'Red-zone' firms face massive crackdown

August 21, 2014

Jeddah, Aug 21: Saudi authorities are getting ready to launch a massive campaign next month against more than 17,000 firms that are in the "red zone" of the Nitaqat nationalization scheme for not employing a single Saudi, Labor Ministry sources said.

Saudi authorities“There are 17,314 red-zone firms in different parts of the Kingdom that employ 241,530 foreign workers,” one source said, adding that labor officials would allow these workers to transfer their services to companies in the green and platinum zones for having a more than sufficient Saudi-to-expat ratio.

“Labor officials will ask the owners of these firms to show evidence that suggests that they did not allow their workers to look for jobs in the market because workers would not have valid resident permits,” the source said.

Ibrahim Badawood, managing director of ALJ Community Services, emphasized the importance of the ongoing joint campaign waged by Interior and Labor Ministry officials, saying it was primarily aimed at cleansing the country’s labor market.

“The campaign is not at all targeted against foreign workers,” Badawood told Arab News.

He said companies that improve their Saudi-to-expat ratio would be given more visas to bring experienced and skilled foreign workers.

He, however, stressed that companies in red and yellow categories must employ more Saudi nationals if they want to stay in business.

“This is the only solution,” he said.

Badawood said he believed that Interior and Labor ministries would continue their campaign against residency and labor rule violators.

“Some people think the campaign will die down after sometime, but I believe that the campaign will continue until illegals are driven out,” he added.

He said the campaign would not have any negative impact on business in the long run.

“Of course, it will affect business temporarily, but stronger companies employing a greater number of Saudis will eventually contribute to strengthening the market.”

Capt. Abdul Aziz Al-Harbi, Eastern Province police spokesman, said nearly 82,000 illegal workers have been arrested in the region during this Hijrah year.

“More than 700 illegal expats have been arrested over the past 24 hours across the region,” he pointed out.

He said Al-Ahsa police carried out an intense security campaign late Monday night, adding that the campaign continued until Tuesday morning.

“Police and labor officials targeted foreign workers in the Al-Maraz, Al-Kout and Al-Mazrouiyah districts, in addition to majors streets in the city center, and arrested 185 violators,” Al-Harbi said.

He said police arrested 5,523 violators in the region during the past three weeks, adding that they have been transferred to special detention centers. About 5,625 violators have been arrested in the industrial city of Jubail, he said.

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Saudi Gazette
May 27,2020

Riyadh, May 27: Following the announcement of easing of lockdown measures, which includes reopening of all mosques for daily congressional as well as Friday prayers across the Kingdom except the holy city of Makkah, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has set mandatory guidelines.

In a circular issued to mosque staff, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh has instructed that all mosques must comply with the following precautionary measures and instructions:

1. Open mosques 15 minutes before the Adhan and close them 10 minutes after prayer

2. Reduce the waiting period between the Adhan and Iqamah to 10 minutes

3. Open windows and doors from entering time to the end of the prayer

4. Remove copies of Holy Qur’an and other books temporarily from mosques

5. Ensure attendees keep a distance of two meters between each other

6. Ensure one space is left between each row

7. Close all water coolers and refrigerators

8. Do not allow distribution of water or food in mosques

9. Close toilets and places of ablution

Precautionary measures on Friday prayers are as follows:

1. Open mosques 20 minutes before Friday prayer and closing them 20 minutes after prayer.

2. Friday sermon with prayer should not exceed 15 minutes.

The circular also stipulates to keep the suspension of the religious courses, programs and lectures, as well as the memorizing Holy Qur'an sessions in the mosques and to continue education and lectures remotely until further notice.

The circular pointed out that the imams of mosques should urge the worshipers to take the following precautionary measures:

1. Wear a face mask

2. Bring their own prayer rugs and not leave them after the prayer

3. Prevent accompanying children under 15 years of age from entering mosques

4. Perform ablution at home

5. Avoid crowding when entering or exiting mosques

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior clarified later in the day that people are allowed to perform congressional prayers in their locality during the time of curfew.

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Agencies
July 2,2020

With the launch of the Emirates Mars Mission less than a couple of weeks away, the spacecraft that will carry the UAE's Hope Probe to outer space has already been fuelled, it was announced today.

At a virtual briefing by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) today, the media was informed that scientists are busy giving finishing touches to the Hope Mars Mission, which will give mankind a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere once the UAE's indigenous probe reaches the Red Planet's orbit in 2021.

As the monitoring continues, final charging of the batteries is also ongoing, scientists said.

The space engineers averred that with this mission, the momentum in the region for space awareness will continue not only among young Emiratis but also among other youngsters in the Arab world.

The Hope Probe is scheduled to take off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 15 at 00:51:27 UAE time.

The first Arab space mission to the Red Planet remained on track despite the challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The spacecraft will provide the first global pictures of the Martian atmosphere and data will be shared freely with over 200 research centres across the world. It will help answer key questions about the global Martian atmosphere and the loss of hydrogen and oxygen gases into space over the span of one Martian year.

450 engineers, technicians and experts are involved in the project.  This comprises of 12,000 tasks in 6 years and entails 5.5 million working hours.

It includes 200 new technologies and 15 scientific partnerships with global universities and institutions.

The spaceship will travel 495 million km. It has a cruise speed of 121,000km/hour.

MBRSC is responsible for the execution and supervision of all stages of the design, development and launch of the Hope Probe. The UAE Space Agency is funding and supervising procedures and necessary details for the implementation of this project. After its launch in mid-July and following a journey of several months, the probe is expected to enter the Red Planet's orbit in 2021, coinciding with the Golden Jubilee of the Union.

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: The holy month of Ramadan is expected to be a 30-day month this year, said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, he said that Sunday, May 24, will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.

Additionally, he said that the crescent of Shawwal will occur on Friday, May 22, at 9.39pm, after sunset, and will be visible on Sunday, May 24, the beginning of Shawal, which makes Ramadan a 30-day month this year.

He added that the next Ramadan is expected to start on April 13, 2021, and the one after that on April 2, 2022.

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