JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday banned expatriates from traveling to the kingdom from 20 countries to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Exceptions to the ban, which begins at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, are diplomats, and medical staff and their families.
Travel will be banned from the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Japan.
The ban also applies to travelers who transited through any of the 20 countries in the 14 days before a planned visit to the kingdom. Many passengers had been using Dubai as a transit hub from countries where there are no direct flights to Saudi Arabia, an option that is now no longer available.
The new action comes amid a global surge in cases of COVID-19 linked to variations in the original coronavirus, first detected in England, South Africa and Brazil, and fears that vaccines being rolled out worldwide may be less effective against them.
Britain began door-to-door testing of 80,000 people on Tuesday in an effort to stem the spread of the highly infectious South African variant, and there has been an increased spread of the English variant in Sweden.
Health officials in the Kingdom warned this week that stricter measures would be necessary to curb the spread of the virus if the public continued to flout regulations on social distancing and a ban on large gatherings. Saudi Arabia reported 310 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, almost four times the number a month ago.
Flights to and from the Kingdom were first suspended on March 14, 2020, two weeks after the World Health Organization declared that the coronavirus outbreak was a pandemic. Entry to Saudi Arabia by air, land and sea resumed on Jan. 3.
Saudi Arabia suspends entry from 20 countries, including Pakistan
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Saudi Arabia suspends entry from 20 countries, including Pakistan
- Exceptions to the ban, which begins at 9pm on Wednesday, are diplomats and medical staff and their families
- UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil, South Africa, India, Indonesia, among nations banned
Polish pianist brings Europe’s musical soul to Saudi Arabia’s capital
RIYADH: As part of the cultural dialogue between the EU and Saudi Arabia, the embassy of the EU in the Kingdom organized a musical evening at the Saudi Music Hub in Riyadh.
Speaking at “The European Piano Recital,” the EU ambassador said: “Saudi Arabia is a close ally with whom we enjoy close relations. My only wish is that music will serve to build bridges and bring our artists and our peoples closer together.”
During the recital, Polist vituoso pianist Wojciech Waleczek took the audience on a journey through the 27 countries of the EU, performing classical works that highlight the continent’s cultural diversity.
The pianist is renowned internationally for his artistic excellence and his commitment to spreading classical music throughout the world. He is also professor of musical arts at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
Waleczek told Arab News: “These were works by composers from all the countries of the European Union. We asked composers from each EU country to write a piece, which we presented this evening.
“I think this is a very important event, because we can exchange our cultures. For example, in Europe we can listen to music from other continents. Just as in Europe, we can listen to music from other continents. So we can bring European culture to other countries. That’s why I do it. I’ve discovered Polish culture and now I’d like to share it with Saudi audiences.”
Waleczek has a very active international career. He performs solo recitals, chamber music and as a soloist with orchestras in more than 40 countries, notably in Europe, the Middle East, America and Asia, and collaborates with many prestigious orchestras.
He closed his recital with a performance of Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy,” which expresses an idealistic vision of human brotherhood, a vision shared by Beethoven. In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted the theme of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” as its anthem, and in 1985 the leaders of the EU adopted it as their official anthem.
Waleczek said: “I played the ‘Ode to Joy,’ which is the anthem of the European Union, and this piece is very special. I think that, in today’s world, we must always remember that we are the guardians of peace.”
A specialist in the repertoire of Franz Liszt, his recordings include “Grandes etudes de Paganini” (2017), “Harmonies poetiques et religieuses” in 2019, and “Weihnachtsbaum” in 2024. He also performs works by Franz Schubert, such as “Rarities and Short Piano Works” in 2021.
Alongside his artistic career, he teaches at the Institute of Musical Arts at the University of Silesia. He is also vice president of the SIGNUM association, which promotes classical music in Poland and abroad.
The recital concert is part of efforts to strengthen cultural links between Europe and Saudi Arabia and accompanies the Kingdom’s artistic and cultural transformation under Vision 2030.
Festival of fun: Riyadh expo highlights best in entertainment technology
- Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo set to welcome 12,000 visitors over 3 days
- Hologram zoo, inflatable monsters among attractions on show
Some of the weirdest and most wonderful innovations are on show at this year’s Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo in Riyadh.
With 350 exhibitors plus talks and discussions with industry leaders from around the world, the three-day event opened on Tuesday and is expected to attract about 12,000 visitors.
Among the products on show is a hologram zoo designed by Australian company Axiom Holographics, which was featured in Time magazine’s list of technologies of the year for 2023.
