Author: Mahdeehassan

Makkah, May 22, 2026, SPA — Kidana Development Company, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has transformed previously underutilized areas within the holy sites into fully serviced accommodation zones, significantly expanding lodging capacity for pilgrims. The initiatives increased the capacity of developed sites to approximately 209,000 pilgrims over three consecutive Hajj seasons, while adding annual accommodation capacity for up to 70,000 pilgrims. The projects form part of ongoing efforts to enrich the pilgrim experience and enhance services within the holy sites. The development initiatives focused on maximizing th

Riyadh, May 21, 2026, SPA — The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) highlighted data quality as a critical foundation for enhancing information reliability, boosting performance, and enabling accurate business decisions, as part of its efforts during the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026 to raise awareness about data importance. The authority noted that high data quality serves as the cornerstone for sustainable national trust, integrated digital services, operational savings, entrepreneurship, and readiness for artificial intelligence applications. SDAIA stated that the data quality journey spans five phases, b

Riyadh, May 21, 2026, SPA — The Saudi informatics team won a bronze medal at the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad 2026, which was held remotely in Taiwan during May. The competition featured 187 students from 32 countries This marks the Kingdom’s sixth participation in APIO since its first entry in 2021. Founded in 2007 in Australia, the Olympiad is a regional programming and algorithm competition for high school students across the Asia-Pacific and Western Pacific regions. The competition is typically conducted online over five hours, during which participants solve three algorithmic programming problems.

Switzerland’s ultra-limited watchmaker announces the Sovereign Living Form philosophy as Gulf collectors increasingly seek provenance and creative conviction over brand recognition. DUBAI, UAE, May 21, 2026 — The Gulf Cooperation Council’s luxury watch market reached $573.9 million in 2025 and is projected to approach $830 million by 2034, according to IMARC Group research. Behind these figures is a shift in consumer behavior that is harder to quantify but equally significant: Gulf collectors — among whom luxury watch ownership already reaches 50 to 60 percent of high-net-worth individuals, the highest rate globally — are increasingly asking not what a watch signals,…

A landmark achievement that establishes SAB Invest as the first ETF Market Maker in the Saudi Exchange, reinforcing its leadership in this field Enhanced liquidity in SAB Invest Saudi Quant ETF (Ticker: 9402), with tighter bid-ask spreads and improved pricing efficiency, enabling a smoother and more effective trading experience for investors Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 18 May 2026 – SAB Invest, the investment arm of Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), today announced its official registration by the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) as the first ETF market maker in the Kingdom. This landmark achievement marks a new era for Saudi Arabia’s capita

Makkah, May 19, 2026, SPA — The healthcare system has provided more than 121,626 health services to pilgrims since the start of the 1447 AH Hajj season through the first day of Dhul-Hijjah. The efforts aim to safeguard pilgrims’ health and help them perform their rituals with ease, in line with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry of Health stated that health centers and urgent care facilities served 27,019 beneficiaries, while emergency departments handled 14,610 cases and outpatient clinics received 1,711 visitors. The ministry added

Riyadh, May 19, 2026, SPA – The civil aviation sector participates with countries around the world in marking International Museum Day, observed annually on May 18, highlighting the “Civil Aviation Museum” as the first comprehensive historical documentation of the development of this vital sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The museum is the result of a strategic collaboration between the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives “Darah”. It stands as a knowledge landmark documenting the rich historical legacy of civil aviation in the Kingdom. Its e

Riyadh, May 18, 2026, SPA — Ministry of Interior affirmed that visit visas of all types and categories do not authorize their holders to perform Hajj, stressing that obtaining an official Hajj permit is a mandatory requirement for performing the ritual. The Ministry called on all to adhere to the regulations governing this year’s Hajj season (1447 AH), and to cooperate with the competent authorities to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, warning that any violation of these instructions will expose offenders to legal penalties. It also urged the public to report violators by calling (911) in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, an

Mogadishu, May 16, 2026, SPA — The National Blood Bank in Mogadishu, Somalia, provided medical services to 214 beneficiaries in April 2026, with the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Male beneficiaries accounted for 59% and female beneficiaries for 41%, while displaced persons represented 6% and residents 94% of the total beneficiaries. This comes as part of the humanitarian and relief efforts provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through KSrelief to support people in need and those affected around the world.

Doha, May 17, 2026, SPA — The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) is participating in the Doha International Book Fair 2026 as part of the Saudi pavilion, reflecting its ongoing commitment to promoting Saudi history and cultural heritage while strengthening the Kingdom’s cultural and intellectual presence on the international stage. Through its participation, Darah is presenting a distinguished selection of scholarly, historical, and cultural publications, alongside showcasing its knowledge-based and archival projects and initiatives dedicated to preserving, documenting, and making the history of Saudi Arabia a