ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ outlines security strategies for Hajj

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ outlines security strategies for Hajj
ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ's Ministry of Interior outlined comprehensive security and organizational strategies for the Hajj season 2025 during a press conference on Sunday. (SPA)
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Updated 02 June 2025

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ outlines security strategies for Hajj

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ outlines security strategies for Hajj
  • Authorities seize 252 fake Hajj campaigns and arrest 1,239 transporters breaching Hajj regulations
  • Almost 110,000 unauthorized vehicles turned back, as were 269,678 people not residing in Makkah, 75,943 people without Hajj permits, and 11,610 in breach of various regulations

RIYADH: ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ's Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational strategy to ensure an incident-free 2025 Hajj season.

The ministry held a press conference with Hajj security force commanders on Sunday at the Unified Security Operations Center. Briefing attendees included key officials such as Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, the director of public security, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari, commander of special emergency forces at the presidency of state security, Maj. Gen. Hamoud Al-Faraj, director-general of civil defense, and Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Marba, the acting director-general of the general directorate of passports.

Al-Bassami affirmed ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµâ€™s commitment to prepare a safe, secure, and organized environment for pilgrims.

He said the efforts aligned with the directives of the minister of interior and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, who has endorsed extensive security and organizational plans for the 2025 Hajj season.

These plans, he said, encompass all facets of security, public order, crowd management, traffic flow, and emergency response, implemented through an integrated framework that spans the pilgrims’ entire journey, from arrival to departure.

Al-Bassami said that any attempts to disrupt security or violate regulations would be met with strict and uncompromising action.

He further emphasized the readiness of the Grand Mosque and the holy sites to manage large crowds, aiming to alleviate congestion and maintain safe capacities on all roads and holy sites.

Seasonal traffic management plans are also in effect for routes leading to Makkah and Madinah, as well as central area entrances, to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims.

The General Directorate of Public Security reported significant enforcement actions.

Authorities seized 252 fake Hajj campaigns and apprehended 1,239 transporters violating Hajj regulations.

Additionally, 109,632 unauthorized vehicles were turned back, as were 269,678 people not residing in Makkah, 75,943 people without Hajj permits, and 11,610 people who disobeyed residency, labor and border security regulations.

Furthermore, the number of visit visa holders who arrived for the purpose of Hajj reached 205,713.

Al-Omari reiterated the forces' commitment to ensuring protection and maintaining order during the Hajj season.

He detailed the implementation of precise field plans, focusing on preventing infiltrators and unauthorized individuals from accessing the holy sites.Ìý

The plans include managing and organizing crowd movement at the Jamarat stoning facility and the southern courtyard of the Grand Mosque to ensure smooth flow and pilgrim safety.

In a notable development, Al-Faraj announced the first use of the Falcon drone for firefighting and rescue operations, a new addition to the General Directorate of Civil Defense’s Hajj operations this year.Ìý

He emphasized the sector's readiness to implement its approved plan in service of the pilgrims.

Al-Marba outlined the directorate’s integrated plan within the Ministry of Interior’s security framework.Ìý

This plan is built upon four pillars: ensuring full readiness to receive pilgrims at air, land, and sea ports, including those under the Makkah Route Initiative; enforcing regulations against illegal pilgrim transporters through seasonal administrative committees at Makkah’s entrances; providing support to security and service agencies in the holy sites through field presence; and organizing and overseeing the departure of pilgrims post-Hajj.

Ìý


Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway
Updated 10 June 2025

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway
  • Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.

The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.

Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey
Updated 10 June 2025

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey
  • Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
  • Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many

RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.

Across ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.

Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.

After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?

Noor Ahmad

“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,†she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?â€

She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.â€

For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.

“It was my way of saying thank youâ€

Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.

I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.

Shatha Al-Jadaan

“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,†she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.â€

The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.â€

She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.

“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.â€

Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.

“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.â€

In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.

Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,†she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.â€

Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.

But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.

Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.

Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.

Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.â€

While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.

“I didn’t post to perform,†said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.â€

 


National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season
Updated 10 June 2025

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season
  • The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems

MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.

The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.

The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.

The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.

 


Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group
Updated 10 June 2025

Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group
  • Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions

RIYADH: The Film Commission announced its membership in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, a step aimed at supporting its work in audiovisual archiving.

The association includes members from 70 countries and represents institutions that preserve materials such as visual content, musical works, historical and literary recordings, and oral histories.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, this membership supports the commission’s efforts to preserve ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµâ€™s audiovisual heritage.

Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions.

The move also reflects the commission’s aim to adopt recognized practices and modern technologies in film archiving, the SPA reported.

Cooperation with association members will provide access to innovations in audiovisual preservation and contribute to efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Founded in 1969 in Amsterdam, the association promotes collaboration among institutions focused on audiovisual preservation.

It hosts an annual conference for sharing expertise in preservation, restoration, digitization, intellectual property, and public access to archival materials.

 


French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition
Updated 10 June 2025

French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition
  • The exhibition was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding

RIYADH: The Didier Aaron Gallery in New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ, is hosting an art exhibition by French architect Jean-Pierre Heim.

The exhibition showcases AlUla’s culture and heritage through a collection of sketches depicting ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµâ€™s archaeological landmarks.

It runs until June 20, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

A special event at the exhibition featured Heim speaking about his visits to AlUla and the surrounding region.

It was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding.

He also noted the value of such exhibitions in sharing aspects of Saudi heritage with a wider audience.

Heim described his design approach as being informed by local culture and geography, emphasizing the integration of architecture with environment, history, and traditions.

The exhibition includes selected architectural drawings by Heim, inspired by his travels to more than 80 countries, including ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Greece, and China.