Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: The Riyadh Metro project, supervised by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, has been ranked among the top four global transport initiatives at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. The recognition comes after a rigorous selection process featuring 533 entries from 68 countries, highlighting a new international milestone that underscores the Saudi capital’s leadership in developing modern, sustainable urban mobility systems. The recognition comes after a rigorous selection process featuring 533 entries from 68 countries, highlighting a new international milestone The high ranking acknowledges the scale and advanced technical standard of the network, which stands…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's air defenses shot down a drone in the Riyadh area late on Friday. Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said the drone was "intercepted and destroyed." The drone attack comes amid ongoing strike attempts on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi militia in Yemen. Two ballistic missiles targeting Saudi Arabia’s Najran province were shot down on Friday morning and a drone was intercepted in the Makkah region a few hours later. The Iran-backed militia has been targeting civilian facilities, including airports, energy infrastructure and Islam’s holiest cities in Saudi Arabia.

JEDDAH: Across Saudi Arabia’s date-growing regions, the annual harvest season is more than an agricultural cycle. For many farming families, it is a continuation of traditions, skills and knowledge passed down through generations. As dates begin to ripen, farmers closely monitor the fruit before harvesting, sorting and preparing it for sale or processing. While modern technology has transformed many aspects of the industry, growers say the expertise behind producing high-quality dates remains rooted in experience handed down within families. “Dates are part of our identity as Saudis, especially here in Madinah,” said Fahad Al-Raddadi, CEO of Naqwat Alnanaa Farms Co.…

RIYADH: Diplomats of Mexico, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia celebrated a major milestone as Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Tourism jointly announced that nationals from all four countries are now eligible for instant tourist e-Visas and visas on arrival. Citizens of Mexico alongside Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina can now skip the embassy application process entirely and apply for a multiple-entry tourist e-Visa online or obtain a visa on arrival directly at any Saudi port of entry using their national passports. The visit visa allows citizens of the four countries to perform…

JEDDAH: Thousands of automotive enthusiasts, collectors and prospective buyers descended on the Jeddah Center for Exhibitions and Events for the 20th Jeddah International Motor Show, which ends today, Nov. 7. From cutting-edge concept vehicles and regional premieres to gleaming vintage classics, the four-day showcase brought the full spectrum of automotive culture under one roof. Beyond standard vehicle reveals, visitors explored aftermarket performance upgrades, interactive virtual reality drives, and even fine art installations by members of the Saudi Association for Fine Arts. For many attendees, the exhibition served as a one-stop destination to test the pulse of the market and eyeball…

RIYADH: Thunderstorms, potentially heavy rainfall and flash floods are forecast across most regions of Saudi Arabia through Tuesday, prompting Civil Defense authorities to urge residents to exercise caution and avoid valleys and flood-prone areas. The General Directorate of Civil Defense called on the public to remain in safe locations, avoid areas where floodwaters collect and refrain from swimming in wadis and other flooded areas. It also urged residents to follow official safety instructions through media outlets and social media platforms. The warning, carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Nov. 5, was based on forecasts from the National Center…

RIYADH: Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ambassador Khalid Al-Qahtani met the Ambassador of Jordan to the Kingdom Haitham Abu Alfoul in Riyadh. During the meeting, they discussed consular matters of mutual interest. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs and General Supervisor of the Economic and Development Affairs Deputyship Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi met Venezuela’s Ambassador to the Kingdom David Velasquez Caraballo.

RIYADH: King Saud Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh has successfully reconstructed the severely injured forearm of a patient in his 50s who suffered extensive injuries in a traffic accident, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. According to SPA, an upper limb surgery team at KSMC, a member of the Riyadh First Health Cluster, treated the patient for an open, comminuted fracture involving the joint surface, with bone loss exceeding eight centimeters. Doctors removed damaged tissue and carried out a series of surgical procedures over less than a month, culminating in a bone reconstruction operation to repair the defect. After…

RIYADH: A Saudi Foreign Ministry official on Thursday “categorically denied” a Wall Street Journal report published on Wednesday that claimed Yemen’s Houthi militia had demanded from the Kingdom $51 billion and recognition as rulers of the country in return for ending hostilities. In a post on X, Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly said that the report had “no basis in truth,” describing the claims as fabrications by the newspaper’s writers or their alleged sources. He accused the Houthis of rebelling against Yemen’s government, contributing to the starvation of its people and drawing the country into conflicts and agendas…

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message from Julius Maada Bio, president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, regarding bilateral ties between the two countries. Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammed Sheriff Barrie presented the document to Waleed Elkhereiji, the Kingdom’s vice minister of foreign affairs, who received it on behalf of the Crown Prince. During the meeting on Thursday, Barrie and Elkhereiji reviewed bilateral relations and discussed shared interests, according to the Saudi Press Agency.