Saudi Arabia Launches Direct Umrah Visa Application Service

The Grand Mosque in Makkah is witnessing an influx of pilgrims and visitors these days for Umrah and prayers (SPA)
The Grand Mosque in Makkah is witnessing an influx of pilgrims and visitors these days for Umrah and prayers (SPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Launches Direct Umrah Visa Application Service

The Grand Mosque in Makkah is witnessing an influx of pilgrims and visitors these days for Umrah and prayers (SPA)
The Grand Mosque in Makkah is witnessing an influx of pilgrims and visitors these days for Umrah and prayers (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Wednesday unveiled a new service, Nusuk Umrah, allowing pilgrims from abroad to apply directly for an Umrah visa and book related services online, without the need for an intermediary.

The platform is a new option for pilgrims alongside accredited local agents in their home countries, who can still be identified through the Nusuk Umrah system.

Through the service, applicants can select comprehensive packages or individual services, including visa issuance, accommodation, transportation, cultural tours, and supporting facilities.

Users can also customize packages to match their preferences through a modern interface available in seven languages. The system is integrated with relevant government platforms to ensure a seamless and unified digital experience.

Multiple payment options are available, enabling pilgrims to complete the entire process electronically, from submitting an application to receiving the entry visa. The platform offers a variety of packages and services designed to meet different needs and expectations, ensuring a smoother and richer journey.

The ministry emphasized that launching Nusuk Umrah is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts under Vision 2030 to host the largest possible number of Muslims and to make the rituals of Hajj and Umrah easier to perform. The initiative also aims to enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims and elevate their overall experience as guests of the Kingdom.



Saudi Arabia to Host Multinational ‘Spears of Victory 2026’ Military Exercise

The exercise will run from January 18 to February 5. SPA
The exercise will run from January 18 to February 5. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia to Host Multinational ‘Spears of Victory 2026’ Military Exercise

The exercise will run from January 18 to February 5. SPA
The exercise will run from January 18 to February 5. SPA

The Spears of Victory 2026 military exercise, led by the Royal Saudi Air Force, is set to begin on Sunday at the Air Warfare Center in the Eastern Region.

The exercise will run from January 18 to February 5, featuring broad regional and international participation and highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen military cooperation and joint operational integration.

The exercise will integrate branches of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces, the Ministry of National Guard, the Presidency of State Security, and the Unified Military Command of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside military forces from several countries.

The exercise aims to enhance combat readiness, foster the exchange of expertise in planning and execution, and unify the concept of joint military action among participating forces. It will focus on addressing current and emerging threats, advancing tactical capabilities, and promoting joint operational strategies.

Participating forces will execute joint and combined tactical operations designed to simulate current and emerging threats and to unify the concept of multi-domain joint air operations in an advanced electronic warfare environment.

The Air Warfare Center is one of the region’s most advanced training facilities, providing a sophisticated environment that simulates real operational conditions and supports the development and evaluation of combat capabilities.


Saudi Arabia: King Salman Undergoes Medical Tests

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia: King Salman Undergoes Medical Tests

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is undergoing medical tests on Friday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, the Kingdom's Royal Court said.

“May Allah protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and grant him continued health and well-being,” the Court added.


Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
TT

Saudi Arabia Provides New $90 Million Support to Yemen’s Government Budget

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 
Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen (Photo : X) 

Mohammed Al Jaber, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, announced on Thursday that the Kingdom has provided new financial support to Yemen’s government budget to cover the payment of salaries for state employees, pursuant to directives from the Saudi leadership.

In a post on the social media platform X, Al Jaber said the support comes in addition to the development projects and initiatives announced on Wednesday in several sectors.

These include the provision of petroleum products to operate power plants, aimed at improving the living conditions of the Yemeni people, as well as support for the government’s efforts to implement an economic reform program to achieve financial and economic stability.

The Saudi ambassador also stated that salaries for all military and security forces affiliated with the Supreme Military Committee will be paid by the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, starting on Sunday.

Al Jaber noted that these measures are expected to have a significant impact on society and on Yemen’s economy, which he said will receive substantial support from the Kingdom in the coming period.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Prime Minister Salem bin Breik said on Thursday that the new and urgent financial support from Saudi Arabia, totaling $90 million, reflects the Kingdom’s sincere fraternal stance and its continued commitment to supporting the Yemeni people, easing their humanitarian and living hardships, strengthening economic and financial stability, and ensuring the regular payment of salaries, which the government considers its highest priority.

In a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), bin Breik affirmed that the government, in full coordination with the Central Bank of Yemen, will immediately begin taking the necessary steps to ensure the swift disbursement of salaries to eligible public sector employees through transparent and responsible mechanisms that enhance confidence in financial and monetary institutions.

The prime minister praised Saudi Arabia’s leading role, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in supporting constitutional legitimacy and backing government efforts at the political, economic, and humanitarian levels. He said the support reflects the depth of fraternal relations and the shared destiny between the two countries.

Bin Breik added that the government continues to implement its economic and financial reform program, improve the efficiency of public resource management, and work with brotherly nations and international partners to improve economic conditions and restore monetary stability.