New Schengen visa center opens

Updated 31 May 2014

New Schengen visa center opens

The VFS Global Etimad Center (Tasheel Commercial Center) opened a visa center on Tuesday for all the Schengen countries in the Kingdom.
Prince Faisal Abdullah Al-Faisal, president of Al-Etimad Modern Business Solutions Company, attended the inauguration ceremony in the presence of European diplomats, officials and journalists.
Prince Faisal said that the new center is better suited to serve applicants as it is located on 10,000 square meters and is accessible from various highways and has plenty of parking space.
He added that they aim to ensure a culture of high quality services and have established training programs for the center’s staff.
“Our mission is to maintain a high level of services for our customers,” he said, adding, “We have almost 14 countries that offer visa services at the Etimad center, including six Schengen countries: France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Malta, Switzerland, Spain and Austria. Canada is set to join the visa center soon and New Zealand will join the UK visa center,” he said.
He also said that they invested around SR80 million to provide the best facilities, services and environment for customers.
“We have provided a one-stop center for customers to receive visas for all the Schengen countries in the Kingdom,” he added.


Saudi disease control center starts coronavirus study

Updated 18 March 2020

Saudi disease control center starts coronavirus study

RIYADH: The Saudi National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Weqaya) has announced the start of a study into the new coronavirus using the “next generation” of genetic sequencing techniques.

The center said that the work, to be carried out in its laboratories, would help to locate cases of COVID-19 infection and track the spread of the disease inside the Kingdom.

Weqaya aims to prevent and control infectious and non-communicable diseases, injuries and other health threats, while monitoring, measuring and evaluating population health and risks to the Kingdom.

It also puts in place policies and programs, provides innovative public health solutions based on scientific evidence, and works as a reference body for public health initiatives.