Saudi Crown Prince Donates Blood, Launches Annual Donation Campaign for 2026

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, donates blood on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, donates blood on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Donates Blood, Launches Annual Donation Campaign for 2026

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, donates blood on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, donates blood on Tuesday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, donated blood on Tuesday, launching the annual national blood donation campaign for 2026.

The generous humanitarian gesture reflects his continued focus on humanitarian work and improving community health. It also reflects his ongoing support for national initiatives that promote a culture of giving and volunteering and encourage community members to help save lives.

The Crown Prince’s donation conveys an inspiring national and humanitarian message, reflecting the values of mutual support and solidarity that underpin Saudi society. It underscores the importance of taking the initiative to donate blood. This noble humanitarian act helps save lives and support patients while promoting a culture of volunteering and giving in the community, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of regular voluntary blood donation, reinforce the principle of social responsibility, and help achieve self-sufficiency in blood and its components.

Blood donation is one of the most important humanitarian acts that help save the lives of patients, including those who need emergency medical care, have cancer or blood disorders, or are in critical condition.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, launched on Tuesday the annual national blood donation campaign for 2026. (SPA)

The campaign builds on the wise leadership’s continued support for humanitarian and health initiatives and its efforts to strengthen community participation. It helps increase voluntary blood donation rates and supports the health system’s efforts to provide safe, sustainable supplies of blood and its components, ensuring that patients’ treatment needs are met across the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia continues to make notable progress in promoting a culture of voluntary blood donation. More than 900,000 people donated blood in 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to increase voluntary donations and make the national blood supply more sustainable.

These efforts align with the goals of the Health Sector Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030 for a vibrant society whose members enjoy better health and quality of life.

The annual national blood donation campaign launched by the Crown Prince in 2025 had a broad impact on health and society. It helped quadruple the number of donors, with more than 65,000 people donating - the highest total in the history of the Kingdom.

The voluntary donation rate reached 100%, and more than 85% of donors were new. More than 63,000 people benefited from donated blood, 10,000 from platelets, and 10,000 from plasma.



Coalition: Houthi Cruise Missile Launched Toward Riyadh Region Destroyed

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition: Houthi Cruise Missile Launched Toward Riyadh Region Destroyed

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated on Saturday that a cruise missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Riyadh Region was intercepted and destroyed.

Al-Malki said on Friday night that a UAV was intercepted and destroyed in Riyadh Region.


Turkish Parliament Ratifies Makkah Defense Pact

General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
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Turkish Parliament Ratifies Makkah Defense Pact

General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)

Türkiye's parliament ratified a regional defense pact involving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan overnight, state media reported.

The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in August, committing them to come to one another's aid if any member is attacked.

Lawmakers approved the measure by 279 votes to 119, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

During parliamentary debates, ruling AKP lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz said the agreement was not directed against any third country and was intended to prevent conflicts rather than escalate them, Anadolu reported.


Coalition Destroys Drone in Makkah, 2 Ballistic Missiles Fired at Najran

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition Destroys Drone in Makkah, 2 Ballistic Missiles Fired at Najran

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki announced on Friday the interception and downing of a drone over the Makkah Region. 

Saudi defenses had earlier destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the terrorist Houthi militia at Saudi Arabia's Najran, he added. 

Debris fell as a result of the interception, and an assessment of the damage is currently underway.