More than 5.4m worshippers visit Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in past week

More than 5.4m worshippers visit Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in past week
The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Updated 31 July 2024
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More than 5.4m worshippers visit Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in past week

More than 5.4m worshippers visit Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in past week
  • 1,810 bottles of Zamzam water handed out, 483,194 iftar meals provided

RIYADH: The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah welcomed 5,428,718 worshippers over the past week, authorities revealed. Of those, 212,946 performed prayers in the Holy Rawdah, a revered area located between the Prophet’s house and his pulpit.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque also provided details of the services it provided for visitors to help keep them safe and comfortable, and to enhance their experiences.

For example, it said it provided communication services in several languages to 152,912 people of various nationalities, as part of its efforts to ensure accessibility and inclusivity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

To help maintain appropriate levels of hygiene and safety, 292,056 liters of disinfectant were used to keep the mosque thoroughly clean and sterilized.

Meanwhile, 1,810 bottles of Zamzam water were handed out and 218 samples of the water were taken for quality-analysis purposes during the distribution process. In addition, 483,194 iftar meals were provided for worshippers in designated areas of the mosque.
 


KSA, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties

KSA, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties
Updated 10 sec ago
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KSA, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties

KSA, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties
  • Ministers discussed ways to strengthen judicial ties between the two countries
  • Walid Al-Samaani reviewed recent developments in Saudi Arabia’s judicial and legal sectors

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani met with his Japanese counterpart Keisuke Suzuki during an official visit to the East Asian country.

The ministers discussed ways to strengthen judicial ties between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Al-Samaani reviewed recent developments in Saudi Arabia’s judicial and legal sectors, supported by King Salman and overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, particularly regarding specialized legislation aimed at ensuring prompt justice.

He highlighted key advancements, including promoting transparency through audio and video documentation of court sessions — both in-person and virtual — and the publication of judicial rulings.

He also emphasized efforts to activate the preventive justice system by documenting contracts as enforceable instruments, SPA reported.

On the sidelines, Al-Samaani and Suzuki signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the judicial field, including the exchange of expertise and information, and collaboration in legislation, capacity building, and dispute resolution.


Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities

Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities
Updated 15 min 24 sec ago
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Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities

Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities
  • Council urged the Public Transport Authority to expand the training programs offered by the Saudi Logistics Academy
  • Council members also emphasized the importance of improving the standards used to evaluate the quality of shuttle transport services for pilgrims

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has called for studies into developing metro systems in the Kingdom’s major cities, Asharq Al-Awsat has reported.

On Tuesday, the council urged the Public Transport Authority to expand the training programs offered by the Saudi Logistics Academy.

Council members also emphasized the importance of improving the standards used to evaluate the quality of shuttle transport services for pilgrims to ensure efficiency.

They stressed the need to increase the passenger capacity of the Kingdom’s railway network and to raise train speeds to match those of the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which spans the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and offers transport for pilgrims.

Riyadh’s metro network opened in December last year and became fully operational in January.

The Kingdom also has a passenger railway network connecting Riyadh with the Eastern Province and Northern Borders regions.

One of the country’s goals under Vision 2030 is to improve the public transport network with the aims of easing traffic congestion in cities and lowering carbon emissions.


Inaugural Middle East Fortune women’s summit brings together female leaders

Inaugural Middle East Fortune women’s summit brings together female leaders
Updated 43 min 8 sec ago
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Inaugural Middle East Fortune women’s summit brings together female leaders

Inaugural Middle East Fortune women’s summit brings together female leaders
  • Vision 2030 goals to increase female workforce participation in spotlight
  • Business, government, investment, tech, policy leaders represented

RIYADH: The first Fortune Most Powerful Women International summit in the Middle East convened in Riyadh this week.

The event brought together a global network of female leaders from business, government, investment, tech and policy sectors.

“As women, we often find ourselves needing to prove our capabilities more when it comes to our careers,” said Dr. Giovanna Carnevali, executive director of master planning at ROSHN Group.

“At the same time, we bring deep passion to our work and put our heart and soul into everything we do. I always say that what truly matters is letting your work speak for you.”

Speaking to Arab News during the event, Carnevali said her career in Saudi Arabia reflected the country’s transformation.

“The experiences I have had here are unique. Living and working in the Kingdom has been a continuous journey of growth, and I am truly grateful for what the country has offered me and to women more broadly,” she said.

From geopolitics and sustainability to artificial intelligence and banking, the forum’s sessions highlighted how Saudi Arabia — and its women — are reshaping the global conversation on leadership.

Lubna Olayan, chair of Saudi Awwal Bank, talked about how Vision 2030 had already surpassed its workforce target for women and called for greater ambitions.

“We need to set a new benchmark,” she told moderator Diane Brady. “In my company, we now have 36 percent women. When we started hiring women in 2001, there was just one.”

Olayan, the first Saudi woman to chair a bank and join a public board, said real progress depended on investment in leadership.

“We need to bring more women into decision-making roles. If the candidates are equal, I’ll back the woman — because we’re still behind,” she added.

Technology was another recurring topic. Prof. Lilac Al-Safadi, CEO of IKONIC Educational Holding, outlined Saudi Arabia’s position as an emerging AI powerhouse.

“The Kingdom has trained more than 60,000 AI professionals and launched the world’s first cognitive city — not just smart, but fully AI-integrated,” she said.

And Ellie Rubenstein, co-founder of Manna Tree and one of the first US food investors to enter the Saudi market, said demand in her sector was shifting fast: “Seven years ago, we were seen as a food security fund. Today, it’s about wellness. The consumers here — especially women — are driving that shift.”

She emphasized the importance of understanding what women wanted: “It’s not just about selling products. Brands need to speak to values — wellness, empowerment, sustainability. Women here are not just shaping their families. They’re shaping their country.”


Saudi FM receives phone call from North Macedonian counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from North Macedonian counterpart
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud. (File/AFP)
Updated 21 May 2025
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Saudi FM receives phone call from North Macedonian counterpart

Saudi FM receives phone call from North Macedonian counterpart

DUBAI: The Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan recently received a phone call from his North Macedonian counterpart Timcho Mucunski, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The two officials discussed bilateral relations and issues of common interest.


Saudi minister inspects Hajj readiness in Jeddah

Saudi minister inspects Hajj readiness in Jeddah
Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser reviewed the transport and logistics sector’s readiness for the Hajj
Updated 21 May 2025
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Saudi minister inspects Hajj readiness in Jeddah

Saudi minister inspects Hajj readiness in Jeddah

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser reviewed the transport and logistics sector’s readiness for the Hajj season in Jeddah, following earlier inspections in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites.

At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he inspected the Hajj and Umrah Terminal Complex and Saudia airline operations, assessing preparations to handle more than 7,000 pilgrim flights and ensure smooth passenger flow.

He also visited the complex’s media center, which supports local and international press coverage by providing a coordinated workspace with essential resources, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Al-Jasser evaluated the center’s technical and staffing readiness and emphasized full media preparedness for the event.

He then toured Jeddah Islamic Port to inspect Saudi Ports Authority operations supporting pilgrims arriving by sea, the SPA reported.

He reviewed arrival and departure halls equipped with 100 passport counters, 300 luggage carts, a health center offering vaccinations and medical services, and specialized equipment for the elderly and those with medical needs.