Saudi Arabia News — AKHBAR.COM

RIYADH — Two expatriate women were arrested for engaging in prostitution in Madinah. The arrests were made in a security campaign, carried out by Madinah police, in coordination with the General Directorate for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking. Security authorities stated that the women were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary…

Harvard University has agreed to pay a $53 million settlement after its former morgue manager stole and sold body parts donated for scientific research, with a Boston court reportedly approving the plan on Tuesday. Cedric…

Applied Science University (ASU), the highest-ranked university in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the seventh consecutive year according to the QS Arab Region and World University Rankings, has announced the opening of admissions for the first semester of the academic year 2026/2027, welcoming applications from students across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expatriate communities residing…

Filipino domestic workers reveal the abuses they faced in Saudi Arabia “I thought my body was going to collapse” Gloria* took on the role of a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia for two years I decided to take a job in Saudi Arabia when I was 44. My son was in college and my husband’s…

RIYADH — More than four and a half million male and female students in public schools across Saudi Arabia will return to their classrooms for the start of the new academic year on Sunday, Aug. 23. Teachers of schools under the educational departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif will return to their duties on…

Flight attendants and pilots are at the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers — even more than people who work with radioactive materials, according to a new study. Cosmic radiation comes from space. Only…

The Health Services of the Ministry of Defense have successfully conducted the first remote robotic surgery between two of its healthcare facilities in Riyadh and Dhahran, with technical support from stc group as the digital enabler. This milestone reflects the transformative role of digital technologies in advancing the healthcare system in the Saudi Arabia.The operation…

Saudi Arabia has announced a ‘new Muslim’ card service introduced for those wishing to convert to Islam in the country, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Launched by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the service aims to automate all stages of the process for declaring Islam. The card has been integrated with…

MAKKAH — The 46th King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an concluded in Makkah on Wednesday. The competition, held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, was organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance. Princess Fahda bint Falah Al-Hathleen, spouse of…

Only four in 10 healthcare facilities worldwide meet basic sanitation standards for accessible and usable toilets, the United Nations said Tuesday, while 11 percent have no sanitation services at all. In a report, the UN's…

The Saudi Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery (SSDDS) and Genpharm have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen scientific collaboration, advance medical education, and raise awareness of chronic skin diseases, with a particular focus on Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE).The signing ceremony was attended by Flemming Gredsted, Chargé d'Affaires of the Royal Danish Embassy…

Saudi Arabia has approved a landmark General Education Law that reshapes the governance of its school system, introduces new protections for students and teachers, and opens the door to greater private sector participation, in one of the Kingdom’s most comprehensive education reforms under Vision 2030. Issued by royal decree, the legislation creates, for the first…

RIYADH —The Ministry of Education and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in partnership with Al-Aqeel Charity, have launched a school for gifted students in mathematics in Jeddah. The school targets intermediate school students through a specialized enrichment program designed to develop their mathematical abilities and skills, deepen the impact of efforts to…

As children walked into the zoo near Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, they found a lion barely looking back at them through the bars of its cage and chimpanzees sitting listlessly in their enclosure. Many of…

Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah has achieved a new medical milestone by successfully performing the first autologous stem cell transplant in Saudi Arabia’s private healthcare sector for a 55-year-old patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma.This achievement reflects the hospital’s continued advancement in specialized hematology and oncology care and reinforces its position as a leading provider…

Consumers urged to stop using affected bottles immediately and return them for a refund Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has recalled 22 baby feeding products after identifying a potential choking hazard linked to a silicone baby bottle sold in the Kingdom. The recall covers the Boon NURSH 8 oz. Silicone Baby Bottle 3-Pack (Product No.…

RIYADH — A study by the Heritage Commission has uncovered the oldest known concept of a trademark in pottery, dating back around 3,600 years, at Qurayyah Oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Conducted in cooperation with the University of Vienna and published in the journal PLOS One, the study found that a village in the Tabuk…

A 13-year-old tabby cat that went missing 10 years ago has found her way back home. Her owners Lucy and Hannah Robertson were “heartbroken” in April 2016 when Charlie, then three-years-old, disappeared. As an outdoor…

A year after Amnesty International documented widespread abuse of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, a new briefing from the organization reveals that Filipino women are facing many of the same abuses, including being overworked, exploited and subjected to degrading treatment, as well as sexual assault in some cases. “Once we step in their homes,…

RIYADH — Ahead of the beginning of the new academic year on Sunday, the Ministry of Education underlined the need for students adhering to safety and conduct rules while taking advantage of school transport services. The ministry clarified that violations of the rules of conduct may result in a student being temporarily suspended from school…

Syrian authorities have detained seven people in connection with the death of a 29-year-old man who was beaten while in police custody, as two government ministers pledged to hold those responsible accountable once investigations are…

RIYADH: The red fox, one of the most common carnivorous mammals in the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, plays an important ecological role in Saudi Arabia. Regarded in Arab folklore as a symbol of intelligence and quick wit, the canine helps to regulate populations of rodents and other small species, supporting ecological balance and…

RIYADH —While students in public schools across Saudi Arabia are preparing for the start of the new academic year on Sunday, Aug. 23, they embark on a new digital technology experience that will enable them to monitor their academic progress in coordination with their teachers and parents. The service, launched by the Ministry of Education…

