Saudi Arabia sanitizes over 90,000 mosques for reopening on Sunday

Cleaners cleaning and sanitizing the mosques in Saudi Arabia on May 29, 2020. (SPA)
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Updated 29 May 2020
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Saudi Arabia sanitizes over 90,000 mosques for reopening on Sunday

  • Individuals were advised to read electronic copies of the Quran from their own phones
  • They will also have to perform ablution at home and maintain a 2-meter distance between each other

DUBAI: The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs has sanitized over 90,000 mosques in the Kingdom ahead of their reopening on Sunday, state news agency SPA reported.
However, mosques in Makkah will remain closed in accordance with orders from the Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif Al-Sheikh.
The authority also carried out an extensive media campaign in several languages to educate worshippers on safety measures and procedures in mosques, such as performing ablution at home and sanitizing hands before entering the places of worship.
Individuals were advised to read electronic copies of the Quran from their own phones, bring prayer mats from home and maintain a two-meter distance between each other.
Elderly people, persons with chronic illnesses and children under 15 years were advised to perform prayers at home, the report added.
The Kingdom has eased coronavirus restrictions after over two months of lockdowns, with domestic flights to resume on Sunday.
The current toll of coronavirus in Saudi Arabia stands at 80,185 infected people, 54,553 recovered patients and 441 fatalities.


Saudi royal reserve launches eco campaigns

Updated 8 sec ago
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Saudi royal reserve launches eco campaigns

  • The authority has warned of the cumulative impact of harmful practices, stressing that actions like lighting fires in open areas or dumping waste severely damage soil and vegetation and weaken the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate and stay balanced

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority has stepped up efforts to combat environmental challenges through campaigns aimed at reducing harmful behaviors and raising awareness about pollution, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The authority has warned of the cumulative impact of harmful practices, stressing that actions like lighting fires in open areas or dumping waste severely damage soil and vegetation and weaken the ecosystem’s ability to regenerate and stay balanced.

Pollution begins in the soil, it explained, where chemicals and solid pollutants affect its biological properties and disrupt its role in supporting plant life. The damage extends to groundwater and worsens as pollutants reach the air, releasing toxic gases from burning or decomposing waste.

The authority said environmental protection depended on compliance with regulations, adding that cooperation between individuals and relevant entities was key to minimizing damage and ensuring ecosystem stability across the Kingdom.

Covering 91,500 sq. km, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve is the second-largest royal reserve, home to 138 wildlife species and 179 plant species. It is known for its rich ecology, stunning landscapes and heritage sites.
 


Sales initiative for cottage industry families in Jeddah

Updated 10 min 11 sec ago
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Sales initiative for cottage industry families in Jeddah

  • The initiative provides equipped booths as outlets to showcase products, a major step toward self-sufficiency and establishing a sustainable source of income, the Saudi Press Agency reported

JEDDAH: Monteja, a charitable society for families working in the cottage industry in the Makkah region, has launched the Sales Outlets initiative to support producer families in Historic Jeddah.

The initiative provides equipped booths as outlets to showcase products, a major step toward self-sufficiency and establishing a sustainable source of income, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Essam Al-Basrawi, the society’s chairman, said that the first phase of the initiative includes 20 families, with future expansion phases planned to increase the number of outlets and locations within Jeddah governorate.

Maram Hameed Al-Deen, the society’s executive director, praised the support provided by the Ministry of Culture and the Historic Jeddah District Program, which enabled the launch of the initiative.

She added that Monteja aims to reach a larger segment of its registered members, totaling more than 7,000 families working in the cottage industry in Jeddah.
 


Saudi foreign minister and Palestinian prime minister discuss efforts to end war in Gaza

Updated 30 July 2025
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Saudi foreign minister and Palestinian prime minister discuss efforts to end war in Gaza

  • They meet at UN HQ in New York during international conference on a 2-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France
  • PM Mohammed Mustafa commends the Kingdom for its consistent stance on the Palestinian issue, says conference was the result of Saudi diplomacy

LONDON: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa held talks on Tuesday on coordination of diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s war in Gaza, and address the resultant starvation that is affecting nearly 2 million Palestinians in the territory.

