RIAYDH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in separate calls, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Prince Faisal spoke on the phone with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed “the latest developments related to Pakistani mediation efforts and the ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and US,” the ministry said. The foreign minister also called his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has opened applications for nonprofit organizations to join its “Support for Performance Program.” The program offers eligible entities the opportunity to apply for six financial support products aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s nonprofit cultural sector.

DAMMAM: Eastern Region Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz has received in Dammam the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Kingdom Andy Rodriguez Duran. The parties enjoyed cordial exchanges and discussed topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.  Meanwhile, Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh has received the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia Akram Karimi. The meeting took place at the council’s headquarters in Riyadh. The parties discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them.  

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in the United Kingdom on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. During the visit, Prince Faisal is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper to discuss Saudi-British relations and regional and international developments. The visit comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer struggles to fight off growing demands to step down after devastating local election results for his Labour Party.

GAZA CITY: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has recently provided 24,000 hot meals to vulnerable people displaced by conflict in Gaza’s central and southern areas. A central kitchen was established by KSrelief in Gaza in February to provide the food. In Khan Younis, 820 food baskets were delivered, benefiting 4,920 people. This aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to assist the people in the Palestinian enclave.

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has welcomed the US government’s decision to designate the Sudan branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The minister expressed his support for the decision during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. During the call, Prince Farhan said the Kingdom supports Washington’s measures that strengthen regional stability and security.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing leadership in global AI adoption, and reaffirming AI as a top priority by supporting the nation’s AI ambitions in line with Saudi Vision 2030. With the Kingdom emerging as a global hub for data and AI, driven by the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the move was underscored by the Saudi Cabinet’s approval on Tuesday.

JEDDAH: During Ramadan, the city of Jeddah takes on a different spirit. Neighborhoods and house entrances are decorated with bastat (street stalls) that recall the charm of traditional markets and the authentic character of Hijazi culture. Spread across the city, these stalls form a vibrant social and cultural scene that reflects the identity of the community and the depth of its heritage.

RIYADH: In the Samhaniya neighborhood, a pocket of Diriyah, old mud-brick houses have been restored and repurposed into small shops and studios. Throughout Ramadan, the neighborhood sees a familiar surge: longer nights, busier walkways, and more spending tied to hosting, gifting, and evening gatherings. At Artisana, a Saudi brand specializing in handmade crafts, that shift is reflected in customer interest and purchasing.

RIYADH: A new art exhibition has opened at King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, as the country celebrates Flag Day, which fell on Wednesday. The event, titled “In Love with Green,” is being held in collaboration with the Saudi Art Association and features 20 fine art paintings inspired by the Saudi flag, as well as other cultural and contemporary images and landmarks.

RIYADH: The Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen and the governor of Hadramout laid the foundation stone in Al-Mukalla city on Monday for a series of power plant projects, which will have a total capacity of 100 megawatts for the Hadramout coast. SPDRY is funding the project and is part of a tripartite cooperation that includes Yemen’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy and Gulf Power International, which is implementing it.

MAKKAH: The “Read” exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Endowment in Makkah offers an interactive knowledge experience, raising awareness of the Qur’an and its sciences through modern methods. Held in partnership with the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque and the Bayan Association for Teaching the Holy Qur’an, it highlights the educational role of the Two Holy Mosques in line with digital transformation.

RIYADH: Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud recently met with Chief of Staff to the President of South Korea Kang Hoon-sik in Riyadh. The two sides explored avenues for enhancing cooperation across the energy sector and discussed efforts aimed at supporting the stability and reliability of energy supplies, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives Yahya Al-Qahtani met with Abdullah Al-Harthi, head of the educational mission, the Embassy said in a post on X on Monday.

ARAR: Ma’ila National Park in the Northern Borders region, spanning more than 25 million sq. meters, is undergoing major development to become a key natural destination. Led by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the project promotes sustainable environmental development.

RIYADH: The National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development recently led participants from nine countries in the first phase of the GSR Hackathon, organized by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. The center oversaw the agriculture track for the Global Student Research event, which included designing challenges, technical supervision and virtual judging, ensuring practical and sustainable solutions.

RIYADH: The fourth edition of the EV Auto Show opened at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday, highlighting the full spectrum of green mobility options. As Saudi Arabia accelerates towards its Vision 20103 smart mobility targets, new market research from PwC Middle East shows 40 percent of the country’s consumers are considering buying an electric vehicle in the next three years.

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met global leaders on Monday evening on the sidelines of the ninth Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, which runs until Oct. 30. The crown prince welcomed the presidents of Kosovo, Guyana, Bulgaria, Mauritania and Rwanda, as well as the prime ministers of Pakistan, Montenegro and Albania, who are attending the three-day conference, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

RIYADH: When the yellow, blue and red ribbon was cut, a new era of diplomatic relations was born as Colombian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Rayan El-Barkachi Aboutrabi marked the opening of the first Colombian Embassy in the Kingdom on Monday night. “It’s about becoming closer with one another as governments and further developing relations, as well as for the Colombian people and the Saudi people to come closer together,” the ambassador told Arab News.

