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Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m
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Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

The General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) has registered an increase in population to 32.4 million in H1 of 2019 with Saudis representing 61.7 percent of them.

(GaStat) saw a rise in the total of non-Saudis in H1 of 2019 of 460,000 with a growth of 3.5 percent at 13.10 million compared to 12.64 million in 2018.

The rise of non-Saudi residents in the kingdom coincides with the departure of more than 1.6 million foreigners after the introduction of fees on dependants in July 2017 according to Saudi Jadwa Investment.

It also comes after the kingdom announcing giant projects in various regions as well as launching Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency.

In the same context, the kingdom revealed in June that it started receiving applications for the Premium Residency (Special Privilege Iqama) through the electronic platform "Saprc".

The holders of Premium Residency enjoy several privileges: they can invest in real estate units in Makkah and Madinah for periods not more than 99 years, they can work in any private establishment and freely switch jobs, they can exit and enter the Kingdom freely, they can practice commercial activities, they can obtain visit visas for their relatives, they can recruit domestic workers, they can own real estate units for residential, and others.

Since launching Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom initiated huge projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and Red Sea project in addition to other entertainment projects to develop the cities.

NEOM is located in an area of about 26.5 thousand square kilometers. NEOM's economic prospects will focus on 16 sectors such as energy, tourism, and others in addition to Qiddiya that would be inaugurated in 2023. More than 50 firms will contribute to building it, knowing that it consists of 5 hotels to be announced later on.

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Gulf

Bahrain Busts Cell for Collaborating with Iran

General view of capital Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022. (Reuters)
General view of capital Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022. (Reuters)
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Bahrain Busts Cell for Collaborating with Iran

General view of capital Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022. (Reuters)
General view of capital Manama, Bahrain, October 30, 2022. (Reuters)

Bahrain announced on Monday the arrest of a several individuals for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The Public Prosecution said they were found to have been involved with Iranian intelligence and the IRGC.

They were tasked by foreign parties to monitor vital installations inside the kingdom and collecting detailed information about them that they relayed to the parties so that they can be targeted in attacks.

They were also tasked with taking photos of the site of the attacks.

The detainees indeed carried out these tasks, said the Public Prosecution following their interrogation.

On the ground, Bahrain’s defenses intercepted and downed two drones in the past 24 hours.

Bahrain has destroyed 188 rockets and 468 drones since the eruption of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Gulf

Saudi FM Meets Jordanian Counterpart, Holds Phone Talks with Peruvian Foreign Minister

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. (SPA)
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Saudi FM Meets Jordanian Counterpart, Holds Phone Talks with Peruvian Foreign Minister

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on Monday met in Riyadh with Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, and held phone talks with his Peruvian counterpart Hugo de Zela, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During his meeting with Safadi, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways to expand cooperation across all sectors, in line with the directives of their countries’ leaderships.

They also discussed the latest regional developments, underscoring their solidarity in confronting Iranian aggression against their countries and several other Arab states, and rejecting what they described as a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.

They affirmed their support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the sovereignty and security of states, in accordance with international law and conventions.

The meeting also addressed developments in Syria and Palestine. The two sides stressed the need to halt Israeli violations, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and support efforts to promote security, stability, and de-escalation across the region.

The meeting was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Political Affairs Dr. Saud Al-Sati and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Manal Radwan.

During his phone call with Zela, the two officials discussed bilateral relations and discussed regional developments and ongoing efforts to address them.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Russia Agreement on Visa-Free Travel Takes Effect on May 11

The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in December. (SPA)
The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in December. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Russia Agreement on Visa-Free Travel Takes Effect on May 11

The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in December. (SPA)
The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in December. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Russia’s agreement to mutually exempt visitors from a travel visa goes into effect on May 11, announced the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.

The agreement, first signed on December 1, 2025, allows citizens of both countries to travel to each other without a visa.

Travelers can stay for up to 90 days, either continuously or intermittently, within a year.

The exemption applies to visits for tourism, business, and family purposes. It does not extend to people traveling for work, study, residency, or Hajj, and appropriate visas must be obtained for those purposes.

The agreement underscores the commitment of both countries in facilitating entry procedures for their citizens, which will increase reciprocal visits and boost tourism, economic, and cultural cooperation.

It will also contribute to strengthening various sectors and expanding cooperation and partnerships between Saudi Arabia and Russia.