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Saudi Arabia to Resume Sunday Second Phase of Umrah

Saudi Arabia to Resume Sunday Second Phase of Umrah
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Saudi Arabia to Resume Sunday Second Phase of Umrah

Saudi Arabia to Resume Sunday Second Phase of Umrah

Saudi Arabia will resume on Sunday the second phase of Umrah pilgrimage as part of the gradual return to performing the ritual, some seven months after it was suspended due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque is expected to receive 220,000 to perform rituals and 560,000 worshippers.

The 14-day second phase will allow citizens and residents in the Kingdom to perform Umrah in the Grand Mosque at a 75 percent capacity (15,000 pilgrims per day, 40,000 worshippers per day) amid strict social distancing measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

The Kingdom has allowed citizens and residents to start performing Umrah as of Oct.4 at 30 percent capacity, or 6,000 pilgrims a day. It will open for Muslims from abroad starting Nov. 1.

The General Presidency urged all worshipers and pilgrims to adhere to the specified times according to the issued permits, as well as the precautionary measures, stressing wearing face masks and sanitizing hands regularly.

The Health Ministry announced on Friday 433 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the infection tally to 341,495 cases, including 8,556 active cases undergoing treatment 835 of which are critical cases.

Meanwhile, 468 individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus have recovered, raising the total recoveries to 327,795.

The ministry explained that 43 percent of the cases are females and 57 percent are males, and children account for 10 percent, adults 86 percent and the elderly four percent.

It also reported 17 new deaths, raising the death toll to 5,144.

The United Arab Emirates recorded 1,412 new cases in the past 24-hours, rasing the infection tally to 112, 849 cases.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the infected individuals are from various nationalities, adding that they are in a stable condition and are receiving the necessary care.

MoHAP also announced three new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 455.

It also announced conducting 116,470 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.

Kuwait on Friday reported 729 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 114,744 and the death toll to 690 in the country, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Currently, 7,559 patients are receiving treatment, including 136 in ICU, according to the statement.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 649 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 106,495.

Bahrain’s Health Ministry announced on Friday daily confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 333 and deaths increased by two to 290.

Some 452 new recoveries were also reported for a total of 73,013, as compared to 3,651 currently active cases, according to a ministry statement.

Qatar’s Health Ministry announced 189 new COVID-19 cases, with no new deaths.

According to its statement, 204 cases have recovered, raising the recoveries to 123,006.

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Gulf

Southern Yemen Leaders Seek Just Solutions at Upcoming Dialogue Conference in Riyadh

Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
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Southern Yemen Leaders Seek Just Solutions at Upcoming Dialogue Conference in Riyadh

Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)
Yemeni officials are seen at the consultative meet in in Riyadh on Sunday. (Reuters)

A consultative meeting on southern Yemen was held in Riyadh on Sunday, marking a return of the southern issue to the forefront of the regional scene. The meeting brought together leaderships, elders and senior figures from the South.

Saudi Arabia has been exerting firm efforts to steer the southern issue clear of political tensions and open conflicts and more towards dialogue that would lead to just solutions that would resolve pending disputes.

Sunday's meeting paves the way for a conference on southern Yemen hosted by Riyadh as part of its efforts to support a comprehensive political solution that tackles the southern issue and boosts security and stability in Yemen and the region.

The meeting was held amid unprecedented complications in Yemen and political, security and economic challenges facing the South. At the upcoming Riyadh conference, the gatherers will aim to reach a common vision on the South that is based on dialogue away from escalation and violence.

A closing statement following the consultative talks said the meeting reflects the South's collective will to reach a "just, secure and sustainable solution to the Southern issue."

A political path based on dialogue is the only way to avert more divisions and internal conflicts in the South, said the statement read by Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member Abou Zaraa Al-Mahrami.

The participants "sensed during their direct meetings with Saudi leaderships and officials clear unconditional support for the legitimate demands of the southerners, starting with their right to reach a comprehensive political solution that ensures their dignity, security and stability," it added.

This path ensures the southerners' right to determine their political fate through a mechanism that does not marginalize any party, it went on to say.

The statement underscored "the southerners' options, including shaping the state and its political future, are their rights and their rights alone."

The upcoming Riyadh dialogue is a "rare historic opportunity" to set the southern issue back on the right path, said the statement, warning against attempts to undermine this opportunity by sparking side conflicts that serve regional parties that want chaos to persist.

Observers have said that the southern issue had been greatly undermined by controversial political and financial practices and by parties placing their own interests above national ones.

Saudi Arabia's sponsorship of the cause has one again returned it to the forefront in Yemen and made it an indispensable part of a comprehensive political solution in the country, they continued.

The statement called on the international community to support the renewed efforts related to the southern issue and to respect the aspirations of the southerners, saying this is critical to any comprehensive and sustainable settlement.

Commenting on the demonstrations that had taken place in the interim capital Aden, the statement said they reflect legitimate popular demands related to the southern issue and difficult living conditions.

The gatherers in Riyadh were also severely critical of Abu Dhabi's role in Yemen. Observers have said that the United Arab Emirates' role in supporting certain parties and not others helped deepen divisions in the South, prolong chaos and obstruct a comprehensive political solution.

The observers noted international reports that detected a similar approach adopted by the UAE in other countries, such as Sudan, Libya and Somalia, where its backing of local factions deepened crises instead of resolving them.

They contrasted this with Saudi Arabia's approach that supports the state, dialogue, stability and development.

The observers warned that the persistence of foreign meddling that deepens divisions in Yemen may force Riyadh to take a firmer stance to protect dialogue, to ensure that counter-terrorism efforts are not undermined and to achieve security and stability in Yemen.

Gulf

Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

The Saudi leadership extended condolences on Sunday to King of Thailand over the victims of a crane accident that fell onto a train in northeastern Thailand killing tens and injuring several.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent a cable to King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, offering his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the deceased, and the Thai people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, sent a similar cable to the Thai king.

He extended his deepest condolences to the king, the families of the deceased, and the Thai people.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Syrian Govt, SDF

People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes Agreement between Syrian Govt, SDF

People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
People celebrate as Syrian government troops take control of the town from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Monday the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces that was reached on Sunday.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry statement hoped the deal would help bolster security and stability and build state institutions to meet the Syrian people's aspirations for development and prosperity.

The statement reiterated the Kingdom's full support for the Syrian government's efforts to boost civil peace and preserve Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the SDF, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade.

The agreement includes dismantling the SDF and having its forces join Syria’s military and security forces, while senior military and civilian officials would be given high-ranking positions in state institutions.

The SDF would have to give up the Raqqa and Deir Ezzor provinces to the Syrian military and government, as well as its border crossings and oil and gas fields.