Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference

The Speaker of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the Seventh Conference of the Arab Parliament and the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo on Saturday. (SPA)
The Speaker of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the Seventh Conference of the Arab Parliament and the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo on Saturday. (SPA)
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Updated 23 February 2025
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Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference

Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference
  • The conference focused on strengthening Arab parliamentary unity, with a key agenda item dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people

CAIRO: The speaker of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the 7th Conference of the Arab Parliament and the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments.

The conference, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo on Saturday, focused on strengthening Arab parliamentary unity.

One agenda item was dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people and rejecting any proposals for their forced displacement. As part of the discussions, participants worked on formulating a unified Arab parliamentary stance to advocate for Palestinian rights. The outcome was the planned issuance of a unified Arab parliamentary action plan outlining concrete steps Arab parliamentarians could take.

Ahead of its official approval, the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments held a closed consultative session to finalize the main aspects of the plan, which will be submitted to the Arab Summit for adoption.

The Kingdom’s conference delegation included the secretary-general of the Shoura Council, Mohammed bin Dakhil Al-Mutairi, along with council members Saad bin Salib Al-Otaibi, Tariq bin Saeed Al-Shammari, Hanan bint Abdullah Al-Sammari, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Aifan and Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Hazani.


Haramain High-Speed Railway transports highest number of passengers in a single day since its launch

Haramain High-Speed Railway transports highest number of passengers in a single day since its launch
Updated 26 March 2025
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Haramain High-Speed Railway transports highest number of passengers in a single day since its launch

Haramain High-Speed Railway transports highest number of passengers in a single day since its launch
  • Railway serves worshippers, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims year-round
  • SAR has gradually increased the number of trips to reach 130 a day during the last 10 days of Ramadan

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High-Speed Railway has transported the highest number of passengers in a single day since its inauguration in 2018.

The Saudi Railway Company reported transporting about 48,000 passengers in a single day on the 15th of Ramadan.

Since the beginning of Ramadan in March, average daily ridership has surpassed 39,000 passengers, showing a strong demand for the Haramain services as the quickest way to reach Makkah.

The railway serves worshippers, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims year-round, connecting Makkah and Madinah and passing through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City.

The SAR has gradually increased the number of trips since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips a day during the last 10 days to accommodate Umrah performers, worshippers and visitors to the holy sites.

SAR has adjusted train schedules to align with peak times for worshippers and visitors during Ramadan and has provided additional lounges at the Madinah station to enhance the travel experience.

The railway operates on a 453-km electric line and ranks among the top 10 fastest trains in the world, with an operational speed of up to 300 km/h, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Comoros president performs Umrah

The President of Comoros Azali Assoumani and his accompanying delegation perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah Wednesday.
The President of Comoros Azali Assoumani and his accompanying delegation perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah Wednesday.
Updated 26 March 2025
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Comoros president performs Umrah

The President of Comoros Azali Assoumani and his accompanying delegation perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah Wednesday.

RIYADH: The President of Comoros Azali Assoumani performed Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Wednesday. 

He arrived in the Kingdom on Tuesday, landing at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

In Madinah, the president visited and prayed in the Prophet’s Mosque. 


Saudi manga producer participates in one of world’s largest anime events in Tokyo

Saudi manga producer participates in one of world’s largest anime events in Tokyo
Updated 26 March 2025
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Saudi manga producer participates in one of world’s largest anime events in Tokyo

Saudi manga producer participates in one of world’s largest anime events in Tokyo
  • Held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, the four-day festival drew more than 150,000 visitors and featured over 100 global exhibitors
  • A subsidiary of Misk, Manga Production’s participation underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing position in the global anime industry

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions made a historic debut as the first Middle Eastern sponsor of AnimeJapan 2025, one of the world’s largest anime events.

Held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, the four-day festival drew more than 150,000 visitors and featured over 100 global exhibitors, organizers said in a statement.

A subsidiary of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, known as Misk, Manga Production’s participation underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing position in the global anime industry.

Attendees experienced interactive exhibitions, including traditional Saudi attire try-ons and authentic Saudi coffee tastings, offering a unique fusion of heritage and creativity.

Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, delivered a keynote speech titled “A New Era of Animation! The Future of ‘Saudinimation’ Driven by Japan and Saudi Arabia,” outlining the collaborative opportunities between the two nations.

He said: “The overwhelming response reflects our mission to position Saudi creativity globally. AnimeJapan 2025 was a milestone in fostering co-production and content partnerships, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision to be a hub for entertainment innovation.”

The pavilion also welcomed high-profile Japanese officials, including Akamatsu Ken, vice minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, and Kobayashi Fumiaki, vice minister of the environment, signaling strong governmental interest in cultural exchange.

Abdulaziz Al-Mowani, director of marketing and communications, said: “This platform allowed us to share Saudi Arabia’s creative identity while forging strategic media and industry connections.

“Effective storytelling bridges cultures, and the event proved the power of our narrative.”


Saudi hospital launches palliative care program for young patients

Saudi hospital launches palliative care program for young patients
Updated 26 March 2025
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Saudi hospital launches palliative care program for young patients

Saudi hospital launches palliative care program for young patients

JEDDAH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has launched the first dedicated palliative care program for adolescents and young adults in the Arab world.

This initiative aims to improve the quality of life of young patients with life-threatening illnesses by offering integrated care throughout their treatment journey.

The program not only enhances patient care but also serves as a model for similar initiatives, addressing a critical gap in palliative services for young patients across the Arab world.

Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses, such as advanced cancers, heart disease, neurological disorders and organ failure. It also offers psychological and social support, aids decision-making and improves the overall patient experience.

For adolescents and young adults, the program addresses age-specific challenges including balancing treatment with education or work, coping with the psychological impact of illness and maintaining autonomy in care decisions.

The program features a multidisciplinary team of palliative care physicians, specialized nurses, social workers and mental health experts to support both patients and their families.

The World Health Organization reports that only 14 percent of patients globally who need palliative care receive it, highlighting a significant service gap.

Research shows that integrating palliative care into treatment plans for young patients with critical illnesses reduces symptom burden and improves overall quality of life. Cancer patients, in particular, often face inadequate pain management, psychological support, and guidance during their treatment.

The program has earned accreditation from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, the European Society for Medical Oncology and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care.

This ensures the highest standards of clinical competency, enabling healthcare professionals to deliver evidence-based, culturally sensitive palliative care.


Saudi AI chief reviews crowd management tech in Makkah

Saudi AI chief reviews crowd management tech in Makkah
Updated 26 March 2025
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Saudi AI chief reviews crowd management tech in Makkah

Saudi AI chief reviews crowd management tech in Makkah
  • Abdullah Al-Ghamdi explores advanced technologies for Grand Mosque operations and highway security

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi has visited the Grand Mosque Operations Center in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He met the director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, along with several security officials and Saudi programmers from the authority working at the center.

Al-Ghamdi reviewed the operations of the Baseer platform, developed by the authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, represented by Public Security.

The platform uses computer vision and AI to monitor and analyze the movement of visitors to the Grand Mosque, ensuring smooth crowd management and assisting in locating missing persons.

He also reviewed the Sawaher platform, designed to enhance the safety of the Grand Mosque, contributing to a secure and smart environment that facilitates worshippers and Umrah performers in performing their rituals seamlessly.

Al-Ghamdi also visited the Highway Security Center in Al-Shumaisi, where he was briefed on the Banan device, which enhances identity verification using biometric features.

He observed the center’s operations, the command room and the advanced technology used in the Saudi Lucid vehicle, which is equipped with AI tools.