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Hajj Pilgrims Spend Day of Al-Tarwiyah in Peace, Tranquility before Climbing Mount Arafat

Pilgrims arriving at Mina on day of Al-Tarwiyah (AFP)
Pilgrims arriving at Mina on day of Al-Tarwiyah (AFP)
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Hajj Pilgrims Spend Day of Al-Tarwiyah in Peace, Tranquility before Climbing Mount Arafat

Pilgrims arriving at Mina on day of Al-Tarwiyah (AFP)
Pilgrims arriving at Mina on day of Al-Tarwiyah (AFP)

Hajj pilgrims will climb Mount Arafat on Friday. This year, around a million worshippers are performing their Hajj pilgrimage in an atmosphere enhanced by health and security services offered by the Saudi government under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, governor of the Makkah Region and president of the Central Hajj Committee, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi interior minister and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, have each inspected and monitored plans and operations for pilgrims moving from Mina to Mount Arafat.

In their directives, the officials affirmed that authorities are spending maximum efforts to ensure that worshippers get to perform rituals easily and safely.

For his part, Prince Khalid said that there were no cases of accidents or coronavirus recorded during the day of Al-Tarwiyah (Day of perfusion).

Prince Khalid extended his thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown for the material and human capabilities that were provided to serve pilgrims in performing their rituals with ease and tranquility.

Prince Khalid said that the Kingdom did not pause Hajj over the past two years despite the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, restrictions were put in place to ensure that a limited number of pilgrims can perform Hajj under safe preventive measures.

This year, according to Prince Khalid, the Kingdom raised the number of verified pilgrims to a million.

In a press conference from Mina, Prince Khalid affirmed that over 150,000 security, health and hospitality workers are serving pilgrims during Hajj this year.

He added that 19 individuals responsible for violating Hajj restrictions by transporting unauthorized people were arrested, as were 76 individuals behind fake campaigns. He hailed new projects that launched this Hajj, including 18 hospitals in Makkah and the holy sites with a combined capacity of more than 3,700 beds.

Prince Khalid said that 111,000 violators and 68,000 unauthorized vehicles were prevented from entering Makkah.

The governor said that 2,500 violators of residency regulations and border security were also arrested in Makkah.

He added that Makkah’s water and electrical infrastructure is easily handling the influx of pilgrims.

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Gulf

Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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Crown Prince of Kuwait Meets with GCC Secretary-General

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi on Monday at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait.

Albudaiwi presented a comprehensive report to Sheikh Sabah regarding Kuwait’s presidency of the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council, and expressed his appreciation for the generous support and steadfast commitment Kuwait provides to the GCC's journey, SPA reported.

He underscored that such support serves as a powerful catalyst for continued efforts toward achieving greater integration and cooperation, ultimately fostering prosperity and well-being for the GCC member states and their peoples.

Gulf

Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
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Botanical Facility Inaugurated at Saudi King Salman Royal Reserve to Boost Ecosystem Sustainability

Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)
Saudi  Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz (R) is seen at the inauguration. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inaugurated a central nursery and wild seed research and production station in Al-Jouf, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The project aims to boost vegetation cover and sustainability within the reserve. Spanning 1,600 hectares, the project includes advanced botanical facilities, including parent seed fields, seed storage, nurseries, and a wild plant garden, to support local seed and seedling production.

The parent seed fields consist of 14 areas with over 400,000 trees and shrubs from more than 30 local species.

The central nursery covers 60,000 square meters and contains 30 greenhouses, with an annual production capacity of 1.5 million seedlings across 15 plant species. The project boasts a botanical garden spanning 12,000 square meters, featuring over 280 species of trees, shrubs, and perennial grasses.

The central nursery and seed station have contributed to planting over four million seedlings and dispersing more than 8,000 kilograms of seeds across 10 locations within the reserve, resulting in five million wild plants. This reflects the reserve’s commitment to restoring ecosystems and expanding vegetation cover.

Gulf

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
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Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Kicks Off 12th Session in Riyadh

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA
Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors - SPA

The 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee kicked off Sunday in Riyadh, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and bringing together representatives from government entities of both countries to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation and developing strategic partnerships across various economic and development sectors.

The committee session was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Dr. Samir Abdelhafidh, attended by official delegations and government sector representatives from both countries, SPA reported.

In his opening remarks, Alkhorayef emphasized the strength of Saudi-Tunisian relations and the brotherly and economic ties between the two countries, which span more than 70 years. He noted that these ties are reflected today in shared visions and ambitious work programs that align with the aspirations of both countries’ leaderships and peoples, as well as their mutual interests.

He pointed out that the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee, launched in 1998, represents an institutional framework aimed at translating cooperation into executable programs and initiatives. He expressed his hope that this session would serve as a new starting point for joint strategic projects and more impactful agreements that contribute to the economic development of both countries.

Alkhorayef stressed that the convening of the 12th session comes at an important time that requires intensified coordination in growth-driving sectors. The minister called on companies in both countries to build practical partnerships in promising industries and value chains. He also highlighted the outcomes of the third meeting, held in Tunisia in July 2025, namely the agreements on mutual recognition of product conformity certificates, which positively contributed to a 38% growth in trade exchange through September 2025 compared with the same period last year.

The committee’s current session focused on boosting cooperation mechanisms, discussing investment opportunities, and exchanging expertise in key sectors, including industry, mining, tourism, transport and logistics, and the judiciary and justice sectors. These efforts aim to enhance trade efficiency, support the access of Saudi products to international markets, and strengthen economic and investment cooperation.