FARASAN ISLANDS: Al-Qandal Forest, a sprawling mangrove sanctuary in the Farasan Islands, is attracting growing numbers of visitors during the Eid Al-Adha holiday season, underscoring the archipelago’s emergence as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading ecotourism destinations, according to a report by the »»»

MADINAH: Saudi Arabia has completed extensive preparations across the Madinah region’s road network as the first groups of pilgrims arrived from Makkah following the completion of this year’s Hajj, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Madinah welcomed the first post-Hajj arrivals on Friday af»»»

QNA Makkah Qatari pilgrims performing Hajj 1447 AH have praised the high level of organisation and services provided throughout this year’s pilgrimage, highlighting significant improvements in facilities and support across the holy sites. Pilgrims said enhanced services in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalif»»»

ANTALYA, Turkiye: Iran will have an answer from US authorities over their World Cup visa applications “this week,” their football federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi said on Friday. The Iranian World Cup squad will be based in Mexico during the tournament in North America, but all three o»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent two congratulatory cables to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin»»»

Art AlUla’s Madrasat Addeera — billed as “a platform dedicated to heritage-led creativity” — has teamed up with Saudi fashion label HINDAMME to release a limited-edition handmade collection. “The collection is rooted in AlUla’s landscape — its tones, its textures, its quiet intensity,” HINDAMME’s c»»»

Damascus, May 29 (SANA) Former United Kingdom envoy to Syria Ann Snow said Friday that the discovery of chemical weapons dating back to the ousted regime era constituted an important step toward addressing “one of the darkest aspects of the conflict’s legacy.” In a post published Friday on the soci»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s fintech race is no longer being defined by consumer-facing apps, but by the infrastructure powering them, according to Mohamed Oueida, founder and CEO of Stitch. As the Kingdom’s financial sector matures under Vision 2030, attention is shifting away from user interfaces towar»»»

MAKKAH: Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif held talks with his Jordanian counterpart Mazen Al-Faraya in Makkah. During the meeting, the two sides discussed security cooperation between their respective ministries and reviewed several topics of mutual interest. Al-Faraya p»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia continued preparations in New York on Friday ahead of a friendly against Ecuador as the Green Falcons build toward the World Cup, which starts next month. The match against Ecuador on Saturday forms part of a series of warm-up fixtures for the Saudi squad, which also includes f»»»

Tokyo, May 29 (SANA) Official Japanese data released on Friday showed that the country’s crude oil imports fell by nearly 66 percent in April compared with the same month a year earlier, amid the ongoing repercussions of the US Israeli–Iranian war in the Middle East on oil supplies from the region.»»»

PARIS: Mayar Sherif’s journey at this year’s Roland Garros came to an end on Thursday with a second-round defeat to defending champion Coco Gauff but the Egyptian says she leaves Paris feeling “proud” of her performances and “motivated” for what’s to come. Sherif, who won four matches in Paris thro»»»

MAKKAH: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, has received Ahmad Muzani, the speaker of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly, and his accompanying delegation in Makkah. The delegation included»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatari pilgrims performing Hajj 1447 AH have praised the high level of organization and services provided throughout this year's pilgrimage, highlighting significant improvements in facilities and support across the holy sites. Pilgrims said enhanced services in Mina, Arafat and Muzdal»»»

Abu Dhabi: Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, on Friday paid tribute to former Yemeni president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi following his death on Thursday, recalling a pivotal moment during Yemen’s conflict and expressing hope for lasting peace in the country. In a post on X, G»»»

MINA: The Saudi Ministry of Sports continued its volunteer initiatives during the current Hajj season, with the participation of 6,348 male and female volunteers in organizational and service activities across various sites dedicated to serving pilgrims. The initiative aims to promote a culture of »»»

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia on Friday inaugurated its pavilion as guest of honor at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2026, showcasing the Kingdom’s literature, heritage and cultural traditions through a broad program of events and exhibitions. The fair, which runs until June 7 at the World T»»»

