MAKKAH: There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms over Makkah in the next few hours, according to the National Center of Meteorology. Meanwhile, Madinah and Jeddah are also expected to be partly cloudy, reported Saudi Press Agency on Thursday. Current temperatures in Makkah sit at 43 degrees Celsius, with south-westerly to westerly winds ranging from 12 to 34 km/h. These could increase to more than 50 km/h with thunderstorms. Madinah is experiencing significantly warmer temperatures at 46 degrees Celsius, with westerly to south-westerly winds at 12 to 34 km/h.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday received a phone call from the Iranian acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani. During the call, they reviewed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and topics of common interest, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is using artificial intelligence technologies to enhance traffic management and alleviate congestion in Makkah during the annual Hajj season, ultimately providing a more secure and seamless pilgrimage experience. Having hosted 1,845,045 pilgrims in the 2023 season, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Statistics, efficient traffic control measures are more important than ever.

MAKKAH: The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs has prepared five clinics and a medical center for heat exhaustion and sunstroke at Mina and Arafat to serve pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. The Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday that the ministry had concluded its preparations and made available 250 employees and health practitioners, including 50 doctors specialized in intensive care, cardiology, emergency, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, family and community medicine, and fighting infections.

RIYADH: Every year Muslims from across the world gather in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage, a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey for many. With Hajj beginning on Friday, June 14, pilgrims will congregate in the tent city of Mina, near Makkah. Among the worshippers will be celebrities taking time out of their busy schedules to connect with their faith.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to participate in the Global event for Defense and security Eurosatory 2024 in Paris on June 17.  The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) is collaborating with the Saudi government to help organize the Kingdom’s participation in the event, which will continue until June 21. The Saudi pavilion will include participants from the Ministry of Investment, the General Authority for Defense Development and other national institutions specializing in military industries.  

RIYADH: King Khalid International Airport has announced that direct flights between Riyadh and the Bosnian capital Sarajevo will begin this month. A partnership with Saudi airline flyadeal will see seven weekly flights between the two cities, using an Airbus A320. This could see 1,302 passengers traveling the route each week.

MAKKAH: A specialized medical team at the King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the life of a 70-year-old Turkish pilgrim who suffered a stroke. The team performed a minimally invasive procedure that involved inserting a catheter into the brain to unblock the clogged artery and remove a blood clot. The patient regained full consciousness and was able to speak and move her limbs within less than an hour. She was then placed in the intensive neurological care unit for monitoring.

MAKKAH: Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, the minister of the National Guard, inspected the readiness of ministry forces for the Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported. This inspection is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to ensure the security of the Hajj, following the directions of the country’s leadership. During his visit to Makkah’s Al-Shara’i district, Prince Abdullah watched a detailed military parade under the theme of “Ease and Reassurance.”

RIYADH: A campaign on how to choose the proper animals for sacrifice and ensure that it is free of diseases has been launched in Madinah province ahead of Eid Al-Adha.  Dubbed «My Sacrifice,” the awareness campaign is a project of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's Department of Animal Wealth, according to the Saudi Press Agency. »The campaign, which is supervised by a number of specialists and veterinarians, shows the most important and sound methods for preserving meat and keeping it safe from poisoning," SPA said.

JEDDAH: Malaysian pilgrim Mohammed Safwan, 66, is finally achieving a decades-long dream of performing Hajj. Hailing from Johor in the south of the country, Safwan worked as an aviation safety technician for Malaysia Airlines, but after retirement had little savings because he had continued to support his family. When Malaysia’s government approved Safwan’s Hajj request, his children collected $26,000 so that he could fulfil his dream. 

RIYADH: Doctors working remotely from Riyadh helped a 72-year-old Jordanian pilgrim in Madinah survive a stroke this week, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The medical team specializing in telestroke medicine is affiliated with the Seha Virtual Hospital in Riyadh, the SPA reported. The pilgrim, who has a history of chronic illness, was treated at the Madinah General Hospital.

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia arrested 26 violators of Hajj regulations at the entrances to Makkah after they tried to enter without a valid permit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The Ministry of Interior announced that the Hajj Security Forces had arrested nine residents and 19 citizens, who had attempted to transport 102 people on Tuesday.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry extended the Kingdom’s condolences and sympathy to the families of those killed in a fire that ripped through a building in Kuwait on Wednesday. The blaze, which broke out in a six-story building in the Mangaf area, south of Kuwait City, killed 49 and left dozens injured, the Kuwaiti health ministry said.  The Saudi foreign ministry expressed the Kingdom’s solidarity with the government and people of Kuwait and its best wishes for the security and safety of Kuwaiti citizens and residents. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday sent a message of condolence and sympathy to the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, following a fire that killed and injured dozens of people in the country. The king wrote: “We learned of the news of the outbreak of a fire in the Mangaf region, and the deaths and injuries that resulted from it, and we send to Your Highness, to the families of the deceased, and to the brotherly people of the State of Kuwait, our warmest and most sincere condolences.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declined an invitation to attend a communication session of the G7 Summit in Italy on Friday. He sent a message to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanking her for the invitation but said he is unable to participate because of his obligations to supervise the work of officials in the Kingdom during Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The prince noted the strength of the relationship between their countries and wished Italian authorities success in hosting the summit.

RIYADH: The general supervisor of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, on Wednesday discussed the situation in Gaza with the Palestinian minister of health, Majed Abu Ramadan, and minister of social development, Samah Abdul Rahim Hussein Hamad. Their meeting took place during “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza,” an international emergency conference that began in Jordan on Tuesday.