They met at the UN’s headquarters in New York on the closing day of a two-day, high-level international conference on a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Mustafa commended the Kingdom for its consistent stance on the Palestinian issue, and its ongoing efforts to address the issue through the Arab Contact Group and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the Wafa News Agency reported.

The conference in New York was co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France in an effort to gather support for the formal establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state, and advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution in which Israel and Palestine can live in peace, side by side.

On Tuesday, the UK government said it would officially recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, unless Israel takes action to end the war in Gaza and halts its annexation policies in the West Bank. This followed a recent pledge by President Emmanuel Macron that France will recognize Palestinian statehood during the General Assembly.

Mustafa said that this week’s UN conference was the result of Saudi diplomacy, with the aim of achieving a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue. He stressed the need to take concrete steps, and establish a clear timeline, toward the implementation of a two-state solution.


Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets separately with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts.
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts on the sidelines of the high level UN conference that Saudi Arabia co-chaired on Tuesday.

The ministers were in New York to attend the United Nations High-Level International Conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” which called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

It also set out a detailed international roadmap toward the implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During the separate meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Prince Faisal reviewed relations between the Kingdom and their respective countries, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The latest developments in the region and efforts being made in this regard were also discussed.


Saudi artist spotlights Asir’s rich cultural landscape in her artwork

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)
Updated 29 July 2025
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Saudi artist spotlights Asir’s rich cultural landscape in her artwork

  • Arafat Al-Asimi overcame challenges to prove herself as a female artist

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s lush Asir mountains inspired the artistic vision of Arafat Al-Asimi. 

Highlighting her early artistic endeavors, Al-Asimi said that she enjoys using pastel colors to paint natural and heritage landscapes. The mountains, valleys, the color gradations of the forests and the region’s unique climate shaped her artistic imagination. 

Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)

Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings, particularly those inspired by Asir, as they convey her deep sense of belonging and offer her psychological comfort and balance. 

She also shared her passion for incorporating Arabic calligraphy into her work, describing how it beautifully merges visual aesthetics with cultural identity. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Arafat Al-Asimi’s artwork is inspired by Asir region’s environment.

• She developed her artistic talent through practice and experimenting with different materials.

• She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence.

With a background in geography, Al-Asimi said that her passion for art extended far beyond her studies. 

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)

She continued to develop her talent through self-practice, experimenting with different materials, engaging in artistic community activities, and attending exhibitions that contributed in developing her talent and shaping her artistic identity from an early age. 

The absence of an art major at her university was not an obstacle, but rather the engine for self-development, allowing her to cultivate a distinctive artistic style despite the lack of formal academic training in the field.

Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)

Speaking on challenges she faced at the beginning of her artistic career, Al-Asimi told Arab News that the most prominent of these were the lack of art specialization in university education, the lack of community and artistic support in the early stages of her career, and the difficulty of obtaining appropriate materials and tools. 

She also highlighted the challenge of proving herself as a female artist in a conservative environment, a struggle that required her to double her efforts to prove herself. However, she was able to overcome these challenges through persistence and continuous practice. 

Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)

Al-Asimi highlighted her participation in numerous exhibitions both within the Kingdom and internationally, describing these experiences as enriching. 

The events not only expanded her artistic vision, but also provided valuable opportunities for cultural exchange, enriching her portfolio with new horizons.

She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence. Community encouragement, even through simple attendance or interaction, is an important motivator for an artist to continue, she added. 

Societal awareness of the value of fine art has been growing in recent years, providing Saudi female artists with broader opportunities to express themselves and demonstrate their abilities, she said. 

Expressing her ambitions, Al-Asimi said that she seeks to expand her presence in Saudi Arabia and Gulf art scene, and take part in major upcoming exhibitions locally and internationally to showcase her experience, inspired by the Asir environment. 

She also hopes to hold a solo exhibition documenting her artistic development and conduct art workshops for young girls to support local talent.