Eastern Province, Qassim, Riyadh brace for heavy downpours, hailstorms

Special Eastern Province, Qassim, Riyadh brace for heavy downpours, hailstorms
Manifa in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia exceeded 42 mm of rainfall within an hour on Tuesday. (X/NCM)
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Updated 16 April 2024
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Eastern Province, Qassim, Riyadh brace for heavy downpours, hailstorms

Eastern Province, Qassim, Riyadh brace for heavy downpours, hailstorms
  • NCM forecast heavy rains, high-speed winds, hail storms in these regions on Tuesday
  • Schools closed, online classes in parts of Kingdom due to inclement weather

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will receive more rainfall on Tuesday with the Eastern Province, Al-Qassim region and the capital Riyadh and its outskirts likely to witness heavy rains, accompanied by high-speed winds, hail and subsequent lack of visibility, according to the forecast of the National Center of Meteorology.

The NCM forecast for Tuesday said: “There will be high speed wind, sandstorms followed by heavy rain and hailstorm in Qassim, Riyadh, Eastern Province, Northern Border region and Hail.

“Eastern Province, Qassim and Riyadh will record low temperatures, and there is a possibility of flash floods in these areas,” it added.

Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesperson of the NCM, called for utmost caution and vigilance due to the weather fluctuations in these regions.

“Manifa in the Eastern Province exceeded 42 mm of rain within an hour, and the chances of rain continue in the affected areas. We call on everyone to be careful and monitor weather information across the center, given the weather fluctuations affecting the areas in the Kingdom,” said Al-Qahtani.

Following inclement weather, education authorities in several parts of Saudi Arabia suspended in-person classes on Tuesday and ordered schooling to be shifted online.

The suspension was announced for classes in the Eastern Province, Al-Qasim and Unaizah in central Saudi Arabia and Hafr Al-Batin in the Kingdom’s northeast.

A similar measure was taken for schools in some governorates in the Riyadh region including Wadi Al-Dawasir, Afif, Dawadmi, Al-Aflaj, Al-Zulfi, Shaqra, Al-Ghat and Al-Majma’ah, based on forecast issued by the NCM, to ensure safety of students and staff.

According to the NCM forecast Najran, Jazan, and Aseer regions will experience high speed wind and moderate rainfall.

Cities in the Eastern Province were lashed by heavy-to-torrential rains on Monday while the NCM forecast rainy weather to continue in the region, accompanied by strong winds, low-visibility, hailstorms, thunderstorms and flash flood.

Amid unstable weather in the Gulf region, rainy low pressure hit Oman earlier this week, and the UAE on Monday, causing floods, and it could extend further afield.

The Saudi Civil Defense and the traffic authorities have warned motorists of the risk of cars skidding during rainfall, and advised residents to be careful while going out.

The General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense warned people to be cautious of potential dangers as the NCM has forecast the poor weather conditions to continue.

The directorate said on Tuesday that forecasts from the NCM indicate heavy to moderate rains across the Kingdom.

“The Civil Defense calls on everyone to take caution and adhere to its instructions as we see the weather in the Eastern Province. Your cooperation is needed. Your safety is our goal,” it said.


Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability
Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability
  • Al-Ahsa event to promote communities’ role in economic growth

RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will host the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al-Ahsa from Dec. 16-18, aiming to strengthen rural communities, and promote their role in driving sustainable development.

Maha Aldhahi, head of the forum’s executive committee, said: “The forum is pivotal in advancing rural development, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030. It will support rural communities, while contributing to global efforts and research on sustainable agriculture.”

Aldhahi said that the forum will unite regional and international experts to address the challenge of rural-to-urban migration, a widespread issue. To counter this, the forum will propose practical solutions to ensure rural areas remain economically viable, vibrant, and sustainable.

Additionally, it will explore innovations in agriculture and rural development, fostering economic growth and social cohesion through job creation and investment promotion, she added.

Aldhahi said that the forum builds on the Saudi Reef Program, recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as the world’s largest development initiative of its kind.

The program has supported over 77,000 agricultural projects, achieved a self-sufficiency rate exceeding 65 percent in vital sectors, and provided upskilling and career opportunities for rural communities.

Ghassan Bakri, secretary-general of the Saudi Reef Program, said: “The program is a model of sustainable growth, addressing food security and job creation while preserving cultural heritage. By hosting this forum, we aim to attract global partnerships and exchange cutting-edge solutions for rural empowerment.”

