RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that 10 alleged members of a terrorist cell were arrested on Sept. 23.
Some of them are believed to have received military and field training at sites belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards between Oct. 29 and Dec. 8, 2017. A spokesman for the Presidency of State Security added that the suspects had also been trained to make explosives.
“Three of those arrested had been trained in Iran while the rest were linked to the cell in various roles,” he said. The locations of the arrests were not given and identities of those arrested cannot be be revealed at this time for legal reasons, he added.
The spokesman said a cache of weapons and explosives was confiscated at a house and a farm. It included nine explosive devices, four Kalashnikov machine guns, a Heckler and Koch G3 rifle, a sniper rifle, two pistols, an air rifle, 4,620 rounds of ammunition, 18 machine gun and pistol chambers, 14 knives, and military uniforms.
Other items included 5.28 kilograms of gunpowder, 67 explosive fuses, 51 electric detonators, a welding machine, and a range of capacitors, electrical transformers and electronic components used to make explosive devices.
Investigations are continuing into the activities of those who were arrested and to identify others they might have been working with inside and outside the Kingdom.
The presidency reiterated its determination and resolve to confront criminal schemes and arrest all who attempt to destabilize the security and stability of the Kingdom, and threaten the safety of those who live there.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday it had foiled a “terrorist attack” early this year that was backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
The statement confirmed earlier media reports about an alleged planned attack and added a timeframe.
On Sunday, Saudi state television Al-Ekhbariya and Bahraini newspaper Akhbar Al-Khaleej reported that Interior Ministry investigations found that a new group called the “Qassem Soleimani Brigade” had planned to attack several public and security structures in Bahrain.
The reports had not given a timeframe.
“We want to make clear that this case goes back to early 2020 and it is currently being looked into by the relevant court,” the ministry statement said.
The report by Akhar Al-Khaleej said the foiled attacks had been planned to avenge the January killing in Iraq of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by a US drone strike.
It said security forces foiled the plot after finding an explosive device in the Badei area meant to target a visiting foreign delegation.
The newspaper said a case was being prepared against 18 accused individuals, of whom nine are now in Iran.
Saudi Arabia breaks up Iran-trained terrorist cell
https://arab.news/4ahsz
Saudi Arabia breaks up Iran-trained terrorist cell
- 10 members of the cell have been arrested
- Identities of the suspects will not be revealed at the present time
From sahoor drums to online apps: Ramadan through the eyes of 3 generations of a Pakistani family
- Digital age has significantly altered how holy month is observed, offering spiritual engagement through apps, social media, and online platforms
- Mobile apps have become indispensable tools for Muslims worldwide during Ramadan, whether to check prayer timings or order food
ISLAMABAD: The clatter of plates, spoons, and forks filled the air as Mahmood Ahmed Hashmi, 67, broke his fast earlier this week at his home in Islamabad, seated with his three sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren around a large, colorful tablecloth spread on the floor.
Ramadan traditions and practices evolve across generations, influenced by changing demographics, lifestyles, media and digital apps, while retaining the core spiritual elements of fasting, prayer, and charity.
As in other parts of the world, the digital age has also significantly altered how Ramadan is observed by Pakistani families, offering new avenues for spiritual engagement, community connection, and resource access through apps, social media, and online platforms.
FASTFACT
Digital age has significantly altered how holy month is observed, offering spiritual engagement through apps, social media, and online platforms.
Hashmi, a retired civil servant, detailed how Ramadan has changed through the generations of his family, beginning with the tradition of Ramadan drummers walking through the streets, beating drums to wake people for the pre-dawn meal (sahoor) before fasting began for the day. Once a typical feature of the holy month, the tradition’s usefulness has been eclipsed by TV, mobile phones, and alarm clocks.
“In those days, the elders used to come out in the neighborhood to wake up people for sahoor,” Hashmi told Arab News at iftar. “They used to do some drumming and other things so that people could get up, but now you have everything in your cell phone.”
Mobile apps have become indispensable tools for Muslims around the world during Ramadan, offering features such as prayer time reminders, Qur’anic recitations, and fasting trackers, ensuring accurate timing and accessibility.
While many people used to visit neighborhood or community religious gatherings earlier, now platforms such as YouTube and TikTok host Islamic scholars and influencers who share daily Ramadan reflections, Qur’anic tafseer (exegesis), and tips for spiritual growth, making Islamic education more accessible, especially for younger Muslims.
Social media platforms have also become main avenues for sharing Ramadan greetings, exchanging recipes, and discussing spiritual reflections.
Handwritten Eid cards, once widely exchanged among friends and relatives ahead of the post-Ramadan Eid Al-Fitr festival, are now a rarity in the age of digital greeting cards shared on Whatsapp and other messaging platforms, Hashmi lamented.
