Saudi Arabia Expands Vaccination Centers, Sees High Turnout

 Vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia witnessed a great turnout. (Photo: SPA)
Vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia witnessed a great turnout. (Photo: SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Expands Vaccination Centers, Sees High Turnout

 Vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia witnessed a great turnout. (Photo: SPA)
Vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia witnessed a great turnout. (Photo: SPA)

Vaccination centers in Saudi Arabia witnessed a great turnout of citizens and residents, amid efficient regulatory procedures.

The vaccination drive has expanded in many regions of the Kingdom, while hospitals and health centers are now prepared to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to community members.

The dedicated centers receive those registered in the Sehhaty platform to obtain the vaccine, free of charge, in line with the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership

Meanwhile, latest Health Ministry showed that 337 new cases of Covid-19 were registered over the past 24 hours, in addition to 346 new recoveries. The number of active cases reached 2,549, of which 497 are critical.

The ministry said that the cumulative number of infections in the Kingdom reached 374,366 cases, while the total recoveries amounted to 365,363. Four deaths were recorded on Friday, bringing the total number to 6,454 cases.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on Friday closed six mosques temporarily in five regions after infections were confirmed among worshipers.

A total of 98 mosques were closed within a period of 12 days, 87 of which were reopened after the completion of the sterilization and disinfection.

In the UAE, the Ministry of Health announced the administration of 93,101 vaccine doses, during the past 24 hours. The cumulative number of doses so far provided reached 5,466,831, with the rate of vaccine distribution being 55.27 doses per 100 people.

In the Sultanate of Oman, the total number of those who received the first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine reached 27,400 people, while around 24,465 persons received the second dose.

For its part, Qatar decided to exempt citizens and residents, who received the two doses of the vaccine from quarantine requirements after traveling abroad or after coming into contact with a positive case.



Qatar, Bahrain Strongly Condemn Terrorist Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (SPA)
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (SPA)
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Qatar, Bahrain Strongly Condemn Terrorist Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (SPA)
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (SPA)

Qatar condemned the Houthi group's attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, which resulted in two deaths, several injuries, and material damage.

Qatar described the attack as a serious violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and air navigation, SPA reported.

In a statement on Thursday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Qatar's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and expressed support for all legitimate measures the Kingdom takes to protect its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and interests. The ministry emphasized that Saudi Arabia's security is an integral part of Qatar's security and the collective security of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

The ministry conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Earlier, the Kingdom of Bahrain also strongly condemned and denounced the two heinous terrorist attacks targeting King Fahd International Airport.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that these attacks were not isolated incidents but part of a systematic terrorist campaign. In less than two weeks, four consecutive attacks have targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and the Shaybah oil field.

According to SPA, the ministry described the attacks as a dangerous escalation targeting vital facilities and global energy security, requiring immediate international action beyond verbal condemnation.

The ministry reiterated Bahrain's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all sovereign measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its security, stability, and territorial integrity. It also affirmed Saudi Arabia's inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter (UN), stressing that the Kingdom's security is an integral part of Bahrain's security and that of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

The ministry extended its sincere condolences and sympathy to Saudi Arabia's leadership, government, and people, as well as to the families of the Saudi citizen and the Asian residents who lost their lives. It prayed that Allah Almighty grant the deceased His abundant mercy and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The ministry emphasized that the attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter, as well as a direct assault on global energy security. It stressed that the attacks pose a threat to international peace and security, warranting action by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter.

The ministry called for firm and deterrent measures to halt repeated terrorist Houthi attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and vital and economic facilities. It also stressed the need to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolutions 2216 and 2817, to safeguard regional and international peace and security.


Coalition: Four UAVs Intercepted and Destroyed in Riyadh and Madinah Regions

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition: Four UAVs Intercepted and Destroyed in Riyadh and Madinah Regions

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that four UAVs have been intercepted and destroyed in Riyadh and Madinah regions.


Saudi Arabia: Sudan's Government Cannot Be Equated with Militias

Engineer Waleed al-Khuraiji, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his participation in the meeting hosted by Geneva on Wednesday (SPA)
Engineer Waleed al-Khuraiji, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his participation in the meeting hosted by Geneva on Wednesday (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia: Sudan's Government Cannot Be Equated with Militias

Engineer Waleed al-Khuraiji, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his participation in the meeting hosted by Geneva on Wednesday (SPA)
Engineer Waleed al-Khuraiji, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his participation in the meeting hosted by Geneva on Wednesday (SPA)

Saudi Arabia said the Sudanese government and Sovereignty Council cannot be equated with militias that have committed crimes against the Sudanese people, reiterating its rejection of parallel entities and illegal actions outside official institutions that undermine Sudan’s unity and do not reflect the will of its people.

The remarks were made on Wednesday by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khuraiji at the sixth consultative meeting on coordinating peace initiatives and efforts in Sudan. He underscored the Kingdom’s efforts to secure a ceasefire, preserve Sudan’s unity and safeguard state institutions against collapse.

Al-Khuraiji said these efforts were based on the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, signed on May 11, 2023, and the short-term ceasefire agreement. He added that Saudi Arabia supported the Quad initiative and other regional and international efforts to reach a political solution that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The deputy foreign minister stressed the importance of supporting the Sudanese government in its efforts to facilitate an intra-Sudanese dialogue inside the country. He said the Kingdom would continue working to end the war and restore stability in Sudan.

Saudi Arabia had announced $100 million in aid to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people and launched a public fundraising campaign through the Sahem platform. Total Saudi assistance to Sudan has exceeded $3.2 billion, in addition to a further $145 million in support, he added.

The aid was part of Sudan’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, al-Khuraiji said, referring to Saudi Arabia’s participation in a humanitarian coordination meeting on the Sudan crisis held in Berlin on April 15, 2026.

On the sidelines of the meeting, al-Khuraiji held separate meetings with Swiss Foreign Minister Alexandre Fasel, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, and Massad Boulos, the US president’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs.

The bilateral meetings covered relations between Saudi Arabia and their respective countries, prospects for cooperation, and efforts to promote security and peace in Sudan, as well as the latest regional and international developments.