RIYADH: Doctors who were granted premium residency status in Saudi Arabia praised the benefits of the scheme at an event in Riyadh on Monday. Speaking to Arab News at the Global Health Exhibition, Dr. Seham Othman Omar, an associate consultant in pediatric cardiology at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, said: “The premium residency has many benefits, including freedom of movement.” She added that the premium residency gave her greater flexibility over where she worked, which allowed her to treat patients “in many hospitals, and in many cities.”

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s UN ambassador received the 2025 Spirit of the UN Award in the Diplomat Category on Monday for his contributions to multilateralism, dialogue, peace promotion and international cooperation. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil was elected in June as vice president of the General Assembly and has assumed positions including chairing the Commission on the Status of Women this year. “This recognition is a tribute to the enduring principles of multilateralism and the shared commitment of the international community to peace, dialogue and cooperation,” he said on X.

RIYADH: The use of generative artificial intelligence in efforts to foster a university environment that stimulates innovation and creativity among students was one of the topics discussed on Tuesday at the inaugural Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Universities.

RIYADH: Saudi cities have shown a significant improvement on the international stage, underlining the rapid pace of transformation the Kingdom is witnessing under its Vision 2030. The Global Cities Report by management consultant Kearney has highlighted the remarkable progress in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam, thanks to sustained investment in infrastructure, innovation, and livability.

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Sanae Takaichi as she become Japan’s first female prime minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Wednesday. Japan’s parliament elected Takaichi on Tuesday and she underlined her commitment to boosting Japanese defense as she prepared to host visiting U.S. President Donald Trump next week.

LONDON: Central Saint Martins college in London hosted an arts and culture symposium on Tuesday that explored the cultural transformation in Saudi Arabia, and its influence across the wider region.

RIYADH: In the heart of Al-Watan Park, in the historic district of Al-Futah, stands a familiar yet overlooked silhouette: the Burj Al Khazzan. This 61-meter-tall water tower, built in the 1970s by Swedish architect Sune Lindstrom, long served a crucial role: storing water for a rapidly growing capital. Today, as Riyadh redefines its urban identity under Vision 2030 and the Green Riyadh initiative, the Burj may soon begin a new life — cultural, ecological, symbolic.

RIYADH: At the upcoming “Jewels of the World” exhibition, on-site value added tax refunds will be available to international visitors through a partnership with Global Blue. The event is scheduled to run from Oct. 3-7 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh with over 100 international brands participating. It will then move to the Jeddah Hilton from Oct. 11-14. A development at this year’s event is the availability of these on-site VAT refunds.

KABUL: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributed shelter aid in eastern Afghanistan this week as part of the emergency response project to assist earthquake victims in the country. This aid included 2,000 shelter kits, 2,000 tents, 10,000 blankets, and 2,000 kitchen utensil kits. KSrelief also distributed 4,633 emergency shelter kits to the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan regions of Pakistan.

MEXICO CITY: Saudi Arabia and Mexico have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in accounting, auditing, and professional oversight, marking a new chapter in their relations. The agreement was inked in the Mexican capital by Hussam Al-Angari, president of the Saudi General Court of Audit, and David Colmenares Paramo, head of Mexico’s Supreme Audit Institution. The signing ceremony was attended by Fahad bin Ali Al-Manawer, the Saudi ambassador to Mexico.

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Passports, in cooperation with the Saudi Falcons Club, has launched a special stamp for the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2025. The exhibition is being held at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham (north of Riyadh) from Oct. 2 to Oct. 11, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The event is expected to attract 1,300 exhibitors and brands from more than 45 countries.

KUWAIT CITY: Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan headed the Kingdom’s delegation in Kuwait at the 124th meeting of the GCC’s Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee. The ministers looked at topics related to enhancing cooperation among the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, and followed up on developments to achieve this goal.

DAMMAM: The Eastern Region Municipality has scooped Silver Level for Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Gulf Sustainability Awards. Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al-Jubeir recognized the work of the municipality’s digital transformation agency in winning the honor.

HAIL: The Hail camel auction has begun in Al-Qaid, drawing enthusiasts from across the Kingdom for the 10-day event. The auction showcases rare and distinctive camel breeds and is considered one of the largest events of its kind in the region owing to the high number of camel owners attending. The event features a diverse range of heritage, cultural, and social activities designed to engage visitors of all ages.

LAHJ: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief recently distributed educational supplies to support displaced children and host communities in Yemen. The donation, centered on the Tuban district of Lahj, comprised school uniforms, bags and hygiene kits for 1,589 students, the Saudi Press Agency reported. A wider project, covering the Lahj, Abyan, Al-Dhale and Taiz regions, includes equipping schools with blackboards, training more than 600 teachers in active learning methods and raising awareness about the importance of education.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Greece are pursuing new cultural initiatives in education, handicrafts and the culinary arts, building on the success of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, according to a Greek diplomat. Maira Myrogianni, secretary-general for Greeks abroad and public diplomacy, said: “There is very good momentum between the two countries … the diplomatic relations are at an excellent momentum and also we have a lot of signed agreements in the last years, in cultural, economic and different (fields).”

RIYADH: Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Egypt expressed support for a peace plan to end the war in Gaza unveiled by US President Donald Trump on Monday. He announced his proposal during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following talks between the two leaders at the White House. The Arab and Muslim ministers issued a joint statement in which they welcomed Trump’s “sincere efforts” and voiced confidence in his ability to “find a path to peace” in the region.