“How good the feeling used to be to get Eid cards from your loved ones,” he said. “Your near and loved ones used to wait for them. People used to display them in their drawing rooms or bedrooms. Now a picture (card) will come (on mobile phone).”
Iftar and sahoor meals would also be made entirely at home, or with snacks and food bought from neighborhood eateries, and would be consumed as a family, while food was now increasingly ordered from online apps as per individual choices, Hashmi added.
While the retired official regrets the decline in many of the Ramadan customs of his youth, his son Miraj Mustafa Hashmi, a professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology, said digital innovations such as mobile apps have streamlined everyday rituals, while still nurturing cherished Ramadan traditions.
“Apps like FoodPanda have replaced traditional market trips for iftar (items),” Miraj said, explaining that this was beneficial for people who did not have the luxury of time due to jobs and other responsibilities.
“It is a digital era, things are going on like that and people are comfortable in it. I think it is a very positive change … because people like us have to stay in the office all day and work … Obviously, we want to go to the market but the pressure of work and the load is there.”
Digital platforms and apps have also made it easier for people to donate to charity and support those in need, a core aspect of the holy month, Miraj said.
For his 10-year-old son Ibrahim, a student who began fasting at the age of 7, Ramadan is about being able to order his favorite dishes online and checking the internet for iftar and sahoor timings.
“I love having noodles, pizza, macaroni, samosas, pakoras, and jalebis for iftar,” Ibrahim said.
But was there anything Miraj missed about the way Ramadan used to be observed?
Relatives and friends used to meet each other more often at Ramadan events when they did not have the luxury to connect through video calls, he said.
“When I think of my childhood, we used to go to social events, we used to go shopping with our grandparents, we used to do all these activities.
“If we see, our parents spent a very tough life due to limited facilities, but they made it a little easier (for us) and our children are living a much easier life and technology is helpful.”
Moroccan prime minister visits Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah
- Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was seen off by Gov. of Jeddah Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi
MADINAH: Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch arrived in Madinah on Saturday to visit and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.
On his arrival at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport he was received by Undersecretary of Madinah Abdul Mohsen bin Nayef bin Hamid, the Director of the Royal Protocol Office in the region Ibrahim bin Abdullah Barri, and a number of officials, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was seen off by Gov. of Jeddah Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and several other officials on Saturday after performing Umrah.
Saudi Arabia sees surging prices for religious tourism amid Ramadan rush
- Umrah package prices soar amid high demand for pilgrimage to holy cities
- Some international fares double amid festive rush of expatriates going home for Eid Al-Fitr
RIYADH: Ramadan is a highly popular period to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, and travel agencies and tour operators are cashing in on the festive rush.
Flights from Riyadh to Jeddah are seeing increased demand and surging prices.
“There was an offer on Saudi Founding Day so some people got cheaper tickets, but with the beginning of Ramadan tickets went up,” said Mohammad Aslam Jameel, a travel company supervisor in Riyadh.
“If you are traveling now to Jeddah, the round-trip tickets will cost about SR1,700 ($453) to SR2,000.”
There are comparatively cheaper tickets for odd timings, but they, too, will total about SR1,500 now to SR 2,000 during Qiyam — the last 10 days of Ramadan — he added.
Umrah travel operators in Riyadh have almost doubled the price of the bus tour package to SR200 per person, Mohammed Iqbal, who recently booked an Umrah pilgrimage, told Arab News.
“The huge rush was due to the holy month of Ramadan since most of the people want to spend these days in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,” he said.
An employee of Al-Fajr, a tour operator in the city, also added that the increased prices were due to surging demand.
Ticket prices for international flights, too, have soared on dates close to Eid Al-Fitr as many expatriates plan to travel back home.
Asif Ahmed, an Indian working in Riyadh and traveling home for the Eid celebration with his family, told Arab News: “When I had checked the price with the tour operator for the same period two months ago for a round trip, it was about SR2,000. Now the tickets prices for the round trip have soared to SR4,000.”
Syed Faiz Ahmad, a Pakistani expat working in Yanbu, told Arab News: “It’s my 28th year staying in Saudi Arabia. During my early years the cost of air tickets for travel to my native country during Eid was not much, but as the time has passed all airlines have started to raise the prices exorbitantly amid (the) festive rush.
“This has become economically challenging to travel home during holidays especially with family.”
Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with data revealing a sharp rise in travel demand for 2024 and 2025.
Findings from travel booking platform Skyscanner highlight the increasing global interest in pilgrimage travel.
With early 2025 travel data already reflecting strong demand, the trend of growing religious tourism is expected to continue.
