Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites/node/2588629/saudi-arabia
Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
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They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials. (SPA)
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Guests praised ’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life. (SPA)
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They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials. (SPA)
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Updated 01 February 2025
Arab News
Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
Updated 01 February 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: The third group of guests from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, visited the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba kiswa.
They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The guests also visited the Revelation Exhibition in the Hira Cultural District, where they explored the story of the Qur’an’s revelation.
The group includes 250 Umrah performers from 18 African countries, the SPA reported.
Guests praised ’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life.
They acknowledged development projects enhancing the experience for Umrah performers, pilgrims and visitors, according to the SPA.
Malls and cafes are major social hubs for residents and professionals looking to socialize and network in Riyadh. (Supplied/File
Updated 10 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari
The changing face of Riyadh summers
From mall meetups to cafe culture, residents are reinventing socializing in
Updated 10 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: With summer temperatures in Riyadh soaring above 40 C, outdoor gatherings have become rare. While some say the heat makes it impossible to socialize, others believe the right cooling provisions can make any spot appropriate.
And, despite the weather and shifting social norms, some see little change in our socializing habits.
Ali Sowaileh, a visitor from the Eastern Province, said: “The cultural change overall is small. Gatherings were and still are being hosted at homes … with light conversation and Saudi coffee and tea.”
Malls and cafes are major social hubs for residents and professionals looking to socialize and network in Riyadh. Supplied/File photo/SPA
But Saudis are increasingly opting for indoor spaces such as malls, cafes, and play areas.
Many working mothers, for example, prefer to meet at play zones and take their children.
“Summer is the most productive time of the year for me. I prefer to spend it developing myself and focusing on work,” said Hanan Al-Harbi, a 30-year-old mother who works in the intellectual property field.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Riyadh’s cafe culture has grown rapidly with establishments boasting stylish interiors and diverse menus.
• Coffee shops have emerged as venues for casual meetups, networking, and professional and creative collaborations.
“I also don’t really enjoy hot weather, so staying indoors feels more comfortable,” she added, saying that she takes her daughter to soft-play locations a few times a week.
Shopping malls have become another major social hub, offering entertainment zones and events that allow families to spend an entire day there.
Malls and cafes are major social hubs for residents and professionals looking to socialize and network in Riyadh. Supplied/File photo/SPA
“I find it (a mall) a suitable choice given the nature of my work and the limited time I have,” said Tahani Al-Mutairi, a 40-year-old healthcare worker. “My work ends at 4 p.m. and I don’t have enough time to return home and prepare to host guests. So, having meetings here (the mall) is better both emotionally and financially.”
Nawal Mohammad, 24, also finds malls appealing, and the student said: “People are not staying at home all the time. Entertaining areas are now encouraging people to go out and socialize.”
Coffee shops, meanwhile, have emerged as venues for casual meetups, networking, and professional and creative collaborations. Riyadh’s cafe culture has grown rapidly with establishments boasting stylish interiors and diverse menus.
Some trace this development back to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Rawan Alghamdi, 23, said: “People were separated from each other (then). It wasn’t like before when they used to visit neighbors. After COVID-19, people became more isolated.”
However, others still see outdoor options as attractive. Abdulaziz Alotaibi, a telecommunications product manager, said: “If the place is prepared and comfortable and has outdoor seating, I would definitely prefer to sit outside.
“For example, at Sikka, people there sit outside despite the heat because the place is designed well.”
Noura Al-Huqbani, 55, agrees, and enjoys outdoor trips once the seasons shift, saying: “I prefer colder seasons when I go on spring trips, camping and to parks.”
For some, however, heat remains the deciding factor. “I personally enjoy the weather more than the place I am at,” said 19-year-old student Ghanaj Al-Rashid.
Lujain Khalid, her friend visiting from Kuwait, said: “Evenings used to be cooler. It is impossible to see anyone at a park now. It has become mainly (a matter of gathering) in cafes or malls.”
Whether in malls, coffee shops, or play centers, Saudis are reshaping how they gather. Social hubs are no longer just an escape from the heat but new spaces for connection and entertainment.
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz (R) holds talks with Miles Armitage in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 31 sec ago
Arab News
Deputy governor receives Australian ambassador in Riyadh
Prince Mohammed wished the ambassador success in his new duties
Updated 31 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz received Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom Miles Armitage in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The meeting was held on Armitage’s appointment as his country’s ambassador to the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Mohammed wished the ambassador success in his new duties.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest.
