Saudi Defense Minister Receives Newly Appointed and Promoted Military Officials

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman receives newly appointed and promoted military officials in Riyadh. (SPA)
Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman receives newly appointed and promoted military officials in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Receives Newly Appointed and Promoted Military Officials

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman receives newly appointed and promoted military officials in Riyadh. (SPA)
Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman receives newly appointed and promoted military officials in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received in his office in Riyadh on Monday newly appointed and promoted military officials.

The appointments and promotions were decreed in a Royal Order by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Thursday.

Prince Khalid received Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Ghufaili, who was named Deputy Chief of the General Staff at the rank of lieutenant general, and Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Mutair, who was named Advisor at the Minister of Defense’s Office at the rank of lieutenant general.

He welcomed Major General Fahd bin Hamad Al-Salman, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed Commander of the Joint Forces, and Major General Fahd bin Saud Al-Juhani, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Staff of the Land Forces.

Prince Khalid also received Naval Major General Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Hamed Al-Gharibi, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces.

The minister bestowed upon the officials medals of their military ranks, wishing them success in serving their religion and nation.

In return, the officials expressed their appreciation to King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for entrusting them in their new duties and ranks. They also expressed their gratitude to Prince Khalid.

The medal ceremony was attended by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and other senior officials.



Saudi Arabia Opens Registration for Domestic Pilgrims for 2026 Hajj 

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Opens Registration for Domestic Pilgrims for 2026 Hajj 

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Tuesday that registration was open for domestic pilgrims to perform this year’s annual Hajj.

It said people can register through the Nusuk mobile phone app and through its website.

Priority will be given at the beginning for people who have not performed the Hajj before.

Applicants should be at least 15 years of age and meet the necessary health requirements.

Residents must have a valid residency permit, with priority to those who have been living in the Kingdom for over a year.

Applicants must be in good health and not be suffering from severe or infectious chronic diseases. They must have also taken the meningitis and seasonal flu vaccines.


Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Riyadh, Kigali Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments 

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji meet in Kigali on Tuesday. (SPA)

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame received Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji in Kigali on Tuesday for talks on regional and international developments.

Elkhereiji conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with their wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the government and people of Rwanda. Kagame, for his part, wished the Kingdom, its leadership and its people further development and prosperity.

The meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation relations and explored ways to strengthen and expand them across various fields.

Elkhereiji had arrived in Rwanda on an official visit earlier on Tuesday.

Elkhereiji during his visit to the King Faisal Hospital Kigali. (SPA)

He met with Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Usta Kaitesi. They discussed ways to boost cooperation between their countries in various fields and addressed issues of common interest.

Elkhereiji later visited the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali to review work progress at the facility.

King Faisal Hospital is the largest referral hospital in Rwanda, having received support exceeding SAR109 million from the Saudi Fund for Development since its establishment through its rehabilitation and expansion.

The hospital provides a wide range of specialized medical services, including disease diagnosis and specialized treatment. It has performed more than 300 complex cardiac catheterization procedures and over 32 kidney transplant operations - the first of their kind Rwanda.


Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Efforts to Consolidate Regional and Int’l Development

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Efforts to Consolidate Regional and Int’l Development

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday the Kingdom’s firm stances and continuous support for efforts to achieve security and peace and consolidate regional and global development and prosperity.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah.

He briefed the ministers on his meeting on Monday with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders discussed ways to further develop the historic and close relations between their countries across various sectors.

They also covered key issues in the Arab and Islamic worlds, developments in the Middle East, and ongoing efforts to address matters related to the region’s security and stability.

Crown Prince Mohammed also briefed the cabinet on the message he received from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Cabinet reviewed recent developments in the work of joint committees between Saudi Arabia and several countries. (SPA)

The ministers also discussed regional and international developments.

The Cabinet reviewed recent developments in the work of joint committees between Saudi Arabia and several nations, and discussed ongoing progress in coordination and cooperative initiatives, further strengthening and expanding both bilateral and multilateral relations.

It reviewed several internal reports, expressing its deep appreciation for the broad public engagement with national initiatives designed to promote the values of solidarity and giving, while supporting charitable work across the Kingdom.