RIYADH: Mosques in Saudi Arabia are to reopen for Friday prayers this week as the Kingdom relaxes measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said mosques will be open to the public for the weekly prayers from May 31 until June 20, except in Makkah.
A circular issued to mosque staff by Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asheikh, the Islamic affairs minister, said windows and doors must be open at all times and copies of the Qur’an must be temporarily withdrawn.
“Worshippers must keep two meters apart and leave a row of space empty between each row,” he said.
“They must also wear face masks at all times, bring their own prayer mats and perform ablution at home.”
Imams must ensure worshippers avoid crowding when entering and exiting the mosques and children under 15 are not allowed to enter.
Water coolers and the distribution of food and drinks are not permitted, as well as incense and miswak, which is used to clean teeth. Mosques must also close all toilets and places of ablution.
The instructions follow other announcements in the Kingdom relaxing aspects of the lockdown, including reducing curfews and allowing more movement of people.
The circular to mosque staff also said educational programs and workshops for memorizing the Qur’an should continue remotely online until further notice.
Smaller mosques can open 15 minutes before the call to prayer and should close 10 minutes after they finish.
Mosques with larger crowds can open 20 minutes before prayers and should close 20 minutes after they finish, and the sermon should not last more than 15 minutes.
The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, which attract millions of travelers from around the world, will remain suspended until further notice, the ministry said.
Saudi Arabia allows mosques to open for Friday prayers
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Saudi Arabia allows mosques to open for Friday prayers
- Mosques will open for Friday prayers in all regions except Makkah
- Imams must ensure worshippers abide by health instructions
King Salman issues royal decrees to relieve senior officials of duties
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued royal decrees on Sunday that included relieving several senior officials of their duties, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The orders relieved Mohammed Al-Madi from his position as head of the Military Industries Corporation, Ghassan Al-Shibl from his role as advisor to the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and Talal Al-Otaibi from his post as assistant minister of defense.
Snow escapes bring winter fun to Riyadh’s summer
- With sub-zero temperatures and fully immersive polar settings, these wintry venues have quickly become popular family destinations
RIYADH: Snow-themed attractions in Riyadh, including Snow City in Al-Othaim Mall, are offering residents and visitors a refreshing alternative to the summer heat.
With sub-zero temperatures and fully immersive polar settings, these wintry venues have quickly become popular family destinations, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.
With strict safety measures in place, activities range from ice skating and sliding down ice slopes to riding mini snowmobiles, exploring icy trails, and enjoying spinning tubes.
Open play areas and snow cabins inspired by polar life add to the sense of adventure.
The experience is rounded out with cafes, souvenir shops and event spaces, making the destinations a year-round entertainment choice.
Part of the Kingdom’s evolving entertainment sector, these snow-themed venues provide new climatic escapes that enrich quality of life, encourage domestic tourism, and reflect ongoing investment in diverse leisure experiences.
Study to document 12,000 species in Saudi Arabia will improve quality of life, says wildlife CEO
- The Decade Land Expedition for Terrestrial Ecosystem Exploration is one of the largest national projects to explore biodiversity in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: A new study to document biodiversity in Saudi Arabia will “positively impact” the environment, society and quality of life, according to National Center for Wildlife CEO Mohammad Qurban.
Qurban spoke to Arab News about how the Decade Land Expedition for Terrestrial Ecosystem Exploration “reflects national efforts to restore ecosystems and enhance ecological balance, in line with the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030.”
Qurban told Arab News: “The expeditions provide an updated and accurate database that constitutes a baseline for integrated and sustainable management, which benefits the sustainability of our natural resources and the balance of our environment.
“This positively impacts environmental, social, and economic development and raises the quality of life.”
The expedition is scheduled to provide a comprehensive inventory of biodiversity in all study areas, identifying breeding and distribution sites.
It will also create a national database and interactive maps of recorded sites and species, he added.
The Decade Land Expedition for Terrestrial Ecosystem Exploration is one of the largest national projects to explore biodiversity in the Kingdom, according to a recent statement issued by the center.
The project will help to document the significant biological wealth of Saudi Arabia, he added, and strengthen the Kingdom’s role in regional and international environmental agreements.
“The Kingdom boasts 65 ecosystems and more than 12,000 species of wild plants and animals,” Qurban said.
