RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said that more than 12 million people have attended Riyadh Season so far this year. The diverse range of offerings at Riyadh Season, which began in October and lasts to March 2025, continues to captivate audiences. Recent additions, including The Groves and Souq Al-Awaleen, have further enhanced the visitor experience. The opening of the Courchevel Zone in Boulevard World has allowed visitors to enjoy a unique winter experience.

RIYADH: The Saudi Interior Ministry conducted inspection campaigns in the Kingdom between Dec. 12-18 to ensure compliance with residency, labor and border security laws. During this period, 20,159 violations were recorded, including 11,302 for residency violations, 5,652 for border security violations, and 3,205 for labor law violations.

ROME: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, met Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, in the Pope’s Vatican office recently. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual cooperation and common interest, the Muslim World League wrote on X on Saturday. The CEO of the league in the US and UK, Muath Alamri, wrote on X: “This meeting serves as an excellent example of religious diplomacy. Faith leaders should collaborate more effectively to promote understanding and tolerance among communities.”  

RIYADH: The agricultural landscape of the Najran region, historically a cultural and economic anchor, now stands at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s push for food security, environmental stewardship, and economic vitality, according to a report from the Saudi Press Agency published on Saturday.

RIYADH: Henry Moores, a British influencer, has made an unusual journey to Riyadh for the high-profile boxing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, having walked across Saudi Arabia from the UAE. Describing the trip as an opportunity he “simply couldn’t afford to miss,” Moores told Arab News: “Riyadh has long been on my radar for many years, and when the opportunity presented itself through the Fury fight, everything aligned perfectly.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned and denounced the Israeli government’s approval of a plan to double the population of the occupied and annexed Golan Heights. Israel’s government “unanimously approved” the $11 million “plan for the demographic development of the Golan... in light of the war and the new front in Syria and the desire to double the population,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is holding the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from Jan. 13-16 under the patronage of King Salman. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, along with the Pilgrim Experience Program, will host a conference gathering ministers, ambassadors, academics, experts, diplomats, and representatives from private and public institutions across 87 countries.

RIYADH: Members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) signed a resolution on Sunday to rename the organization to the Arab Energy Organization (AEO), the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Arabia had proposed renaming and restructuring the organization during the 113th ministerial meeting in Kuwait this week. Saudi Arabia's proposal aimed to enhance OAPEC's charter and promote stronger cooperation among its members as part of a larger reconstruction initiative, the SPA added.

RIYADH: Jeddah Governor Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi attended a reception on Sunday to commemorate Qatar’s national day, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The event, arranged by the country’s consulate in Jeddah, was attended by several Qatari officials from the diplomatic corps who welcomed the prince.  

DUBAI: Japan is “delighted” with the rising interest from Saudi Arabia travelers in the Asia nation’s tourism offerings, according to a leading official on Monday. Daisuke Kobayashi, executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organization’s office in Dubai, said that JNTO’s first event in Riyadh, titled “FEEL YOUR FOUR SEASONS,” allowed the organization to share the diverse attractions of his country.

RIYADH: Misk Art Week is underway in the Kingdom’s capital with workshops, markets, and showcases curated around the theme of art and technology. As the country accelerates to new horizons, 20 local and international participants have revealed their perspectives of Riyadh and its ever-changing nature at the “Seeing Riyadh” exhibition.

RIYADH: Ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official visit to the Kingdom, Arab News reviews recent bilateral developments between the two kingdoms. Forging alliances that transcend borders, Saudi Arabia and the UK have emerged as powerhouses of collaboration, driving innovation and reshaping global landscapes in the fields of energy, technology, and sustainable infrastructure.

RIYADH: The International Desalination and Reuse Association selected Saudi Arabia on Monday to host a global conference to discuss water challenges and desalination projects. Saudi Arabia will host the 2026 IDRA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse Solutions. Riyadh was selected during the current IDRA 2026 congress in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. It is held under the theme “Addressing water scarcity,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: King Salman received a written message from the president of Equatorial Guinea, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.  The message from Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo concerned relations between his country and the Kingdom.  It was received by the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Equatorial Guinea Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Riyadh.  The two ministers reviewed relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields.

RIYADH: Israel’s decision to seize Syrian-held areas in a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights and its attacks on Syrian territory confirm continued Israeli violation of international law, Saudi Arabia said on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday he had ordered the army to “seize” the demilitarised zone in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights after militants swept Syrian president Bashar Assad from power.

RIYADH: French President Emmanuel Macron visited the historic At-Turaif district in Diriyah on Tuesday during his official trip to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Press Agency reported. Hosted by Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the visit highlighted the district’s historical significance as the birthplace of the Saudi state and its UNESCO World Heritage status. Macron and his delegation explored At-Turaif, attended a horse show, and toured the Diriyah Museum, SPA added.

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir met UK Minister for Climate Kerry McCarthy and UK Special Representative on Climate Rachel Kyte at COP16 in Riyadh, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations on the environment, climate and desertification. They also discussed key topics on the conference agenda. UK Ambassador to the Kingdom Neil Crompton was among the officials present during the meeting.  

