Saudi Arabia News — AKHBAR.COM

MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque continues to enhance services for worshippers at the Grand Mosque through one of the world's largest cooling systems. **media[2733117]** The authority operates an integrated cooling system with a capacity of approximately 155,000 refrigeration tons, maintaining temperatures…

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, operated by Cluster2 Airports, welcomed the first seasonal direct flight of 2026 from the Russian city of Sochi, in cooperation with Azimuth Airlines, the Saudi Press Agency…

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Traffic has warned motorists against violating vehicle window tinting regulations, saying offenders could face fines ranging from SR500 to SR900. The authority said rear window tinting is permitted provided it does not exceed 30 per cent, a level intended to balance privacy with road safety while helping reduce heat inside…

King’s College Riyadh is giving families in the capital a glimpse into the future of its highly anticipated SEDRA campus through the opening of its new Parent Experience Centre at ROSHN Front — an immersive space designed to bring the school’s vision, facilities and educational offering to life. The opening comes as King’s College Riyadh,…

GAZA CITY: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has recently provided 24,000 hot meals to vulnerable people displaced by conflict in Gaza’s central and southern areas. A central kitchen was established by KSrelief in Gaza in February to provide the food. In Khan Younis, 820 food baskets were delivered, benefiting 4,920 people. This aid is a…

NEW YORK — Google announced a deal Tuesday to buy rapidly growing cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion. It would be the tech giant’s biggest-ever acquisition.The all-cash takeover of privately held Wiz represents a big bet by Google on cloud security and cybersecurity in this period of explosive growth for artificial intelligence.The Wiz deal, which…

RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has begun constructing three bridges as part of the Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road Development Project at its intersection with the Northern Ring Road.RCRC said the current phase of the project will increase the road's capacity to accommodate more than 200,000 vehicles per day,…

Under the patronage of Governor of Al-Ahsa and CEO of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, the first seasonal direct flight for 2026 between Al-Ahsa International Airport and Rize–Artvin International Airport…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The resident said the savings were the result of five years of hard work and were intended to help him and his family start a new chapter upon returning home By: ...

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Russia’s mutual visit visa waiver agreement has entered into force to boost tourism and cultural exchange between the two countries and support broader people-to-people engagement. The Kingdom and Russia signed the mutual visa-exemption agreement on the sidelines of the Saudi–Russian Investment and Business Forum, held in Riyadh on Dec. 1, 2025. …

NEW DELHI — Two years after ChatGPT took the world by storm, China's DeepSeek has sent ripples through the tech industry by collapsing the cost of developing generative artificial intelligence applications.But as the global race for AI supremacy heats up, India appears to have fallen behind, especially in creating its own foundational language model that's…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's National Security Operations Center received more than 2.63 million calls through the unified emergency number (911) during June 2026.The center said it handled a total of 2,631,374 calls through the unified emergency number serving the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions.The 911 Operations Centers receive emergency calls and route them to…

In a city more familiar with rockets than school bells, a different morning begins at the Model Complex for Gifted Students in Marib. Built and fully funded by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for…

(MENAFN - Jordan News Agency) Amman, May 31 (Petra) -- The Public Security Directorate (PSD) has mobilized its specialized units across border centers to provide security, humanitarian, and ...

MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched the Dalalah wa Tibyan program as part of its Hajj season plan. The program aims to raise religious awareness and support pilgrims’ educational and spiritual experience by distributing guidance booklets and awareness materials in several languages throughout the Grand…

PHOENIX — Chris Pelkey died in a road rage shooting in Arizona three years ago.But with the help of artificial intelligence, he returned earlier this month at his killer's sentencing to deliver a victim's statement himself.Family members said they used the burgeoning technology to let Pelkey use his own words to talk about the incident…

MADINAH — More than 1.3 million pilgrims and visitors toured the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur'an between 2025 and 2026, underscoring its global standing as one of the world's leading Islamic and knowledge institutions. **media[2731304]** The high visitor turnout reflects the complex's continued advancement in production and technology, utilizing the…

The Aseer Region Development Authority has launched an interactive digital map for Aseer Summer Season 2026 in southwestern Saudi Arabia, enabling visitors to explore tourist destinations, events, and experiences across the region's governorates, the Saudi…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) 'The return of pilgrims to their homeland is an occasion that carries profound spirituality and humanitarian meanings,' a top official at GDRFA Dubai said By: WAM ...

RABAT: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the 31st Rabat International Book Fair, held from May 1 to 10, highlighting the nation’s cultural and intellectual ties with Morocco. Abdullatif Al-Wasel, CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, said the participation reflects the relations between the two countries and aims to introduce Saudi literary and…

WASHINGTON — Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla, and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store.Musk posted the comments on X late Monday, saying, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put…

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports has urged Saudi citizens wishing to travel abroad to safeguard their passports. It called on them to protect their passports from damage or loss, avoid neglect, pledging, or misuse, and keep them in safe places. The directorate stressed the importance of verifying the validity of passports by citizens…

Abed Hachem rebuilt his home when it was damaged in a conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants in 2024, but is at a loss now that most of his village has been destroyed in…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Although the documents revealed the identity of the bag's owner, locating and contacting her required forming a team to trace her movements By: Laraib Anwer Dubai ...

