Makkah Entry Permit Requirement Comes into Effect for Residents

Police return violators and vehicles at security checkpoints leading to Makkah. (SPA)
Police return violators and vehicles at security checkpoints leading to Makkah. (SPA)
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Makkah Entry Permit Requirement Comes into Effect for Residents

Police return violators and vehicles at security checkpoints leading to Makkah. (SPA)
Police return violators and vehicles at security checkpoints leading to Makkah. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Public Security announced that the Hajj regulations and entry procedures for Makkah took effect on Monday, April 13, requiring residents wishing to enter the city to obtain permits from the relevant authorities. Residents without valid entry permits will be denied access to Makkah.

Public Security stated that the measures apply to residents who do not possess a permit issued by the relevant authorities to work in the Holy Sites, a Makkah-issued residency ID, or a valid Hajj permit.

It added that entry permits for residents working during the Hajj season are issued electronically via the Absher Individuals platform and the Muqeem portal, through technical integration with the unified digital platform for issuing Hajj permits, “Tasreeh.”



Funerals Performed in Saudi Arabia for Victims of Aramco Helicopter Crash

The funeral prayer is performed at the Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. (SPA)
The funeral prayer is performed at the Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. (SPA)
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Funerals Performed in Saudi Arabia for Victims of Aramco Helicopter Crash

The funeral prayer is performed at the Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. (SPA)
The funeral prayer is performed at the Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. (SPA)

Funerals were performed in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region on Monday for the 14 victims of a Saudi Aramco helicopter crash.

Governor of the Eastern Region Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz performed the funeral prayer for seven of the victims at Al-Furqan Mosque in Dammam. Prayers were performed for three other victims in the al-Qatif region.

The Energy Ministry and Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser offered their condolences over the martyrs.

The accident occurred around 6 a.m. in Ras Tanura on Sunday, and everyone killed was a Saudi national, said the Energy Ministry in statement said. An investigation was opened into the cause of the crash.

An official source at the ministry said the aircraft was a Leonardo AW139. It was transporting oil sector workers from the underwater and offshore oil fields in the Gulf.


Saudi Arabia Offers Condolences to Qatar after Citizen Dies Following Recent Military Operations

Illuminated skyscrapers are pictured along the corniche promenade in Doha on June 29, 2026. (AFP)
Illuminated skyscrapers are pictured along the corniche promenade in Doha on June 29, 2026. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Offers Condolences to Qatar after Citizen Dies Following Recent Military Operations

Illuminated skyscrapers are pictured along the corniche promenade in Doha on June 29, 2026. (AFP)
Illuminated skyscrapers are pictured along the corniche promenade in Doha on June 29, 2026. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia offered its condolences to Qatar on Monday over the death of a Qatari citizen who was injured by shrapnel resulting from the recent military operations in the region. One resident was also wounded in the incident.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Kingdom expressed its solidarity with Qatar, its government and people, extending its condolences to the family of the deceased, and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Qatar had on Sunday announced the death of a citizen and the injury of a resident, in a maritime incident, as a result of their being hit by shrapnel from military operations in the region.

In a statement, the Ministry of Interior said as part of routine monitoring and verification procedures for maritime vessels conducted by General Directorate of Coasts and Boarders Security, it was noted that a vessel with two individuals on board had failed to return at its scheduled time.

The Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security located the missing vessel on Sunday.

Search operations confirmed that a Qatari citizen was martyred after sustaining injuries from shrapnel resulting from the military operations in the area. An Arab resident was also injured and has been transferred to hospital for medical treatment. He is in stable condition.


Saudi FM Kicks off Official Visit to China

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah seen in Riyadh in May 2025. (EPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah seen in Riyadh in May 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi FM Kicks off Official Visit to China

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah seen in Riyadh in May 2025. (EPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah seen in Riyadh in May 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Beijing on Tuesday on an official visit to China.

He is scheduled to meet with senior government officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest.