Author: Mahdeehassan

Jakarta, April 22, 2026, SPA — The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed today from Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, for Saudi Arabia via the initiative lounge at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, bound for Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by receiving them and completing their procedures in their own countries with ease. The process begins with biometric data collection and electronic issuance of Hajj visas, followed by passport procedures at the airport of departure after ver

Makkah, April 21, 2026, SPA — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has provided an advanced digital service that allows visitors to the Grand Mosque to instantly view the crowd density status in the Mataf and Masaa areas, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the experience of pilgrims and facilitate the performance of Umrah rituals with ease and tranquility. The authority noted that the service enables users to monitor density levels through simplified color indicators, allowing them to choose the most suitable times and routes to perform Tawaf and Sai, contributing to c

Riyadh, April 21, 2026, SPA — Boulevard Flowers has begun welcoming visitors, offering one of the largest and most prominent natural-flower experiences in the world across a total area of 214,000 square meters. The main garden covers 94,000 square meters in a setting that blends nature, art and entertainment. Located opposite Boulevard World on Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road, the zone features more than 2,000 three-dimensional sculptures in different shapes and designs, extending the visual experience throughout the site. Boulevard Flowers is home to tens of millions of natural flowers and plants inmore than 100 varieties and

Al-Asyah, April 20, 2026, SPA — Rainfall brought scenes of natural beauty to the valleys and ravines of Al-Asyah Governorate, located northeast of Qassim Region, reviving waterways and contributing to the flow and accumulation of water across the area. The rainfall affected several locations in the governorate, with streams running between elevated terrain and rocky formations, creating a picturesque rural landscape alongside mild weather that encouraged residents and visitors to head outdoors and enjoy open spaces. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) documented the flow of water along the banks of Wadi Dhaidah and nearby ravines such as Hani

Riyadh, April 14, 2026, SPA — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved a new global milestone by ranking first worldwide in the Digital Readiness Framework 2025 issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The Kingdom scored 94 out of 100 within the “Very High” category, advancing to first place globally, compared to 90 points and fourth place in the previous year. The Kingdom topped the global ranking, followed by Finland and Germany in second and third place with 93 points each, then the United Kingdom in fourth place with 92 points, Norway in fifth place with 91 points, and France in sixth place with 90 points

John Crane Performance Plus™ modular framework establishes a complete SAP maintenance data build, enabling reliable operations from day one and supporting long term asset performance Saudi Arabia, 16 April 2025: John Crane, a global leader in flow control technologies and an innovator in solutions for rotating equipment, and a business of Smiths Group plc., has supported a gas storage facility in Saudi Arabia ahead of commissioning by building a complete maintenance data set in Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) to support long-term asset reliability. The project was delivered through John Crane’s Re

Islamabad, April 17, 2026, SPA — Saudi Arabia provided a grant to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to support the “Green Pakistan” initiative, aimed at strengthening center pivot irrigation systems, improving agricultural productivity, creating job opportunities, preserving the environment, and enhancing food security, as part of efforts to advance cooperation in sustainable development. The Saudi delegation was headed by Assistant Deputy Minister for Agriculture Affairs Dr. Sulaiman AlKhateeb. The grant supports improving water-use efficiency, expanding irrigated land, increasing production quality and quantity, diversifying

Madinah, April 17, 2026, SPA — CEO of the Roads General Authority Eng. Badr bin Abdullah Al-Dulami met with Mayor of Madinah Region Eng. Fahad Albulihshi at the headquarters of the Madinah Regional Municipality to discuss coordination to serve pilgrims and review the readiness of the road network ahead of the Hajj 1447 AH season. They reviewed road projects and the authority’s initiatives, including support for operating entities, and discussed enhancing the implementation of the Saudi Road Code to improve road quality, safety, and efficiency. The efforts are part of the authority’s mandate to regulate and develop the road

Riyadh, April 16, 2026, SPA — The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Modern Integrated Solutions Financing” company to engage in buy-now-pay-later activity, bringing the total number of finance companies licensed by SAMA to 71 companies. This decision reflects SAMA’s endeavor to support the finance sector, enhance the efficiency of financial transactions, and promote innovative solutions for financial inclusion in Saudi Arabia. SAMA emphasizes the importance of dealing exclusively with authorized financial institutions. To view licensed and permitted financial institutions, visit SAMA’s website.

Jeddah, April 17, 2026, SPA — The International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) reviewed its initiatives during the second scientific forum of social research centers, held Thursday at the Faculty of Science Theater at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. ICAIRE highlighted initiatives in data and artificial intelligence. It also presented an interactive experience at its exhibition pavilion on the AI and Data Glossary to enhance awareness of concepts and terminology and support researchers and specialists in applying modern technologies in social and human sciences. The participation reflects ICAIRE&rsq