Al-Ahsa Named World’s Largest Date Palm Oasis by Guinness

Al-Ahsa Governorate is home to more 2.5 million palm trees that feed on the vast aquifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Ahsa Governorate is home to more 2.5 million palm trees that feed on the vast aquifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Al-Ahsa Named World’s Largest Date Palm Oasis by Guinness

Al-Ahsa Governorate is home to more 2.5 million palm trees that feed on the vast aquifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Ahsa Governorate is home to more 2.5 million palm trees that feed on the vast aquifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Bader Bin Abdallah Bin Frahan announced today, Thursday, that Al-Ahsa Governorate has been registered in the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest date palm oasis.

According to Guinness’s website, the oasis includes more than 2.5 million palm trees feeding on a vast aquifer through 280 artesian springs, extending over an area of more than 85.4 square kilometers (32.9 square miles).

The Heritage Commission turned the global encyclopedia’s attention to Al-Ahsa Oasis, a Saudi Arabian site registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, alongside Al-Hijr in Al-Ula, the Al-Turaif neighborhood in historic Ad Diriyah, historic Jeddah, and rock art site Jubbah and Shuaimis in Hail.

In addition to its rich environment and natural wealth, Al-Ahsa also has a deep history and rich civilization. Many civilizations settled in it and used it as a strategic bridge connecting them to the rest of the world. It includes many heritage sites and some of the globe’s oldest human settlements. Its date-palm oasis is the largest palm oasis surrounded by sand in the world.

The Guinness World Records had recently registered Maraya Concert Hall as the world’s largest mirror-clad building. Alongside other records, they have contributed to Saudi Arabia becoming the second most featured Arab country in the Guinness World Record.



Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah
Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah
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Saudi Arabia: High-Level Readiness for Hajj Season

Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah
Prince Saud bin Mishaal chairs Hajj and Umrah committee meeting in Makkah

Saudi authorities on Wednesday reviewed preparedness for this year’s Hajj season, assessing operational plans and readiness indicators as officials called for intensified coordination ahead of the annual pilgrimage.

The permanent Hajj and Umrah committee, chaired by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, examined scenarios already implemented and others planned to ensure full readiness, in a meeting held under directives from Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.

Prince Saud bin Mishaal thanked agencies involved in the Ramadan Umrah season, citing extensive logistical and human support from the Saudi leadership that helped deliver smooth operations for visitors to the Grand Mosque.

Officials reviewed Ramadan performance across transport, ambulance and healthcare services, reporting no epidemics or incidents.

The meeting also covered the departure phase of Umrah performers via King Abdulaziz International Airport, and progress on upgrading the Hajj and Umrah terminal complex, with its first and second phases completed.

In Madinah, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz chaired a parallel meeting of the regional Hajj and Umrah committee, attended by his deputy, Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, to review government preparations for the upcoming season.

Prince Salman congratulated agencies on the success of Ramadan operations, saying coordinated plans enabled visitors to perform rituals in a calm and secure environment.

He said the results reflect sustained leadership support for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, highlighting oversight by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz to enhance services and ensure safety.

He stressed the need for full readiness across government, service and volunteer sectors, calling for proactive planning and stronger coordination to reinforce facilities and services in line with the care provided to pilgrims.

The Madinah meeting issued recommendations to support relevant entities and ensure high-quality services for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque during Hajj.

Prince Salman was also briefed by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah, accompanied by Pilgrim Experience Program CEO Mohammed Ismail, on a digital dashboard designed to track the readiness of Hajj projects and improve coordination.

Al-Rabiah said the platform enables continuous monitoring through daily updates, including readiness plans and performance indicators, project progress in the holy sites, alignment of operational plans, and integration with a central database.

Prince Salman also reviewed the Hajj and Umrah sector’s indicators platform, which presents real-time data and analysis on services provided to pilgrims. The platform supports decision-making by delivering timely, precise data, enhancing monitoring efficiency and strengthening system-wide readiness within an integrated institutional framework.


UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
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UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

The UAE air defenses on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The agency said that, since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.

A WAM statement said the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as nine civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.

A total of 190 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, from various nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian and Indian.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and stability and protects its interests and national capabilities.


Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah arrived Wednesday in Riyadh on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

He was received by Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji at King Khalid International Airport.