MAKKAH: Neurosurgeons at King Abdulaziz Hospital saved an Ethiopian pilgrim’s life after he suffered a subdural hemorrhage, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The pilgrim, whose age was not revealed, was losing consciousness and exhibiting severe weakness in the right side of his body. Shortly after diagnosing a subdural hemorrhage, or severe brain bleed, the neurosurgery team from King Abdulaziz Hospital, a member of the Makkah Health Cluster, operated on the man.

RIYADH: 500 Palestinian pilgrims who are being hosted through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit arrived in Makkah on Wednesday. The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance will receive 2,000 more pilgrims from Palestine on Thursday as part of the program, Saudi Press Agency reported.  The pilgrims expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom’s government for its interest in the Palestinian cause and for enabling them to perform Hajj through the program, SPA added.

MAKKAH: The Presidency of the Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced on Wednesday that the Arafat sermon translation project will now encompass 50 languages. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the initiative, spearheaded by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, marks the world’s largest project of its kind. Launched in 2018, the project initially offered translations in five languages.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Jeddah on Wednesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations, aspects of cooperation in various fields, and ways to support and develop them. They also reviewed regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them. 

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will host dozens of cultural activities next week to celebrate Eid Al-Adha. The events, which run from Monday to Wednesday, include a performance by Kuwaiti artist Humood Alkhudher at the Ithra Theater, plays and stage shows, exhibitions and competitions for all ages. Visitors will also be able to explore the cultures of pilgrims from various countries and enjoy a range of festive activities in the Ithra Library.

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia has inaugurated a pioneering self-driving aerial taxi service for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season.

RIYADH: The UN World Food Programme has welcomed Saudi Arabia’s donation of 300 tonnes of dates for vulnerable children in Sri Lanka. Provided through Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief, the dates will be given to primary grade children enrolled in the country’s national school meal program.  The contribution was acknowledged at a signing event on Tuesday between the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Sri Lanka and the WFP, according to a press release. 

MAKKAH: The Hajj season brings people together in a spirit of faith, solidarity and volunteerism, among whom 70-year-old scout leader Abdulwahed bin Abdulmalik Khayyat stands out for his exceptional service and multilingual abilities.

MAKKAH: Families of conjoined twins, who were separated in Saudi Arabia, were welcomed in Makkah after arriving to perform Hajj, state news agency SPA reported. They were hosted as guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit under directives issued by Saudi King Salman last month. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, which supervises the program, had made extensive preparations and formed various committees to ensure a smooth pilgrimage for the families.

RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi Tuesday bid farewell to the first group of 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims, who are staying in Jordan, who were invited by King Salman to perform Hajj this year. Al-Sudairi saw off the pilgrims, who are the families and relatives of Palestinian martyrs, prisoners and wounded, at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.

RIYADH: Saudi aid group KSrelief inaugurated three health projects in Port Sudan, Red Sea State that provide necessary medical equipment to hospitals, the Saudi Press Agency said.   The first project aims to support Al-Abyadh Specialist Hospital for Children with an oxygen station to generate and distribute oxygen, benefiting 25,000 individuals. The second project seeks to support government hospitals affiliated with the Sudanese Ministry of Health with dialysis machine, benefiting 3,960 individuals.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Border Guard has foiled an attempt to smuggle 240 kg of qat into the country. Officers in Asir’s Al-Raboah district arrested several suspects, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The government has urged the public to report suspected smuggling operations or customs violations on the confidential numbers 1910 and 00 966 114208417, or via email at 1910@zatca.gov.sa. Financial rewards are offered for tips leading to prosecutions.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on Tuesday took part a BRICS Outreach ministerial meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The Kingdom was attending as a guest country that has been invited to join the group.

RIYADH: One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is a physically taxing yet spiritually rewarding journey — and completing it is considered a great blessing and honor in the Muslim community. Previous Hujjaj, or Hajj pilgrims, spoke to Arab News about their experiences and offered advice to those embarking on it this year. For Makkah local Hatoon Nabeel, Hajj was a spiritual and unforgettable experience.

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia arrested 15 violators of Hajj regulations at the entrances to Makkah after they tried to enter without a valid permit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The Ministry of Interior announced that the Hajj Security Forces had arrested four residents and 11 citizens, who had attempted to transport 71 people on Monday.

RIYADH: While chairing the 121st session of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Executive Council on Monday and Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s minister of tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, emphasized the role the sector plays in achieving growth of the global economy, and sustainability that benefits local communities. During his opening speech, he said that presiding over the meeting was “a historic moment” because “it united world leaders to confront pressing challenges in tourism and to drive tangible progress in all aspects of the global tourism sector.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Hajj minister praised a group of kind-hearted individuals for aiding a distressed pilgrim in Makkah. A group of men were seen assisting the Nigerian pilgrim who had become lost and ended up on a highway in the holy city. The men, depicted in a viral video, then drove the pilgrim back to his residence. Pilgrims are issued an ID card, known as the Nusuk Card, which allows others to assist them if they get lost or separated from their group. The men were observed scanning the barcode on his name tag to find his residence information.

RIYADH: The Diriyah Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to enhance the training and development of Saudi talent. The partnership aims to transfer knowledge and expertise by creating comprehensive learning plans and fostering collaboration across professional fields within the built environment, following the institute’s standards.