A knowledgeable source at Jeddah's Secretariat said major private companies are not coming forward to bid for maintenance projects in the region.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the companies do not venture to enter the maintenance project bidding process because money allocations for the implementation are small, and maintenance operations are built on old standards and estimations. “The prices vary according to the willingness of small firms to take on such projects,” the source said.
On the other hand, big companies’ prices are “exaggerated,” according to the source. “The problem can be solved by upgrading the levels of the bidding companies and increasing the money allocations to some reasonable amounts, in addition to developing the old standards”, said the source.
Regarding the latest heavy rains and the projects, Abdulmalik Al-Junaidi, chairman of the Municipal Council in Jeddah, said the Secretariat hampered by the small amount of funds allocated for the maintenance of the rainwater drainage system.
“The Secretariat makes all possible efforts to keep streets and neighborhoods clear of floodwater after rains, deploying hundreds of workers and tens of water trucks to pump out water. Thirty rapid intervention centers are also activated,” he added.
Commenting on the effects of the recent rainfalls on the projects being implemented by the municipality, he said that the projects were definitely affected, but the flow of vehicular traffic on overpasses and in underpasses was unaffected.”
Al-Junaidi also said the latest session of the civic body discussed its readiness for the rainy season. “Aramco has implemented projects to keep rainwater from nearby valleys flooding neighborhoods in the east of Jeddah,” the official commented, adding that inside Jeddah itself, no new projects were implement to channel rainwater except the main water channels to the north, south and center of the city.
Contractors stay away from Jeddah projects
Contractors stay away from Jeddah projects
Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority
RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.
The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.
He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”
Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity
- Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed
RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.
The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.
The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.
Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.
The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.
Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.
The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.
Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.
Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience
- Deep-rooted cultural connection in the spotlight
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has used the stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka to tell a story of Saudi-Japanese relations which spans the oceans.
In a live performance titled “Tales of the Sea,” the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together the seafaring traditions of Saudi Arabia and Japan, spotlighting a deep-rooted cultural connection anchored in pearl diving, patience, and poetry.
Held at the Saudi Courtyard Theater, the show centered on the figure of the nahham, a traditional Gulf singer whose role was to inspire pearl divers with his voice during long months at sea.
Japan’s ama divers, skilled women known for their sea diving expertise, were also featured to showcase their abilities and the risks they took in search of sea treasures.
The performance told the story of a Saudi diver on a six-month journey to find the largest pearl, combining performance with visual storytelling projected across five towering 13-meter walls.
Interactive exhibits showcasing traditional diving tools and cultural artifacts invited visitors to engage more deeply, sparking conversations about resilience, tradition, and the Kingdom and Japan’s shared maritime legacies.
The audience responded with enthusiasm, drawn by the show’s emotional depth and the unexpected parallels between the two cultures.
The show captured the maritime memories of both nations, which were enhanced by Gulf chants blended with traditional Japanese music to help create an experience that reflected the partnership.
The Kingdom’s pavilion — the second largest at the expo after Japan’s — will host more than 700 events during the six-month fair, including concerts, films, and storytelling performances.
“Tales of the Sea” stood out as a clear example of how cultural exchange can be both meaningful and memorable.
Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening
Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening
- Court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Tuesday is the 29th of Dhul Qadah and if the crescent moon is sighted that day, the month of Dhul Hijjah, during which Hajj takes place, will start on Wednesday May 28. In this case, the first day of Eid Al-Adha will take place on Friday June 6.
If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday evening, Dhul Hijjah will start on Thursday and the first day of Eid will be on Saturday June 7.
The court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court.
Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing
- Program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering
- Initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako, Mali, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Conducted in cooperation with Mali’s Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering.
The initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states, the SPA added.
The launch event was attended by Lt. Gen. Sadio Camara, Mali’s minister of defense and veterans affairs; Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghed, secretary-general of the coalition; senior diplomatic and military officials; and representatives from national and international organizations.
The program featured a scientific lecture, “Financial Investigations into Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes,” attended by more than 200 participants, including security, oversight, and judicial personnel.
The session covered methodologies for financial tracking, analysis of illicit networks, and shared relevant international experiences.
Additionally, a closed workshop, “Methods of Countering the Financing of Terrorist Organizations in the Sahel Region,” brought together specialists from key national and regional entities.
Discussions focused on shared challenges, successful models, ongoing initiatives, and mechanisms for enhanced cooperation.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of sustained collaboration between the coalition and its member states.
Participants emphasized the need to expand training and capacity-building efforts to enhance institutional readiness and strengthen collective responses to security threats across the Sahel region.
