Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Hajj Ministry suspends 2 Umrah companies for accommodating pilgrims in unlicensed facility
Saudi Gazette
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July 9, 2025
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended two Umrah companies for violations including accommodating pilgrims in unlicensed housing facilities. The ministry considers this as a serious violation that directly...
Saudi Arabia to allow foreign property ownership in Riyadh and Jeddah
Middle East Eye
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July 9, 2025
Saudi Arabia approved a new law allowing foreigners to own real estate as part of the kingdom’s plan to diversify its economy and open it to foreign investment. The long-awaited reform, passed on Tuesday, allows foreigners to buy property in...
Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup Is Courting ‘Non-Hardcore’ Gamers, Traditional Sports Industry and Showbiz Elite With Stars and More Than $70 Million in Prizes
Variety
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July 9, 2025
The 2025 Esports World Cup is in full swing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the second day of the second annual video-game-centric competition underway. At stake across 26 events for 25 different esports is more than $70 million in prize money and...
In Syria, It’s Trump vs. Trump
Foreign Policy
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In the thorny debate over how to handle Syria, U.S. President Donald Trump has surprisingly emerged as a realist, a pragmatist, and a man of nuance. Since the December 2024 toppling of Syria’s Russian-backed dictator, Bashar al-Assad, the war-torn...
Saudi Arabia's new work permits to improve flexibility in hiring talent from overseas
The National News
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Saudi Arabia's new work permit classification system will introduce a more flexible approach to hiring high-skilled expats and attracting global talent but less-skilled workers may face more scrutiny, recruiters say. The kingdom's Ministry of...
Taufiq Uddin Ahmed gets lifetime achievement award for contribution to travel, tourism industry
Daily Star
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July 7, 2025
Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, founder and chairman of Galaxy Bangladesh, has been honoured with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the "Share Trip-Monitor Airline of the Year 2024" for his remarkable contributions to the development of Bangladesh's travel...
Hajj agency’s license cancelled for failing to send pilgrims to Hajj
Bangladesh Post
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The Ministry of Religious Affairs has cancelled the registration certificate of a Hajj agency for failing to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and then delaying refund of their money while intimidating complainants. According to an official...
Saudi Arabia sees 101 pc rise in foreign pilgrim arrivals in 2024
The Siasat Daily
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July 9, 2025
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recorded a 101 percent increase in pilgrim arrivals in 2024 compared to 2022, according to the Pilgrim Experience Programme’s annual report. The sharp rise is attributed to Vision 2030-driven reforms,...
Saudia opens dedicated lounge at London Heathrow
UK Aviation News
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July 9, 2025
The Saudia Lounge ay London Heathrow Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has officially unveiled its first dedicated lounge in Europe at London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), marking a significant milestone in the airline’s...
Saudi Arabia adopts World Drowning Prevention Day as national health priority
Saudi Gazette
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July 9, 2025
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has officially adopted World Drowning Prevention Day, marking July 25 of each year as a national observance dedicated to raising awareness and enhancing water safety, following a Cabinet session chaired...
How Dubai's road tunnel vision can be crucial step in tackling congestion
The National News
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Dubai's plan to build three road tunnels as part of a Dh633 million ($172 million) project to cut congestion highlights the emirate’s modernising ambitions, experts told The National. The tunnels are part of the Al Mustaqbal Street development...
Saudi Arabia's PIF plan long-shot Lionel Messi bid for Pro League if Inter Miami extension falls through
CBS Sports - Florida
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July 9, 2025
It is nearly two years since Inter Miami won one of the most hotly contested transfer battles of recent years, snaring Lionel Messi at a time when Saudi Arabia thought they had secured the greatest footballer of his generation. In 2025 the tension...
Saudia Dominates Airline Punctuality Charts With 91.33% On-Time Record
Simple Flying
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July 9, 2025
Aviation analytics firm Cirium has published its June 2025 On-Time Performance (OTP) report, which highlights global punctuality trends across airlines and airports. According to the report, Saudia ranked as the most punctual airline in the world...
Saudi Crown Prince, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hold First Talks Since Iran-Israel Conflict
Media Line
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July 9, 2025
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a senior Iranian official to Saudi Arabia since the recent 12-day air conflict between Iran and Israel. The...
Saudi welcomed a total of 115.9 million tourists in 2024
Travel Daily Media
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July 9, 2025
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has just released its 2024 annual report, revealing a landmark year for the country’s tourism sector, which has set new records for both domestic and international travel, positioning Saudi among the world’s...
Open Championship at Portmarnock remains firmly on the cards as feasibility work continues
Belfast Telegraph
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July 16, 2025
Speaking ahead of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon confirmed that the governing body continues to work on the feasibility study into the suitability of the north Dublin links. “First one would say is that I've got...
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport ranks as the world’s third best
What's on Saudi Arabia
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July 9, 2025
This marks an impressive 30-place advancement from last year Passing time at the airport is usually such a chore, but not so at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, which has just been crowned the third-best airport in the world for...
‘Hiking for hope’: Birmingham team climb Snowdon in memory of brother and friend
BirminghamWorld
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July 8, 2025
On Saturday 21 June, Ibrahim Hussain, 22, from Birmingham set off to take on the challenge of climbing Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest mountain in Wales. He was joined by his two older brothers, Tamir Hussain and Mohammed Nameer, and three...
Saudi Heritage Commission, University of Exeter Launch Archaeological Survey Along Ancient Hajj Route
Asharq Al-Awsat
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July 9, 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has signed a scientific cooperation agreement with Britain’s University of Exeter, aiming to implement archaeological survey and excavation work on archaeological sites located on the historic Hajj route between...
Saudi: 21 non-profit entities and 26 websites to be penalized for violations
Zawya
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RIYADH — The Saudi National Center for Nonprofit Sector (NCNP) has referred 21 commercial entities, 26 websites, and three influencers to the relevant authorities to take regulatory measures. This move follows monitoring of violations of relevant...