Saudi FM calls for UN reform

MADINAH: Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program CEO Majid Khan has announced that more than 700,000 seats have been earmarked to support Umrah and visitor traffic through the first quarter of 2025.

Speaking at the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah, Khan said the goal is to reach 2.5 million seats by the end of 2025, focusing on improved global air connectivity to the city.

The three-day forum, which began on April 14, is themed “Enriching the Experience of Umrah Performers and Visitors.” It was organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program. 

Khan said the program targets key markets including Europe, the Gulf, Commonwealth of Independent States, and Indonesia, in line with the National Tourism Strategy. 

A new air route from Stuttgart to Jeddah will launch this year — the third direct Umrah route from Germany, he added. 

Khan said that new airlines such as Eurowings have also been introduced, alongside recent routes from Berlin and Cologne to Jeddah.

French airline Transavia will soon launch flights from Paris and Lyon to Jeddah. And starting from August, a daily flight from London’s Gatwick to Madinah will add around 180,000 seats, said Khan.

Earlier this year, the program attracted 12 airlines and added 20 new routes to Saudi Arabia, totaling 1.5 million seats. Recent additions include ITA Airways, British Airways, Eurowings, Transavia, and Wizz Air. 

Held at the King Salman International Convention Center until April 16, the forum hosted more than 150 exhibitors from more than 100 countries. 

It featured more than 50 workshops and sessions led by 100 speakers, alongside multiple agreements to enhance the Umrah and visitor experience.

Workshops focused on accommodation, technology, and artificial intelligence applications, as well as the role of social media, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Hajj and Umrah services.

Topics included hospitality, marketing, and Madinah’s rich Islamic and historical heritage, the SPA reported.

An interactive exhibition highlighted key government initiatives to modernize infrastructure, transport and hospitality in Makkah and Madinah, aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience.

Riyadh: In a society undergoing rapid transformation, a quiet subculture is growing — one that does not involve screens, hashtags or the constant buzz of notifications.  

Across Saudi Arabia, many young Saudis are intentionally slowing down their evenings, trading fast-paced routines for peaceful rituals that prioritize connection, stillness and mindfulness.

These “slow evenings,” as they are being called by some, are deliberate pauses — moments curated by young people to reconnect with themselves, their surroundings and each other.

Experts say that the trend toward slower evenings is a natural response to overstimulation.

Dr. Ashwaq Al-Harbi, a psychologist based in Madinah, believes that this movement is a healthy psychological reaction to modern burnout.

“Young Saudis are constantly exposed to pressure — academic, social, digital. Choosing to slow down in the evening is a way to reclaim control over their mental space. It’s not laziness — it’s intentional rest.”

She also emphasized the deeper cultural inspiration behind the trend.

“There’s a strong emotional memory tied to slower lifestyles in Saudi culture — sitting with family, storytelling, making coffee from scratch. What we’re seeing now is not just a wellness trend, it’s a return to emotional familiarity in an unfamiliar time.”

For 27-year-old Sara Al-Mutairi, slow evenings began during Ramadan last year.

“I started hosting weekly gatherings on my apartment balcony after iftar,” she said. “No phones, just tea, oud and conversations that go past midnight. It made me realize how rare it is to really be present with people.”

The gatherings became a routine. Now, even outside of Ramadan, Al-Mutairi dedicates her Thursday nights to what she calls “slow-time dinners” with friends, complete with handwritten menus, jazz records and candlelight.

“I needed a break from the endless scrolling,” she added. “This is my version of peace.”

In Dammam’s older neighborhoods, 29-year-old Faisal Al-Amri has started reviving the simple pleasures his grandparents once enjoyed.

“My friends and I meet at my uncle’s diwaniya twice a week,” he said. “We bring homemade snacks, play backgammon and baloot, and talk about books we’re reading. No one’s checking their phones unless it’s to play music.”

For him, these evenings are about reclaiming “mental clarity.”

“It’s not nostalgia,” he said. “It’s about choosing a rhythm that feels human again.”

Not everyone is social during their slow evenings. For some, the experience is more about self-care.

Atheer Al-Dosari, 27, a nurse in Khobar, ends her workdays with a ritual that she has refined over the past year.

“I light bukhoor, turn on old Umm Kulthum tracks, and write in my journal before bed,” she said. “I used to spend my nights jumping between Netflix and TikTok. Now, I sleep better and I feel more grounded.”

Her friends have adopted similar routines — oiling their hair while catching up on poetry books, making fresh mint tea, or simply sitting in silence on their rooftops under the stars.

“We’re not rejecting modern life,” Al-Dosari said. “We’re just choosing to slow it down, especially at night.”

While most cafes in Saudi cities continue to offer WiFi and ambient music, a growing number of young Saudis are seeking out quieter spaces that align with the spirit of “slow evenings.”

In Riyadh, venues such as The Book Club and Sophia Library have become go-to spots for those craving a slower pace. These are cultural cafes that offer visitors a chance to read, reflect or engage in quiet conversations away from distractions.

While not everyone has the luxury of slowing down, many young Saudis are making space for it — even if just one night a week.

“It’s like my way of saying no to burnout,” said 25-year-old Sara Waleed, a medical intern in Jeddah. “I can’t control the chaos during the day, but my evenings are mine. I make them slow on purpose.”

For this generation — often labeled as fast-moving, tech-obsessed and overstimulated — reclaiming slow evenings may be the most radical act of all.