Saudi Arabia says anyone violating Hajj regulations between June 2-20 will be punished
Citizens, residents, and visitors to the Kingdom caught violating Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit in specified areas will be fined SR 10,000
Updated 07 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that violators of Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit during the period June 2- 20 will be punished.
Citizens, residents, and visitors to the Kingdom caught violating Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit in Makkah, the area around the Grand Mosque, Hajj sites, the Haramain station in Al-Rusayfah, security control centers, sorting centers, and temporary security control centers during the specified period will be fined SR 10,000 ($2,666).
Residents violating the rules will be deported to their countries and banned from reentering the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Ministry of Interior said violators will be fined a further SR 10,000 each time they broke the rules, stressing the importance of adhering to Hajj regulations and instructions so that pilgrims can carry out their rituals in safety, security, and comfort.
Anyone who is caught transporting violators of Hajj regulations and instructions without a permit will be imprisoned for a period of up to six months and fined up to SR 50,000 riyals.
An order will be made to confiscate the vehicle used and the violator will be deported after serving a prison sentence if an expat. The fine will increase in line with the number of people illegally transported.
Past meets future at Aramco’s Community Heritage Gallery
Company’s influence extends beyond oil, contributing to social and cultural fabric of the region
Updated 22 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: Across the smooth road overlooking Aramco Camp’s rows of cookie-cutter clapboard houses with manicured lawns, is a serene time capsule where heritage and nostalgia collide.
Situated on 12th street and Ibis Avenue, in what was known as Houses 1220 and 1222 — among the first to be built within the Dhahran camp in 1938 — the renovated historic homes now house the Community Heritage Gallery.
It feels like you are being welcomed into someone’s home.
The juxtaposition of modern elements with historical artifacts and memorabilia creates a distinctive atmosphere. (AN photos)
It was originally occupied by Dr. T.C. Alexander and his family in the 1940s. He was perhaps best known for being one of the earliest permanent physicians who moved to Dhahran to work and live.
He helped to initiate a regional vaccination program and helped the Aramco health system thrive during his tenure. Alexander’s wife, keen to carve out a path for herself within the community, hosted the inaugural meeting of the Dhahran Women’s Group in their home in 1946, a group which is still active today.
HIGHLIGHT
Aramco is well-known for being the site where black gold was found in the 1930s and that, overnight, it changed the course of the Kingdom and the world’s history.
Later on, Fouad Saleh, the executive director of community services, became a champion of establishing what he called a “Saudi Aramco museum” — a place where the history of Aramco and its people would be preserved and showcased to be enjoyed by the community within a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The juxtaposition of modern elements with historical artifacts and memorabilia creates a distinctive atmosphere. (AN photos)
Saleh’s vision was realised well after the Alexanders moved out. Their former home officially became a gallery with a focus on heritage and Aramco artifacts, opened to the public in 1992.
The opening was attended by Hisham Nazer, then minister of petroleum and mineral resources and a Saudi Aramco board chairman, and Aramco’s very first Saudi president, Ali Al-Naimi, who was also the CEO at the time.
Al-Naimi started off at the company in the late 1940s and moved up the ranks to becoming the Aramco president from 1984-1995. His 2016 autobiography, “Out of the Desert: My Journey from Nomadic Bedouin to the Heart of Global Oil,” is prominently displayed on the Heritage Gallery bookshelf.
There are other books on the shelves, too, many of which were donated.
Hassan Bouholaigah, a Saudi creative who grew up in Dhahran and now lives in Riyadh, was strolling through the neighborhood on his time off when he stumbled on the Heritage Gallery by chance.
“I’m on vacation visiting family here. I grew up in Aramco, so it was very nostalgic to just walk around,” Bouholaigah told Arab News. “I just happened to see a classic red car parked outside, so I was a bit intrigued, and I just decided to walk in.”
On entering, he noticed the framed images of past Aramco presidents on the wall.
“To me, that was really interesting just to see the transition. And then the next thing that caught my attention was just the library, which basically had a lot of yearbooks,” he said. Although he did not attend Aramco school himself, he was delighted to serendipitously pull out a 7th grade yearbook from 2008 that contained pages of photos of friends he used to play ball with after school. He quickly snapped photos to send to those friends, some of whom he is still in touch with today.
He also appreciated how the gallery diversified beyond the obvious company artifacts and showcased the community culture and its wider contribution to local society.
“I love how it’s not focused on oil only. You can see pictures of where the first house that was built for Saudis. You can see some pictures from high schools — from the first female school that they built in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The juxtaposition of modern elements with historical artifacts and memorabilia creates a distinctive atmosphere that serves as a time capsule for the community and the country.
Aramco is well-known for being the site where black gold was found in the 1930s and that, overnight, it changed the course of the Kingdom and the world’s history. The gallery showcases various milestones the company hit over the decades.
It is evident while roaming the space that Aramco’s influence extends beyond oil, contributing significantly to the social and cultural fabric of the region, and beyond.
Seeing the evolution of the community through these artifacts must have been a poignant reminder of how the company has shaped lives and the broader societal changes over the decades. The nostalgic feelings shared by “Aramco brats” — those who grew up in the fold of the camp — reflect a strong sense of identity and community that has been cultivated over the years. Many have returned to pay homage to the space that helped shape them, by donating books and yearbooks to the gallery.
There is also a majlis in the back, which people can rent for private functions or to watch one of the Aramco-produced films from their film library.
Heritage Gallery is located across the street from the Dhahran Recreation Library and does not require a ticket.
The gallery is open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Sundays to Wednesdays, from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and 3-9 p.m. on Fridays.
The festival aims to introduce visitors to ancestral lifestyles, showcasing traditional food, clothing, housing and everyday life practices, while also presenting various regional and external folk arts and shows
Updated 31 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The resin art pavilion at the “Hail House,” themed “Your Home Away from Home,” now in its third year, has become a major attraction at the Aja Park during its 30-day run.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that visitors of all ages, drawn to this distinctive art form, have flocked to the pavilion amid the festival’s traditional and artistic atmosphere.
Resin art is a modern handcraft which involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create shapes. (SPA)
Resin art, a modern handcraft, involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create solid, aesthetically pleasing shapes used in various applications.
Artist Layla Saleh Al-Shammari, who has been perfecting the craft for five years, showcased a diverse range of creations including women’s accessories, office and home decor, wall art, pens and serving platters.
HIGHLIGHT
The festival also features popular folk art performances, including the Saudi Ardah and Samri dances.
Her work incorporates techniques such as sea wave and shell imitations, geode stone replications, and the integration of natural materials such as plants and flowers. Al-Shammari also highlighted her use of local elements such as coffee, cardamom and the red sands characteristic of the Hail region, as well as palm fronds and Thamudic inscriptions.
Resin art is a modern handcraft which involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create shapes. (SPA)
Al-Shammari outlined the financial viability of her craft due to its high demand, expressing gratitude to the festival organizers for the opportunity to exhibit these handcrafted items in a heritage setting.
The festival also features popular folk art performances, including the Saudi Ardah and Samri dances, which have captivated visitors with their traditional sword dances and chants.
Resin art is a modern handcraft which involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create shapes. (SPA)
Marsal Al-Marsal, head of the Hail Folk Arts Group, said that “over 30 young performers present eight daily shows, incorporating national themes and traditional instruments like drums and swords.”
The performances showcased traditional Haili arts featuring aerial maneuvers, drums, swords and banners, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Haili folk arts at such festivals among enthusiasts of regional heritage.
Resin art is a modern handcraft which involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create shapes. (SPA)
The festival aims to introduce visitors to ancestral lifestyles, showcasing traditional food, clothing, housing and everyday life practices, while also presenting various regional and external folk arts and shows.
This year, the Madinah region, represented by Yanbu governorate, is also participating with a special pavilion.