January 2025 saw a 21 percent year-on-year increase in flight searches to Saudi Arabia, with peak travel interest centered around March 2025 — coinciding with the start of Ramadan.
Findings for 2024 also revealed spikes around Ramadan (March–April) and Hajj (June).
Madinah has emerged as a key destination for travelers interested in pilgrimage, with searches for flights to Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport rising by 54 percent year-on-year.
Religious tourism remains a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, serving as a key pillar in the Kingdom’s economic transformation. Significant investments are being made to improve infrastructure, expand flight routes and enhance the pilgrim experience.
Key projects such as the Makkah Route Initiative for Hajj pilgrims and the Haramain High-Speed Railway are instrumental in these efforts.
Countering the trend of surging prices, the railway offered discounts on two-way travel between Makkah and Madinah during the first 20 days of Ramadan.
The railway has also increased Makkah-Madinah trips for the final 10 days of Ramadan to accommodate the surge in Umrah performers during Qiyam Al-Layl, with 130 additional daily trips added, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway, among the world’s fastest railways with a speed of 300 km per hour, also increased station gate capacity from eight to 24 and added two terminals.
Saudi fund celebrates cultural innovation at Storytellers event
- Riyadh gathering highlights new opportunities, fosters Saudi cultural entrepreneurship
Riyadh: The Cultural Development Fund hosted the third annual Storytellers event in Riyadh, bringing together key officials, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs and creators from various cultural fields.
The gathering is part of the fund’s efforts to strengthen connections, explore new opportunities and support the sector’s momentum, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
It featured a keynote by the fund’s CEO, Majed Al-Hugail, followed by remarks from representatives of the Elite Chefs Center, behind the CHEFPreneur program — one of the initiatives supported by the fund.
The program equips aspiring chefs with culinary expertise and entrepreneurial skills to launch their own projects and establish competitive businesses.
The gathering also celebrated 42 graduates of the program who had completed their training.
In line with its commitment to supporting enabled projects, the fund showcased several beneficiary projects, allowing guests to experience their creative offerings firsthand.
The event featured cultural activities aligned with the Year of Handicrafts 2025. Guests took part in traditional crafts like prayer bead-making and henna art, while a special art exhibition showcased works by visual artist and craftswoman Naifah Al-Shahrani.
Inspired by the traditional Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the exhibition honored the rich heritage of southern Saudi Arabia with vibrant colors and intricate details.
The event aimed to strengthen strategic partnerships with government entities, the private sector and nonprofit organizations to drive sustainable growth in the cultural sector, contributing to economic development and enhancing quality of life.
Nawaf Al-Owain, the fund’s marketing and communication executive director, told Arab News: “This annual gathering is part of the fund’s efforts to foster strong partnerships with key stakeholders and sustain the cultural sector’s momentum.
“It also reflects the fund’s role as a key financial enabler and its commitment to empowering creatives and cultural entrepreneurship.”
He added: “Now in its third year, the event has become a cornerstone of the fund’s outreach efforts, establishing a platform that unites creatives, entrepreneurs and influencers to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and explore collaboration opportunities across cultural and financial sectors.
“By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the fund aims to promote partnerships that drive growth and sustainability in the cultural sector.”
Historic Al-Qalaah Mosque in Riyadh restored in traditional Najdi style
RIYADH: The historic Al-Qalaah Mosque in Hotat Bani Tamim, Riyadh, is among the places of worship restored as part of a national project, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques aims to safeguard Islamic heritage and highlight traditional architectural styles.
Established in 1835 and named after the castle of Imam Turki bin Abdullah that once stood on its premises, Al-Qalaah Mosque holds significant historical value, which the project seeks to preserve.
Upon completion, the mosque will cover 625 sq. meters, accommodating up to 180 worshipers, the SPA reported.
Built in the Najdi style, the mosque primarily uses clay, with a construction method involving a clay and hay mixture placed in wooden molds to form brick-like structures.
This technique is known for its economic efficiency compared to other materials, offering advantages such as thermal resistance and maintaining a moderate indoor temperature.
It is one of 30 mosques across 13 regions included in phase two, featuring six in Riyadh, five in Makkah, four in Madinah, three in Asir, and two each in the Eastern Province, Jouf and Jazan. One mosque is included in each of the Northern Borders, Tabuk, Baha, Najran, Hail and Qassim.
Phase two follows the completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions, according to the SPA.
The project balances traditional and modern construction standards, ensuring the sustainability of mosque components while preserving heritage.
Saudi companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the development efforts, according to the report.
The project’s four strategic objectives include restoring historic mosques for worship, preserving architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and enhancing the religious and cultural significance of religious sites.
