Arabian oryx returns to Saudi deserts

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Updated 08 November 2021
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Arabian oryx returns to Saudi deserts

  • Due to thousands of years of living in harsh desert environments, he said that the Arabian oryx had developed physiological adaptations that helped it to cope with dry and extreme conditions

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia has successfully returned the Arabian oryx to the wild after years of uncontrolled hunting and capture brought it to the edge of extinction.
For centuries, the oryx called the Arabian Peninsula home. The animal has faced difficult times in the past few decades in the Kingdom and the GCC region, and attempts to preserve the number of oryx in captivity, ready for them to be released into the wild, have finally succeeded.
Ahmed Al-Bouq, supervisor of the National Center for Wildlife Development’s research and breeding centers and the national launch program, told Arab News that Saudi Arabia’s experience in preserving the Arabian oryx had inspired the world, with 1,200 of the animals to be returned to their natural environment.
About 7,000 are currently in captivity in preparation for other campaigns to return them to three regions in the Kingdom.
Al-Bouq told Arab News that the Arabian oryx was part of Arabia’s identity. There are four species of oryxes in the world but the Arabian oryx, native to the Arabian Peninsula, has a different size and distinguishing features.
“In the past years, the National Center for Wildlife Development succeeded in the relocation programs they launched, thanks to the Saudi experts and their partners in the region. That resulted in reducing the extinction levels, in accordance with the international standard of the International Union for Conservation of Nature whose classification starts with extinct, extinct in the wild (but found in captivity) — which is the previous classification of the Arabian oryx at the beginning of the project — critically endangered and endangered,” Al-Bouq said.

HIGHLIGHT

About 7,000 oryx are currently in captivity in preparation for other campaigns to return them to three regions in the Kingdom.

According to Al-Bouq, in 2013 the classification was changed to vulnerable. “We currently seek to revert it to ‘least concern’ in order to make the species widespread, and such efforts are rare at the international level.”
Due to thousands of years of living in harsh desert environments, he said that the Arabian oryx had developed physiological adaptations that helped it to cope with dry and extreme conditions. This made it an ideal example of how to adapt to harsh environments and climate change.
It has physically adapted with features such as its white color, which reflects heat, playing a significant role in lowering its body temperature. The Arabian oryx also has dark marks on its face and legs, making it appear larger than other desert predators, such as wolves and others, to deter attacks. Its almost straight, sharp horns give it the capability to protect itself from hunting dogs, Al-Bouq said.
The Arabian oryx also has the ability to alter its body temperature. Despite being a warm-blooded mammal, it can change its body temperature from 36 to 44 degrees celsius, helping it adapt to the hot and cold temperatures of the desert.
Al-Bouq said that the Arabian oryx was a symbol of beauty, as seen in Arabic poetry’s descriptive verses and Al-Mu’allaqat, embellishing the work of the greatest poets and representing the restoration of life.


Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

Updated 4 sec ago
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Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience

  • Deep-rooted cultural connection in the spotlight 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has used the stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka to tell a story of Saudi-Japanese relations which spans the oceans.

In a live performance titled “Tales of the Sea,” the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together the seafaring traditions of Saudi Arabia and Japan, spotlighting a deep-rooted cultural connection anchored in pearl diving, patience, and poetry.

Held at the Saudi Courtyard Theater, the show centered on the figure of the nahham, a traditional Gulf singer whose role was to inspire pearl divers with his voice during long months at sea.

Japan’s ama divers, skilled women known for their sea diving expertise, were also featured to showcase their abilities and the risks they took in search of sea treasures. 

The performance told the story of a Saudi diver on a six-month journey to find the largest pearl, combining performance with visual storytelling projected across five towering 13-meter walls.

Interactive exhibits showcasing traditional diving tools and cultural artifacts invited visitors to engage more deeply, sparking conversations about resilience, tradition, and the Kingdom and Japan’s shared maritime legacies.

The audience responded with enthusiasm, drawn by the show’s emotional depth and the unexpected parallels between the two cultures.

The show captured the maritime memories of both nations, which were enhanced by Gulf chants blended with traditional Japanese music to help create an experience that reflected the partnership.

The Kingdom’s pavilion — the second largest at the expo after Japan’s — will host more than 700 events during the six-month fair, including concerts, films, and storytelling performances.

