Saudi Arabia Launches Smart Bracelet for this Year’s Hajj

Photo from the launching of the “Smart Bracelet for Pilgrims” project. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo from the launching of the “Smart Bracelet for Pilgrims” project. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Smart Bracelet for this Year’s Hajj

Photo from the launching of the “Smart Bracelet for Pilgrims” project. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo from the launching of the “Smart Bracelet for Pilgrims” project. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has launched the “Smart Bracelet for Pilgrims” project, which will provide an advanced technical service for this year’s Hajj season.

Five thousand bracelets will be distributed to pilgrims, who will benefit from main services that include full information about the pilgrim’s health condition, any possible exposure to COVID-19, the percentage of blood oxygen, heart rate, and emergency medical or security assistance.

The service, which was launched by the Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the Doyof al-Rahman Service Program, in partnership with the STC Group, adopts the concept of data and the Internet of things, and features the implementation of integrated stages that seek to develop business models and operational and technical systems, in a qualitative experience to serve the religious pilgrim journey.

The head of SDAIA, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, underlined the importance of the new service in providing assistance to the pilgrims and achieving the relevant objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

He said that the authority “harnesses all its technical capabilities and national competencies to provide the best innovative solutions based on data and IoT technologies to serve pilgrims and those working in the concerned government and private sectors.”

For his part, the program’s executive director, Eng. Bassam bin Ghashian, said that the cooperation was the fruit of the “leadership’s unlimited support for all sectors, with the aim to enhance the experience of the pilgrims, and the services provided on the journey to the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites.”

The CEO of STC stressed that serving the pilgrims with innovative digital solutions fell within the group’s goals to contribute to enriching their experience with the latest technologies, in accordance with Vision 2030.

He added that the partnership came as a continuation of cooperation with SDAIA and its creative projects to serve the country through high-quality digital services.



Qatar Says Intercepts Missile Attack, Explosions Heard in Dubai

A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Qatar Says Intercepts Missile Attack, Explosions Heard in Dubai

A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (AFP)
A photograph shows Doha's skyline on March 10, 2026. (AFP)

Qatar said Tuesday it had intercepted a missile attack, as Iran continued its retaliatory campaign over US-Israeli strikes that killed its supreme leader.

Tehran has carried out strikes on its Gulf neighbors since the war in the Middle East erupted late last month, disrupting commercial air travel and choking global energy supplies.

An AFP journalist heard several explosions in Doha on Tuesday, a day after similar blasts were heard across the Qatari capital.

Qatar, like several other Gulf nations, has been targeted by both drones and missiles in recent days.

"The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar," the defense ministry posted on X.

In nearby Dubai, an AFP journalist heard three explosions after a mobile phone alert warned residents of the United Arab Emirates' most populous city to "immediately seek a safe place" over "potential missile threats".

Falling shrapnel from an intercepted missile killed a Pakistani national in Abu Dhabi, the government media office said Tuesday.

The incident took place in the Bani Yas area "following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defenses", the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Iran has fired more than 1,900 missiles and drones at the UAE, more than any other country targeted by Tehran since the start of the Middle East war.

Tehran has taken aim at US assets in the Gulf countries, as well as civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities.

The strikes have upended travel plans in the financial hub, despite its air defense intercepting the vast majority of projectiles.


Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Stress Importance of Security Coordination, Integration

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah. (Saudi Interior Ministry)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah. (Saudi Interior Ministry)
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Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Stress Importance of Security Coordination, Integration

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah. (Saudi Interior Ministry)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah. (Saudi Interior Ministry)

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz held telephone talks on Tuesday with Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al Sabah on the importance of continued coordination, cooperation and integration between their countries to bolster security and stability.

They reviewed the current regional developments and their security implications amid Iran’s malicious attacks against Gulf countries and the region.

Prince Abdulaziz stressed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with Kuwait and support for all the measures it takes to preserve its security and stability.


Saudi, Egyptian FMs Discuss Regional De-Escalation Efforts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi, Egyptian FMs Discuss Regional De-Escalation Efforts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received in Riyadh on Monday his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty for talks on bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region.

The tackled efforts to de-escalate the tensions to help restore regional security and stability.

They reiterated their condemnation of Iran’s malicious attacks against the Kingdom and several Arab countries.

Earlier, Prince Faisal held telephone talks with United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

They discussed regional developments amid Iran’s unjustified attacks against Gulf countries, as well as means to consolidate security and stability in the Middle East.