Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Special Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 21 in the Arab world. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 21 March 2023

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan

Saudis celebrate Mother’s Day ahead of Ramadan
  • Sarah Battal: I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself

RIYADH: With only a few days until Ramadan, Saudis were making changes to their plans to celebrate Mother’s Day on Tuesday.

Each year, mothers vow not to go overboard with Ramadan preparations, but can still be found lining up in stores to buy decorations and table settings, or busy in the kitchen preparing for the celebrations.

Their unmatched strength is one of the reasons Saudis celebrate their mothers.

“I never understood how moms can do so many things at once until I became a mom myself. It is the unconditional love we have for our children that moves us to do this, and not think of how or why,” said Sarah Battal, a mother of three young boys.

“So, I made it a tradition to treat my mother and myself to a much-needed pampering at a spa treatment center.”

Mother’s Day can be tricky for Saudis — fail to remember the special day and mothers will remind them by sharing how others celebrated. But if one does remember, their mother may well say that every day should be Mother’s Day.

“To be fair, they are not wrong. Every day should be a Mother’s Day,” said Naif Abdulaziz, a father of two.

“I don’t know how hard it is to be a mom, but I can get a sense of how that might feel like watching my mom take care of us growing up, and watching how wonderfully my wife is doing as a mother.”

For those living in Riyadh, there are many ways to show appreciation for mothers on this special day, including a reservation for tea at the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton’s Chorisia Lounge or at Oplaisir.

“This year, I am making a surprise visit to my mom as she lives in another city, and I am taking her to buy spices from the old markets in Riyadh. This is her favorite thing to do,” said Abdullah Ibrahim, a Saudi chemical engineer based in Dhahran.

For those living in other cities, a quick and easy way to show love and appreciation is to send a colorful bouquet of flowers with a special note.

Online flower stores that offer a same-day express delivery in the Kingdom include Floward, Lamuda, Little Flora and Gifto.


Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative
Updated 01 June 2023

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

RIYADH: Malaysian Interior Minister Saifuddin Nasution praised Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative, facilitating the travel procedures of Hajj pilgrims from Malaysia.

The statement was made during Nasution’s visit on Wednesday to a hall dedicated to the initiative at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where he was briefed on its readiness to facilitate pilgrims’ journey.

The Makkah Route initiative enables Hajj pilgrims from six countries to complete immigration, cargo and travel procedures before departing for the Kingdom.
 


Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Thursday.

The Crown Prince congratulated Erdogan after he was declared the victor in a historic runoff Turkish election.

Prince Mohammed wished the president success and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.


Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia
Updated 31 May 2023

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia
  • The decision ended an embargo that began in 2019

ROME: The Italian government on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending an embargo which began in 2019.

The move was announced in a communique at the end of a Council of Ministers presided over by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The decision was made “in accordance with the foreign and defense policy of Italy,” the official communique said.

Restrictions on the export of weapons from Italy to Saudi Arabia were imposed by the Italian government to prevent their use in the conflict in Yemen.

The Italian government added: “Today there is no more reason to keep those restrictions standing any longer.

“The regional context in Yemen has changed, and since April 2022, partly thanks to the truce, military activities have been sensibly circumscribed.”

Italy now believes that the reduction in military operations “significantly also mitigates the risk of misuse of bombs and missiles, particularly against civilian targets.”

Rome also acknowledged that the Kingdom “has pursued intensive diplomatic activity in support of UN mediation and was also active in a decisive manner on the economic and humanitarian assistance front.”

The press release added that in the light of the “changed situation of the conflict, the Council of Ministers states that the export of bombs and missiles to Saudi Arabia does not fall under the prohibitions of exports established by Italian laws, and is in accordance with the foreign and defense policy of Italy.”
 


Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica
Updated 31 May 2023

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica
  • Al-Jubeir wished Ratney success in his new role and in fulfilling his duties

RIYADH: Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, on Wednesday met newly appointed US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, in Riyadh.

Al-Jubeir wished Ratney success in his new role and in fulfilling his duties.

Al-Jubeir also met non-resident Francisco Chacon Hernandez, Costa Rica’s ambassador to the Kingdom. The parties discussed bilateral relations as well as issues of mutual interest.
 


Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief
Updated 31 May 2023

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi met Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale in Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss counterterrorism and violent extremism-related issues.

During his meeting with Al-Moghedi, the Kenyan minister praised the coalition’s framework – for military, counterterrorism, anti-terrorism financing, as well as intellectual and media matters – as a strategic pillar in fighting terrorism and violent extremism.

He added that terrorism has its roots in intellectual and ideological orientations, which constitute the basis of the extremist approach.

“Working on preparing the mindset and integrating it within the proper framework constitutes one of the proactive action pillars aimed to repress and contain extremist thinking,” Duale said.

Al-Moghedi said that strategic initiatives by the coalition in its counterterrorism efforts have taken into consideration the hierarchy of terrorist tendencies.

The secretary-general also spoke about social media and communication platforms, and their role in influencing users. He also discussed countering illegal terror financing through military support and assistance services.