Category: General

Jeddah, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, made a phone call today to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

During the telephone conversation, HRH the Crown Prince expressed his congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE people on his election as President of the United Arab Emirates by the Federal Supreme Council (FNC), asking Allah Almighty to grant success to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to serve the United Arab Emirates and its people, and to continue the march of development, wishing the United Arab Emirates further security, boom, stability and prosperity.

For his part, the President of the United Arab Emirates expressed his thanks and appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince for his sincere fraternal feelings.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, President of the Human Rights Commission Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad received here today Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mark Donovan.

During the meeting, they discussed aspects of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of human rights.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that in April 2022, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.3% compared to April 2021, up from 2.0% in March 2022. The rise of the CPI resulted mainly from higher prices of transport (+4.6%) and food and beverages (+4.3%).

According to the Consumer Price Index for April 2022, released today by GASTAT, the transport prices increased by 4.6%, due to the increase in gasoline prices by 9.5%, as well as Purchase of Vehicles prices (+4.1%).

Food and beverages prices increased by 4.3%, mainly due to the increase in food prices by 4.6%, in particular, meat prices (+3.5%) and vegetable prices (13.5%).

Personal Goods and Services prices increased by 2.8%, mainly resulting from an increase in prices of Jewelry, clocks and watches (+5.2%). Education prices increased by 6.2%, mainly resulting from an increase in secondary education fees by 19.2%. Restaurants and hotels prices increased by 3.2%, due to an increase by 2.8% in catering services prices.

Meanwhile, in April 2022, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 10.7% compared to the same month in 2021, down from 12.1% in March. The increase resulted mainly from the increase in other transportable goods prices (+12.5%) that have a relatively high weight in the index.

According to GASTAT, other transportable goods increased by 12.5%, due to the increase of basic chemicals prices by 45.3%, and refined petroleum products prices by 12.2%, due to their weight in the index. Metal products, machinery and equipment prices increased by 8.8%, due to higher prices of basic metals (16.3%), and general-purpose machinery prices (11.9%).

Agriculture and fishery products prices increased by 18.7%, which resulted mainly from higher prices of agricultural products (22.2%), and live animals and animal products (12.4%).

Food products, beverages, tobacco and textiles prices increased by 7.1%, as a result of the increase in the prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils and fats (17.4%). Ores and minerals prices went up by 6.1%, due to the increase in stones and sand prices (6.1%).

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language has launched the “Scientific Seminars” project, in partnership with a number of regional and international bodies specialized in serving the Arabic language, in order to build bridges of communication, open up various scientific horizons, and spread the Arabic language and culture.

Acting Secretary General of the Academy Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi said that the “Scientific Seminars” project represents one of the strategic goals of the Academy in the fields of teaching Arabic, and provides an added value to the existing academic educational programs.

This project comes to achieve the goals of the Academy in serving the Arabic language, and facilitating its learning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad to keep pace with changes in all fields.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Property e-conveyances have increased to nearly 79,000 transactions since the launch of the service in March 2020, announced the Saudi Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The total value exceeds SAR 11 billion ( around USD 2.9 billion).

“The service is available through the Najiz.sa portal at ept.moj.gov.sa,” the MoJ said. “The upper limit for the e-conveyance of real property has been raised from SAR 3 million to SAR 20 million.” The service has been streamlined to enable electronic agreement on sale terms without requiring a notary’s certifications, so that the operation is completed in less than 60 minutes.

The ministry has also enabled digital verification of bank accounts and payment of property transaction tax. As part of several reforms and development initiatives, the ministry is working on enhancing digitization and providing innovative tech solutions that facilitate services, simplify procedures and boost security.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Hargeisa, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday 1,200 food baskets in Marodi Jeh Region, Somaliland, benefiting 7,200 people.

This comes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and relief aid, represented by the KSrelief, to enhance food security in the needy countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Saudi Stock Exchange’s main index ended trading higher here today, gaining 313.99 points to close at 13,149.29 points.

The total value of the trading reported was SAR 6.8 billion, while the toll of shares traded was more than 141 million, divided into over 323,000 deals.

The Saudi Parallel Equity Market Index (NOMU) ended the day gaining 198.73 points, to close at 22,845.47 points, with a valuation of SAR 35 million and an overall tally of more than 497,000 stocks traded and divided into as many as 2,339 deals.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, the International Exhibition and Forum on Afforestation Technologies is scheduled to be held between May 29 and 31, 2022, which is organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, out of their role in developing, protecting and sustaining the vegetation cover according to the Saudi Vision 2030.

On the occasion, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCVC Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley extended his appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince for patronizing the event, stressing that organizing this event has a special importance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its being under its intensified efforts and increasing attention to the vegetation cover for its being a main pillar for the National Environment Strategy that represents a roadmap to realize the aspirations of the Saudi Vision 2030 on protecting and developing the environment, in addition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international pioneering role in the environmental field and its announcements of global environmental initiatives that seek to develop the vegetation cover.

