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Photography | Courtesy of SPA JEDDAH, April 30 — Saudia has announced its summer 2026 seasonal destinations, with services scheduled during June, July, August and September to a range of leisure markets across Europe and the region. The destinations include Salalah in Oman, Antalya and Bodrum in Turkey, Nice in France, Athens and Mykonos in Greece, El Alamein in Egypt, and Malaga in Spain. The airline said the seasonal routes were scheduled to match peak travel periods while

RIYADH, April 28 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Jeddah Governor Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi attended a graduation ceremony for more than 5,100 male and female students of the Arab Open University for 2026 on behalf of Makkah Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz. The ceremony was also attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, and a number of university officials. Prince Abdulaziz said graduati

RIYADH, April 28 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar and Deputy Governor Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman performed funeral prayers on Tuesday for Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin Mohammed bin Saad bin Mohammed bin Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Saud at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. A number of princes, senior officials and worshippers also attended the prayer [📷|SPA]

RIYADH, April 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia said any foreign national who remains in the kingdom after the expiry of an entry visa will face a fine of up to SAR50,000, up to six months in prison and deportation. The Interior Ministry called on the public to comply with regulations governing this year’s Hajj season and to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims. It said violations would be subject to legal penaltie

RIYADH, April 27 — The Saudi Falcons Club has announced its 2026 calendar of major events, featuring around 120 days of activities aimed at promoting national heritage and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for falconry. The calendar opens with the International Falcon Breeders Auction from Aug. 5 to 25, with participation from leading local and international breeders and falcon farms. It will be followed by the Saudi Falcons Club Auction for locally capture

RIYADH, April 26 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia recorded 12,192 violations of residency, labour and border security laws during inspection campaigns carried out between April 16 and 22, the Interior Ministry announced. The total included 6,606 residency violations, 3,510 border security violations and 2,076 labour law violations. Border authorities arrested 1,454 people trying to enter the kingdom illegally, including 32% Yemenis, 67% Ethiopians and 1% of other n

SPA RIYADH, April 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has issued an urgent warning to citizens and residents against fraudulent Hajj campaigns and unlicensed offices targeting domestic pilgrims. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant against deceptive advertisements circulating on social media and various digital platforms. The ministry emphasized that all domestic pilgrimage services must be verified through the official Ministry of

SABN RIYADH, April 19 — Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense urged the public to remain cautious and stay away from flood-prone areas as thunderstorms are expected to continue across the kingdom through Friday. The warning followed forecasts by the National Center for Meteorology of continued unstable weather conditions. Civil Defense said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across all regions, including Makkah, Riyadh, Madinah, Hail, Qassim, the Northern Borders, the Eastern Regi

SPA RIYADH, April 16 — Saudi Arabia welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a statement carried by the Saudi foreign ministry. The kingdom also praised what it described as the positive role played by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese government headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. In its statement, the foreign ministry renewed Saudi Arabia’s support for the Lebanese state in s

RIYADH, April 16 — Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense is continuing a public awareness campaign on weather phenomena, urging residents to follow safety instructions and remain alert during changing weather conditions. The campaign, launched under the slogan “Important to Know,” is aimed at strengthening prevention awareness and improving community preparedness in dealing with climate-related fluctuations. Civil Defense urged the public to stay in safe places

SPA RIYADH, April 15 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture opened the first edition of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday with a session focused on culture as a form of soft power and the role of the nonprofit sector in shaping the future, state news agency SPA reported. The opening session, held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre under the title "Culture as Soft Power: Redefining the Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Shaping the Future," featured Prince Tu

SPA RIYADH/JEDDAH, April 14 - Saudi Arabia's cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, condemned what it described as Iranian attacks on the kingdom and praised the armed forces for defending the country and protecting its assets, state news agency SPA reported. The cabinet also commended rapid operational and technical efforts that restored production at affected energy facilities, saying the swift recovery demonstrated the resilience of the kingdom's

SPA RIYADH, April 14 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has announced penalties for violating Hajj permit regulations ahead of the 1447 AH pilgrimage season, including fines, deportation and possible confiscation of transport used to carry offenders, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The ministry said anyone caught performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit could face a fine of up to 20,000 riyals ($5,332). The same penalty applies to holders of vi

SPA RIYADH, April 13 - Saudi Arabia's Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority said it had recorded 55 new wildlife births in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve and King Khalid Royal Reserve by mid-second quarter 2026, in a sign of wildlife recovery and the success of protection and reintroduction efforts. The authority said the births included nine Arabian oryx and 46 sand gazelles, also known as Reem gazelles. Of the total, 40 births were r

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has begun accepting electronic applications for Makkah entry permits for resident workers during the 1447 AH Hajj season. The directorate said the permits would be issued through technical integration with the Makkah Entry Permit service via the Absher and Muqeem portals, removing the need for in-person visits to passport offices. The Absher Individuals platform will be used to

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said residents wishing to enter Makkah will be required to obtain official permits starting Monday, April 13, as the Kingdom begins implementing arrangements for the 1447 AH Hajj season. The ministry said residents without the required permits would be denied entry to Makkah. Exemptions apply to holders of residency permits issued in Makkah, those holding a Hajj permit, and individuals wit

SPA RIYADH, April 12, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - Saudi Arabia recorded 15,458 violations of residency, labor and border security laws during inspection campaigns conducted across the kingdom between April 2 and April 8, the Interior Ministry said. The violations included 8,440 related to residency laws, 4,054 to border security and 2,964 to labor regulations, the ministry said in a statement. Authorities arrested 1,600 people attempting to enter the kingdom illegally, incl

SPA JEDDAH, April 11, 2026, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - As late winter gives way to early spring, the desert of the Northern Borders Region is being covered with blooming anemones, known in Arabic as Shaqaiq Al-Numan, in a seasonal scene that highlights the beauty of the desert and its botanical diversity following the rainy season. The Saudi Press Agency observed anemones spreading across several wilderness areas, covering wide stretches of land in bright red and creating s

SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Domestic tourism in Saudi Arabia rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with the number of local tourists reaching about 28.9 million, up 16% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism. Domestic tourism spending reached SAR34.7 billion during the period, an increase of 8%, while the total number of domestic and international tourists climbed to around 37.2 million, with combined spendi

RIYADH, April 6, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — The King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reopened on Tuesday morning after being closed for hours over possible threats from Iran. The causeway authority said in a post on X that traffic resumed on the only road route connecting Bahrain to the Arabian Peninsula. The temporary shutdown came after a ballistic missile attack from Iran targeted Saudi Arabia and may have damaged energy infrastructure there. The kingdom h