Category: General

The Secretariat General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) affirmed that “it is following up, with great concern, the security developments in Tripoli, which led to many deaths and injuries”.

In a statement issued today, the OIC urged all Libyan parties to stop violence, protect civilians and avoid escalation, calling for calm and dialogue to resolve differences at this delicate stage in Libya.

The Secretariat General stressed the OIC’s keenness on the security, stability and safety of Libya and its people.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Universities Alumni Forum in Thailand hailed the pioneering role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leadership in serving Islam and humanity, stressing that Thailand is one of the first countries to benefit from the scholarship system in Saudi universities with more than 900 graduates, representing a large segment of the various provinces and states of Thailand.

This came during the second Forum activities, organized by the Saudi Universities Alumni Association today at the Pattani University in southern Thailand, under the patronage and support of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, represented by the Office of the Islamic Advisor at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Bangkok, with the participation of more than 200 members of the Association and the attendance of the Embassy’s Islamic acting advisor Majid bin Mohammad Al-Dhayan, the President of the Association, the President of Pattani University, Dr. Ismail Lutfi, the Secretary-General of the Southern Border States Administration Center, General Somkiat Ponprayoon, and several officials from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Al-Dhayan delivered a speech at the opening of the forum in which he praised the Kingdom’s leadership’s support for the scholarship program for students from different countries, including Thailand, which is witnessing a high turnout of students to study in Saudi universities, adding that more than 900 students are currently studying in Thai universities. He underlined the forum’s axes and contributions to deepening cooperation to serve the Thai community and spread values that preserve national cohesion and promote human values that consolidate coexistence, preserve homelands and protect it from extremism.

President of Pattani University, also President of the Association, delivered a speech praising the Saudi role in serving the Thai Muslims in general and the tireless pursuit of what contributes to their unity and interdependence, and what ensures their security, stability, and prosperity, noting that the Association seeks through this forum to return the favor that Saudi Arabia has provided to the Thai people through the scholarship program.

Dr. Ismail Lutfi thanked the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for its continuous support for the forums and events held by the Association to consolidate its role in spreading the values of tolerance, peace, and true Islamic teachings in Thai society.

General Somkiat Ponprayoon thanked in his speech the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and HRH the Crown Prince for caring for the Muslims of Thailand and for developing relations between the two friendly countries, stressing that the Kingdom and its historical positions with Thailand are appreciated and respected by the Thai people.

The forum also included speeches and workshops that focused on the role of Saudi university graduates in confronting extremism, spreading moderation, and rejecting fanatism.

The forum aims to highlight the role and efforts of Saudi Arabia in all fields, including supporting graduates of Saudi universities and the world communities, in addition to gathering graduates of Saudi universities in Thailand, meeting them, inviting them, and encouraging them to sign up in the Saudi Universities Alumni Association in Thailand.

The Association also aims through organizing the forum to present its activities to the graduates, answer their inquiries, and interact with their suggestions to activate its future activities in the best possible way to enhance the principle of cooperation between the graduates.

The forum organizes four annual events for the members of the Saudi Universities Alumni Association in Thailand in four central regions to facilitate the attendance of graduates and the participation of the largest number of them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh received today Bahraini Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Nawaf bin Mohammed Al-Maawda currently on a two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tomorrow, the two ministers will hold an official session to discuss aspects of joint cooperation between the two ministries in various fields related to Islamic affairs and activating the memorandum of joint cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Provided by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), 134 relief trucks crossed Al-Wadiah border land port during the period from July 23 to August 24, 2022 AD, carrying 34,275 food baskets, 15,600 cartons of dates, 1,320 shelter bags, and 1,080 tents, on their way to the governorates of Aden, Hajjah, Al-Dhalea, Hadramout, Saada, Shabwa, Al-Hodeidah, Marib, Taiz, Abyan, Lahj, Al-Jawf and Al-Mahra.

This aid comes within the humanitarian and relief projects being provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Center, for the brotherly Yemeni people.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Attorney General, Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib, received at his office in Jeddah today Public Prosecutor of Republic of Tajikistan, Yusuf Rahmon, and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two justice agencies and ways to enhance them at all levels of common interest.

The Tajik Public Prosecutor watched a visual presentation on the formation and competencies of the Public Prosecution, its criminal judicial functions, and advanced prosecution digital governance that the Public Prosecution adopts in handling its judicial procedures.