“The Kingdom will have a unique database of its terrestrial and marine ecosystems, a starting point for sustainable management and a reliable reference for researchers and scientists,” Qurban said.
The expedition will involve experts and researchers from the Kingdom and beyond, in collaboration with national universities, research centers, royal reserves and other international organizations.
It will identify endemic, threatened and restricted-range species, assessing the threats they face, and developing plans to mitigate those threats and create a safe and sustainable environment.
The program also involves updating the national wetland plan in the Kingdom.
Historic Jeddah’s wooden doors exemplify traditional Hijazi architecture
RIYADH: Ancient wooden doors scattered across the alleys of Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad neighborhood exemplify the traditional architecture of the Hijaz region.
Their beauty has been preserved for centuries, and they have become symbolic of the architectural identity that led to the area joining the UNESCO World Heritage List.
These doors are crafted from teak and walnut wood imported from India and East Africa, renowned for their durability and weatherproof quality.
They are reinforced with large iron nails and adorned with arabesque, geometric, and botanical engravings, reflecting the creativity of local craftspeople in Jeddah who developed this craft generation after generation.
The wooden doors serve multiple architectural functions, according to the Saudi Press Agency, most notably protecting homes from summer heat and providing ventilation through finely decorated openings, in addition to their aesthetic appeal.
Some doors feature double layers: a large outer one for visitors and a smaller one allowing easy entry and exit without opening the main door.
As part of Saudi Vision 2030 efforts to preserve historic Jeddah, dozens of wooden doors have undergone meticulous restoration by specialized artisans using the same original wood, with careful documentation of engravings and decorations to ensure their preservation.
These are testimonies to the evolution of Hijazi society and its adaptation to the environment.
They carry in their engravings stories of trade and seafaring, showing how architecture preserves the identity of a place and the spirit of its people.
Al-Balad is believed to have been inhabited since the era before Islam, according to Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage sources.
Some of the buildings that stand there today were built around 400 years ago.
Old Jeddah includes a number of monuments and heritage buildings such as the Old Jeddah wall and its historical open squares such as Al-Mazloom, Al-Sham, Al-Yemen and Al-Bahr Haras.
The Old Jeddah wall was built to fortify the city from attacks initiated by the Portuguese coming in from the Red Sea, but it was torn down in the 1940s due to urbanization.
Saudi team aims for podium at international astrophysics olympiad in Mumbai
- 5 Saudi students compete at 2025 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Saudi Arabia won 3 bronze medals at the olympiad’s 2024 edition in Rio de Janeiro Sanjay Kumar
NEW DELHI: Saudi students are aiming for the podium at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics held in India’s Mumbai this week, building on their team’s successful debut last year.
The IOAA is a worldwide annual competition to recognize talented high school students in astronomy and astrophysics through a series of theoretical, practical and experimental tests.
This year, the event featuring 320 students from 64 countries is organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education — a national center of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research — in Mumbai from Aug. 11-21.
The Saudi team has been trained by Mawhiba — the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, a non-profit endowment dedicated to nurturing young talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — with support from the Ministry of Education, the Saudi Space Agency, and NEO Space Group.
“This year, five talented students were nominated to be part of the Saudi national team after highly competitive and rigorous qualification stages that spanned almost a year,” Talal Al-Dawood, supervisor of the astronomy and space program at Mawhiba, told Arab News.
“It goes without saying that they are extremely proud and excited to represent the Kingdom in such a prestigious international event.”
The IOAA was first held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2007. Saudi Arabia debuted in the competition at its 2024 edition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with its three-member team winning three bronze medals.
“Given this remarkable success in our debut year, our students are now setting their goals on even higher achievements. With more experience and a larger team, we have every reason to be optimistic about surpassing last year’s performance,” Al-Dawood said.
“In the Kingdom, scientific olympiads hold tremendous significance for our high school students. Thousands compete annually for the honor of raising the Saudi flag on the winners’ podium.”
Besides examinations, students will also take part in several excursions in and around Mumbai.
“Since the announcement of the IOAA 2025 host last year, everyone has been looking forward to this opportunity. India has long established itself as one of the most exceptional hosts for scientific olympiads … Our students were absolutely thrilled to be here,” Al-Dawood said.
“For them, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their talents on a global stage and bring honor to their nation.”