MINA: The Saudi health sector delivered over 1,273,380 medical services to pilgrims from the start of the the Hajj till Thursday. Guided by Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives, these integrated efforts ensure premium, accessible care to help pilgrims perform their rituals safely and comfortably. Accordin»»»

MAKKAH: Saudi women have demonstrated exceptional professionalism and competence through their active leadership roles in serving pilgrims at the Grand Mosque during the Hajj season. Backed by the government’s female empowerment initiatives, they manage pivotal responsibilities, including crowd con»»»

MEO had the pleasure, to conduct an interview with Mr. Samy Soliman, President of Investors Association in Taba and Nuweiba. Can you tell us more about the investors association in Taba and Nuweiba? Well we are an organised entity that includes several investors who have got investment projects in »»»

MINA: Makkah Region Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal met with a Communications, Space and Technology Commission delegation in Mina to review technical achievements for the current Hajj season. They discussed achievements regarding how artificial intelligence and smart digital infrastructure enab»»»

LONDON: When Omnicom Advertising and Google launched what they describe as the first artificial intelligence-powered creative intelligence system in the Middle East this April, the promise was unusual: that a machine could tell a creative director not just what was weak in an ad, but what it would »»»

Asharq Al-Awsat has obtained a document recently sent by Hamas to mediators regarding the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where escalating Israeli violations have killed more than 930 Palestinians since the deal took effect on October 10. Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday evening, cit»»»

AUCKLAND: Auckland FC goalkeeper Michael Woud has ‌had to put his wedding plans on hold after being selected in New Zealand’s squad for the World Cup, but he says taking part in soccer’s biggest tournament is not a bad reason to cancel. Woud got engaged a year ago when he had little inkling he woul»»»

MINA: This year’s Hajj pilgrims completed the second day of Tashreeq on Friday, following the ritual stoning of the three pillars at the Jamarat complex in Mina. Almost 1.71 million pilgrims have performed Hajj this year, with the majority taking part in the stoning ritual with ease and comfort, th»»»

MINA: The Grand Mosque is undergoing intensive operational preparations to manage pilgrims’ movement during Tawaf Al-Wada, the farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba, which marks the conclusion of Hajj for most of this year’s 1.71 million pilgrims. In Islamic jurisprudence, pilgrims who perform»»»

Mina The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah intensified field operations during the days of Tashreeq to manage pilgrim movement at the Jamarat Facility. During the first day of Tashreeq, the ministry distributed crowds across designated routes, with 30% performing the stoning ritual before 10 am and »»»

MINA: Saudi Arabia has delivered more than 712 million essential items to markets and retail outlets in Makkah and the holy sites as part of a large-scale supply operation to serve pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. “The supplies included more than 328.9 million bottles of drinking water, 153»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE and Eswatini have signed a memorandum of understanding on the mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and facilitating travel between the two countries. The agreement was signed on behalf of the UAE by Sheikh Shakhboot bin»»»

MAKKAH: Acting on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah Region and deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah, delivered the kiswa of the Kabaa to the gatekeeper of the holy site on Friday. Th»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has declared the 1447 AH Hajj season a success, with officials praising the highly coordinated operation that enabled more than 1.7 million pilgrims to perform the annual pilgrimage in safety and comfort. Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Mecca Region and»»»

Mina, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah intensified field operations during the days of Tashreeq to manage pilgrim movement at the Jamarat Facility. During the first day of Tashreeq, the ministry distributed crowds across designated routes, with 30% performing the stoning ritual be»»»

Stationeries / Cleaning Equipments Client : General Organisation for Health Insurance Address : 16, Al Thawra Street, Assiut Tender : General tender No. 2/2016-2017 for the supply of stationaries, cleaning equipments and packaging equipment Tender documents : EGP400 A bid bond of EGP3,500 (for stat»»»

