Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz received Danish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Merete Juhl at his office at Qasr Al-Hukm on Sunday, following her appointment as her country’s ambassador to the Kingdom. Prince Faisal welcomed Juhl and wished her success in her new duties, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi met UN counterterrorism chief Alexandre Zouev in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Sunday that he spoke with his Malaysian counterpart Mohamed Khaled Nordin on the phone to discuss ties and prospects for strengthening defense cooperation. The two ministers also discussed recent developments and other issues of mutual interest, Prince Khalid said in a post on X. In a call with @KhaledNordin, we reviewed the brotherly relations between our two countries and explored prospects for defense cooperation. We also discussed recent developments and other topics of mutual interest. Malaysia last week expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia following attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia…

LONDON: The Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition participated on Sunday in an international conference showcasing Saudi Arabia’s efforts to counter extremist ideology, highlighting its programs on prevention, capacity-building and counterterrorism cooperation. The two-day International Conference on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Efforts to Counter Intellectual Deviations is being hosted by the Islamic University of Madinah on Sept. 27-28, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The meeting brings together scholars, researchers and specialists from Saudi Arabia and other countries. At an accompanying exhibition, the coalition outlined its work across four areas: countering extremist ideology, strategic communications, disrupting terrorist financing and military cooperation. An…

RIYADH: Global gaming industry leaders will gather in Riyadh for the inaugural Kingdom of Gaming, an event bringing together companies, investors, talent and institutions from across the sector. Taking place from Dec. 1-3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, the event will bring together 500 studios and developers, 300 exhibitors and sponsors, and 200 investors. Participants will include representatives from game development, publishing, technology, investment, government and esports. Amr Sager, chief of staff at Savvy Games Group, said: “Saudi Arabia is becoming a hub for games, esports and the wider gaming industry. Bringing industry leaders, investment and technology partners…

ALULA: AlUla has won gold in the Nature Positive Responsible Tourism Award category at the 2026 ICRT Awards, which recognized its approach to developing tourism while protecting and restoring natural ecosystems.  This recognition was announced on World Tourism Day, Sept. 27, as the global tourism sector focused on responsible growth and the protection of natural and cultural assets.  More than half of AlUla’s 22,561 sq. km has been designated as protected nature reserves. Conservation efforts have also included planting more than 500,000 native trees and releasing more than 1,500 animals into the wild.  The International Centre for Responsible Tourism Awards…

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has signed a joint executive program with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide vital shelter and winter assistance for Syrian families returning to their home country, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported. The agreement was signed Friday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York by KSrelief Supervisor General Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih. Under the initiative, 987 damaged residential units will be rehabilitated into safe, habitable living spaces. The program…

Rising roughly 1,660 meters above sea level in Jazan’s Al-Dayer Governorate, Khasher Peak captures the timeless synergy between rugged mountain geography and traditional heritage. This visual journey winds through mist-shrouded summits and centuries-old agricultural terraces—a masterclass in indigenous rainwater harvesting. Lush slopes brim with prized Saudi coffee, citrus groves, and mountain farms, interspersed with ancient stone castles built to master the rugged terrain. From cloud-wrapped panoramic vistas to the enduring stone architecture of perched villages, this gallery explores Khasher as a living showcase of mountain agritourism, history, and vibrant highlands.

RIYADH: The National Center for Falcons will host its seventh annual auction of locally trapped falcons from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 in Riyadh. The auction has generated around SR45.3 million ($12 million) from the sale of 455 falcons since 2020, and regularly attracts hundreds of falconers from across the Kingdom. The auction was launched in 2020, when it generated SR10 million from 102 falcons. In 2021, SR8.3 million was spent on 95 falcons, with 237 falconers participating. In 2022, sales totaled SR7.1 million from 81 falcons. In 2023, 87 falcons were offered, generating SR7.4 million, with 278 falconers participating.…

BUENOS AIRES: Saudi Ambassador to Argentina Hatem Al-Ghamdi recently met with Argentina’s Secretary of Energy Maria Carmen Tettamanti in Buenos Aires. During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, the Saudi Embassy said in a statement on X. Meanwhile in Berlin, Acting Charge d’Affaires Asia bint Abdul Latif Baakdah received Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal Affairs and Media Dr. Florian Herrmann, and Dr. Marco Lorenz, head of the Bavarian State Representation to the Federal Government, at the embassy. The…

RIYADH: The Commander of the Joint Forces and the Commander of Yemen’s National Resistance Forces discussed ways to support the readiness of the Yemeni Armed Forces to restore the state and its national institutions on Saturday. The meeting comes as the Houthis wage a ground campaign against Yemeni forces, threatening a humanitarian crisis, with 138,000 people displaced across Yemen since August. During a meeting between Lt. Gen. Fahd bin Hamad Al-Salman and General Tariq Saleh in Riyadh, the two commanders reviewed developments in Yemen, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, said.  They also highlighted…