Faisal bin Salem Al-Juhani, the pavilion supervisor, explained that it featured Hijazi architecture, including two 150-year-old houses that demonstrated the distinctive and renowned “rawashin” (projecting oriel windows) of the region. These prominent windows, measuring between 60 cm to more than one meter, not only served ventilation purposes but also enhanced the aesthetic appeal and provided wide vistas for the household members.
The Madinah pavilion includes models of old Madinah neighborhoods, a fully equipped traditional fishing boat representing the western coast, and displays of traditional utensils, clothing and heritage models.
According to Al-Juhani, “the participation aims to promote Saudi cultural heritage, particularly that of the Madinah region.”
Al-Juhani thanked the organizers for providing the platform and opportunity for participation in these well-received events over the past three events. He said that he looked forward to future engagements at Hail House.
Workshop targets sustainable coffee production in Jazan
Kingdom's 'fruit basket' is home to more than 2,000 coffee farms
Updated 05 July 2024
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: Coffee production in southwest Saudi Arabia had a boost on Thursday when the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, “Weqa,” and relevant authorities participated in a workshop to increase the number of trees in the Jazan region.
Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Khuraiji, head of the plant health sector at Weqa, explained that the center is working on preventive and remedial measures to ensure the health and sustainability of plants and animals and to enhance the participation of the private sector.
He pointed out the importance of government and private agencies uniting to integrate the efforts of concerned parties and develop sustainable coffee cultivation in the region.
The workshop reviewed the projects and initiatives of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in strengthening the coffee sector in Jazan and introduced the role of the Weqa Center in achieving this, in addition to reviewing what was done in the previous meeting to unify efforts to produce coffee.
The review highlighted the efforts of the countryside in the sector, as well as the role of the Mountain Regions Development and Reconstruction Authority in supporting and developing the agriculture sector in general and coffee production in particular, and learning about the contributions of organic agriculture management.
In February this year, the Jazan Development Strategic Office organized the first International Saudi Coffee Exhibition in Jazan to provide farming expertise and introduce best practices, support initiatives to encourage coffee cultivation in the region, and contribute to transforming Jazan into a global trade center.
At the opening ceremony, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom’s coffee industry has undergone a qualitative shift over the past decade, growing from local to a global scale.
Jazan, one of the Kingdom’s most important agricultural regions, is known as the Kingdom’s fruit basket, but also for its coffee, a product of the region and a vital part of its heritage.
The governorates of Al-Dayer, Fifa, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah and Al-Aidabi are home to many coffee farms.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, there are more than 2,000 coffee farms in the region, yielding more than 1,000 tons of coffee every year.
The crackdown was part of a broader campaign staged in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior
Updated 05 July 2024
SPA
RIYADH: The Saudi Transport General Authority said it apprehended 1,100 people for providing unlicensed transport services to passengers at the Kingdom’s airports in June.
The crackdown was part of a broader campaign staged in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and other authorities to improve the safety and quality of services provided to travelers, the authority said.
Those found guilty of providing transport services without a license at an airport face having their vehicle impounded and a fine of up to SR5,000 ($1,330).
Fruit Festival gets underway in Al-Baha’s Baljurashi
Among the products on display are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods
The event was an opportunity to promote the region’s products
Updated 05 July 2024
SPA
AL-BAHA: A range of agricultural products are on offer at the second Fruit Festival in Al-Baha, Baljurashi governorate.
The three-day event is organized by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with other government entities, agriculture associations and the Culinary Arts Commission.
Among the products on display at the 20 stalls are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods.
Fahd bin Muftah Al-Zahrani, director general of the local arm of the ministry, said the event was an opportunity to promote the region’s products.
It also includes events and programs to raise farmers’ awareness of sound agricultural practices that can help them maximize their output.
Al-Zahrani said agricultural festivals were a key part of the ministry’s support for farmers and rural families and its drive to improve incomes and living conditions in line with the Vision 2030 initiative.
