Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced that electronic payments accounted for 85 percent of total retail payments in 2025, up from 79 percent in 2024. This remarkable achievement reflects growth in national payment systems, with electronic transactions reaching 14.6 billion in 2025, compared with 12.6 billion in 2024. SAMA attributed this progress to increased transaction volumes through the Mada payment system, particularly across point-of-sale and e-commerce transactions, alongside growth in other national payment systems.The increase reflects the continued expansion of electronic payment adoption and its growing role in daily transactions. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has seen rapid…
RIYADH — Expatriates, without an official permit, are banned from entering Makkah, effective from Monday, April 13. This is part of a package of arrangements and regulations, announced by the Ministry of Interior, for this year’s Hajj season, with the objective of ensuring the safety of pilgrims and ensuring the performance of the Hajj rituals in ease and comfort under the slogan “No Hajj without a permit.” According to the new regulations, only those expatriates who carry a residency permit (iqama) issued in Makkah, or a Hajj permit, or a work permit for the holy sites will be allowed entry…
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) and Qiddiya Investment Company have signed an agreement to collaborate on the establishment of the Qiddiya Sports Medical Centre in Riyadh, aimed at delivering specialized sports medicine services in line with international standards. The agreement was signed at the headquarters of KFSH in Riyadh, with H.E. Dr. Majid Alfayyadh, Chief Executive Officer of KFSH, and Mr. Abdullah AlDawood, Board Member and Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, representing the two parties, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The agreement aims to develop a dedicated centre providing sports medicine services…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed that the Hajj visa is the only officially approved visa for performing Hajj for pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia. The ministry clarified that Hajj is not permitted for holders of any types of visit visa, transit visa, Umrah visa, or tourist visa. It also stated that Hajj permits for pilgrims residing within the Kingdom, including citizens and residents, are issued through the Nusuk application after completing the booking process. The ministry emphasized that official reservations are made exclusively through approved official channels. It warned against dealing with unofficial channels for…
WASHINGTON D.C.— Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan is leading Saudi Arabia’s delegation participating in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., from Monday April 13 to Saturday, April 18. The Saudi delegation will also include Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Ayman Al-Sayari; Assistant Minister of Finance for Macro-Fiscal Policies and International Relations Eng. Abdullah BinZaraah; Deputy Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Dr. Ryadh Alkhareif; SAMA’s Deputy Governor for Investment Majed Alawad; Deputy Minister of Finance for International Relation…
In the heart of Uyun Al-Jiwa Governorate, King Fahd Grand Mosque stands out as one of the distinguished religious and architectural landmarks in Qassim Region, combining spirituality and the beauty of engineering design to serve as a center for residents of the governorate and its visitors, reflecting the authenticity and spirituality of Islamic architecture. The mosque is estimated to be about 8,000 square meters within an integrated complex spanning 35,000 square meters. It features a design inspired by the Prophet’s Mosque, evident in its arches, grand domes, and intricate details. It includes two minarets rising 80 meters high and a modern…
Mohammad Abulhouf, Vice President & GM, Middle East & Africa, Nutanix. Dubai — Nutanix, a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced new capabilities to the Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP) solution designed to help organisations operate reliably as AI workloads expand, cloud environments grow more complex, and hardware supply constraints drive the need for more flexible infrastructure platforms. As organisations modernise their infrastructure, many are reassessing longstanding virtualisation platforms to ensure they can deliver the flexibility, performance, and cost predictability required for virtual machines, containers, and AI workloads. “As organisations across MEA rethink their infrastructure strategies in the face of…
TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran is ready to reach a “balanced and fair agreement” to ensure lasting peace and security, following talks with the United States that ended without a deal. Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Tasnim News Agency, as both leaders reviewed regional developments after negotiations in Islamabad. The talks between Iranian and US delegations, mediated by Pakistan, concluded after around 21 hours early Sunday without a breakthrough. The Iranian president said “double standards” by the United States remain the main obstacle to an…
JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman have sent cables of congratulations to President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh on the occasion of his re-election for a new presidential term. In his cable, King Salman expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes for success to the president, and for further progress and prosperity for the people of Djibouti. The King also praised the distinguished fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples and emphasized the shared commitment to further strengthening and developing them across all fields. In…
Many pilgrims are eager to purchase gifts and souvenirs from Makkah, turning these keepsakes into symbols of affection and blessing that they carry from the holiest city to their families and friends around the world. A steady stream of visitors searches the markets surrounding the Grand Mosque for meaningful mementos, ranging from copies of the Holy Quran and prayer rugs to prayer beads, perfumes, and photographs of its landmarks, alongside traditional items reflecting Makkah’s cultural identity and heritage. These markets reflect Makkah’s economic vitality and vibrant commercial life as the city welcomes millions of visitors each year. This activity is closely integrated…