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with NEOM, has documented the first birth of a striped hyena following the reintroduction of two breeding pairs into NEOM Nature Reserve. The birth is a positive…

JAZAN —Patrol teams from the General Administration of Mujahideen in the Jazan region arrested a Pakistani resident for transporting 15 Ethiopian nationals who violated the Border Security Law. The Pakistani was referred to the Public Prosecution and the violators handed to the competent authorities after taking the necessary legal procedures. The General Administration of Mujahideen's…

When food safety inspectors raided a Mumbai dessert parlor famed for its ice cream sandwiches last month, they found rats, houseflies and expired flavoring agents. At another beloved restaurant known for slow-cooked mutton and beef…

RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has emphasized the importance of providing children with a balanced breakfast as schools across Saudi Arabia set to reopen on Sunday, Aug. 23, marking the beginning of the new academic year. The SFDA stressed that a healthy and nutritious breakfast provides children with the energy and…

Two Saudi cities, relatively close geographically but rooted in vastly different periods of history, encapsulate thousands of years of human experience. Khaybar, an oasis set amid black volcanic fields, has preserved the secrets of prehistory,…

RIYADH — On World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, Saudi Arabia recalls a humanitarian journey that has continued since its establishment, transcending borders through contributions exceeding $145 billion across 8,997 projects in 175 countries worldwide, reaching people at their most vulnerable moments. **media[2752940]** Through this approach, Saudi Arabia continues to rank among the…

Forced to leave their smartphones off campus, Afghan university students are divided over whether the new anti-tech rule has disrupted their studies or done wonders for their concentration. Soon after Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered…

RIYADH — Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is putting cameras in the hands of the people who live and work across its landscapes, empowering rangers, ecologists and community specialists to tell the story of conservation through their own eyes. Marking World Photography Day on Wednesday, the Reserve announced the completion of an intensive six-monthphotography…

The Heritage Commission announced the registration of 9,586 urban heritage sites in the National Urban Heritage Register in two consecutive phases. The first phase included 3,000 sites, followed by an additional 6,586, bringing the total…

RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) has penalized three expatriates for transporting passengers in private vehicles without a valid license. The penalties included fines totaling SR 35,000, in addition to deportation from Saudi Arabia. An Egyptian national and Indian national were imposed fines amounting to SR12,000 each for transporting passengers in private vehicles without…

Val Ripley may be 101 but she still enjoys playing with dolls' houses. She was given her first by her parents when she was eight, in Christmas 1932, and remembers waking up and seeing a…

RIYADH — The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation team successfully coordinated four organ retrieval procedures last week involving brain-dead donors, helping save the lives of 14 patients, including four children. This humanitarian initiative was carried out in cooperation and coordination with several medical entities inside and outside the Kingdom. Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation Director…

Palestinian Christians call themselves "living stones" and say they have lived continuously in the Holy Land for the last 2,000 years. Maybe not for much longer, believes Reverend Mitri Raheb. "If the current conditions continue,…

RIYADH — More than four million male and female students across all three educational levels in Saudi Arabia will return to their classrooms on Sunday, Aug. 23 to mark the beginning of the new academic year. However, the education departments in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif are excluded from this return schedule. The actual start…

A New Mexico state court ordered Meta on Thursday to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and change how its platforms function for young users after finding the company is to blame…

MAKKAH — Female contestants are participating in the King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an for the first time in its history, as the winners of its 46th edition prepare to be honored in Makkah on Wednesday. Held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques…

For six months, 70-year-old Bassam Musleh searched desperately for a pharmacy or clinic that could fill his prescription for blood pressure and other heart medications. Public dispensaries were out of stock, he said, and he…

RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said that 22 subjects have been updated and 50 educational units in artificial intelligence have been added to the curriculum for the new academic year. Addressing the government press conference in Riyadh on Monday ahead of the beginning of the new academic year, Al-Benyan said that the…

More than 800,000 people displaced by war in Lebanon have begun returning to their hometowns following a lull in violence amid the Israel-Hezbollah war, the United Nations said. The announcement late on Tuesday came as…

RIYADH — The Saudi Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities (APD) has begun directly exercising its powers in inspection, monitoring, and enforcement of penalties concerning violations of Article 25 of the Law of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The authority indicated that a specialized committee has been formed to review violations committed…

The autism spectrum is now so broad that anyone could have the condition, an expert who pioneered research into the condition has said. Professor Dame Uta Frith, an emeritus professor in cognitive development at University…

RIYADH — As the countdown begins for the return of male and female students in public schools across Saudi Arabia to their classrooms for the start of the new academic year on coming Sunday, Aug. 23, the Ministry of Education has officially launched an online transfer service for parents wishing to transfer their children from…

Families of victims of the Beirut port explosion gathered on Tuesday demanding answers and accountability on the sixth anniversary of the catastrophe, in a country long plagued by official impunity. "Until now, we haven't gotten…

**media[2751891]** RIYADH — The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with NEOM, has documented the first birth of a striped hyena following the reintroduction of two breeding pairs into NEOM Nature Reserve. The birth is a positive indication of the hyenas’ successful adaptation to the reserve and their ability to reproduce in the wild.…

The Libraries Commission has launched the summer reading challenge 2026 to encourage children and adolescents to read, foster a culture of reading, and develop their knowledge and skills during the summer holiday. The challenge targets…