Riyadh: Sultan Al-Harthi, spokesperson for the National Center for Waste Management, confirmed that the Sustainable Ihram initiative has, over the past year, contributed to the production of more than 5,000 products made from recycled fabrics. The ihram garments in Islam symbolize equality and the »»»

JEDDAH: Mbah Marsiyah, from Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, was reportedly the oldest pilgrim to perform Hajj this year. The 104-year-old was one of 221,000 Indonesians permitted to undertake the pilgrimage as part of the country’s delegation for 2026. Marsiyah first registered for Hajj in 2021, havi»»»

LONDON: Oil futures steadied on Friday but were ‌on track for their steepest weekly decline since early April after reports that the US and Iran had reached agreement on a potential ceasefire extension. Brent crude futures for July were down 34 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $94.05 ​a barrel by 011:10 a»»»

Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Thousands of Muslims began to leave the holy city of Mecca on Friday after having completed the hajj pilgrimage. This year more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries took part in one of the world's largest religious gatherings. "I can't believe I completed the hajj," said »»»

Eight students arrested in Kenya after suspected deadly school arson attack Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Anxious relatives wait for news as injured students return Eight students alleged to have been involved in a suspected arson attack at a Kenyan girls' school that killed 16 pupils»»»

Saudi Arabia’s listed technology companies posted strong first-quarter earnings for 2026, reflecting a structural shift in the sector as digital revenue growth converged with tighter control over operating and administrative costs. Combined net profits for companies in the Kingdom’s applications an»»»

For nearly two decades, Abdul Rahim’s return to Kerala seemed unlikely. Arrested within weeks of arriving in Saudi Arabia in 2006, the Kozhikode native spent 20 years in prison and faced a death sentence after a disabled Saudi teenager in his care died when a life-support device was accidentally di»»»

RIYADH: Cement sits at the center of Saudi Arabia’s transformation. From giga-projects and housing developments to industrial zones and tourism infrastructure, demand for the material is expected to remain high as the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 agenda. But cement is also one of the world’s mo»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai moved higher on Friday as global markets reacted to ongoing geopolitical tensions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, alongside uncertainty over inflation and interest rates in the United States. In the UAE, 24K gold opened at Dh544 per gram, up from Dh541.25 at»»»

Kenya court halts opening of US Ebola quarantine facility in the country Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleWycliffe MuiaandAkisa Wandera,Nairobi EPAThe Democratic Republic of Congo is the epicentre of the outbreak though a few cases have been detected in Uganda A Kenyan court has suspended»»»

Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy will assume office as Secretary-General of the Arab League on July 1, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit, whose term expires on June 30. The 165th regular session of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, held virtually in March, unanimously approved a resolut»»»

PARIS: For nearly two centuries after France abolished slavery, the colonial-era law that classified humans as property has remained quietly on the books. On Thursday, the lower house of parliament voted to wipe it from French law. The National Assembly voted 254-0 — a rare show of unanimity — to a»»»

Foreign minister Oana Toiu had, on May 28, talks with prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich), hosted by Cyprus. The two ministers praised the rising dynamic of the bilateral relation: commercial exchanges tre»»»

Over five years, the combined GDP growth of EAEU countries amounted to 16.6 percent. Daniyar Imanaliev, Minister in charge of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), told journalists. According to him, industrial production increased by 18.9 percent, while agricult»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will take on regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Oman, along with Hong Kong in Group E of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers following the Official Draw conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. Qatar will host all Group E matches in Doha as teams bat»»»

Egypt is unlocking the remaining cash from its massive LE 50 billion tourism fund to give local hospitality businesses a major boost. The Central Bank just overhauled the program’s rules, allowing banks to immediately deploy leftover surplus funds and extending a critical application deadline until»»»

The ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Egypt said on Monday that Jordanian investments in the Egyptian market reached $512 million in 1,527 companies. Ali Al Aayed added during his meeting with the Egyptian minister of industry and trade, Tarek Kabil, that these companies operate in t»»»