Tag: Arabia

Saudi Arabia to renovate 100-yr-old Al-Qalaa mosque in Madinah

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Riyadh: As part of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s preservation of urban heritage the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will renovate the 100-year-olf Al-Qalaa mosque in the town of Hanakiya, about 102 kms northeast of Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The historic Madinah-style mosque renovation will increase its area from 181.75 square meters to 263.55 square meters with a capacity to accommodate 171 worshippers.
The project will use natural materials of mud and local woods to rebuild the mosque in its old form and maintain the construction techniques that distinguish it in its ability to adapt to the local environment and the hot desert climate.

Al-Qalaa Mosque is one of 30 mosques that Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s project will work to restore in its second phase in all thirteen regions of the Kingdom, including six mosques in Riyadh, five mosques in Makkah, four mosques in Madinah, three in Asir, two in each of the Eastern Region, Al-Jouf, and Jazan, and one mosque in each of the Northern Borders Region, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Najran, Hail, and Al-Qassim.
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#Saudi #Arabia #renovate #100yrold #AlQalaa #mosque #Madinah
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 16, 2023
Saudi Arabia calls on Muslims to sight Shawwal moon on Thursday

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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on Friday called on all Muslims living in the kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal 1444, 2023 on Thursday evening, 29 Ramzan corresponding to April 20.
In an announcement, the Kingdom’s court called on Muslims who sight the moon with the naked eye, or through binoculars to report to the nearest court and register their testimonies, or report to the nearest centre that can contact a court.
If Thursday, April 20, is the last day of Ramzan, Shawwal will fall on Friday, April 21, as the Islamic month is 29 or 30 days long according to the lunar calendar. But, if it completes 30 days, Shawwal will fall on Saturday, April 22.

The sighting of the crescent of Shawwal will also mark the day of Eid Al-Fitr which will begin either fall on Friday or Saturday.
What is Shawwal?
In Islam, Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar or lunar calendar consisting of twelve months beginning with Muharram, and ending with Zul-Hijjah. Each month starts with the sighting of the moon. Eid Al Fitr, on the other hand, marks the end of the month-long fast.
The calendar has been observed for more than 1,440 years and is used to date important Islamic events including the start of Ramzan, Eid-Al-Fitr, and the beginning of the Haj.
The month of Shawwal is also of special importance to the Muslims. It is during this month that Allah has bestowed the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. The month is considered to be Allah’s reward for the successful completion of Ramzan.
Fasting for a period of six days in the month of Shawwal is of immense virtue to the Muslims. It also compensates for any short falling that one might have made during the fasting of Ramzan.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 15, 2023
Saudi Arabia opens reservations for Shawwal Umrah

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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has announced that reservations are now open for Umrah permits during the Islamic month of Shawwal 1444 AH, which follows Ramzan.
Those wishing to perform Umrah or lesser pilgrimage can book through the Nusuk application.
The Ministry of Haj and Umrah took to Twitter and wrote, “Hurry to book your appointment via the Nusuk app to ensure smooth and comfortable Umrah rites.”

The nusuk.sa platform allows Muslims wishing to perform Umrah or visit the holy places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to obtain the necessary visas and permits, as well as book related packages online.
Millions of Muslims, who cannot physically or financially afford the annual Haj, go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah.
In recent months, the kingdom has unveiled a range of facilities for Muslims wishing to come to the country to perform the Umrah.
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#Saudi #Arabia #opens #reservations #Shawwal #Umrah
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 15, 2023
Saudi Arabia announces new three-month temporary work visa
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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has introduce a new three-month temporary work visa service, local media reported.
The visa enables companies to issue a temporary work visa, whose holder can work for a period of three months from the date of entry, according to the Qiwa platform.
The visa can also be extended for a similar period. Foreign nationals applying for this visa do not need to obtain a residence or work permit.

The visa application must be submitted by the employer or authorized representative of Qiwa.
The regulations for the temporary work visa service require that the organization must be active and have a valid commercial registration, except for activities that do not require a commercial registration.
In addition, enterprises with the same unified number must have no expired work permit and have sufficient balance in the enterprise’s national unified number in the Absher account.
The temporary work visa is issued by Qiwa immediately and requires no documents.
The visa is electronic and valid within one year.

