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Saudi Royal Order Salvages 3 Tourism Projects from Influential Figures

Saudi Royal Order Salvages 3 Tourism Projects from Influential Figures
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Saudi Royal Order Salvages 3 Tourism Projects from Influential Figures

Saudi Royal Order Salvages 3 Tourism Projects from Influential Figures

A Saudi royal decree has terminated the services of a number of officials tied to graft allegations at prominent tourism projects.

The order was based on reports received from the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Red Sea Company, and the Souda Development Company regarding violations against the lands of the Red Sea Project, the state news agency SPA reported.

There were more than 5,000 violations reported in the Red Sea Project lands and dozens in AlUla, according to SPA, in addition to others not authorized by the Royal Commission for AlUla.

“These violations are considered violations of the system and constitute environmental damage,” according to SPA.

The violations, which have been authorized by some officials, have a “great impact” on the completion of projects and are an infringement on the competence of the Commission, SPA reported.

“The Ministries of Interior and Municipal and Rural Affairs, and the governorates of Madinah, Tabuk and Asir are given a one-month period from this date to remove all infringements, and very strict measures shall be taken in the event of any further infringement after that,” a statement carried by SPA said.

According to the statement, the royal order terminated the services of Lieutenant General Awad bin Eid bin Awda al-Balawi, Director General of the Border Guard, and referred him to retirement.

It also ended the services of the governors of Umluf, al-Wajh and the head of the Souda Center, according to SPA.

Services of the commanders of the border guard sectors in Umluf and al-Wajh have also been terminated.

The services of the official who was responsible for infringements, as well as his deputy at the Ministry of Interior, in addition to those responsible for infringements in the governorates of Madina, Tabuk and Asir have also been terminated.

The royal decree requires that the Control and Anti-Corruption Commission immediately investigate all the officials about their suspected involvement and for legal action to be taken against those found responsible.

AlUla is one of the most important tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia due to its historical treasures, while the Red Sea project includes an archipelago of 90 unspoilt islands with stunning views, while the Souda development project is a unique mountainous tourist destination.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Lifts Early Warning Alerts Issued in Ten Cities

Saudi Civil Defense (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Civil Defense (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Lifts Early Warning Alerts Issued in Ten Cities

Saudi Civil Defense (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Civil Defense (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Civil Defense sent an all clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for potential ⁠danger in several cities of the kingdom as part of emergency procedures to alert residents.

The alerts included Riyadh, al-Kharj, Khamis Mushait, Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu, AlUla, Jazan, Farasan and Abha.

The sirens had been activated in those cities and governorates as part of the emergency early warning system before the Civil Defense later declared that the danger had passed.

The Civil Defense stressed the importance of refraining from circulating rumors and videos from unknown sources, emphasizing that information related to emergency situations should be obtained from official sources. Residents should comply with instructions and guidance issued by the relevant authorities, it added.

Gulf

Saudi Electronic University Renamed after Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman

Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman (King Abdulaziz Foundation)
Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman (King Abdulaziz Foundation)
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Saudi Electronic University Renamed after Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman

Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman (King Abdulaziz Foundation)
Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman (King Abdulaziz Foundation)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has ordered the Saudi Electronic University in Riyadh renamed after Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman, following a recommendation by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The directive honors Prince Musaid bin Abdulrahman for his distinguished service and contributions as one of the Kingdom’s prominent statesmen.

Prince Musaid, a brother of Saudi Arabia’s founder King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, was born at Al-Hukm Palace in Riyadh in 1918. He studied at one of the capital’s leading traditional Quranic schools before attending lessons in Islamic studies and Arabic under several prominent scholars.

He held a series of senior government positions, serving as an adviser to King Saud bin Abdulaziz, president of the Board of Grievances in 1954, state auditor before the establishment of the General Auditing Bureau, royal adviser and Cabinet member in 1957, interior minister in 1960, and minister of finance and national economy in 1962. He died in Riyadh on Dec. 9, 1986.

Commitment to knowledge

Prince Musaid was known from an early age for his interest in education, knowledge and culture. In 1944, he established Riyadh’s first public library inside his palace, assembling a collection of valuable books and manuscripts and opening it to students and visitors.

Renaming the university, established in Riyadh in 2011, is intended to carry forward that intellectual legacy and preserve the memory of a national figure closely associated with education and public service.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman referred to Prince Musaid’s forward-looking ideas in a 2021 television interview, recalling a real estate development proposal he had put forward more than five decades earlier.

The Crown Prince said the proposal, raised during the reign of King Faisal and the beginning of King Khalid’s reign, faced opposition from ministers and officials who resisted allowing greater private-sector involvement.

He said the rejection contributed to poor urban planning and services in Saudi housing developments, adding that had the proposal been implemented at the time, Saudi Arabia could have developed some of the world’s largest real estate companies. He cited ROSHN as a company now seeking to help meet housing demand in the Kingdom.

Honoring his legacy

Prince Musaid’s public service has previously been commemorated. In 2017, the General Auditing Bureau named the main hall at its new Riyadh headquarters after him, honoring his role as the bureau’s first president and his contribution to establishing its administrative and professional foundations.

At the hall’s inauguration in early 2018, Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz paid tribute to Prince Musaid’s work and his role in laying the foundations for the institution’s approach.

Dr. Mohammed bin Yahya Mardi, president of the newly renamed university, said the name carries national and academic significance and reflects the leadership’s recognition of Prince Musaid’s contributions to the Kingdom.

Mardi noted that the prince’s longstanding interest in education, culture, and knowledge aligns with the university’s mission to build capabilities and expand access to learning.

He said the university would continue pursuing excellence and innovation while strengthening its national impact, drawing inspiration from the intellectual and national legacy associated with Prince Musaid’s name.

Mardi added that continued government support has helped drive significant advances in Saudi higher education, enabling universities to develop human capital, advance knowledge, serve society and contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

 

 

Gulf

Arab, Regional Officials Condemn Houthi Attacks on Taif

Arab, Regional Officials Condemn Houthi Attacks on Taif
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Arab, Regional Officials Condemn Houthi Attacks on Taif

Arab, Regional Officials Condemn Houthi Attacks on Taif

Arab and regional officials and organizations condemned on Friday the recent Houthi attacks targeting Taif, expressing solidarity with those affected and stressing the need to respect international law and protect civilians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Condemnations poured in from the GCC secretary-general, Arab interior ministers, the Arab League, the Muslim World League and several countries, including Syria, Mauritania, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Kenya, over the Houthi attacks.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi strongly condemned the drone attack describing it as a heinous assault.

Falling debris from the drone killed one person and injured others, while also causing material damage, SPA said.

The condemnations emphasized that Houthi attacks on civilian areas represented a dangerous escalation and violation of international law, calling for firm international action to halt the attacks, hold those responsible accountable and protect civilians.

They reiterated their firm solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting threats to its security and territorial integrity, affirming support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its sovereignty, citizens and residents.