Riyadh Governor Honors Benefactors at Ehsan Platform’s 3rd Annual Ceremony 

Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz honored on Sunday benefactors who used the Ehsan platform for charitable deeds. (SPA)
Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz honored on Sunday benefactors who used the Ehsan platform for charitable deeds. (SPA)
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Riyadh Governor Honors Benefactors at Ehsan Platform’s 3rd Annual Ceremony 

Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz honored on Sunday benefactors who used the Ehsan platform for charitable deeds. (SPA)
Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz honored on Sunday benefactors who used the Ehsan platform for charitable deeds. (SPA)

Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz honored on Sunday benefactors who used the National Platform for Charitable Work (Ehsan) for charitable deeds.

In a ceremony held under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Faisal expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the Crown Prince for their support of charitable and humanitarian work.

He also praised the support accorded by the Crown Prince to the platform and its benefactors.

“This is the perspective of the Saudi individual, who takes the initiative to do good and engage in charitable acts in every field,” he underscored the guidance of the wise leadership that “always directs us towards goodness, aiming to give to those in need.”

Ehsan Supervising Committee head Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed for their continuous support and interest in charity work, while also praising the benefactors on their generosity.

Some 4.8 million people have benefitted from the platform since its launch in 2021. Over SAR4.8 billion were raised through over 100 e-donations. Also contributing to the success of the effort were the more than 1,600 civil society associations spread across the Kingdom.

He also hailed the role of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), government, private and non-profit entities, who ensured the success of the platform.

Also at Sunday’s event, Prince Faisal launched the Istihqaq service, which helps verify the eligibility of beneficiaries, thus complementing the work of government agencies in making reliable, credible choices, helping the charitable sector to work digitally, and ensuring that donations reach the intended beneficiaries.

Also announced at the ceremony was the Waqf Ihsan Fund, which seeks to come up with sustainable waqf (endowment) opportunities and invest money donated for waqf purposes.

The Ehsan Platform carries out awareness campaigns with the aim of promoting the culture of charitable work and community collaboration, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

It lends support to community projects and in humanitarian cases, and enables the community to donate through official, reliable channels.

SDAIA was tasked with establishing the Ehsan platform under a Royal Decree; it receives follow up reports from a supervisory committee composed of 13 strong and credible governmental bodies that aim to digitalize the work of the charitable sector.



Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Congratulates Damascus

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Congratulates Damascus

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday a US decision to lift sanctions imposed on Syria pursuant to the Caesar Act, affirming that this step will contribute to supporting the country’s stability, prosperity, and development in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Kingdom commended the significant and positive role played by US President Donald Trump, beginning with his announcement to lift all sanctions imposed on Syria during his historic visit to Riyadh in May 2025, and culminating in his signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which included the repeal of the Caesar Act.

The Kingdom also extended its sincere congratulations to the Syrian leadership, government, and people on the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Syria.

The statement expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the steps taken by the Syrian government to restore stability across all Syrian territories, create conducive conditions for rebuilding the state and economy, and facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons.


Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Foreign Minister II of Brunei Darussalam

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Foreign Minister II of Brunei Darussalam

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Minister for Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

During the call, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and discussed issues of common interest.


King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
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King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents


The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said it has set up the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah in Gaza, as thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war grapple with harsh winter conditions brought by a cold and rainy weather system this week.

Fahad Al-Osaimi, the center’s director of emergency relief, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the camp is sheltering more than 200 displaced families, with the number of beneficiaries exceeding 2,000 women, children and elderly people whose homes and tents were damaged or destroyed by the war and recent weather conditions.

He said the center is currently operating under a rapid response mechanism to appeals received by its operations and emergency room in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Osaimi said two fully equipped camps were completed this week, and that preparations are underway to establish several additional camps in coordination with relevant United Nations agencies, based on assessed needs on the ground.

He said the camp is playing a critical role in providing refuge to hundreds of families whose tents were flooded or collapsed due to heavy rainfall, offering safer shelter that helps mitigate humanitarian risks, particularly for children, women and the elderly.

Al-Osaimi said the center’s efforts extend beyond emergency shelter, noting that work is ongoing to establish organized camps that meet international humanitarian response standards and to ensure they are supplied with essential services.

These services include blankets, shelter materials, clothing for women and children, sanitation facilities such as toilets, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies, in addition to other forms of relief assistance as needs arise.

He said the interventions form part of KSrelief’s sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering of displaced people in the Gaza Strip and bolster their resilience amid severe humanitarian and weather conditions.

The deteriorating weather has coincided with growing uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire agreement and the possibility of moving to its second phase. According to local and international organizations, living conditions for displaced people continue to worsen.

Against this backdrop, the establishment of the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah marks a fresh chapter in Saudi Arabia’s emergency response to Palestinians, particularly Gaza residents, since the outbreak of the war following Oct. 7, 2023, providing lifelines to more than 2,000 people facing mounting challenges.