To apply online for a temporary work visa, the applicant must follow these steps
Select the temporary work visa service from e-services.
Then, complete all the required fields and submit the request.
Reasons given for the rejection of a request for the temporary visa include an insufficient balance in the unified number of the enterprise on Absher and rejection from the Ministry of the Interior.
The temporary work visa balance package can be cancelled and government fees refunded.
The cancellation request must be submitted by the business owner or a commissioner, the platform pointed out.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
April 14, 2023
Syiran FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011 war

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Riyadh: Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Saudi Arabia for a visit on Wednesday, amid a thaw in ties between Damascus and Riyadh, reported Al Jazeera.
According to Saudi and Syrian state media, Mekdad arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday after receiving an invitation from Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The Saudi foreign ministry in a statement, said, “The two will hold a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria.”

It added, “They will also discuss facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and securing humanitarian access to the affected areas in Syria.”
The visit to Saudi Arabia is the first by a Syrian foreign minister since the war in Syria in 2011. Although Saudi Arabia backed the Syrian opposition, the relations with the ruling regime have thawed recently, reported Al Jazeera.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has mostly defeated the Opposition attempts to unseat him from power, with support from Russia and Iran.
During the past few months, there has been increasing engagement with Al-Assad, who has been isolated ever since the Syrian war began.
Assad travelled to the UAE and Oman this year, while Saudi Arabia announced last month that talks for resumption of consular services with Damascus had begun, reported Al Jazeera.

On Friday, a gathering of regional foreign ministers will be held in Saudi Arabia to discuss Syria’s re-admission to the Arab League.
Following reports of a potential restoration of relations, Saudi official media stated last month that talks were underway between Damascus and Riyadh to reinstate consular services.
Diplomatic attempts have up steam after Saudi Arabia decided last month to normalise relations with Iran, a significant ally of the Syrian regime, Al Jazeera reported.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 13, 2023
Syria, Saudi Arabia agree to resume consular services, flights

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Damascus/Riyadh: Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed in a joint statement to resume consular services and flights, after the bilateral ties have been stranded for years.
The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported.
The statement on Wednesday said both Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume the consular services and the flights between the two countries, stressing that both sides have agreed on boosting security and counter-terrorism efforts, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

The two sides discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria that would end all its repercussions, achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab surroundings and the resumption of its natural role in the Arab world, according to the statement.
The two countries also agreed to resolve humanitarian difficulties and offer a suitable environment for assistance to reach all parts of Syria, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The two sides stressed the importance of the return of Syrian refugees and displaced individuals to their areas, along with taking the required steps to stabilise the situation in the country.
Mekdad’s visit to Saudi Arabia came upon the invitation by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as the relations between both countries are on the way to normalisation.
On Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries.

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#Syria #Saudi #Arabia #agree #resume #consular #services #flights
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 13, 2023
Iranian delegation arrives in Saudi Arabia to reopen embassy in Riyadh

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Riyadh: An Iranian delegation arrived on Wednesday, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as part of a plan to reopen Tehran’s embassy and diplomatic missions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani took to Twitter and wrote,” An Iranian technical team arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday noon in a new move & in line with implementing the agreement between the IR of Iran & Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic ties and political and consular activities in the two countries.”
He said the Iranian delegation will take necessary action in two working groups in Riyadh and Jeddah to launch the Embassy and Consulate General of Iran as well as the permanent diplomatic mission of the country at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that Iran will try to reopen and launch its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia before this year’s Hajj season.
🔽Iran’s FM Spokesman says an Iranian technical team arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday noon in a new move & in line with implementing the agreement between the IR of Iran & Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic ties and political and consular activities in the two countries. pic.twitter.com/1VvXEWbel4
— Iran Foreign Ministry 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) April 12, 2023
It is the first official visit by Iranian officials to Saudi Arabia since the visit of officials of the Iranian Haj Agency to the Kingdom in December 2019.
On Saturday, April 8, a Saudi delegation arrived in Tehran to discuss the implementation of reopening the Kingdom’s embassy and consulate in Iran.
The visit of the two delegations comes days after the second round hosted by Beijing in March between the Saudi and Iranian sides to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were severed since 2016.
On March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of their diplomatic relations and the reopening of embassies within two months, following Chinese-sponsored talks in Beijing, according to a joint statement by the three countries.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 12, 2023
Watch: Rare snow covers Al Baha region in Saudi Arabia

