French envoy praises Yanbu, as ancient port city looks to the future

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Ludovic Pouille, French ambassador to Saudi Arabia. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 May 2022
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French envoy praises Yanbu, as ancient port city looks to the future

  • ‘The tourist potential of Yanbu is impressive. It is captivating, both the traditional architecture of its historic district, and the beauty of its coasts and exceptional rich seabed’

RIYADH: The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille, has highlighted Yanbu’s tourist potential during a visit to the ancient Red Sea port city in Saudi Arabia’s western region.

Pouille was welcomed by Yanbu Gov. Saad Al-Suhaimi, along with the consul general of France in Jeddah, Mostafa Mihraje, on Wednesday for discussions on industrial and tourist development in the governorate and the strengthening of ties with France.

Pouille told Arab News en Français: “The tourist potential of Yanbu is impressive. It is captivating, both the traditional architecture of its historic district, and the beauty of its coasts and exceptional rich seabed, as well as its surrounding mountains that offer promising perspectives in eco-tourism.” 




The French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille, concluded his first day in the old town of Yanbu with a “very pleasant” visit to the traditional night souk. (Supplied)

Yanbu, a few hours’ drive west from Madinah, is the second-largest city on the shores of the Red Sea after Jeddah.

Pouille praised Yanbu’s gastronomy, saying that it “offers the best fresh fish in the country and the most delicious Sayadieh brown rice.”

The French envoy visited the Royal Commission in Yanbu and met with its CEO, Fahad Dhaifallah Al-Qurashi, and his team. 




On the second day of his tour in Yanbu, the Ambassador visited on Thursday the industrial and commercial port of King Fahad, one of the most important ports in the Red Sea. (Supplied)

Pouille and Al-Qurashi discussed the contribution of French companies to the economic development of the industrial city.

The ambassador also met with the mayor of Yanbu, Yasser Al-Rifai, for discussions that focused on the city’s promising industrial, energy, cultural and tourist outlook.

Pouille said that within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, “the industrial development plans of the city and the port should double in the next 15 years, and also create many opportunities for strengthening Franco-Saudi economic relations.” 




Captain Ali Salem Al-Mehwari, Director General of King Fahd Industrial Port and Yanbu Commercial (right) and French ambassador Ludovic Pouille. (Supplied)

He ended his first day in the old town of Yanbu with a visit to a traditional night souq, where products made by the women’s cooperatives of the region are displayed and sold as part of the women’s empowerment policy steered by the governorate.

On the second day of his tour, the ambassador on Thursday visited the industrial and commercial port of King Fahd, one of the most important ports in the Red Sea.

Thanking Capt. Ali Salem Al-Mehwari, director general of King Fahd Industrial Port and Yanbu Commercial, for his warm welcome, Pouille said: “The greeting I received there from the authorities and the population confirms, if need be, the renowned Saudi hospitality.”

The French envoy ended his tour by visiting the industrial city, where he met with the CEO of the Yasref Refinery, Hicham Al-Adel, who established a strategic partnership with the French multinational Air Liquide group in the field of hydrogen production.


Maldives president hails Makkah Route Initiative as symbol of Saudi Arabia’s leadership

Updated 16 sec ago
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Maldives president hails Makkah Route Initiative as symbol of Saudi Arabia’s leadership

  • Mohamed Muizzu praises Kingdom’s services to Muslims
  • The Makkah Route Initiative now operating in 8 countries

RIYADH: President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives has hailed Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative as a symbol of the Kingdom’s service to Islam and Muslims.

“Their leadership of the Islamic world represents an exemplary model of giving, unity, and service, not only at the two holy mosques but throughout the entire Islamic world, confirming the Kingdom’s pivotal role in leading with wisdom and mercy in serving Islam,” he said at the launch of the initiative in his country recently.

Muizzu added: “For the first time, Maldivian pilgrims will benefit from this pioneering initiative, designed by Saudi Arabia under its wise leadership and generously provided within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program emerging from Saudi Vision 2030,” he explained.

The initiative enables the completion of all passport, customs and health screening procedures from the departure point — Velana International Airport.

Muizzu thanked Saudi Arabia’s ministries of interior, Hajj and Umrah, as well as other organizations for their assistance.

