Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
TT

Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih

The health plan for this year’s Hajj was a success, with no coronavirus cases detected among pilgrims, Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced on Thursday.

“This Hajj was successful, with neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported,” he said.

Earlier this week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, hailed the Saudi leadership on the preventive measures it has taken to protect the pilgrims.

“As the faithful gather to perform Hajj this year, we welcome the public health planning and steps Saudi Arabia has taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in a tweet.

Al-Rabiah said Thursday that all the government agencies serving pilgrims had made great efforts in executing the Hajj health plans to prevent any infections during the Hajj season.

He also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their “unlimited support” to the Ministry of Health and its workers, as well as all government agencies which took part in organizing the Hajj.

This year's Hajj had been limited to 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia.



Saudi FM Holds Separate Talks with Jordanian, Turkish Counterparts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not pictured) at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, 05 January 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not pictured) at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, 05 January 2026. (EPA)
TT

Saudi FM Holds Separate Talks with Jordanian, Turkish Counterparts

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not pictured) at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, 05 January 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not pictured) at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, 05 January 2026. (EPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi.

They discussed developments in the region and efforts made in this regard, SPA reported.

The Saudi FM also received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan.

During the call, they exchanged views on the latest regional developments.


Saudi Permanent Representative to Arab League Meets with Somali Counterpart

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
TT

Saudi Permanent Representative to Arab League Meets with Somali Counterpart

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar met with Somalia's Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ali Abdi Awari at the delegation’s headquarters in Cairo.

The meeting focused on reaffirming Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, emphasizing the importance of preserving its stability and rejecting any attempts to impose parallel entities that undermine national unity, SPA reported.

The two sides also discussed issues of mutual interest within the framework of the Arab League.


Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

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)
TT

Saudi Leadership Extends Condolences to Thailand over Victims of Crane Collapse on Train

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)

The Saudi leadership extended condolences on Sunday to King of Thailand over the victims of a crane accident that fell onto a train in northeastern Thailand killing tens and injuring several.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent a cable to King of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, offering his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the deceased, and the Thai people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, sent a similar cable to the Thai king.

He extended his deepest condolences to the king, the families of the deceased, and the Thai people.