Lebanese authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle 125 kilograms of cocaine with the help of the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
Updated 02 September 2025
Arab News
Attempt to smuggle 125 kg of cocaine into Lebanon thwarted with help of Saudi authorities
Lebanese authorities, acting on information from ’s Interior Ministry and monitoring the activities of drug-smuggling networks, thwarted the attempt
Updated 02 September 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Lebanese authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle 125 kilograms of cocaine with the help of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The ministry’s security spokesman, Brig. Gen. Talal bin Abdul Mohsen bin Shalhoub, said Lebanese authorities, acting on information from ’s Interior Ministry and monitoring the activities of drug-smuggling networks, had thwarted an attempt to smuggle the cocaine, which had been concealed in a shipment of vegetable oil containers.
The spokesman affirmed that the Kingdom continues to monitor, confront, and thwart criminal activities targeting the security of the Kingdom, its youth, and those of friendly countries through drugs.
Athar Festival to put spotlight on creativity across industries
About 3,000 visitors, 150 speakers to converge for 2 days of workshops, panels, live entertainment
Mohamed Al-Ayed: As an event it is the premier and most sought-after creative event in , and most probably the biggest in the region
Updated 02 September 2025
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: The third annual Athar Festival, a major gathering for the creative marketing industry in , will take place at Riyadh’s JAX District from Oct. 21-22.
The two-day event, hosted by communications consultancy TRACCS and UAE-based Motivate Media Group, is expected to attract around 3,000 visitors and feature 150 speakers, concluding with the Athar Awards across more than 30 categories.
Mohamed Al-Ayed, vice chairman of the Athar Festival and CEO of TRACCS, told Arab News: “I believe that (by) today, in the third edition, there has been a very strong maturity of the creative industry of , as an industry to be recognized and looked at.
“As an event it is the premier and most sought-after creative event in , and most probably the biggest in the region. We have set our sights high, given how is transforming and growing in leaps and bounds. Where impact is the new language, we want to transform Athar Festival into one of the top five creative destinations in the world.”
Al-Ayed said that this year’s festival boasted more speakers and a larger venue, adding: “Last year our venue was 2,000 sq. meters; this year it is more than 6,000. Last year we had 100 speakers; this year 150, of which more than 40 percent are international.”
Ian Fairservice, chairman of Athar Festival and managing partner of Motivate Media Group, told Arab News: “If I’m looking at impact — which is, after all, what athar means — the impact is the spread of knowledge, which means the spread of interest in creativity in over a three-year period.”
The festival’s speakers include British perfumer Jo Malone, founder of Jo Loves; Essam Akhonbay, vice president of marketing at Saudia; and Abeer Alessa, co-founder and CEO of The Bold Group.
Running for 12 hours daily, the festival will use five stages. The strategic and spotlight stages will feature panels and keynotes, while the Saudi Gamer Arena will highlight gaming and esports. The community stage hosts sessions, masterclasses, and workshops, and the courtyard stage live music, wellness activities, and comedy.
Fairservice said: “The attendance is not limited to any particular industry. People looking for a career change are most welcome, and I can’t think of a better place for them to meet others and see whether this is the industry they would like to be part of.”
The festival has added new hubs, including the Talent Hub, Ruwad Hub for entrepreneurs, and Saudi Gamer Arena, along with other areas ideal for networking.
Specialized programs at the event will include CEO and CMO roundtables, CMO academies, and the Maheerah Program, a mentorship initiative for women in ’s marketing communications sector.
This year’s lineup includes more than 80 sponsors and partners, including MBC Media Solutions as growth partner and Flynas as official airline partner. Other organizations involved include the Saudi Tourism Authority, Amazon Ads, Bloomberg Media, Omnicom Group, WPP, and the King Salman Park Foundation.
Al-Ayed said: “The prominence of creativity has now become very important in the business sector. But what I’ll say is that maybe creativity needs a home, a platform, and we believe that Athar is the platform, or one of the platforms, for Saudi creativity.”
People inspect the debris after a landslide devastated the village of Tarasin in Sudan’s Jebel Marra area. (AFP)
Updated 02 September 2025
expresses condolences after landslide wipes out Sudan village, kills 1,000
Heavy rain triggered the disaster on Sunday, flattening the village of Tarasin in the remote Jebel Marra range, and there was only one survivor
Updated 02 September 2025
RIYADH: on Tuesday expressed its condolences to the government and people of Sudan after a landslide in the Darfur region buried an entire mountain village and killed at least 1,000 people.
Heavy rain triggered the disaster on Sunday, flattening the village of Tarasin in the remote Jebel Marra range, the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) faction which controls the area said in a statement, adding that there was only one survivor.
The SLM/A, which has long controlled and governed an autonomous portion of Jebel Marra, appealed to the United Nations and international aid agencies to help collect the bodies of victims, including men, women and children.
The SLM/A has remained neutral in the battle between the main enemies in Sudan’s civil war, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The two foes are fighting over control of Al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur state, which is under siege from the RSF and has suffered famine.
The Foreign Ministry expressed the Kingdom’s solidarity with Sudan and its people, and its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
