Middle East

Jeddah, Apr 28: Fifty thousand domestic pilgrims will benefit from the government’s low-cost Haj service this year, said Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee at Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Monday. “There will be seven categories in the low-cost Haj service with prices ranging between SR3,000 and SR5,000,” Al-Qurashi told Arab News. During the past three years

Jeddah, Apr 23: Sara Omar, grandma of US President Barack Obama, has emphasized the significance of the Prophet Muhammad exhibition in Makkah and said it reflects the moderate teachings of Islam that calls for tolerance and rejects violence. Sara has come to Makkah with her son Saeed Obama, uncle of President Obama and her grandson Mousa Obama to perform Umrah. She commended the Saudi government’s

Riyadh, Apr 21: Sayidaty magazine has recognized the outstanding contribution of 37 Saudi women in different walks of life such as education, health, media, arts and economics. Princess Hussa bint Salman, who attended the Creativity Awards 2015, praised the winners for their work in advancing the country and the cause of women. The event was attended by Princess Nora bint Mohamed, the wife of the

Riyadh, Apr 17: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has fired four workers for mishandling baggage at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh. In a recent statement, GACA said an investigation had shown the men were guilty, and being lax in other duties. It did not disclose the nationalities of the men, but said two were supervisors. There was widespread outrage on social media

Jeddah, Apr 15: Saudi Arabian Airlines announced Tuesday that it was canceling its flights to and from the southern cities of Najran, Sharourah and Bisha as a result of bad weather conditions. Sandstorms in many parts of the Kingdom have also forced authorities to suspend classes in schools and universities, sabq.org electronic newspaper reported. Educational institutions hit by dusty conditions

Jeddah, Apr 12: Zamzam water has a special place in the hearts of Muslims as something revered and unique. Every year millions of pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Haj from outside and inside the country. Many Muslims drink Zamzam as sacred water that can cure their health problems, but sometimes pilgrims and those who live inside the Kingdom are cheated by illegal venders who sell

Apr 11: Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia deepened on Thursday as Iranian leaders lashed out with rare vehemence against the continuing Saudi air campaign in Yemen, even hurling personal insults at the young Saudi prince who is leading the fight. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, denounced the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen as “a crime” and “a genocide” while all but taunting

Riyadh, Apr 7: The Council of Ministers on Monday said that the Saudi-led operation in Yemen has the support of Yemenis in the Kingdom and the international community because it seeks to restore the legitimate government and bring peace and stability to that war-torn nation. The weekly meeting was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. It noted the

Jeddah, Apr 6: Some 5,183 cases have been filed by women against their husbands in Saudi courts, requesting alimony during the past five months, according to local media. Courts in Makkah Region received the highest number of alimony cases at 1,605, followed by Riyadh (1,315), the Eastern Region (755), Jazan (376), Madinah (295), Asir (241), Qasim (186), Tabuk (102), Hail (90), Jouf (79), the

Riyadh, Apr 6: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Riyadh on Sunday on an official visit to the Kingdom. He was received by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at the Riyadh Air Base. Amid the critical situation in the Middle East, the visit of a head from a Central Asian country is deemed significant for both sides, according to an expert. Aliyev last visited the Kingdom in