Saudi Interior Minister Discusses with Moroccan Officials Boosting Bilateral Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz holds talks with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Marrakesh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz holds talks with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Marrakesh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Interior Minister Discusses with Moroccan Officials Boosting Bilateral Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz holds talks with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Marrakesh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz holds talks with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in Marrakesh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz held talks in Marrakesh on Tuesday with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

They reviewed the ongoing security cooperation between their countries and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

They met on the sidelines of the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety

Prince Abdulaziz also held talks with his Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit.

They discussed ways to boost bilateral security cooperation between their ministries, as well as several issues of common interest.

Prince Abdulaziz attended the road safety conference, saying Saudi Arabia places great importance on road safety as both a public health issue and a critical security and economic necessity.

Each year, more than 1.3 million people worldwide lose their lives in road accidents, and millions more suffer serious injuries that disrupt their ability to contribute to their personal and national development, he noted.

He stressed the need to establish a mechanism for accurately tracking the number of those injured in road accidents to help reduce such incidents in the future.

Prince Abdulaziz pointed out that the social, economic, and health costs of injuries resulting from traffic accidents are invaluable, reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to addressing these challenges with determination and innovation within the framework of the Saudi Vision 2030 and in alignment with sustainable and safe environments.

This commitment aligns with global road safety goals and the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

Moreover, Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to bolster road safety by implementing several advanced measures under the direct guidance of the wise leadership.

Among these measures was the establishment of a ministerial-level committee tasked with improving traffic affairs, which has led to a drop of more than 50% in traffic accident fatalities over the past seven years.

Technology will play a pivotal role in road safety, remarked the minister, adding that Saudi Arabia will leverage AI-powered traffic management systems and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to reduce road fatalities and injuries, improve urban mobility, and ensure safer roads across the Kingdom.



Saudi Arabia Denounces Attacks Targeting Military, Civilian Areas in Mali

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Denounces Attacks Targeting Military, Civilian Areas in Mali

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms of the terrorist and separatist attacks that took place in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and other cities, targeting both military and civilian areas.

The Kingdom extended its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to all those affected. It also reaffirmed its solidarity with Mali, its government and people.

The Kingdom reiterated its firm rejection of all forms of violence and extremism, and supported Mali’s efforts to safeguard its security and protect its citizens.


Saudi Arabia: $26,600 Fine for Issuing Visit Visas to Individuals Attempting to Perform Hajj

Saudi Arabia is keen to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and organized environment (Photo: Mohammed Al-Mana)
Saudi Arabia is keen to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and organized environment (Photo: Mohammed Al-Mana)
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Saudi Arabia: $26,600 Fine for Issuing Visit Visas to Individuals Attempting to Perform Hajj

Saudi Arabia is keen to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and organized environment (Photo: Mohammed Al-Mana)
Saudi Arabia is keen to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and organized environment (Photo: Mohammed Al-Mana)

The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced that a fine of up to SAR100,000 ($26,600) will be imposed on anyone who applies for any type of visit visa on behalf of individuals who perform, or attempt to perform, Hajj without a permit, or who enter or stay in Makkah and the holy sites.

The fine will be multiplied according to the number of individuals for whom visit visas were issued and who violate these regulations, the ministry said on Saturday.

It urged upon everyone to adhere to the regulations of the Hajj season and to cooperate with the competent authorities in ensuring the safety and security of the pilgrims, affirming that any violation of these instructions will subject the offenders to legal penalties.

It also encouraged the public to report any violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also underscored that strict adherence to official Hajj permits is a fundamental requirement for ensuring the security and safety of all pilgrims.

The ministry explained that the permit system is a critical component of crowd management and the balanced distribution of pilgrims across the holy sites. This structure ensures that field services are fully prepared to meet the needs of specific Hajj campaigns at the correct times and locations.

The ministry cautioned that violating these regulations not only exposes offenders to legal penalties but also compromises the security of the broader pilgrimage population and the efficiency of the service infrastructure.


Saudi Arabia Stresses its Keenness on Lebanon's Internal Stability

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
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Saudi Arabia Stresses its Keenness on Lebanon's Internal Stability

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan renewed on Friday the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s internal stability, and commitment to the Taif Accords.

The Kingdom will exert all possible diplomatic efforts to save Lebanon and its people, he was quoted as saying by Lebanese MPs who met him in Beirut.

MP Fouad Makhzoumi wrote on X that he had a “fruitful” meeting with Prince Yazid bin Farhan that was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari.

“We expressed our deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the United States, on their significant role in supporting Lebanon’s stability and efforts to restore calm and end hostilities,” he added in reference to the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He hailed Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the need to limit the possession of weapons to the state’s legitimate authorities.

The members of the National Moderation bloc also met with Prince Yazid bin Farhan, saying that talks focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region, especially the US-led negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

A statement from the bloc, said the Saudi envoy expressed the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s internal stability and commitment to the Taif Accords.

He urged the need to steer clear of rhetoric that would fuel internal divisions or harm civil peace.

The bloc is comprised of MPs Mohammed Suleiman, Ahmed al-Kheir, Sajih Attieh, Abdulaziz al-Samad and its Secretary Hadi Hbeish.

The National Consensus bloc of MP Faisal Karami also met with the Saudi envoy for talks on the latest local and regional developments.