Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of the four-country grouping (R4) in Cairo on Sunday. The meeting brought together alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Ishaq Dar, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan. The ministers reviewed the latest regional developments and ongoing de-escalation efforts, particularly Pakistan’s mediation in light of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States of America and Iran. The meeting also…
RIYADH — Municipalities across the Kingdom have prepared public viewing venues for the Saudi national team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Spain. The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, aims to rally public support for the national team and create a shared fan experience in cities across the Kingdom. Municipalities have installed giant screens at designated viewing locations and prepared public spaces to ensure an organized and enjoyable experience for fans. Open venues and urban destinations have been equipped to welcome visitors, with entry and exit routes organized, essential services provided, and suitable environments created to…
The environment, water, and agriculture ecosystem is advancing rapidly toward the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 through an integrated institutional structure comprising 10 specialized agencies that promote sustainable development, protect natural resources, improve operational and financial efficiency, and strengthen innovation and digital transformation, delivering high-quality services and enabling relevant sectors to fulfill their strategic roles. These efforts come as the Saudi Water Week kicks off in Jeddah from June 28 to July 2, 2026, serving as a key platform to review sector progress and future objectives. The Environment Agency plays a central role in sustainability and natural resource protection through its International…
RIYADH — The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced, in a recently issued guide reviewed by Okaz newspaper, that occupational fitness assessments and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings will be introduced for all employees in Saudi Arabia through a three-phase implementation plan. The phased rollout will initially cover employees in public-sector entities and non-profit organizations before being fully extended to all professions and economic sectors across the Kingdom. The three phases of implementing the tests will start with pre-employment; then high-risk companies and establishments; and finally all companies and establishments. The first phase will require mandatory NCD…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s short-term business indicators for April 2026 recorded a 10.6 percent increase in the Operating Revenue Index compared with the same month in 2025. However, the index declined by 3.8 percent on a monthly basis compared with March 2026, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Preliminary results indicate that the year-on-year growth in operating revenues was driven by stronger performance across several key economic sectors, most notably mining and quarrying, which rose by 22.5 percent, manufacturing by 10.3 percent, wholesale and retail trade and motor vehicle repair by 6.9 percent, construction by…
BURGENSTOCK, Switzerland — US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that “great progress” had been made in talks with Iran over the past few hours and expressed optimism that further advances could be achieved as negotiations got underway in Switzerland. “We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect it will make additional progress” in the coming hours, Vance said before the opening of talks in Burgenstock. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, together with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, opened the talks aimed at implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding…
MAKKAH — Nearly two million male and female students in public schools across the education departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif have begun sitting for their final written exams on Sunday, marking the end of the second semester of the current academic year. The exams will continue through next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is geared up to release school exam results electronically on Monday, through the Education Portal and the Tawakkalna platform in all regions of the Kingdom except the four education departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif. This will provide students and parents with easier…
PARIS — A delegation from the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, headed by its Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Kamel, concluded a five-day high-profile visit to France. During the visit, the delegation participated in several key meetings and events, including the Gulf Vision 2026 forum and the annual meeting of the Saudi-French Business Council. The delegation held meetings with government officials and business leaders to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment. The delegation, representing more than 40 Saudi companies and investors, attended the annual dinner of the Saudi-French Business Council hosted by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs,…
Arab culture preserves a rich linguistic heritage that meticulously chronicles every stage of a camel’s life, with a vast vocabulary tracking the animal from birth to old age and reflecting both linguistic precision and an enduring bond between the region’s people and their herds. Transcending mere survival, camels stand as a paramount symbol of Arabian civilization, embodying profound cultural dimensions passed down through millennia. Historically, camels commanded unparalleled status. Endowed with extraordinary traits, they adapt to unforgiving climates, endure immense thirst, and navigate trackless terrain. These biological marvels were the indispensable engines of early travel, driving trade caravans across vast…
DOHA — Qatar announced on Sunday the start of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Switzerland with the participation of Qatari and Pakistani mediators to discuss the implementation of the interim agreement between the two sides. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said specialized technical and expert working groups had been established to negotiate the provisions of a final agreement covering all aspects of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. He added that follow-up groups had also been formed to oversee the implementation of the memorandum and monitor progress toward reaching a final agreement. As one of…