Saudi Crown Prince Creates Company to Develop Holy Sites in Kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing a meeting on Monday at Al-Safa Palace. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing a meeting on Monday at Al-Safa Palace. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Creates Company to Develop Holy Sites in Kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing a meeting on Monday at Al-Safa Palace. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing a meeting on Monday at Al-Safa Palace. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday chaired a board meeting of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites at Al-Safa Palace.

At the meeting, the board approved a strategic plan for the holy city of Makkah and holy sites.

According to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA), it also ordered the start and preparation of the plan’s details, programs and partnerships.

The establishment of a company to develop holy sites and that is headquartered in Makkah was also approved.

Acting as a main developer for holy sites and relevant infrastructure, the company will seek serving the ever-growing numbers of devout pilgrims.

The board also approved a regulation to address underdeveloped areas in Makkah, and reviewed proposals on transport and endowment funds concerning the holy city.

Royal decisions and directives were in line with the wishes of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince to establish a sustainable future for Makkah and the holy sites, to provide the best possible services to worshipers and to enrich the quality of life in Makkah, Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites Executive Director Abdulrahman bin Farouk Addas said.

This comes in parallel to the Kingdom’s plan for national transformation, dubbed Vision 2030.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
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Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.