Saudi foreign minister and Pakistani counterpart discuss cooperation between their nations
During their telephone conversation, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Ishaq Dar reviewed bilateral relations
The prince is in the US for an official visit during which he will hold talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Updated 09 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, received a telephone call on Wednesday from his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.
During the call, they discussed relations between their countries and prospects for cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal arrived in the US on Tuesday for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss issues of common interest and the latest developments in the Middle East and globally, the SPA added.
RIYADH: The Jadidat Arar border crossing in the Northern Borders region continues to welcome Hajj pilgrims arriving from Iraq, with volunteers from various government and charitable organizations providing support.
Teams from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority offer medical services and health education to ensure the safety of pilgrims, delivering urgent care when needed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Volunteers from the Northern Borders Health Cluster perform medical examinations and monitor health conditions, safeguarding pilgrims’ well-being from arrival to departure.
Volunteers from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development help organize pilgrim movement, oversee transport and provide logistical support.
They also assist the elderly and people with disabilities, ensuring smooth and accessible mobility, the SPA reported.
Teams from the Ministry of Sport offer guidance at entry points and educate pilgrims on organizational procedures.
Students from Northern Borders University assist with translation, facilitating communication with non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims.
Volunteers from various associations guide pilgrims on entrance and exit routes to ensure smooth movement.
Saudi volunteers ensure pilgrims have a straightforward and enriching Hajj journey, working tirelessly in several sectors to maintain top-level service, according to the SPA.
The annual Islamic pilgrimage — required once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able to do so — will begin in Makkah on June 4 and end on June 9.
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday received his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Riyadh to discuss the latest regional developments, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation
Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa are being assessed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital
Updated 18 May 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and are being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.
They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed on the program.
The program’s medical and surgical team is led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser at the Royal Court and director general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.
The twin’s parents expressed their gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA reported.
Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)
In an interview published on Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, said that since her children were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help them to live a normal life.
Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, were unable to afford the expensive operation the twins needed. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and was told that the Kingdom was willing to help.
“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Misa said.
Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.
A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.
Al-Rabeeah said that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”
A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage
Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite
Updated 18 May 2025
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.
With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.
To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.
Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.
One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.
“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”
Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.
She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.
“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.
Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan
Updated 18 May 2025
Arab News
Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan attended the send-off ceremony for the first group of this year’s Hajj pilgrims departing from Tajikistan at Dushanbe International Airport.
Alreshaidan said that serving pilgrims is “an honor and a source of pride for the leadership of the Kingdom and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A’lem Zadah, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Committee of Religious Affairs, thanked the Saudi government for the facilities it provides to pilgrims, the SPA added.
