Saudi Health Ministry Provides Services to More Than 216,000 Pilgrims at Kingdom’s Ports

Pilgrims arrive from Malaysia at Madinah airport. Asharq Al-Awsat
Pilgrims arrive from Malaysia at Madinah airport. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Saudi Health Ministry Provides Services to More Than 216,000 Pilgrims at Kingdom’s Ports

Pilgrims arrive from Malaysia at Madinah airport. Asharq Al-Awsat
Pilgrims arrive from Malaysia at Madinah airport. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Health has provided medical services to 216,981 pilgrims who entered the Kingdom via land, air, and seaports, from the beginning of the pilgrims' arrival until Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported Saturday.

According to the ministry, a total of 10,101 pilgrims received preventive treatment for meningitis, 31,936 were given the polio vaccine, and 12,145 were given the yellow fever vaccine.

The ministry added that the number of incoming pilgrims who received medical services at the airports until last Monday amounted to 209,865, 97% of the total arrivals through all ports, while the number of pilgrims who received treatment and preventive services through the land ports reached 4,626 (2%).

The number of incoming pilgrims who received medical services at seaports stood at 2,490, amounting to 1% of the total arrivals.

According to SPA, the ministry added that the number of arriving pilgrims who adhered to the health requirements of meningitis reached 211,826 pilgrims (98% of the total arrivals), and the number of pilgrims who adhered to the health requirements of oral polio reached 3,137 pilgrims (100% compliance), and the number of those who adhered to the health requirements of yellow fever amounted to 11,522 (95% of the total arrivals).

The Ministry of Health, during this year’s Hajj season, prepared its health facilities in Makkah, the Holy Sites, and Madinah to provide medical services to pilgrims, SPA said. These include 25 hospitals, supported by 156 health centers, with a clinical capacity of up to 5,000 beds, of which 1,053 beds are allocated for intensive care, and 241 beds allocated for heat stroke cases.

The Ministry added that it has deployed 25,000 qualified health practitioners to serve the pilgrims, in addition to setting up medical stations on the Al-Mashaer Train and the Al-Haramain Train, and intensified its efforts in the central area of the Holy Mosque in Makkah, as well as providing 180 ambulances, and 17 emergency centers on the Jamarat Bridge facility in Mina.



Bahrain, France Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Junior Minister at the Ministry of Defense, Alice Rufo, pose after signing a bilateral agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 6, 2026. (Thibault Camus/Pool via Reuter)
Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Junior Minister at the Ministry of Defense, Alice Rufo, pose after signing a bilateral agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 6, 2026. (Thibault Camus/Pool via Reuter)
TT

Bahrain, France Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Junior Minister at the Ministry of Defense, Alice Rufo, pose after signing a bilateral agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 6, 2026. (Thibault Camus/Pool via Reuter)
Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Junior Minister at the Ministry of Defense, Alice Rufo, pose after signing a bilateral agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 6, 2026. (Thibault Camus/Pool via Reuter)

Bahrain and France signed on Friday a joint defense cooperation agreement during talks between King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

The French presidency said the agreement consolidates cooperation in the field of defense, training and exchange of strategic information.

“This agreement will ⁠also open ‌up ‍new ‍opportunities for industrial ‍cooperation in defense, and strengthen solidarity between our two countries in a ⁠global and regional geopolitical context marked by increasing tensions,” it added.

The agreement was signed by Bahrain’s National Security Adviser and Secretary General of the Supreme Defense Council Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and France’s Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo.

Macron highlighted the depth of the historical relations between Bahrain and France, as well as the progress achieved across various domains in support of common interests, reported Bahrain’s state news agency (BNA).

For his part, King Hamad commended the French president’s keenness to strengthen relations between the two countries.

The talks also addressed means to bolster bilateral relations across all sectors to achieve shared interests.

Both sides commended the efforts of the Joint Bahraini-French High Committee. They highlighted the positive outcomes achieved in advancing cooperation and underlined the importance of continuing the committee’s work to expand cooperation across various domains.

The talks addressed regional and international developments, and efforts aimed at resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic solutions and reducing tensions.


Saudi Arabia, Slovenia Sign General Cooperation Agreement

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon meet in Ljubljana on Friday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon meet in Ljubljana on Friday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
TT

Saudi Arabia, Slovenia Sign General Cooperation Agreement

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon meet in Ljubljana on Friday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon meet in Ljubljana on Friday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Arabia and Slovenia signed on Friday a General Cooperation Agreement aimed at boosting cooperation across various fields.

The agreement was signed between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana.

The agreement also aims at intensifying joint efforts to fulfill the aspirations of the leadership and peoples of both countries toward further progress and prosperity, said a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement.

Prince Faisal and Fajon held a meeting to discuss bilateral relations and means to develop them in various fields.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Islamabad Mosque

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

Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Islamabad Mosque

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

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque on Friday in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

The ministry reaffirmed the Kingdom’s firm rejection of attacks on places of worship, the intimidation of innocent civilians, and the shedding of innocent blood, stressing Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with Pakistan against all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism.

It also extended condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Pakistan, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

A suicide blast at a mosque in Pakistan's capital Islamabad killed at least 31 people and wounded scores more during Friday prayers.