Riyadh’s Wonder Garden to open with new attractions
The amusement park, with its themes of magic and nature, opens with 10 new experiences and over 90 games
Updated 28 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Riyadh Season has announced the release of tickets for the Wonder Garden, one of the program’s most popular attractions.
Tickets can be purchased through the dedicated platform, Webook, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The amusement park, with its themes of magic and nature, opens on Nov. 7 with 10 new experiences, and over 90 games suitable for all ages.
The new attractions include the “Flora” zone, showcasing sculptures inspired by the colors of flowers, and the “Bubble Garden” experience.
In addition, there will be a “Butterfly Garden” zone, home to over 1,000 species of these insects.
A “Jungle Adventure” zone, designed with diverse trees, will invite visitors to explore the “Dark Garden.”
The Wonder Garden will have a variety of roaming shows with costumed performers, musical performances, and interactive theatrical shows suited for all members of the family.
It will be open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, and from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekends.
SAR50,000 Fine for Sponsors Failing to Report Departure by Visa Expiry
Updated 22 sec ago
SPA
Riyadh: A fine of up to SAR50,000, imprisonment for up to six months, and deportation for expats who fail to leave the country by the visa expiry date, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Interior stated that the fine will be imposed on any sponsor who fails to report the departure of those they sponsored by the expiration date of the entry visa.
The ministry also emphasized the importance of adhering to the Kingdom’s official Hajj and Umrah guidelines and instructions.
Saudi Green Building Forum to convene in Riyadh this October
It will feature the participation of national and international leaders, and representatives from major development projects in Saudi Arabia.
Updated 2 min 15 sec ago
SPA
Riyadh: The15th edition of the Saudi Green Building Forum will take place in Riyadh from October 1-3, 2025, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the forum will focus on challenges, green and comprehensive solutions, and best practices supporting Saudi Vision 2030.
This year's edition serves as a strategic platform to review progress at the midpoint of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the Kingdom's development. It will feature the participation of national and international leaders, and representatives from major development projects in Saudi Arabia.
This edition reinforces the forum's pivotal role in supporting national and international sustainability initiatives and enhancing the Kingdom's leadership in ecological and architectural transformation regionally and globally.
Saudi Arabia, India agree to cooperate in several fields, including energy
Updated 23 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and India have agreed to cooperate in several fields, including defense industries, and exploring joint projects in refineries and petrochemicals, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday.
The two countries agreed to boost cooperation in the energy sector, including in the supplies of crude and liquefied petroleum gas, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The statement, which was released after a short visit to the Kingdom by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizes their shared stances on several issues.
They agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination between the two countries in international organizations and forums, including the G20, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to support efforts to address the challenges facing the global economy.
They also welcomed the expansion of the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council to four ministerial committees.
The statement also said the Saudi and Indian leaders shared their views on several regional issues, including Yemen.
The two sides affirmed their full support for international and regional efforts at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Yemen. The Indian side appreciated the Kingdom’s efforts and initiatives to encourage dialogue and reconciliation among the Yemeni parties.
The Indian side also expressed its appreciation to the Kingdom for its continued care of 2.7 million Indian citizens living in the Kingdom, which reflects the strong ties between the two peoples.
How Modi’s landmark visit to Jeddah added ‘further momentum’ to historic Saudi-India ties
Modi’s visit to Jeddah was the first by an Indian premier in over four decades, underlining a deepening partnership
The PM’s itinerary included the second India-Saudi SPC meeting to enhance defense cooperation
Updated 23 April 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets ahead of his touchdown in Jeddah on Tuesday, where he was greeted by a 21-gun salute in a ceremonial welcome that highlighted the growing defense ties between the two countries.
The visit marked Modi’s first to the Red Sea port city and the first by an Indian premier in more than 40 years. It was also his third visit to Saudi Arabia in a decade, highlighting deepening diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between Riyadh and New Delhi.
“This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,” Modi posted on the social media platform X ahead of his arrival, expressing his eagerness to advance bilateral agreements and programs.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, wrote on X that the visit would “give further momentum” to “longstanding and historic ties” between Saudi Arabia and India.
Referring to the Royal Saudi Air Force escort, Jaiswal posted: “India-Saudi Arabia friendship flying high!”
Modi was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets ahead of his touchdown in Jeddah on Tuesday. (Social Media)
Modi’s arrival was met with vibrant celebrations among the Indian diaspora — the Kingdom’s largest expatriate group. Traditional dances were performed in his honor, and Saudi singer Hashim Abbas paid tribute by singing the Hindi patriotic anthem “Ae Watan.”