He also referred to HRH the Crown Prince’s efforts exerted in caring for the vegetation cover locally, regionally and internationally through the ambitious forestry initiatives, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation, and enhancing the protection of wild habitats to restore lands and stop their degradation, and the International Coral Reef Initiative, which, the last two initiatives, were included in the Ministry of Environment’s declaration during the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 in 2020.

For his part, NCVC CEO Dr. Khaled Al-Abdulqader said that the exhibition and forum include several comprehensive and integral aspects related to forestry and technologies of combating desertification, such as forestry, combating desertification, irrigation methods, water resources and technologies, nurseries and seeds, recycling environmental wastes, environmental monitoring and protection, developing and investing forests and parks, and combating plant scourges.

He added that the event seeks to provide a platform to encourage government and semi-government institutions, and non-profit commissions, companies and organizations to become targeted stakeholders to combat desertification and increase the area of vegetation cover, in addition to highlighting the pioneering role of the center in developing the vegetation cover and combating desertification and checking on the top research papers, studies and technologies in the fields of forestry and combating desertification, as well as contributing to realizing several goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Dr. Al-Abdulqader said that the exhibition will welcome local and international companies to display the latest technologies and innovations in the fields of combating desertification and alleviating its impacts; developing and protecting the green cover; enhancing cooperation among experts, senior investors, heads of companies, decision makers, providers of technical solutions, academia, specialized researchers in the environment sector and its issues, and experts in climate; getting acquainted with models for success around the world to benefit from them; and attracting international expertise suitable for our environment.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved renewing the selection of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) as a center for international cooperation in medical devices and supplies for four years, with the approval of transforming the regional center into a global center covering the eastern Mediterranean and Africa, and the scientific and technical work of the WHO internationally.

The center aims to contribute to the authority in assisting emerging countries in monitoring and regulating medical devices and supplies and to benefit from its expertise in various regulatory and supervisory areas in medical devices and supplies.

Executive Vice President of the SFDA’s medical devices sector Eng. Ali Al-Dalaan explained that the decision was made in light of the great efforts made by Saudi Arabia during the last period, especially during the Corona pandemic (Covid-19), and a culmination of the center’s effective contribution through the specialists of “Food and Drug” holding of several educational workshops and training courses to build legislative capacities for different countries in the African continent.

This step comes to enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s advanced position among the various regulatory bodies globally, its international efforts in monitoring and regulating medical devices and supplies through its presidency of the Global Harmonization Working Party (GHWP), and its effective practical contribution to various international organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF)

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Project (Masam) for clearing mines in Yemen, dismantled, during the second week of May 2022, a total of 1,201 mines planted by the Houthi militia across Yemen, including 35 antipersonnel mines, 649 anti-tank mines, 507 unexploded ordnance, and 10 explosive charges.

Since the beginning of May, as many as 2,199 mines have been dismantled, bringing the total number of the dismantled mines since the beginning of the “Masam” project to 338,092, which were randomly planted by the Houthi militia across Yemen which could have claimed more innocent victims of children, women and the elderly. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief, continues, through Masam, to clear the Yemeni lands of mines and contribute to helping the Yemeni citizens enjoy a decent life.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Speaker of the Shura Council Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh received today Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Shahin Abdullayev, at his office in Riyadh.

The Speaker of the Shura Council reviewed the relations between Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, stressing the need to strengthen them, especially at the parliamentary level between the Shura Council and Azerbaijani Parliament.

For his part, the ambassador commended Saudi Arabia’s supportive stances for the Republic of Azerbaijan, looking forward to strengthening the bilateral relations, especially with regard to parliamentary work.

Talks during the meeting also reviewed several issues of mutual interest between the two friendly countries in all fields.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of Council of Senior Scholars and General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh today at his office at the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta received Grand Mufti and head of the Islamic Sheikhdom in the Republic of Kosovo Naim Ternava and his accompanying delegation.

Sheikh Abdulaziz, during the meeting, highlighted the importance of such meeting between Islamic leaders for consultation and cooperation on issues that serve Islam and Muslims.

For his part, Ternava praised the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, in serving Islam and caring for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors of pilgrims and Umrah performers, stressing that these efforts receive the appreciation of all Muslims around the world.

He also commended the historic positions made by the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kosovo people since the war.

Ternava highlighted the importance of the meeting with the grand mufti and advice he received from him, which will act as guidelines for the Islamic action of the sheikhdom to serve the Muslims of Kosovo according to the moderate approach adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressing his appreciation for the hospitality of the grand mufti.

Source: Saudi Press Agency