RIYADH: The Saudi-French Investment Forum that took place in Riyadh on Tuesday marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, with the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding and investment agreements worth billions of dollars. Held to coincide with the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, the event brought together officials, policymakers, and business leaders from both nations, aiming to align their national visions for a prosperous future.

RIYADH: The world is facing mounting challenges in the water sector, including rising drought rates that lead to multiple crises represented by a shortage of usable water, the exacerbation of desertification, and the subsequent threat to human life and societies, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday. He was speaking while inaugurating the One Water Summit in Riyadh in the presence of several presidents and top officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the One Water Summit held in Riyadh on Tuesday. Prince Mohammed met with French President Emmanuel Macron and heads of top French companies. They discussed efforts to combat desertification, exchanging expertise and innovative technologies, and enhancing research and development to address water challenges and ensure the sustainability of water resources.

RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister highlighted the importance of a balanced, inclusive approach to energy transition while ensuring global energy security and sustainable development at a Group of 20 session on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Faisal was leading the Kingdom’s delegation during a session titled “Sustainable Development and Energy Transition,” SPA added.

RIYADH: The second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian Joint Tripartite Committee to follow up on the Beijing Agreement was held in Riyadh on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Elkhereiji chaired the meeting, with Vice Foreign Minister of China Deng Li and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi present.

RIYADH: “If you don’t channel your passion for executing a business, then you simply have a hobby,” Essa Behbehani said at the Misk Global Forum on Tuesday. The CEO of Prepline, a food and beverage investment and development company, made the statement during the panel discussion “Dream, Do, Dare: The Entrepreneur’s Cookbook,” which discussed core business skills, provided guidance on overcoming common startup challenges, and offered essential advice on scaling enterprises through funding.

RIYADH: A memorandum of understanding to establish the Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council was signed by the foreign ministers of both countries in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. The agreement was signed during a meeting between Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. It is a “continuation of what was agreed upon between the leaderships of the two countries during the visit of the President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the Kingdom on November 30, 2023,” SPA said.

RIYADH: The world’s economy is shifting towards a state in which sustainability and circularity will no longer be considered optional extras but the baseline for how we operate, experts said at the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday. During a panel discussion titled “A Circular Revolution,” the participants explored ways in which waste materials can be reused or recycled to help achieve a circular economy that is beneficial to the environment while also generating profits.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has signed an agreement with King Charles’ School of Traditional Arts to cooperate in the programs of the Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative.  The signing ceremony on Wednesday was attended by Prince Bader bin Farhan, minister of culture, at the Saudi International Handicrafts Week Exhibition (Benan), currently held at the Roshn Front in Riyadh.  

JEDDAH: The Saudi Geological Survey recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special event in Jeddah, marking a quarter-century of excellence in geological research and exploration. Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef attended the event. The event highlighted the survey’s achievements, future initiatives, and contributions to geological research and innovation. Guests shared insights from their experiences with the organization.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has improved its desalination efficiency by 80 percent and halved costs by 50 percent in recent years, a top official from the Kingdom has said. “Our achievements in desalinated water production in the last eight years are equivalent to what was achieved in the previous four decades,” Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said.

CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad met Congo’s Minister of Finance Doudou Fumba Likunde, the Saudi Fund said on X on Wednesday. During the meeting, they reviewed development cooperation between the two sides that began 40 years ago, as well as discussing ways to enhance economic cooperation to develop vital sectors in Congo. Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Congo Abdulaziz Al-Badi was present during the meeting.

RIYADH: Saudi official Khalid Al-Zahrani was chosen on Wednesday to be vice chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which sets the standards for the international food trade that are designed to ensure products are safe and protect consumer health. Representatives of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority who were present for the vote at the commission’s 47th annual session in Geneva, Switzerland, congratulated Al-Zahrani on his election.

RIYADH: Workshops arranged by Ehsan, the national platform for charitable work, are helping empower non-profit organizations. The initiative will ensure leaders keep pace with the governance of charitable work, with sessions aimed at developing methods to plan and implement projects.

JAZAN: Authorities in Jazan arrested a citizen for transporting nine border security violators of Yemeni and Ethiopian nationalities. Legal procedures were carried out, and the violators were handed over to the authorities before being transferred to the Public Prosecution.

RIYADH: A Spanish world-class powered aerobatic pilot on Tuesday put on a thrilling aerobatic display filled with loops, rolls, spins, dives and climbs at the Sand & Fun event at Al-Thumamah airport, Riyadh.  Organized by the Saudi General Aviation, the event runs from Nov. 19-23.  Castor Fantoba’s performance was one of 10 SkyVentures at Sand & Fun’s series of airshows. In a sitdown interview with Arab News, Fantoba described how his passion for aviation began and what it takes to become a world-class aerobatic pilot. 

JEDDAH: The Italian Consulate General in Jeddah hosted on Wednesday night a unique event celebrating the richness and uniqueness of Italian products and flavors on the occasion of the ninth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.  The event is being celebrated all over the globe from Nov. 16-22 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture as part of their drive to promote the beauty and quality of Italian gastronomy.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met Johan Stuart, minister of state at the Swedish Prime Minister’s office, in Riyadh on Thursday. They discussed ways in which relations and cooperation between their countries might be enhanced, along with other issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.