Members of the Indian diaspora gathered at a hotel in Jeddah and sang “Saare Jahan Se Achha” as they awaited Modi’s arrival. One of the members of the Indian diaspora told ANI: “I am very excited to see PM Modi here. We are so grateful that we got this opportunity.”
A key part of the visit was the second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, co-chaired by Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Established in 2019, the SPC has become a vital platform for cooperation in politics, security, trade and culture.
Modi’s arrival was met with vibrant celebrations among the Indian diaspora. Traditional dances were performed in his honor, and Saudi singer Hashim Abbas paid tribute by singing the Hindi patriotic anthem “Ae Watan.” (Supplied)
In an interview ahead of the visit with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, Modi emphasized that the bond between India and Saudi Arabia “is not new.” Rather, “it is rooted in civilizational exchanges that go back to centuries.
“From ideas to trade, there has been a constant flow between our two great nations,” he said. “Our relations have been on an upward trajectory since 2014.”
One of the most significant areas of growing cooperation has been defense. In recent years, India and Saudi Arabia have held joint military exercises, finalized India’s first artillery shell exports to the Kingdom and signed advanced weapons systems deals.
Officials said this week’s discussions would include expanding naval exercises and strengthening security partnerships — particularly in maritime and cybersecurity domains.
“This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,” Modi posted on the social media platform X ahead of his arrival, expressing his eagerness to advance bilateral agreements and programs. (SPA)
The visit came at a time when both countries are pursuing bold domestic agendas. As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and India rises as a global economic force, the leaders are keen to transform longstanding cultural and economic ties into a comprehensive 21st-century partnership.
“There is much to celebrate in the remarkable transformation of bilateral ties,” journalist and foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan said in a recent op-ed for The Indian Express.
“The PM’s visit to Jeddah is not only about expanding bilateral relations; it also reflects Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a significant geopolitical actor under its crown prince and prime minister, Mohammed bin Salman.”
He added: “(Riyadh’s) interest-driven, rather than ideologically rigid, approach marks a fundamental shift in the evolution of the Saudi Kingdom — one that echoes the pragmatism of India’s own Middle East policy under Modi.”
As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy and India rises as a global economic force, the leaders are keen to transform longstanding cultural and economic ties into a comprehensive 21st-century partnership. (SPA)
Bilateral trade has continued to grow despite global economic turbulence, with energy, agriculture and fertilizers remaining key pillars. Both sides are now eying new areas of cooperation, including green hydrogen, emerging technologies and infrastructure.
Indeed, trade between the two countries surged to $52 billion in 2023-24, and officials said several memorandums of understanding would be signed during the visit to bolster both economic and political collaboration.
India’s economy is seen as being relatively less vulnerable to global headwinds, and calibrated policy support could help the country turn current volatility into an opportunity, the Reserve Bank of India said in its April bulletin released on Tuesday.
“Although the dampening global economic outlook could impact India’s economic growth through weaker external demand, the domestic growth engines ... consumption and investment, are relatively less susceptible to external headwinds,” the RBI said in its article, titled “State of the Economy.”
Saudi Arabia has long been a key energy supplier to India, with the Kingdom ranked as the country’s third largest source of petroleum, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India relies heavily on crude and refined oil imports to meet its expanding energy demands.
In an interview ahead of the visit with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief of Arab News, Modi emphasized that the bond between India and Saudi Arabia “is not new.” Rather, “it is rooted in civilizational exchanges that go back to centuries. (SPA)
That partnership is also evolving in response to global energy transitions, as both countries recognize the urgency of moving toward cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy.
India announced its aim of achieving 500 GW renewable energy by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, outlining its intention to meet half of its energy requirements from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The target marked a significant step beyond the country’s earlier Paris Agreement commitments and highlighted its growing role in global climate leadership.
Modi’s itinerary had included a visit to a facility employing Indian workers and a meeting with members of the Indian community. Saudi Arabia is home to 2.7 million Indian residents and workers.
The Indian leader, who in 2016 was awarded the King Abdulaziz Sash, Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honor, has made Gulf partnerships a cornerstone of his foreign policy.
Analysts said the visit reflected India’s broader strategy to cement alliances across West Asia, a region vital to its energy security and home to more than 9 million Indian expatriates.
