Saudi Arabia Raises Capacity to Receive 100,000 Umrah Pilgrims Daily

Saudi authorities have raised the capacity at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah to receive 100,000 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims on a daily basis. (SPA)
Saudi authorities have raised the capacity at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah to receive 100,000 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims on a daily basis. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Raises Capacity to Receive 100,000 Umrah Pilgrims Daily

Saudi authorities have raised the capacity at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah to receive 100,000 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims on a daily basis. (SPA)
Saudi authorities have raised the capacity at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah to receive 100,000 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims on a daily basis. (SPA)

Saudi authorities have raised the capacity at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah to receive 100,000 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims on a daily basis.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said on Friday that the decision will be effective as of October 1.

Worshippers can register through the Tawakkalna app to sign up to perform the Umrah and prayers at the Grand Mosque.

The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque ordered that the necessary social distancing signs be placed at the Grand Mosque in line with COVID-19 regulations. It ordered that lanes be set up for people with special needs also in line with social distancing rules.

Spokesman for the General President, Hani Haidar said efforts are underway to raise the capacity at the Grand Mosque even further.

The General Presidency has prepared the ideal environment and comprehensive plans of services, procedures and precautionary and preventive measures to receive worshippers and Umrah pilgrims, he stressed.



Qatar Says All Maritime Activities Will Resume Immediately

A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
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Qatar Says All Maritime Activities Will Resume Immediately

A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)
A general view of the Doha skyline, Qatar, June 29, 2026. (Reuters)

Qatar said on Sunday that maritime activities would resume with immediate effect, according to a Transport Ministry statement posted on X.

This reverses a June 29 advisory ‌that had ‌urged the temporary ‌suspension ⁠of sailing and fishing ⁠boats until further notice, though commercial shipping was exempted.

The ministry on Sunday urged all maritime vessel ⁠operators and users to "abide ‌by ‌the maritime regulations and ‌instructions in effect, to ensure ‌the highest levels of safety and security for all trips".

However, the ministry stressed that the resumption is dependent on rigorous adherence to approved preventive controls and technical requirements.

It urged all vessel owners, maritime operators, and seafarers to fully comply with the maritime regulations and instructions.

It also underlined the need to ensure the availability of all required safety and security equipment on board vessels before and during sailing to avoid risks.


Saudi-Backed Initiative Trains Yemeni Teachers in Digital Skills

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
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Saudi-Backed Initiative Trains Yemeni Teachers in Digital Skills

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)
The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra. (SDRPY)

A Saudi-backed initiative to strengthen Yemeni teachers’ digital skills has been launched as part of broader efforts to modernize education and equip educators to integrate technology into the classroom.

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) is implementing the “Digital Empowerment for Yemeni Teachers” project in partnership with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at King Abdulaziz University.

The program will train 500 male and female teachers in the governorates of Aden, Abyan, Hadramawt, Al-Mahra, and Socotra.

The project aims to strengthen teachers’ digital and professional skills through a blended training program combining in-person instruction with remote learning via videoconferencing, enabling participants across the targeted governorates to take part.

The curriculum focuses on integrating digital technologies into teaching, improving educational content and instructional methods, and enhancing the capacity of Yemen’s education workforce to keep pace with rapid technological change.

The initiative is part of a broader SDRPY effort to support human development, reflecting its view of education as a cornerstone of sustainable development and institutional capacity building.

The training program consists of two main tracks. The first focuses on artificial intelligence applications and AI-generated subject-specific content, enabling teachers to use modern digital tools to develop and enhance instructional materials.

The second covers digital instructional design, training participants to create interactive educational content in line with modern teaching practices, strengthen digital learning environments and increase student engagement.

The project is expected to expand the use of digital solutions in schools and educational institutions while building a teaching workforce better equipped to adapt to technological advances.

It builds on SDRPY’s broader support for Yemen’s education sector, spanning general, higher, technical and vocational education through the construction and equipping of model schools, university development, the establishment of colleges and institutes, and teacher training.

SDRPY has implemented 287 projects and initiatives since its establishment across eight key sectors: education, health, energy, water, transport, agriculture and fisheries, development programs, and capacity building for Yemen’s legitimate government, with the aim of supporting stability and improving basic services across the country.


Saudi Leadership Congratulates US President on Independence Day

Joint photo of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - File Photo
Joint photo of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - File Photo
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates US President on Independence Day

Joint photo of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - File Photo
Joint photo of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - File Photo

Saudi Arabia's leadership congratulated US President Donald Trump on the United States' Independence Day, underscoring the close ties between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to Trump wishing him good health and happiness, and the government and people of the US steady progress and prosperity.

He also praised the distinguished Saudi-US relations and their ongoing development across various fields.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister sent a separate cable conveying similar wishes to the US president and the American people.