A memorandum of joint cooperation was also signed, aiming at combating terrorism and its financing, money laundering, cross-border crimes, and exchanging experiences on regulations and laws in both countries in the areas that fall within the competence of the two sides.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

International delegates are meeting in Riyadh from August 28-31 to discuss the future of global digital communications ahead of ITU’s 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest Romania during 26 September-14 October.

Hosted by Saudi Arabia’s digital regulator, the Communications & Information Technology Commission (CITC), the Preparatory Meeting will help the ITU craft the next four years of its global agenda ahead of the 2022 elections.

“Riyadh is the ideal venue to bring together ICT and digital leaders from around the world to align on the next generation of sustainable ICT policies,” said CITC Governor, Mohammed Altamimi.

Saudi Arabia is hosting two ITU preparatory meetings: Arab states and inter-regional. The first, a gathering of the league of Arab states (LAS) members of the ITU, will allow the region to better coordinate its digital policies and sustainable development goals.

The inter-regional meeting, chaired by Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, will allow representatives from the ITU’s six regions to identify common digital policies for the next four years. Saudi Arabia is positioned to act as a convenor and mediator between the Arab world and the ITU’s 193 members to forge the best global digital policies.

Given its historic commitment to the Union, Saudi Arabia is also submitting its candidacy to stay on the ITU Council from 2023-26. Joining in 1949, it has served on the Council since 1964. Saudi is now ranked 1st in MENA and 6th among G20 by the ITU for regulatory excellence; and 2nd in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) by ITU and also in the digital competitiveness among G20 economies by WEF. Powering this digital economy women represent 30% of the digital workforce (surpassing G20 and EU average).

Source: Saudi Press Agency

After having produced 1,54 million tons of dates annually, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia managed to export more than 300 species of the crop, enough to qualify the country to top the world as its first dates exporter in 2021 among 113 countries according to TradeMab website, a recent official report disclosed here today.

The report, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (EWA) said that Saudi Arabia’s dates exports amounted to SR1,215billion, making dates sector one of the most contributing in the increase of national investments and exports to the best achievment of the Kingdom’s vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia accommodates more than 33 million palm trees planted in more than 123000 agricultural properties in 13 administrative regions, the report said.

The transformative industries of palm trees and their products are considered among the world’s most important, with the Ministry of EWA succeeding to register dates in the international SuperFruit index at the World Food and Agriculture Organization which announced 2027 as the world’s International Year for Dates, the report concluded.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The second round of the groups level of the 4th Arab Juniors Championship 2022 was launched yesterday in the Algerian city of Oran, organized by the Arab Football Federation and hosted from August 23 to September 8, 2022, by the Algerian Football Federation, it was reported here today.

In the second group, Libya beat Oman 2 – 1, while Yemen and Tunisia drew one all.

Accordingly, Yemen and Libya shared the first rank of the group with four points each, Tunisia third with two points, and pointless Oman last .

In the first group, host Algeria won Sudan two love while Palestine and UAE drew zero all.

Accordingly, Algeria topped the standing of the group with six points, followed by Sudan with three points while UAE and Palestine sharing the bottom of the group with one point each.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with the Republic of Pakistan, due to the heavy rains, floods and torrential rains that resulted in deaths, injuries and missing persons.

The Ministry expressed the Kingdom’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and to the Government of Pakistan due to this painful incident, wishing the injured a speedy recovery and those missing would survive.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– The Director-General of the branch of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Makkah region, Fahd bin Raqosh, received here today the Minister of Labor and Administrative Reform of Sudan, Suad Al-Tayeb Hassan, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides.

During the reception, they tackled a number of topics of common interest.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most sustainable airline, is launching 20 exciting new routes with a capacity of one million new seats from Bucharest, Budapest, Catania, Larnaca, Milan, Naples, Rome, Tirana, Varna, Venice and Vienna to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, in Saudi Arabia. The airline introduces a new era of affordable, point-to-point travel for tourists and residents in Europe and Saudi, strengthening global connectivity.

Tickets for all routes are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from 54.99€.

The new ultra-low-cost routes are another step toward a growing presence in Saudi, which will support the growing tourism sector in the country, supporting Vision 2030 and the Saudi National Aviation Strategy which will see Saudi increase its international flight connectivity from 99 to 250+ destinations by 2030.

Enabling increased connectivity, the new ultra-low-cost routes will provide greater accessibility for travelers from Europe looking to make their way to the region before, during, and after the World Cup. Increasing the range of options and competitiveness of airlines serving Saudi will further reduce the cost of travel.

The CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamidaddin, said: “Today’s announcement of 20 new routes to Saudi is one of the largest such announcements anywhere in the world. It is a real first for Wizz Air and for Saudi, and opens a new and affordable gateway for visitors from Europe that will allow everyone to come and explore the world’s most exciting new destination. This is already an exceptional partnership and today is just the start. We are making it easier than ever to get to Saudi and are confident that increased travel options and competitiveness will expand consumer choice and drive down costs.”

The CEO of Wizz Air, Jozsef Varadi, said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the most exciting countries in the world for aviation portraying an eclectic mix of travel opportunities with unmissable destinations, countless exciting attractions, and a thriving cultural scene. Today’s announcement follows the Memorandum of Understanding we recently signed with the government enabling us to contribute to Saudi tourism’s growth and its entire ecosystem. Not only does Wizz Air offer incredibly low fares to travelers given our operational efficiency, but we also fly one the youngest, most modern, and sustainable fleet of aircraft in the world. I see the Kingdom as a long-term strategic market for Wizz Air where we will continue to innovate and carry the flag of low cost flying for the benefit of Saudi residents and visitors as well as the country’s diversifying economy.”

The CEO of The Air Connectivity Program, Khalil Lamrabet, said: “We are pleased to have been able to work with Wizz Air to grow its network to Saudi Arabia; the announced routes are a testament to the strong traffic potential that the Kingdom has to offer. We look forward to welcoming these new flights into the Kingdom’s expanding network and to working with Wizz Air to explore other route opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”

The CEO of Matarat, Mohammed Ahmed Almowkley, said: “We at Matarat are working with our partners and airline companies to provide an attractive environment at Saudi airports for airlines and passengers to offer better choices with high-quality services, and this work is an extension to the previous announcement with Wizz Air to operate direct flights from King Fahd International Airport to three diverse international destinations. Matarat will continue on this path to achieve the National Aviation Strategy objectives which are part of the Saudi 2030 vision.”

Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supported by the Saudi National Air Connectivity Program to support the development of the Saudi tourism sector. The Air Connectivity Program, which aims to establish new international routes by stimulating and supporting airlines, contributes to expanding into new markets and facilitates the growth of the aviation and tourism sector by increasing the number of direct international destinations to 250 by 2030.

The MoU reflects a shared vision between the parties on the potential Wizz Air could bring to the country to stimulate tourist demand, thereby making a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia’s planned growth.

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the removal of PCR test requirements for vaccinated travelers has made travel simpler again, allowing for more spontaneous trips abroad. Saudi Arabia has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions as of March 2022.

For ultimate peace of mind during this uncertain time, passengers can book tickets with confidence, thanks to WIZZ Flex. With WIZZ Flex, passengers can cancel their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.

Riyadh, the capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia, is a modern metropolis with popular landmarks and must-see architecture. A hub of global business, the administrative and economic capital of the country is also host to world-class events like Riyadh Season and MDL Beast. Saudi Arabia’s roots can be traced to Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A $50.6BN masterplan is transforming Diriyah into the world’s most exciting cultural tourist destination that will welcome visitors to experience Michelin-star dining alongside interactive museums, with traditions at the core.

Jeddah, the perfect blend of old and modern, is a lively coastal city nestled on the Red Sea. Saudi second biggest city and a vital gateway to Makkah, Jeddah’s history of trade and pilgrimage characterize the city with endless memorable experiences. Al Balad is Jeddah’s historical district and UNESCO World Heritage Site where visitors can admire the antique designs of balconies, stone walkways and ancient sidewalks.

Dammam, a modern metropolis nestled on the tranquil Arabian Gulf, offers visitors green parks, airy waterfronts, and sandy beaches alongside bustling arts, sports, and entertainment scenes. The capital of the Eastern Province, Dammam is a popular location with adventure travelers, who can enjoy fishing, diving, and swimming.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterates the OIC’s firm support for the Rohingya people and calls on the international community to stand firm with them in their plight, and to redouble efforts to protect their fundamental human rights, including their right to full citizenship, and to ensure favourable conditions for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of all Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons to their homeland.

The OIC pays tribute to the Government and people of Bangladesh for their relentless efforts to provide protection, hospitality, and necessary assistance to Rohingya refugees who have been living in Bangladesh for the past five years. It appreciates the international support, including by OIC Member States, for the cause of these Refugees.

The OIC General Secretariat expresses the hope that the recent ruling of the International Court of Justice to dismiss the preliminary objections of Myanmar would contribute to mobilizing the necessary momentum for effective international action that would provide more support for the Rohingya people and contribute to finding a final solution to their constant affliction.

Source: Saudi Press Agency