Tough security ensures safe, smooth Hajj

The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10. (AN photo by Basheer Saleh)
The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10. (AN photo by Basheer Saleh)
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Updated 05 June 2025
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Tough security ensures safe, smooth Hajj

Tough security ensures safe, smooth Hajj
  • The Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational plan to ensure a safe and smooth 2025 Hajj season

ARAFAT: Saudi Arabia has intensified the enforcement of Hajj permit regulations this year, barring individuals without official permits from entering Makkah to ensure that authorized pilgrims can fully benefit from the Kingdom’s services and facilities.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that security forces had been deployed across all key access points to Makkah to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the city in the days leading up to Hajj. The intensified measures come in response to longstanding concerns over the strain placed on infrastructure and essential services by unauthorized pilgrims.




The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10. (AN photo by Basheer Saleh)

The Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational plan to ensure a safe and smooth 2025 Hajj season.

By ensuring that only authorized individuals enter Makkah during the Hajj season, the Kingdom aims to maintain public health, optimize crowd control and uphold the spiritual integrity of the pilgrimage.




Pilgrims have voiced their support for the tightened rules. (AN photo by  Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)

In a recent press conference, held ahead of Hajj, the Kingdom detailed preparations aligned with the directives of Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud. The strategy covers public safety, crowd and traffic control, and emergency responses throughout the pilgrims’ journey.

Authorities reported the dismantling of 252 fake Hajj campaigns, the arrest of 1,239 illegal transporters, and the return of 269,678 non-residents of Makkah, 75,943 unauthorized pilgrims and 109,632 vehicles. An additional 11,610 individuals were found violating residency, labor and border laws.




The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10. (AN photo by Basheer Saleh)

The move is part of a broader effort by authorities to safeguard the sanctity of the pilgrimage and ensure the safety and comfort of registered pilgrims.

The MoI has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 (more than $5,300), with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10.




The Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational plan to ensure a safe and smooth 2025 Hajj season. (AN photo by  Abdulrahman bin Shalhoub)

The ministry warned that foreign nationals found in violation would, in addition to the financial penalty, be deported to their home countries and barred from re-entering the Kingdom for ten years.

The ministry also confirmed that a financial penalty of up to SR100,000 would be imposed on anyone who transported holders of visit visas or attempted to transport them with the intent of bringing them to the city of Makkah or the holy sites during the same period.

The ministry added it would request the competent court to confiscate any land transport vehicle proven to have been used for this purpose if owned by the transporter, an accomplice or any party found to be involved.

In previous years, emergency rooms in Makkah hospitals were often overwhelmed with medical cases involving individuals who entered the city without valid Hajj permits. Many lacked access to official accommodation and transportation, resulting in overcrowding not only in emergency facilities but also in the Grand Mosque and the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat — areas whose capacity is topographically constrained.

Pilgrims have voiced their support for the tightened rules. In previous seasons, illegal pilgrims strained logistical operations, including food distribution, transportation schedules and accommodation management.

Indian couple Altaf Hussein and his wife Farhana told Arab News that they were pleased with the running of this year’s Hajj.

“I am happy with their management,” Hussein said. Farhana added that it was her first time performing Hajj and that it was unlike what she had heard about.

“From day one in Makkah, I am so happy and thankful to Allah the Almighty, and may Allah keep the two holy mosques’ management prosper,” she said.

Marwa Al-Said, an Egyptian pilgrim, said that this year’s Hajj felt “especially exceptional” with unauthorized pilgrims barred from entering Makkah.

“I would like to thank you all. The arrangements you are applying this year are truly different,” she said. “I feel comfortable — there is no hardship, no fear and none of the worries we usually hear about during Hajj. It is, seriously speaking, real security.”

According to an official at Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital in Arafat, the one-day facility — which in previous years typically received hundreds of patients during the Hajj season — had recorded only two emergency cases as of 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

 


Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector

Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector
Updated 1 min 19 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector

Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector
  • Culinary Commission’s latest move is ‘a dream come true’ for chefs

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has launched a freelance license for chefs via the Abde’a Cultural Licenses Platform.

The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, told Arab News: “The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.”

The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications. (Supplied)

Abde’a, an e-platform developed to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, is operated under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture.

The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications — to legally provide freelance culinary services, paving the way for wider freelance opportunities in diverse venues and events across the Kingdom.

The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.

Mayada Badr, Saudi Culinary Arts Commission CEO

The initiative will “support skill development and career growth in the sector, as well as recognition and credibility by reinforcing adherence to professional standards in the culinary field,” according to a statement.

