pivotal role in our agritourism endeavor.
“The Citrus Festival is one of several platforms that celebrate AlUla’s farmers, showcasing their expertise and the city’s natural abundance. These farmers, with generations of knowledge and dedication, are also central to our vision for a more sustainable future. Through initiatives such as festivals, marketplaces, training, and ongoing support, we are amplifying their contributions and providing them with broader opportunities to thrive,” he continued.
Underscoring that the changing seasons are fundamental to agriculture, AlMoallim said: “We work closely with farmers to identify the optimal times for events like the Citrus Festival, which harnesses the peak season for the more than 20 citrus variants in AlUla. This thoughtful planning enables us to align complementary events, offering visitors an immersive experience that reflects the rich diversity of AlUla.
“Such initiatives showcase the beauty of our agricultural heritage and position AlUla as a premier agritourism destination in Saudi Arabia, contributing significantly to its economic and cultural development,” he added.
Citrus Season, which runs until Jan. 11, is intended to stimulate economic growth through community-focused initiatives and sustainable development projects. It provides a vital platform for local farmers to market their produce, which yields thousands of tons of fruit annually between November and February, contributing significantly to the region’s agricultural and economic development.
The event showcases the diverse range of citrus fruits cultivated in AlUla, which is home to more than 5,000 farms containing 405,000 trees between them, bearing 29 distinct varieties of fruits including oranges, sweet lemons, bergamot oranges, sugar oranges, mandarins, clementines, grapefruits, and kumquats.
Covering 701 hectares, these farms produce 14,000 tons of citrus fruit annually, accounting for a significant portion of the Kingdom’s total annual production of 160,000 tons.
This demonstrates AlUla’s crucial role in strengthening the national agricultural sector and supporting economic diversification in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The RCU prioritizes the development of AlUla’s agricultural sector to “expand economic opportunities, increase producer competitiveness, create opportunities for local residents, and offer visitors unique experiences through interactive activities that highlight the importance of agriculture to the region’s present and future,” according to the commission.
This year’s Citrus Season will feature exhibition spaces for local families and farmers, a variety of events for residents and visitors, and a training course on using citrus fruits in cooking.
Along with AlUla’s Dates Season, Citrus Season represents a key economic driver, showcasing AlUla’s rich agricultural heritage.
Dates and citrus fruits play a vital role in supporting the local economy and advancing the RCU’s sustainable development goals.
Saudi Arabia affirms its readiness to participate in Syria’s renaissance
RIYADH: Syria's newly appointed foreign minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani said in a post on X on Friday that he conveyed on a visit to Saudi Arabia the vision of establishing a government based on partnership and efficiency that includes all Syrian components.
Al-Shaibani said Saudi Arabia affirmed its readiness to participate in Syria's renaissance and support its unity and territorial integrity.
The minister said Saudi Arabia expressed its support for the Syrian people and the new Syrian administration.
Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity while emphasizing efforts to achieve security, stability, and prosperity for the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The discussions also focused on preserving Syrian state institutions, enhancing its capabilities, and facilitating its reintegration into the Arab and Islamic worlds, SPA added.
Senior Saudi officials including Prince Musab bin Mohammed Al-Farhan and ambassadors Saud Al-Sati and Faisal Al-Majfal were also in attendance.
Al-Shibani arrived with a high-level Syrian delegation on Wednesday, including Defense Minister Marahf Abu Qasra and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab.
They were welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji.
This marks Al-Shibani's first foreign trip since the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar Assad on Dec. 8.
The visit comes after Syria’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, praised Saudi Arabia's potential role in shaping Syria’s future during an interview with Al Arabiya on Sunday.
Salsola, the camels’ favorite food, plays a big role in fighting desertification
ARAR: Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region is characterized by an abundance of seasonal and annual pastoral plants which helps to fight desertification, increase vegetation cover and biodiversity, and stabilize soil.
Estimated at 104,000 sq. km, the region has many species of trees, shrubs and pastoral plants, most notably the evergreen shrub Salsola, which is eaten predominantly by camels, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Nasser Rashid Al-Majlad, president of the Aman Environmental Society in the Northern Borders region, said the region is classified as a pastoral area and has many multi-purpose plants.
Its topography has contributed to the diversity of its plants and trees, of which the most famous is Salsola, also known as Caroxylon imbricatum.
This evergreen shrub is a summer plant of the Salsola vermiculata genus, which grows in the Arabian Peninsula as well as in the deserts and arid regions of southwestern Asia and North Africa.
It grows over a meter tall, and its leaves contain an unpleasantly smelling sap. It is one of the preferred pastoral plants for camels in particular.
In some places, it has been a tradition to use Salsola for treating skin disorders.
Nature reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative have contributed to afforestation and land reclamation, as well as to the restoration of native plants to their habitats.
