Saudi Arabia Begins Issuing E-Visas for Umrah

Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Begins Issuing E-Visas for Umrah

Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)
Umrah pilgrims will start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19 (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing e-visas for Umrah, as part of its efforts to enable more Muslims to come to the Kingdom to perform the Umrah pilgrimage and facilitate its procedures for them.

This comes along with raising the quality of Umrah services to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The ministry stated that people who seek electronic visas can submit applications at the Nusuk platform, so they can start arriving in the Kingdom by July 19.

The Nusuk platform facilitates the arrival procedures for Muslims worldwide to visit Makkah and Madinah, provides housing choices, residence and transportation services, in addition to easy access to a package of enrichment information and interactive maps in several languages.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah previously announced, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, that holders of tourist visas from the Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab states and holders of Schengen visa can book Umrah appointments via the Nusk application.

The Hajj and Umrah Ministry also facilitates procedures for holders of different types of visas.

Facilities provided by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to the Umrah performers are a part of new legislation that is recently adopted and include reducing the insurance fees for Umrah performers by 63% while maintaining the sustainability of health services for them, issuing the Umrah visa in less than 24 hours, and extending the Umrah visa from 30 days to 90 days, with no health requirements.

The updated procedures of Umrah also permit women to perform the Umrah without a male guardian (mahram). The new rules also allow Umrah performers to visit the unique sites of the Kingdom to learn about the country's cultural diversity and enrich their religious and cultural experiences.



Saudi Crown Prince Meets with Chinese Foreign Minister

The Saudi Crown Prince met on Sunday with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince met on Sunday with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Meets with Chinese Foreign Minister

The Saudi Crown Prince met on Sunday with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince met on Sunday with the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met on Sunday with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations and explored ways to develop them in a manner that serves the mutual interests of the two countries.

They also discussed recent developments in the region and the world.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban; and Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi.

Attending from the Chinese side were Director-General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry Chen Weiqing and China’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Chang Hua.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Sydney Terrorist Attack

This screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mike Ortiz / UGC / AFP)
This screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mike Ortiz / UGC / AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Sydney Terrorist Attack

This screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mike Ortiz / UGC / AFP)
This screen grab of UGC video taken on December 14, 2025 and received courtesy of Mike Ortiz shows beach-goers fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire, in Sydney on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mike Ortiz / UGC / AFP)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the terrorist attack that took place in Sydney, Australia, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “the Kingdom affirms its stance against all forms of violence, terrorism, and extremism.”

“The Kingdom also expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Australia, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement added.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on UN Facility in Sudan

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on UN Facility in Sudan

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom's condemnation and denunciation of the attack on a United Nations compound in Kadugli, Sudan, SPA reported.

The Kingdom emphasized the necessity of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the preservation of Sudan's unity and institutions, and the imperative of providing protection for civilians and implementing the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration (commitment to protect civilians in Sudan) on May 11, 2023.