“Tales of the Sea” stood out as a clear example of how cultural exchange can be both meaningful and memorable.


Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening.
Updated 11 min 39 sec ago
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Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening

  • Court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Tuesday is the 29th of Dhul Qadah and if the crescent moon is sighted that day, the month of Dhul Hijjah, during which Hajj takes place, will start on Wednesday May 28. In this case, the first day of Eid Al-Adha will take place on Friday June 6.

If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday evening, Dhul Hijjah will start on Thursday and the first day of Eid will be on Saturday June 7.

The court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court.


Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing

Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako
Updated 25 May 2025
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Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing

  • Program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering
  • Initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states

RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako, Mali, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Conducted in cooperation with Mali’s Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering.

The initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states, the SPA added.

The launch event was attended by Lt. Gen. Sadio Camara, Mali’s minister of defense and veterans affairs; Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghed, secretary-general of the coalition; senior diplomatic and military officials; and representatives from national and international organizations.

The program featured a scientific lecture, “Financial Investigations into Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes,” attended by more than 200 participants, including security, oversight, and judicial personnel.

The session covered methodologies for financial tracking, analysis of illicit networks, and shared relevant international experiences.

Additionally, a closed workshop, “Methods of Countering the Financing of Terrorist Organizations in the Sahel Region,” brought together specialists from key national and regional entities.

Discussions focused on shared challenges, successful models, ongoing initiatives, and mechanisms for enhanced cooperation.

The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of sustained collaboration between the coalition and its member states.

Participants emphasized the need to expand training and capacity-building efforts to enhance institutional readiness and strengthen collective responses to security threats across the Sahel region.


Strict security in Makkah targets Hajj violations

Security patrols in Makkah arrested 2 Indonesian residents after they posted deceptive social media ads for fake Hajj campaigns.
Updated 25 May 2025
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Strict security in Makkah targets Hajj violations

  • Ministry of Interior reminded the public that entering Makkah without a Hajj permit from April 29 to June 10 is prohibited. (@makkahregion)

MAKKAH: Security patrols in Makkah arrested two Indonesian residents for fraud after they posted deceptive social media ads for fake Hajj campaigns, falsely promising accommodation and transportation within the holy sites.

In a separate case, Makkah police arrested two Kyrgyz residents for posting fraudulent ads targeting visit visa holders, misleading them into believing they could perform Hajj without a permit.

The suspects transported 87 visa holders and housed them in two rented locations in Makkah for a fee, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Legal action has been taken against them, and they have been referred to the Public Prosecution. The visa violators were also referred to the relevant authorities for legal penalties.

The General Directorate of Public Security urged all citizens and residents to follow Hajj regulations and report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, Madinah, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.

Hajj Security Forces at Makkah’s entrances also arrested seven residents and eight citizens for transporting 61 individuals without Hajj permits, according to the SPA.

The Ministry of Interior issued administrative decisions against the transporters, accomplices, and those transported.

Penalties include imprisonment, fines of up to SR100,000 ($26,600), public naming, deportation of residents, and a 10-year re-entry ban after sentencing.

The ministry also called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transport and fines of up to SR20,000 for those attempting to perform Hajj without a permit.

It urged full compliance with Hajj regulations to ensure pilgrim safety and reminded the public that entering Makkah without a Hajj permit from April 29 to June 10 is prohibited.


Food and drug checks intensify ahead of Hajj

Updated 25 May 2025
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Food and drug checks intensify ahead of Hajj

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority is continuing its proactive inspection campaigns as part of preparations for the Hajj season.

The authority has conducted more than 1,329 field visits to food, medicine and medical device warehouses in Makkah and Madinah so far.

These ongoing inspections and awareness efforts have led to a notable increase in compliance among facilities storing food and medicine for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the visits, inspection teams identified several warehouses that breached approved technical requirements and took the necessary legal actions.

As a result, 44 warehouses were closed, and 349 violations were recorded, according to the SPA.

To raise awareness, the authority launched a multilingual campaign that includes brochures outlining key product-handling requirements. It aims to improve safety and compliance at all facilities serving pilgrims.

The authority intensifies efforts each Hajj season to ensure food, medicine, and medical products meet safety standards, helping minimize health risks and protect pilgrims’ well-being.