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Riyadh: Al Baha region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) known for its majestic mountains and picturesque landscape, on Monday was hit by unusual hail and snowfall, local media reported.
Cumulus thunderstorms brought unusually high rainfall, closing many roads and disrupting traffic in the area.
Video clips shared on social media platforms showed an accumulation of hail causing vehicles to get stuck on the closed roads.

Emergency crews from the municipality had to remove stones and hail from the roads while the city’s parks turned white.
Despite the disruption, the unusual weather brought excitement to the area, with many motorists stopping by to enjoy the cool, mild weather.
Children and young adults were seen having fun on the mountainsides and snow-covered roadsides.
Watch the videos below
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#Watch #Rare #snow #covers #Baha #region #Saudi #Arabia

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 12, 2023
Saudi Arabia to renovate 900-year-old Abu Inbeh mosque in Jeddah

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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s mosque built before the year 544 AH, will be renovated as part of a project to preserve urban heritage, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Abu Inbeh Mosque is considered one of the oldest mosques in the Jeddah Governorate, which was included in the project of Prince Mohammad bin Salman for the development of historical mosques in its second phase.
The project will restore Abu Inbeh Mosque in the architectural style of the Western region, by developing the facades of the mosque.

It specifically targets Rawashin and Mashrabiyas, which uses the best wooden panels to cover windows and external openings, including balconies. It also has important environmental functions, such as repelling direct sunlight and allowing the air to cool the mosque.
The building is characterized by the architectural style of the western region, which is intended to withstand the natural conditions surrounding the coast.
Abu Inbeh Mosque is one of the 30 mosques that the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project will renovate in its second phase in all 13 regions of the Kingdom.
It is noteworthy that the launch of the second phase of the historic mosque development project came after the completion of the first phase.
The project aims to enhance the Islamic civilization of the Kingdom and restore life to sites that had a historical and social impact in shaping its human, cultural, and intellectual environment, and restore the religious, cultural, and social role of historical mosques by preserving them.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 11, 2023
Saudi Arabia ranks second globally in society awareness of AI

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Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked second in the world in societal awareness of artificial intelligence, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
A survey within the Artificial Intelligence Index, in its sixth edition, issued by the American Stanford University, on Thursday, revealed a high rate of confidence of Saudi citizens in dealing with artificial intelligence products and services in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom came after China, which ranked first in terms of positivity and optimism of Saudi citizens towards artificial intelligence products and services provided in Saudi Arabia during the current and future phases.

The survey included a number of criteria, the most important of which was the extent of “society’s knowledge of the benefits and value of artificial intelligence products and services.”
Saudi Arabia came in first place in the world, equal to China and ahead of South Korea and America, in a question about “the positive impact of artificial intelligence products and services on the lives of respondents in the survey during the next 3-5 years.”
Saudi Arabia ranked second in the world, ahead of South Korea and Brazil, when it came to talking about “whether artificial intelligence products and services will make the lives of the respondents easier.”
It also ranked second globally, ahead of India, France and Russia, when respondents were asked “about their knowledge of the benefits and value of artificial intelligence products and services.”
Efforts in Saudi Arabia to develop artificial intelligence do not stop, and Riyadh announced, in 2021, that it aims to establish 400 companies in the field of artificial intelligence and contribute to attracting investments in this field, during the next 10 years, estimated at 80 billion Saudi Riyals.

The head of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, said in 2022, that by 2024, 70 per cent of institutions in the Kingdom will use AI-based infrastructure and smart cloud services to activate artificial intelligence.
More than 50 per cent of organizations use hosted AI services; to enhance its application portfolios by 2023, according to Al-Ghamdi.
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#Saudi #Arabia #ranks #globally #society #awareness
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 9, 2023