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King Salman Says Serving Hajj Pilgrims is a Pride Upheld by Saudi Arabia for all Time

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
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King Salman Says Serving Hajj Pilgrims is a Pride Upheld by Saudi Arabia for all Time

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz reaffirmed on Friday that serving Hajj pilgrims is a national tradition the Kingdom will uphold years on end.

“I hope God will accept the pilgrim’s pilgrimage. May every year find you in good health,” he added.

Speaking from Mina, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia will save no effort in bolstering its security, defending its stability, and preserving its interests. He also said that the Kingdom takes pride in having Islam’s two holy mosques resting on Saudi land, and that the title ‘Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ is held by Kingdom rulers since founder monarch King Abdulaziz.

King Salman had Thursday evening to oversee services that have been put in place for pilgrims during Hajj.

Around two million pilgrims gathered in Mina to follow in the footsteps of noble Prophet Mohamed to perform one of the key pillars of the Hajj.

The pilgrims stood at Mount Arafat until sunset on the ninth day of the Hijri month Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Mount Arafat is the place where the prophet Muhammad gave one of his last famous sermons on Islam and Allah.

After the Day of Arafat comes the beginning of Eid al-Adha.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz, also the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, received at Mina Palace’s Royal Court on Friday princes, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, scholars, sheikhs, senior officials of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, ministers and commanders of military sectors participating in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Kingdom Scouts Leaders participating in Hajj attended the hosting and had went to greet and congratulate the King on Eid al-Adha.

“I congratulate you and the pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque on the blessed Eid al-Adha, praying to Allah to accept the good deeds and return the Eid to the Islamic nation with goodness and blessings,” said King Salman at the reception.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Congratulates Damascus

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
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Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Congratulates Damascus

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday a US decision to lift sanctions imposed on Syria pursuant to the Caesar Act, affirming that this step will contribute to supporting the country’s stability, prosperity, and development in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Kingdom commended the significant and positive role played by US President Donald Trump, beginning with his announcement to lift all sanctions imposed on Syria during his historic visit to Riyadh in May 2025, and culminating in his signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which included the repeal of the Caesar Act.

The Kingdom also extended its sincere congratulations to the Syrian leadership, government, and people on the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Syria.

The statement expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the steps taken by the Syrian government to restore stability across all Syrian territories, create conducive conditions for rebuilding the state and economy, and facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Foreign Minister II of Brunei Darussalam

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Phone Call with Foreign Minister II of Brunei Darussalam

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah -File Photo (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Minister for Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

During the call, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and discussed issues of common interest.

Gulf

King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
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King Salman Center Sets Up Camps for Displaced Gaza Residents

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has established the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah, as displaced people struggle with the impact of war and cold weather (KSrelief)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said it has set up the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah in Gaza, as thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war grapple with harsh winter conditions brought by a cold and rainy weather system this week.

Fahad Al-Osaimi, the center’s director of emergency relief, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the camp is sheltering more than 200 displaced families, with the number of beneficiaries exceeding 2,000 women, children and elderly people whose homes and tents were damaged or destroyed by the war and recent weather conditions.

He said the center is currently operating under a rapid response mechanism to appeals received by its operations and emergency room in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Osaimi said two fully equipped camps were completed this week, and that preparations are underway to establish several additional camps in coordination with relevant United Nations agencies, based on assessed needs on the ground.

He said the camp is playing a critical role in providing refuge to hundreds of families whose tents were flooded or collapsed due to heavy rainfall, offering safer shelter that helps mitigate humanitarian risks, particularly for children, women and the elderly.

Al-Osaimi said the center’s efforts extend beyond emergency shelter, noting that work is ongoing to establish organized camps that meet international humanitarian response standards and to ensure they are supplied with essential services.

These services include blankets, shelter materials, clothing for women and children, sanitation facilities such as toilets, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies, in addition to other forms of relief assistance as needs arise.

He said the interventions form part of KSrelief’s sustained efforts to alleviate the suffering of displaced people in the Gaza Strip and bolster their resilience amid severe humanitarian and weather conditions.

The deteriorating weather has coincided with growing uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire agreement and the possibility of moving to its second phase. According to local and international organizations, living conditions for displaced people continue to worsen.

Against this backdrop, the establishment of the largest displacement camp in Deir al-Balah marks a fresh chapter in Saudi Arabia’s emergency response to Palestinians, particularly Gaza residents, since the outbreak of the war following Oct. 7, 2023, providing lifelines to more than 2,000 people facing mounting challenges.