Bakri added that the forum will feature dynamic discussions on key topics, including sustainable agricultural practices, rural entrepreneurship, and the role of modern technology in agriculture.

The three-day event will also include an exhibition showcasing unique rural practices, handicrafts, and the work of local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. It will highlight how traditional techniques integrate with modern innovations to create sustainable livelihoods.


Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week
Updated 30 min 21 sec ago
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Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 19,696 illegals in one week
  • A total of 11,336 people were arrested for violations of residency laws

Riyadh: Saudi authorities arrested 19,696 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

According to an official report, a total of 11,336 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 5,176 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,184 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,547 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 65 percent were Ethiopian, 32 percent Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 71 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 22 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts

Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts
Updated 39 min 14 sec ago
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Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts

Gaza victims praise Saudi Arabia’s lifesaving humanitarian efforts

Riyadh: Palestinians in Gaza who received Saudi aid have expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for its humanitarian support through aid agency KSrelief.

They likened the Saudi assistance to rain that quenches their thirst for hope, alleviates suffering and rekindles optimism amid immense challenges, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Samaher Eid Awkal, 47, said she struggled with health issues while living in Khan Younis with her blind mother in a basic tent. She thanked KSrelief for providing her family with a suitable tent, which has eased their hardship and restored hope.

A Gaza mother who endured freezing conditions with her children without shelter also expressed appreciation after receiving essential aid. She described the support as a source of joy and hope during difficult times.

Mahmoud Nabil Abu Alwan, displaced from Rafah to Mawasi in Khan Younis, thanked KSrelief after he received a new tent. He previously lived in a dilapidated tent borrowed from relatives amid shelling and harsh displacement conditions.


Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says
Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

Saudi Orchestra performance in Tokyo helps ‘bridge cultural boundaries,’ CEO says

TOKYO: Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission, who is in Tokyo with the Saudi National Orchestra, says music “bridges cultural boundaries and has a very important part to play in each of the three main pillars of Vision 2030” as it represents a proud nation, a vibrant society and diversified economy.

Bringing the Saudi National Orchestra to Tokyo, he said, gives people the opportunity “to communicate with our language and it allows everybody to come together and share an experience that allows us to appreciate each other’s cultures and really to be in harmony. And that’s why I think it’s so special that the orchestra is here for the first time.”

The program includes traditional music directed by Saudi Director Reab Ahmed, as well as the Japanese Imperial Court Orchestra “Gagaku.”

“We’re able to show Saudi culture on one of the most prestigious stages in one of the world’s great cultural capitals here at Tokyo Opera City, and we’re doing that with authentic Saudi music, authentic traditional Japanese music with Gagaku,” he said. “But also with that great fusion between the two sets of musicians coming together and doing something really unique and beautiful.”

“The Saudi National Orchestra and choir is really at the vanguard of developing the music landscape in Saudi Arabia as it builds the depth and richness and uniqueness of its beautiful culture, both traditional and modern.”

Pacifico said it was “an honor” to share the stage with the Imperial Orchestra Gagaku performers. “It also shows how our cultures are different and yet similar, the regard for tradition and modernity, the appreciation of music, the sense of formality in public, but warmth and a sense of fun as well in private.”

He hopes that Friday’s performance is not a one-off but becomes the foundation of a rich and long-standing collaboration with “our Japanese friends, the Tokyo College of Music, who we’re collaborating with on this concert.”

“We hope that Saudi artists will start to have opportunities to play on stages here in Tokyo, like the Blue Note and Billboard Live and the Cotton Club, or festivals like Summer Sonic or Fuji Rock. And equally, we’d love to see Japanese artists playing more in Riyadh and all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has a very exciting story to tell.”

This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan


Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 
Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

Saudi aid agency KSrelief provides medical and food assistance in Yemen 

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has helped a Yemeni prosthetics center provide medical services to 536 people in October.
The Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz Governorate provided various medical services Yemeni beneficiaries who have lost limbs, the Saudi Press Agency said.
During the project, 1,757 services were provided including measuring, manufacturing, fitting, delivering and maintaining artificial limbs and prosthetics, in addition to rehabilitation and physiotherapy services.
KSRelief also signed a deal with a Yemeni civil-society organization to provide shelter for the neediest families affected by floods and torrents in Hadhramaut.