“We renew our great gratitude and appreciation for the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, and look forward to enhancing cooperation and joint work under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his crown prince for the good of the entire Islamic nation.”

The initiative is now operating in eight countries, which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco and the Ivory Coast.


Mount Al-Fahlatain — where prophetic history meets pilgrimage tradition

Updated 30 May 2025
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Mount Al-Fahlatain — where prophetic history meets pilgrimage tradition

  • The sacred site has been documented meticulously by historians and travelers
  • With an elevation of 1,084 meters, the mountain commands sweeping views across the surrounding plains

AlUla: Rising from the landscape north of Madinah, Mount Al-Fahlatain has served as a geographical beacon and spiritual waypoint for more than a thousand years.

The landmark, on the historic route to AlUla, bears witness to one of Islam’s most significant military expeditions — the Prophet Muhammad’s journey to Tabuk in 9 A.H.

The mountain’s name tells its own story. Two colossal rocks crown its summit, their silhouette resembling the horns of a bull — “fahl” in Arabic, giving rise to “Al-Fahlatain,” or “the two bulls.”

The sacred site has been documented meticulously by historians and travelers.

Ali Al-Samhudi’s work, “Wafa Al-Wafa Bi Akhbar Dar Al-Mustafa,” places the location precisely one day’s march from Madinah, describing twin peaks sheltering underlying rock formations. Firuzabadi reinforced its historical significance in “Al-Maghanim Al-Mutaba fi Ma’alim Taba,” cataloging it among the landmarks witnessed by the Prophet’s army on their way to Tabuk.

Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Al-Mawlawi provided additional detail in “Rihlat Al-Shita Wa Al-Sayf,” positioning the twin peaks on the mountain’s western flank alongside the main thoroughfare. Al-Suwaidi offered an alternative etymology in “Al-Nafha Al-Miskiyya Fi Al-Rihla Al-Makkiyya,” suggesting the name reflects the mountain’s solitary stance in the landscape, isolated like a bull among grazing camels.

Historian and Islamic history researcher Fouad Al-Maghamsi identifies Mount Al-Fahlatain — sometimes called Faifa Al-Fahlatain — as strategically positioned near Shajwa village, northwest of Madinah.

With an elevation of 1,084 meters, the mountain commands sweeping views across the surrounding plains, bordered by complementary ridges and highlands.

Al-Maghamsi said the site functioned as a vital rest station along the Syrian Hajj route, known as Darb Al-Hajj Al-Shami, earning local appellations including “Antar’s Fortress” and “Antar’s Stable.”

Archaeological evidence such as building foundations and service facilities suggests a sophisticated infrastructure designed to support the thousands of pilgrims and merchants who annually traversed these routes.

The Syrian Hajj route encompasses diverse terrain rich with sites linked to prophetic biography and pilgrimage heritage.


Murdered Saudi student lawsuit against Airbnb now in federal court

Updated 30 May 2025
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Murdered Saudi student lawsuit against Airbnb now in federal court

  • Airbnb age policy led to Alwaleed Algheraibi’s death, lawyer tells Arab News
  • Convicted killer Nicole Marie Rodgers was 19 at time of Algheraibi’s murder

CHICAGO: A lawsuit filed in the Philadelphia courts against Airbnb Inc. by the parents of murdered Saudi Arabia student Alwaleed Algheraibi, 25, has been moved to the US federal courts, the family’s attorney confirmed on Thursday.

The case was recently removed at the request of Airbnb from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (Pennsylvania State Court) to Federal Court in Philadelphia, also known as the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Attorney Steve Harvey explained that the defendant has a right to be in federal court based on the citizenship of the parties – Algheraibi was a Saudi citizen, while his killer, Nicole Marie Rodgers, is African American.

The state lawsuit was filed on May 16, 2025, in the Philadelphia local courts by the victim’s father and mother, Abdullah and Eiman Algheraibi, who live in Riyadh. Airbnb is based in San Francisco, California.

The lawsuit alleges that a decision by Airbnb in October 2020 to change its policies to allow individuals younger than 21 to rent properties, created the circumstances in which the murder took place.

Rodgers was only 19 years of age when she rented the property, even though the property owner complained to Airbnb at the time that she did not want to rent to someone under the age of 21.