A number of Saudi students have achieved outstanding results in a national test recognizing academic giftedness, with several securing places at top universities around the world. This year’s students from Downe House Riyadh who were recognized for their scores in the Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test include Aseel Al-Bagieh (year eight), Safanah Al-Homood (year five),…

WASHINGTON — A court will not force Google to sell off its Chrome browser or Android, a federal judge said in a court filing on Tuesday. The decision serves as a significant win for the tech company, which has avoided the most extreme possible outcome from a landmark antitrust case that determined the company was…

RIYADH — Ministry of Commerce has shut down 12 unlicensed water bottling plants in Jeddah after detection of violations.The bottling plants were immediately shut down, the violators were arrested, and they were referred to the relevant security authorities to complete the necessary legal procedures and enforce deterrent penalties against them. Inspection teams, in coordination with…

Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission concluded the second season of archaeological survey work in Al Mahd Governorate, Madinah Region, documenting 1,774 archaeological discoveries across three survey areas: Al Suwayriqiyah, Al Muwayhiyah, and Hadhah, reported the Saudi…

The Madinah Buses project, overseen by the Al Madinah Region Development Authority, has announced the temporary suspension of its public transportation services from noon on the 9th of Dhu Al Hijjah, 1447 AH, as part of preparations for the Hajj season, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Normal operations are set to resume on the morning…

JEDDAH: At just 15, Sulaf Al-Johani is the first Saudi Arabia female to participate in and win the Most Inspiring Young Leader award at the Impact CEO Awards in Dubai earlier this year, for her leadership and scientific contributions at international gatherings. She is “proud” of several projects and innovations, most notably research in the…

LONDON — The number of data centers in the UK is set to increase by almost a fifth, according to figures shared with BBC News.Data centers are giant warehouses full of powerful computers used to run digital services from movie streaming to online banking - there are currently an estimated 477 of them in the…

RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has begun implementing architectural and urban design guidelines for the area between Al-Orouba Road to the south and the Northern Ring Road to the north, within the capital’s central commercial corridor, while resuming the issuance of development permits in the area.The move aims to regulate and guide…

As millions of pilgrims move between the holy sites in scenes of profound devotion and spirituality, a vast and sophisticated digital network operates quietly behind the scenes to ensure uninterrupted communications, stable digital services, efficient…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Civil aviation regulator in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued new directives to all airlines operating at the Gulf state's airports regarding carrying portable chargers ...

RIAYDH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in separate calls, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Prince Faisal spoke on the phone with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed “the latest developments related to Pakistani mediation efforts and the ongoing diplomatic talks…

BOSTON — OpenAI has announced a series of parental controls for its AI chatbot ChatGPT, which includes notifying parents when their child is distressed.It comes after a lawsuit was filed against the company and its CEO Sam Altman by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who committed suicide in April.The parents alleged that ChatGPT created…

YANBU — Search and rescue teams from the Border Guard in the Yanbu governorate in the Madinah region rescued two Saudi citizens after their vessel broke down at sea. The Border Guard team provided them with the necessary assistance. The General Directorate of the Border Guard urged the public to adhere to maritime safety guidelines…

Each year during Hajj, the Holy Sites undergo a remarkable transformation, emerging within days as one of the world's largest seasonal smart cities capable of accommodating millions of pilgrims through vast networks of energy, water,…

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The Peninsula Online Doha, Qatar: As the first group of Qatari pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Hamad International Airport has extended additional support ...

GAZA CITY: A delegation from the UN’s humanitarian office has praised Saudi Arabia’s operations in Gaza after visiting projects run by the Kingdom’s aid agency, KSrelief. The delegation from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs toured KSrelief’s facilities and aid distribution sites across the enclave as living conditions continue to deteriorate amid…

WASHINGTON — A US federal court has told Google to pay $425m (£316.3m) for breaching users' privacy by collecting data from millions of users even after they had turned off a tracking feature in their Google accounts.The verdict comes after a group of users brought the case claiming Google accessed users' mobile devices to collect,…

RIYADH — The Saudi Traffic Department has warned vehicle owners against tinting car windows in violation of the specified regulations, cautioning that offenders will face fines ranging from SR500 to SR900. The department has set clear rules governing window tinting. Tinting of rear windows is permitted at a rate not exceeding 30 percent, striking a…

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has launched an interactive 3D maps initiative to facilitate navigation and enhance services for pilgrims. Integrated into the…

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) This year, the Hajj rituals will take place between May 25 and May 27, and Dubai has put in place dedicated services to assist pilgrims and ease their travel By: ...

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has opened applications for nonprofit organizations to join its “Support for Performance Program.” The program offers eligible entities the opportunity to apply for six financial support products aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s nonprofit cultural sector.

LONDON — When actress Sorcha Cusack left the BBC drama Father Brown in January, it made headlines, including for the newspapers owned by Reach, among them The Mirror, and the Daily Express.But the story did not generate the traction the Reach newspapers would have expected a year ago, or even at the start of the…

ALULA — Coinciding with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Saudi Arabia is highlighting its efforts to enhance biodiversity, restore natural ecosystems, and combat land degradation. Among the Kingdom’s notable initiatives are AlUla’s environmental programs, which focus on rehabilitating natural rangelands and planting native vegetation to restore ecosystems and curb desertification. **media[2723915]** The…

Hertfordshire Police shared a video on social media of a driver who could have caused a collision after placing an unsecured football net on top of his car. The video showed the incident, where the…