Saudi Arabia could consider mix-match second doses of coronavirus vaccine

More than 47.7 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population have received at least one dose. (AP)
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Updated 21 June 2021
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Saudi Arabia could consider mix-match second doses of coronavirus vaccine

  • Many of Saudi Arabia’s regions have shown signs of stability and decline in cases

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia could consider administering second doses from other vaccine manufacturers as soon as they are accredited in the Kingdom according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) spokesman.
At Sunday’s press conference, MoH spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said that studies conducted in several countries have shown positive results, with more countries now applying the mix-match vaccine doses, including the US, Canada, Britain, the UAE and more.
Refuting claims about the depletion of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the Kingdom, Al-Aly reassured the public that the vaccine is still available and is being administered. More than 16.6 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in the Kingdom so far, at a rate of 107,857 doses per day. More than 47.7 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population have received at least one dose.
The Kingdom reported 1,079 new cases, bringing the number of active cases in the country to 10,896, a decline of 149 cases in the past 24 hours.
“The rate at which the curve is going in the past few weeks have shown positive signs of stability,” said the MoH spokesman, adding: “Many of the Kingdom’s regions have shown signs of stability and decline in cases. We continue to encourage everyone to register for the vaccine as both vaccines and precautionary measures will help in overcoming this pandemic.”

FASTFACTS

474,191 Total cases

455,618 Recoveries

Most cases were registered in the Makkah region with 320, there were 216 cases in Riyadh and 206 cases in the Eastern Province. All other regions reported new case totals below 100, the Northern Borders reported six cases while Jouf reported only four.
The reports brought the total number of cases to 474,191 since the start of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Kingdom.
There were 1,214 new recoveries from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Most recoveries were registered in Jeddah with 187, Makkah followed with 150 and in Riyadh there were 138 recoveries. This has brought the total number of recoveries to 455,618. The Kingdom’s recovery rate is holding steady at 96 percent.
There were 20 new critical cases, bringing the total number of critical patients to 1,516. Fourteen people died in the last 24 hours, raising the overall death toll to 7,677. Some 84,652 PCR tests have been conducted via numerous testing hubs across the country. Clinics and treatment centers have been set up by the government to help thousands of people around the Kingdom in the fight against COVID-19. Through Sehhaty (my health) app the citizens have easy access to the Tetamman (rest assured) and Taakad (make sure) clinics, aimed at helping those who show symptoms and those who do not but believe they have been in contact with the virus.


Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj. (@PRAGOVSA)
Updated 37 min 28 sec ago
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Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

  • The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims
  • The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9

RIYADH: Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj, the Presidency of Religious Affairs announced on Sunday.

The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims. Muslims around the world who are not performing the pilgrimage mark the day by fasting and engaging in worship.

The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9.

Head of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the appointment.

The appointment underscores the Kingdom’s global religious leadership, reflects its continued support for religious institutions, and exemplifies the leadership’s care for the two holy mosques, the presidency said.


Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, meets with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Updated 25 May 2025
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Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

  • The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture

RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.

The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”


Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

  • Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed

RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.

The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.

The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.

Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.

The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.

Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.

The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.

Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.


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

Updated 25 May 2025
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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 25 May 2025
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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.