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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

SPA RIYADH, April 5, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Taif’s rose farms are seeing stronger production this harvest season, helped by favorable weather conditions that have improved crop quality and increased output, according to farmers and tourism operatos. Taif Governorate has more than 910 rose farms and about 1.14mn rose shrubs, producing around 550 mn roses a year during a harvest season that lasts about 45 days. The farms are concentrated in the highland areas of Al

SPA RIYADH, April 1, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency that Princess Al Jawhara bint Faisal bin Abdullah Al Abdulrahman Al Saud, mother of Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, had died. Funeral prayers were set to be held on Thursday after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, according to the statement.

SPA MAKKAH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A rare Quran manuscript preserved in Saudi Arabia is drawing attention in Makkah after the Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District highlighted a copy written in the form of a ship, an example of historic Islamic manuscript design and calligraphic innovation. The piece is believed to date to the 11th century CE, or the 5th century AH, placing it among early surviving works that illustrate how Quranic manuscripts

RIYADH, March 28, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia said holders of certain expired visas could either extend them through Absher or depart directly through international ports without fees or late penalties, SPA reported on Saturday. The General Directorate of Passports said the measure applies to expired visit visas of all types, as well as Umrah, transit and final exit visas. It said visas that expired from February 25, 2026 could be extended until April 18,

SPA RIYADH, March 28, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Saudi Falcons Club is set to carry out an international falcon release in Kazakhstan under its 2026 Hedad programme as part of efforts to reintroduce falcons into their natural habitats and support their stability along global migration routes. The release is scheduled for Sunday at Altyn Emel National Park in Kazakhstan. The site was selected based on environmental and scientific criteria, including the suitabilit

RIYADH, March 28, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia ranked 22nd globally out of 147 countries in the World Happiness Report 2026, with a life evaluation score of 6.817 out of 10. The report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is issued annually in conjunction with the International Day of Happiness on March 20. It is based on survey d

RIYADH, March 26, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority on Thursday extended the operating lifespan of trucks used in freight transport to 22 years for six months, until Sept. 25, 2026. The authority said the measure was introduced to help the land transport sector absorb current changes and meet rising demand in the freight segment. It added that the initiative was among measures announced by Transport and Logistics Services Minister

RIYADH, March 25, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it was allowing visa extensions and direct departures for holders of expired visas who had been unable to leave because of current regional conditions. Visas that expired from February 25, 2026 may be extended until April 18, 2026 through the Absher platform, upon request by the host and subject to applicable fees. Holders of expired visit, umrah, transit and final-exit visas may also leave d