Chef Rawan Al-Harthi, a Jeddah-based pastry chef, said: “This license gives us the freedom to showcase our culinary identity while working independently and legally. It’s a dream come true for chefs who want to grow their brand without being tied to a restaurant.”

Another chef, Faisal Al-Malki, echoed Al-Harthi’s sentiments. “Being recognized as a licensed freelance chef adds value to our profession and pushes us to raise the bar in terms of quality and creativity,” he said.

The launch of this initiative “underscores the commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities for local culinary talent, while fostering a culture of creativity and professionalism,” a press release stated.

 


Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik

Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik
Updated 4 sec ago
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Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik

Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik
  • They reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests

DUBROVNIK: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi was received by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic at the Dubrovnik Forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Saturday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the “latest developments in free trade agreement negotiations and a proposal to hold a joint Gulf-European conference on energy security,” the General Secretariat said in a report.

They also reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests.

 


Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha

Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha
Updated 12 July 2025
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Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha

Sports Ministry organizes hiking event in Baha
  • Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people

RIYADH: The Baha branch of the Ministry of Sports, together with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation, organized a hiking program as part of the “Color Your Summer with Sports” campaign.

The event was held in cooperation with the region’s municipality and health cluster as part of the Baha Summer Season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people. The event took place in natural locations that reflect the region’s landscape, he added.

Baha’s mountains, valleys and dams offer suitable areas for various sports, including mountain and water activities, he said. These features support the region’s role in sports tourism in the Kingdom.

Al-Ghamdi added that the program is part of a plan to develop the sports sector in Baha and build partnerships with sports federations.

The initiative aims to support the local economy and attract sports and tourism visitors, from the Kingdom and beyond, Al-Ghamdi said.


Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition

Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition
Updated 12 July 2025
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Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition

Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition
  • Event highlights smart projects, training initiatives, and global partnerships in the sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Transport General Authority, held an international exhibition in London to showcase its key initiatives and achievements in supporting the maritime transport industry.

The event was attended by senior officials and saw broad participation from International Maritime Organization member states, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar and Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, along with government officials, embassy representatives, and maritime attaches.

The event highlighted the Kingdom’s role as an active partner in the international maritime system and a key contributor to developing global maritime regulations and practices, the SPA added.

It also reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued influence within the International Maritime Organization and its efforts to promote sustainability and improve the efficiency of maritime supply chains.

The exhibition showcased the academies and specialized centers established by the Kingdom, as well as initiatives to localize talent and train seafarers, officers, and marine engineers.

It also featured smart projects that support automation in the sector, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, according to the SPA.

Prince Khalid said that the exhibition reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to international cooperation, highlighting the Kingdom’s hospitality and pursuit of sustainable, collaborative maritime partnerships.

Al-Jasser said that the Kingdom is steadily moving toward leadership in maritime transport, driven by Vision 2030 and investments in talent and technology to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub.

In recent years, the Saudi maritime sector has grown rapidly, with the number of Saudi-flagged vessels reaching 409, totaling more than 100,000 gross tons and more than 16.5 million deadweight tons.

The number of registered Saudi seafarers has risen to 3,000, supported by specialized programs and regulatory initiatives that empower national maritime capabilities, the SPA reported.

These efforts build on Saudi Arabia’s active role in the International Maritime Organization, advancing the maritime transport industry through a vision that goes beyond fleet development or regulatory modernization.

It includes creating an advanced global maritime system based on operational excellence, human capital investment, and cutting-edge technology for a promising, sustainable future.


Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors

Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors
Updated 12 July 2025
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Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors

Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors

RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail has attracted more than 27,000 visitors from the city, across the Kingdom, and from Gulf and international destinations.

Running from 6 p.m. till 1 a.m. each evening, the 30-day Beit Hail Festival offers a rich blend of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Visitors can enjoy a diverse array of live performances and interactive heritage displays, recreating scenes from the past and presented by skilled male and female artisans.

Exhibits give younger generations a glimpse of how their ancestors transformed natural materials into functional items, showcasing the ingenuity and authenticity of Saudi heritage.

More than 40 activities allow visitors to explore traditional crafts such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and distinctive Najdi and Hail door making.

Other highlights include traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making, the SPA added.

Visitors can also savor a variety of traditional folk foods. At the heart of the festival, an artistic theater hosts performances, including the Hail Samri and Saudi Ardah.

The festival also provides a platform for local craftspeople to showcase their work directly to the public.