Saudi Arabia

Heavy Thunderstorms and Flash Floods Forecast for Jazan and Aseer RIYADH, August 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Moderate to heavy thunderstorms could bring hail and flash floods to parts of Jazan and Aseer regions, the National Center for Meteorology said. Light to moderate rain is forecast for parts of Najran and Al-Baha, as well as the highlands of Makkah Region. Thunderclouds are also expected over Riyadh and Eastern regions, particularly in their southern areas. Gusty,

Hail International Arabian Horse Beauty Championship Upgraded to Category B | 📷spa HAIL, August 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center has approved Category B status for the 2026 Hail International Arabian Horse Beauty Championship. The classification allows the championship to qualify participants for international Arabian horse competitions. Hail Governor Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz has supported the development of the champio

Saudi Sports Sector Conference Reviews Club, Facility and Season Preparations | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Ministry of Sport’s regular sports sector conference reviewed developments related to clubs, facilities and preparations for the upcoming season, while highlighting programs and initiatives supporting sports across Saudi Arabia. The conference confirmed the completion of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud University Stadium, developed in cooperation w

Religious Affairs Presidency Expands AI Services for Umrah Performers | 📷SPA MAKKAH, August 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has expanded its use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to support Umrah performers during the Umrah season. The services are designed to improve multilingual access to religious guidance and practical information while helping accommodate increasing numb

Makkah’s Holy Quran Museum Houses 18th-Century Manuscript | 📷SPA MAKKAH, August 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — An 18th-century Holy Quran manuscript housed at the Holy Quran Museum in Makkah’s Hira Cultural District offers visitors insight into the development of handwritten Qurans and Arabic calligraphy. The manuscript provides a historical view of the artistic and technical methods used to produce Quranic works, including the evolution of ornamentation and gilding acros

KAUST Scientists Find Corals Can Be Primed to Resist Disease | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have found that controlled exposure to a pathogen can prepare corals to better resist the same disease agent during a later encounter. The study, published in ISME Host Microbe, exposed corals to sub-lethal doses or inactive forms of a disease-causing pathogen. The corals showed greater resistance

Two JW Falcons Sell for SAR 540,000 at International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026 | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Two falcons from JW Falcons were sold for a combined SAR 540,000 during the first auction night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026. Bidding for a young pure gyrfalcon opened at SAR 50,000 before the falcon was sold for SAR 380,000. A young hybrid gyrfalcon also entered bidding at SAR 50,000 and was sold for SAR 160,000. The N

Saudi Arabia received more than 19.5 million overseas Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in 2025 | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 3 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia received more than 19.5 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from abroad in 2025, according to the annual report of the Pilgrim Experience Program. The total included 18.03 million Umrah pilgrims and 1.5 million Hajj pilgrims. Umrah arrivals increased by 114% compared with 2022. Hajj pilgrim satisfaction reached 91%, while satis

International falcon shipments arrive in Saudi Arabia ahead of Malham auction RIYADH, August 1 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Falcon shipments from breeding farms in Austria, the Netherlands, Romania and Ireland have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia ahead of an international auction near Riyadh. The International Falcon Breeders Auction will take place from August 5 to 25 in Malham and will be organised by the National Center for Falcons. Breeders will offer falcons through dir

Saudi Arabia unveils ‘Our Pride Lies in Our Nature’ as 2026 National Day theme RIYADH, July 31 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia unveiled “Our Pride Lies in Our Nature” as the official theme for the Kingdom’s 96th National Day celebrations on September 23. General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alshaikh announced the theme alongside a new visual identity connecting Saudi heritage and cultural values with the country’s future ambitions. The identity includes

July full moon lights up Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders ARAR, July 30 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Clear skies offered residents and photographers across Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders Region an unobstructed view of July’s full moon on Wednesday. Adnan Khalifa, a member of the Astronomy and Space Club, said the July full moon is known in some North American Indigenous traditions as the “Buck Moon” or “Deer Moon,” referring to the period when male deer begin growing new an

Al-Khobar turns traffic circles into record of Saudi history | 📷SPA AL-KHOBAR, July 29 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Roundabouts and public squares across Al-Khobar are taking on a second role beyond managing traffic, using architecture and public art to trace Saudi Arabia’s history and changing urban identity. Among the largest is the Vision 2030 Roundabout on Al-Khobar Corniche. Spanning 11,300 square metres, the installation comprises 84 units forming images of King Salm

International Falcon Breeders Auction Sales Top SAR13 Million as Global Participation Grows | 📷SPA RIYADH, July 27, Saudi Arabia Breaking News – Sales at the International Falcon Breeders Auction rose 23% to more than SAR13 million in 2025 as the event attracted a larger number of breeding farms and participating countries. The number of falcons sold increased 27% to 1,103, compared with 872 in 2024, when total sales exceeded SAR10 million. International participation also e

Arees Well Preserves Story of Prophet Muhammad’s Lost Ring in Madinah MADINAH, July 25 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Arees Well in Quba, widely known as the Well of the Ring, is linked to the loss of a silver ring once used by the Prophet Muhammad to seal official letters, according to historical sources. The ring carried the inscription “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.” Following the Prophet’s death, it was entrusted successively to the caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthm

International Falcon Breeders Auction to Open in Malham on August 5 RIYADH, July 23, Saudi Arabia Breaking News – Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Falcons will begin its 2026 programme of specialized events with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, scheduled from August 5 to 25 in Malham, north of Riyadh. The three-week event will bring together falcon farms from Saudi Arabia and other countries, alongside exhibitors specializing in falconry equipment and supplies. Fa

Saudi Arabia Launches 365-Day Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa RIYADH, July 20, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days from its date of issuance, allowing holders to enter the Kingdom several times and remain for a cumulative maximum of 90 days. Travellers must purchase a service package from an approved provider through the Nusuk platform for every visit. The duration of each package canno