Saudi Arabia Says Hajj Pilgrimage to Start July 29
A small group of worshippers pray at Kaaba in the Masjid al-Haram while practicing social distancing, during the holy month of Ramadan, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia May 4, 2020. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia Says Hajj Pilgrimage to Start July 29
A small group of worshippers pray at Kaaba in the Masjid al-Haram while practicing social distancing, during the holy month of Ramadan, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia May 4, 2020. (SPA)
This year's Hajj, which has been scaled back dramatically to include only around 1,000 pilgrims due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, will begin on July 29, authorities said Monday.
Some 2.5 million people from all over the world usually participate in the ritual that takes place over several days, centered on the holy city of Makkah.
This year's Hajj will be held under strict hygiene protocols, with access limited to pilgrims under 65 years old and without any chronic illnesses. Makkah will be cordoned off by security and only people with relevant permits will be allowed entry.
"The stand of pilgrims on Mount Arafat, the peak of the Hajj ritual, falls on Thursday," the official Saudi Press Agency cited the Supreme Court as saying, indicating that Wednesday would be the first day of the annual event.
Chief of police operations in the Makkah region, Eid al-Otaibi said that 32 checkpoints have been set up on the outskirts of Makkah and the holy sites as part of the Hajj security plan. Patrols will also be deployed to crack down on violators and enforces the health precautions.
Last month, Saudi Arabia announced it would hold a "very limited" Hajj. Officials said the pilgrimage would be restricted to 1,000 people already present in the Kingdom, 70 percent of them foreigners and the rest Saudis.
The ritual will be restricted to medical professionals and security personnel who have recovered from the virus, the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said.
The pilgrims will be tested for coronavirus before arriving in Makkah and are required to quarantine at home after the ritual, according to health officials.
French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Aviation Leading Our Exports to Saudi Arabiahttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5318125-french-ambassador-asharq-al-awsat-aviation-leading-our-exports-saudi-arabia
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron chair the French-Saudi investment roundtable in Paris in August. (SPA)
French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Aviation Leading Our Exports to Saudi Arabia
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron chair the French-Saudi investment roundtable in Paris in August. (SPA)
The visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Paris has propelled economic and investment relations between Saudi Arabia and France into a new phase, accelerating the implementation of joint projects and expanding cooperation in the transport, logistics, energy, and advanced technology sectors, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Crown Prince had visited Paris on August 24, where he co-chaired, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council.
The meeting marked a new milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries and witnessed the announcement of some 20 agreements and memorandums of understanding across several fields.
Maisonnave said the meeting “consolidated our long-term cooperation and accelerated the implementation of joint projects.”
“France has become one of the Kingdom’s foremost partners and a key player in the economic and cultural transformation the country is undergoing,” he added, noting trade volume grew by 11% in 2025, and Saudi Arabia now ranks as France’s leading trading partner in the Near and Middle East.
“While the aviation sector drives our exports, the range of goods is remarkably diverse; pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics, and electrical equipment, for instance, feature prominently,” said the ambassador.
“Economic relations between our two countries are now characterized by mutual investments, sustainable projects, and the transfer of expertise in areas of shared interest. The Strategic Partnership Council now serves as the framework that will forge closer economic ties between France and the Kingdom as we navigate the transformations of the future,” Maisonnave stressed.
Moreover, he noted that France currently ranks as the third-largest foreign investor in the Kingdom. “Our ambition is to strengthen this presence and encourage more French companies to seize the opportunities created by the Kingdom’s transformation.”
“The establishment of large-scale credit insurance mechanisms will further support the participation of French companies in the Kingdom’s major strategic projects. It is a Kingdom where France seeks to increase investment, forge partnerships, develop talent, and create value and jobs,” Maisonnave added.
French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave. (French Embassy in Saudi Arabia)
He highlighted the agreement between CMA CGM and the Red Sea Gateway Terminal to develop and operate Terminal 4 at Jeddah Port as a perfect example of this commitment.
It combines the expertise of a major French group with a global footprint and Saudi Arabia’s ambition to strengthen its position as a key logistics hub - a strategic role connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, the importance of which was clearly demonstrated during the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, said the ambassador.
“In the realm of urban transport, the contract awarded to Alstom to supply additional metro trains for Riyadh follows the same logic: leveraging French expertise to support the Kingdom’s major infrastructure projects,” he continued.
“I am also very pleased with the growing momentum of this dynamic. The entertainment project planned by Qiddiya in the Paris region is a powerful signal in this regard; for us, it serves as further proof of confidence in France’s ability to attract such projects,” stressed Maisonnave.
Future technologies
The ambassador also said it was “crucial” to strengthen the partnership in future technologies. “The strategic collaboration announced between HUMAIN and Mistral AI is a prime example of this,” he noted.
“This partnership encompasses AI infrastructure, the development of advanced models, and the deployment of solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s needs, with the aim of developing high-performance, sovereign capabilities in the Arabic language.”
In the energy sector, the ambassador said: “We are committed to enhancing the stability of global energy markets and ensuring security of supply. We will strengthen our strategic cooperation in the oil and petrochemical sectors, sustainable power generation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, clean hydrogen, and peaceful nuclear energy.”
The outcomes of the French-Saudi investment roundtable, held during the Crown Prince’s visit to Paris, underscore the growing economic ties between the two countries. The event brought together private sector representatives to exchange views on opportunities across various key sectors.
“The approximately 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding announced on this occasion attest to the deepening ties between our companies,” said Maisonnave.
Saudi Crown Prince, CENTCOM Commander Discuss Regional Developmentshttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5318064-saudi-crown-prince-centcom-commander-discuss-regional-developments
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, CENTCOM Commander Discuss Regional Developments
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in Jeddah on Monday US Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper for talks on bilateral ties between their countries.
They also discussed developments in the region.
Saudi Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban was present at the meeting.
Saudi Civil Defense Lifts Alert after Security Threat in Abha and Khamis Mushaithttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5318056-saudi-civil-defense-lifts-alert-after-security-threat-abha-and-khamis-mushait
The Civil Defense stressed the importance of obtaining information from official channels and adhering to instructions issued by competent authorities (SPA)
Saudi Civil Defense Lifts Alert after Security Threat in Abha and Khamis Mushait
The Civil Defense stressed the importance of obtaining information from official channels and adhering to instructions issued by competent authorities (SPA)
Saudi civil defense authorities said on Monday that the danger that prompted a security alert through the National Early Warning Platform for emergencies in Abha and Khamis Mushait had passed. The alert warned residents and urged them to follow safety instructions.
The civil defense issued an early warning of a potential security danger in Abha and Khamis Mushait, urging residents to remain calm, follow official instructions and move to the nearest safe place inside buildings. It also urged them to stay away from windows and exposed areas until the danger subsides.
It said that if an alert was received while driving, motorists should pull over away from bridges and high-rise buildings. It also urged people to report any danger by calling 911 in Makkah, Medina, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 998 in other parts of the kingdom.
The warning has also advised people not to leave buildings, refrain from filming incidents or gather in groups in hazardous areas.
The civil defense authorities also stressed the importance of obtaining information from official channels, and following instructions issued by the relevant authorities.
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