Had the policy not changed, Harvey argues in the lawsuit, Algheraibi would still be alive because the property owner would not have rented it to Rodgers.

“The parents of Alwaleed Algheraibi are suing Airbnb because they believe Airbnb should be held responsible for sending an Airbnb customer, 19-year-old Nicole Rodgers, to the house in Philadelphia where she brutally murdered their son for no apparent reason,” Harvey told Arab News.

“If it had not been for the Airbnb policy of forcing its hosts to accept guests under the age of 21, Alwaleed would be alive today. It was unreasonable for Airbnb to force the host to accept Rodgers.

“Airbnb knew or should have known that forcing hosts to accept guests as young as 18 could lead to problems, even serious problems like crime, violent crime, and even murder, not in every case or even in most cases but in some cases. This policy led to the death of an innocent young man.”

According to the lawsuit, the property owner previously had one of her properties damaged by an 18-year-old Airbnb guest. In response, the owner told Airbnb that she did not want to host anyone under age 21, Harvey said.

“She was told that based on the discrimination policy of the platform that if she were to ask guests their age or choose not to host them based on age then they could flag her (the owner) for discrimination and remove her from the platform,” the lawsuit states.

The property in question, a house, is located at 347 W. Hansberry Street in Philadelphia. Guests could stay in one of several individual rooms in the home and share common areas such as a bathroom.

Algheraibi “was not staying in the property through Airbnb, but instead was staying through an arrangement with the property manager, Gardith Edouard, a longtime Airbnb ‘host,’” the lawsuit states.

The killer, Rodgers, was staying in the property through an Airbnb booking on the third floor, while Algheraibi’s room was on the first floor.

Harvey said Algheraibi was in the US to get a degree in computer engineering from Chestnut Hill College, and was finishing his studies when he was murdered by Rodgers.

“Alwaleed was engaged to be married, and was looking forward to returning home to be with his fiance and his family. His family was expecting Alwaleed to come home in the coming months, but instead never saw him alive again.

“They suffer deep, even indescribable, anguish at the loss of their son in such a brutal, senseless, and avoidable, killing,” Harvey said.

“The evidence suggests that the killer lured Alwaleed to her third floor of the house on the pretense that she needed his help moving something out of her room. It’s a tragic irony that this young man died because he had the kindness to lend a hand to a stranger.”

Rodgers was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison for the murder.

Airbnb did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

Airbnb is one of the world’s largest property renters, with more than 8 million active listings worldwide, according to its website.


Makkah doctors save Egyptian pilgrim from losing eyesight

Updated 30 May 2025
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Makkah doctors save Egyptian pilgrim from losing eyesight

  • Woman suffered from retinal detachment, cataracts
  • After surgery she continued her preparations for Hajj

MAKKAH: Quick and precise intervention by a medical team at the Eye Health Center of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the sight of an Egyptian pilgrim who experienced sudden vision loss, Saudi Arabia’s health authorities announced on Thursday.

A series of examinations revealed that the patient was suffering from retinal detachment and cataracts that could have led to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly, said a Makkah Health Cluster statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

After surgery, the patient was discharged on the same day and was able to continue with her Hajj preparations.

“She is now receiving close medical follow-up to ensure retinal stability and gradual improvement in her vision,” the statement said.

Every year Saudi Arabia deploys around 50,000 healthcare and other professionals to work 24 hours daily during Hajj.

Last year, the Ministry of Health said more than 142,000 pilgrims benefited from various healthcare services provided by health centers and hospitals.

Of this number, 4,082 were admissions to hospitals and medical centers, including 24 open-heart surgeries, 249 cardiac catheterizations, and 1,006 dialysis sessions.


Saudi crown prince, Canadian prime minister discuss bilateral relations

Updated 30 May 2025
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Saudi crown prince, Canadian prime minister discuss bilateral relations

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared a call on Thursday and discussed bilateral relations.
They discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries, and opportunities to develop and enhance it in all fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The pair also reviewed the situation in the Middle East, agreeing on the need for sustainable peace in the region.
Carney was victorious in a May election after taken over as prime minister in March following the resignation of his predecessor Justin Trudeau. 
The crown prince and Carney discussed energy security and deepening trade between Riyadh and Ottawa, according to a readout from the Canadian premier’s office. 
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact, it read.