Gulf Countries Reject Undermining of their Values, Regional, Int’l Contributions

The Gulf officials meet via videoconference on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Gulf officials meet via videoconference on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Gulf Countries Reject Undermining of their Values, Regional, Int’l Contributions

The Gulf officials meet via videoconference on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Gulf officials meet via videoconference on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Media ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stressed on Thursday their condemnation and rejection of all systematic and spiteful media campaigns against Gulf countries.

Meeting via videoconference, they also slammed attempts aimed at undermining Gulf successes and contributions on regional and international levels.

They underlined the need for collective efforts to confront such campaigns and shed light on honorable Gulf achievements in all fields.

Saudi Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid al-Qasabi chaired the meeting that was attended by United Arab Emirates Minister of Culture and Youth Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi; Bahrain’s Minister of Information Affairs Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi; Oman’s Minister of Information Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi; CEO of Qatar Media Corporation Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Thani bin Khalid Al Thani, and Kuwait’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Mohammed Bader bin Naji. GCC Secretary General Dr. Nayef Al Hajraf also took part in the meeting.

The ministers emphasized their keenness to develop joint work in the media field in order to achieve the noble goals of the GCC, including deepening cooperation between their countries, maintaining desired sustainable development and bolstering regional and international security and stability.

The ministers reviewed a number of issues in the media field, including the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Council and the Ministerial Council. They discussed the strategic plan for joint media cooperation in the GCC countries (2023-2030), and the results of the meetings of the specialized committees in the media fields.

They approved the various programs and joint projects presented on the agenda, including the radio and television programs produced by the GCC states. They approved cooperation projects between news agencies, electronic media and cooperation in the field of external media, as well as coordination and cooperation in technical and engineering fields related to reception and broadcasting channels and media.

The ministers congratulated Qatar on the launch of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and its historic opening ceremony that reflects the great efforts that the country has exerted in organizing the landmark global event.

They also congratulated the Saudi national team on its historic against Argentina in their opening Group C match on Tuesday.



Makkah Deputy Governor Carries Out Field Inspection of Grand Mosque Readiness for Ramadan 

Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz is seen during his inspection tour at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz is seen during his inspection tour at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Makkah Deputy Governor Carries Out Field Inspection of Grand Mosque Readiness for Ramadan 

Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz is seen during his inspection tour at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz is seen during his inspection tour at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz inspected the readiness of the Grand Mosque and its facilities, conducting a field tour to review operational and service preparations for receiving worshippers and Umrah performers during the holy month of Ramadan, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

Prince Saud was briefed on the operational plans implemented by the relevant authorities, including crowd management mechanisms, service enhancements, and facility preparations aimed at ensuring smooth movement and enhancing comfort and safety levels for visitors to the Grand Mosque, particularly during peak times.

He reviewed developmental initiatives and smart services supporting the operational system, notably electric mobility carts for transporting the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those in need of assistance within the Grand Mosque.

The tour also included an overview of the efforts of guidance teams deployed across the corridors and courtyards of the Grand Mosque, providing multilingual assistance and direction.

Prince Saud reviewed the interactive map and digital mobility platform, which allows visitors to plan their routes in advance and identify service locations, entrances and exits, and less crowded pathways.

He was briefed on crowd management systems, including the visitor density sensor platform that measures human density in real time, and the Tawaf and Sa’i crowd status display service, which allows worshippers to select appropriate times to perform rituals with ease. Models of the modern multilingual guidance system were also reviewed.

Prince Saud also visited the Smart Engineering Command and Control Center, which serves as an advanced central platform linking operational systems and monitoring performance in real time, boosting operational efficiency and raising readiness levels during Ramadan.


Saudi Leadership Provides Two Donations Worth SAR150 Mln Through Jood Eskan Platform

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 Provides Two Donations Worth SAR150 Mln Through Jood Eskan Platform

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)

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, have provided two generous donations amounting to SAR150 million through the Jood Eskan platform.

The move aligns with the leadership's commitment to supporting all national efforts and initiatives to provide suitable housing for deserving families.

Minister of Municipalities and Housing and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan) Majed Al-Hogail expressed his deep gratitude to the leadership for its unwavering support to all national efforts and initiatives aimed at providing suitable housing for eligible families across the Kingdom.

He noted the effective impact of previous generous donations in achieving the goals of housing development, and motivating individuals and institutions to donate through the Jood Eskan platform that is based on community giving that helps provide decent housing and boosts stability and quality of life for deserving families.


Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Message on Bilateral Ties from President of Kazakhstan

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA file)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received on Tuesday a written message from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on bilateral relations between their two countries.

The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh.