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Gulf

Haramain High Speed Railway to Operate over 2,700 Trips During Ramadan

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
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Haramain High Speed Railway to Operate over 2,700 Trips During Ramadan

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan.

The train, capable of reaching speeds of 300 km/hr, will cover the 449 km distance between the two holy cities in just under two and a half hours.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has collaborated with the operating company to prepare a plan that will keep pace with the expected surge in demand.

The train ranks among the 10 fastest electric trains globally and is equipped with advanced signaling and communications systems. It plays a crucial role in the development plan and expansion program of the Saudi railway network, aiming to accommodate the increasing number of Umrah performers and visitors domestically and internationally, while also reducing congestion on the roads between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

Launched in 2018, the Haramain High Speed Railway facilitates the movement of pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors between the three cities with a double railway line spanning 453 km.

The train route includes five stations, including three terminals: the Makkah Station, the Madinah Station, and the King Abdulaziz Airport station in Jeddah, as well as two central stations, the main Jeddah station located in the Sulaymaniyah district, and the King Abdullah Economic City station.

The Haramain High Speed Railway station at King Abdulaziz Airport is the world's largest airport-linked train station, covering an area of over 105,000 square meters, extending over several floors, and connected to six train platforms. The station helps alleviate congestion on the roads leading to King Abdulaziz Airport by transporting arriving passengers directly to other stations without the need to leave the airport and use other means of transportation.

The Haramain High Speed Railway fleet comprises 35 electric trains, each capable of carrying 417 passengers in 13 cars divided into five business class compartments, a cafeteria, and eight economy class compartments. The total number of business class seats is 113, while the total number of economy class seats is 304.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Voices Deep Concern over Famine in Gaza

People walk with bags of humanitarian aid they received at a distribution center run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as they cross the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip, on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
People walk with bags of humanitarian aid they received at a distribution center run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as they cross the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip, on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Voices Deep Concern over Famine in Gaza

People walk with bags of humanitarian aid they received at a distribution center run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as they cross the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip, on August 22, 2025. (AFP)
People walk with bags of humanitarian aid they received at a distribution center run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as they cross the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip, on August 22, 2025. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia expressed on Friday its deep concern following the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report and the official declaration of famine in the Gaza Strip.

The Kingdom condemned the "genocide crimes committed by the Israeli forces against defenseless civilians," said a foreign ministry statement.

"The Kingdom affirms that the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is a direct result of the absence of deterrence and accountability mechanisms for the repeated crimes committed by the Israeli forces," it added.

"This will remain a stain on the moral standing of the international community, particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council, unless immediate action is taken to end the famine and stop the genocide and crimes perpetrated by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people," it said.

Gulf

Saudi Aid Convoy Arrives in Central Gaza

The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief's local partner. SPA
The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief's local partner. SPA
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Saudi Aid Convoy Arrives in Central Gaza

The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief's local partner. SPA
The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief's local partner. SPA

A new Saudi relief convoy from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in the central Gaza Strip, carrying essential food supplies as part of a fundraising campaign to assist the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Friday.

The aid was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief's local partner, for distribution to families in need, reaffirming the Kingdom's steadfast support for the Palestinian people during crises and reflecting its humanitarian values, SPA said.

Gulf

Saudi–Egyptian Coordination Seen as a Pillar of Security and Stability

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at NEOM Palace on Thursday (SPA).
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at NEOM Palace on Thursday (SPA).
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Saudi–Egyptian Coordination Seen as a Pillar of Security and Stability

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at NEOM Palace on Thursday (SPA).
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at NEOM Palace on Thursday (SPA).

Analysts argue that coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt represents a cornerstone of security and stability in the Middle East, particularly amid growing attempts to reshape the regional landscape and impose new realities on the Palestinian issue.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, they stressed that the rapidly unfolding developments in the region - chief among them the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, along with other pressing regional files - are expected to dominate talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

Sisi began a special visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday and was received a day earlier in NEOM by the Crown Prince.

Visit at a Sensitive Moment

Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, described the visit as coming at “an exceptionally sensitive time,” pointing to Israeli attempts to alter the status quo in Gaza and “terminate the Palestinian cause” by occupying the territory and displacing its residents.

He warned that both Riyadh and Cairo view these actions as a threat to regional and international stability, and as an effort by Israel to eliminate prospects for peace and coexistence among the peoples of the region, including Israelis themselves.

“There are great hopes pinned on the meeting between the Crown Prince and the Egyptian President to advance the Palestinian issue away from Israeli claims and maneuvers, in a way that ensures security and stability for the entire region,” Sager said.

He emphasized that Saudi–Egyptian relations are “historic and strategic, built on solid foundations, and a guarantee of security and stability for the Arab world and the broader Middle East, given the political weight and influence of both nations at the regional and global levels.”

According to Sager, the current period demands closer coordination than ever before. “In light of unprecedented regional and global shifts, and persistent attempts to impose changes on the Arab world, Saudi Arabia and Egypt must align their policies and positions more closely,” he added.

Deep and Multifaceted Ties

For his part, Saudi political analyst Dr. Khalid Al-Habass noted that Sisi’s visit is focused on both bilateral and regional priorities.

“On the bilateral front, Riyadh and Cairo enjoy multi-layered relations, anchored by well-established cooperation mechanisms aimed at advancing shared interests across all sectors,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He continued: “On the regional level, the Saudi–Egyptian relationship serves as the backbone of Arab solidarity, essential for confronting the grave challenges that threaten the region’s security and stability.”

Al-Habass pointed to the escalating dangers facing the Palestinian cause in Gaza and the West Bank, alongside other critical regional issues, particularly in Syria and Lebanon. “All of these files will feature prominently in the discussions between the two leaderships,” he said.

He also underlined Riyadh’s role as one of the region’s most influential capitals, recognized for its proactive diplomacy aimed at fostering peace and stability both regionally and internationally.

Active Diplomacy and Shared Vision

Al-Habass highlighted Saudi Arabia’s recent diplomatic initiatives, including the international conference it co-chaired with France to revive the two-state solution, which produced significant outcomes. He also recalled earlier summits hosted by both Riyadh and Cairo to counter Israeli escalation in the occupied territories, press for an end to the war in Gaza, and rally international support for peace.

The depth of Saudi–Egyptian ties is also evident in the frequency of high-level visits. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has traveled to Egypt eight times since April 2015, while President al-Sisi has visited Saudi Arabia on 11 occasions.

These exchanges continue a tradition of engagement that dates back to King Abdulaziz’s historic visit to Egypt in January 1946, underscoring the determination of both nations to expand cooperation and open new horizons for joint action across multiple fields.