Brendan Hodgkins, global sales manager, said: “We package a full suite of hologram equipment that can be integrated into family entertainment centers, theme parks or shopping malls.
“During our trials, we attracted 25,000 people in just 42 days, generating over $550,000 in revenue.”
He said that the company had already sold more than 40 of its “zoos” around the world and was keen to expand into the Saudi market.
“We’re eager to bring this innovation to Saudi Arabia to help shape the future of entertainment in the Kingdom.”
Another of the exhibits on show, and possibly the largest, is a 20-meter tall inflatable ogre, designed and built by Anka Inflatable Co. from Guangzhou in southern China.
A representative of the company, who gave his name only as John, said the product was ideal for larger venues, like amusement parks.
While the purple monster attracted plenty of visitors at the show, the technology can be adapted to suit the end-user’s needs, John said.
“(It) can be customized in many shapes and the skin can be changed after one, two, or three years. It’s also collapsible and easy to transport,” he said.
Anka was also keen to increase its profile in the region, he said.
“Many of my friends have built successful companies here. The relationship between China and Saudi Arabia is strong and this is a very good market for us.”
Besides the products on show, the expo is also being used to attract new people into the industry, with the Saudi Entertainment Academy promoting a series of training programs with links to future career opportunities.
“Our vision is to focus on professional training through diploma programs,” Sultan bin Jumaiah, a sales specialist with the academy, said.
“We aim to provide professional candidates for companies looking to hire. After completing our diploma, students will have the opportunity to join various companies in this sector.”
The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and create new job opportunities for Saudi citizens.
New program backs 20 AI startups in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched a specialized incubator to support the growth of artificial intelligence startups, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
This initiative by the ministry’s Center of Digital Entrepreneurship strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a regional innovation hub and reinforces AI’s role as a key driver of digital economic growth.
The program includes 20 AI startups, empowering innovators to turn ideas into viable tech solutions, according to SPA.
The four-month program targets tech enthusiasts, experts, and industry leaders.
It offers training, financial support from the National Technology Development Program, mentorship, digital incentives, networking opportunities, and office space.
In collaboration with the Saudi Data and AI Authority, the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence, SambaNova, and BIM Ventures, the program fosters a supportive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.
AI-powered robot to assist Hajj pilgrims at Grand Mosque in Makkah
- Updated 2nd version of the high-tech helper features designs inspired by Islamic motifs and architecture in Makkah and Madinah
- The robot will act as a reference point for religious inquiries and offer direct video calls with muftis
MAKKAH: As preparations continue in Saudi Arabia for the start of Hajj, pilgrims in need of assistance will this year be able to call on the services of a new high-tech helper that blends the traditions of Islam with the latest developments in artificial intelligence.
The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque unveiled the updated second version of its AI-powered Manarat Al-Haramain Robot on Wednesday, as part of an initiative that aims to leverage the power of advanced technologies to enhance the spiritual experiences of pilgrims.
It said the robot will act as a reference point for religious inquiries at the Grand Mosque, and can connect worshippers and other visitors to direct video calls with muftis who can answer any questions they might have, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The robot's updated version and software features designs inspired by traditional Islamic motifs and architecture found at the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. It combines authenticity, modernity, and advanced technology to help enhance the experiences of pilgrims by providing easy access to information, the presidency said.
Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage every Muslim is obliged to undertake at least once in their life if they are physically and financially able to do so, is expected to begin in Makkah on June 4 and end on June 9. Pilgrims from around the world began to arrive in the Kingdom this month.
Saudi Arabia, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties
- Ministers sign memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the judicial field
- Walid Al-Samaani reviewed recent developments in Saudi Arabia’s judicial and legal sectors
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani met with his Japanese counterpart Keisuke Suzuki during an official visit to the East Asian country.
The ministers discussed ways to strengthen judicial ties between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Al-Samaani reviewed recent developments in Saudi Arabia’s judicial and legal sectors, supported by King Salman and overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, particularly regarding specialized legislation aimed at ensuring prompt justice.
He highlighted key advancements, including promoting transparency through audio and video documentation of court sessions — both in-person and virtual — and the publication of judicial rulings.
He also emphasized efforts to activate the preventive justice system by documenting contracts as enforceable instruments, SPA reported.
On the sidelines, Al-Samaani and Suzuki signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the judicial field, including the exchange of expertise and information, and collaboration in legislation, capacity building, and dispute resolution.
