Saudi Arabia

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Robots distribute holy water in Mecca amid Covid hajj precautions

Smart robots distribute holy water from the well of Zamzam to pilgrims in a bid to avoid contact between workers and people amid Covid precautions ahead of the coming Hajj season at the holy site of Mecca.

16/06/2021

Saudi Arabia

First UNWTO regional office opens in Riyadh

The hub will co-ordinate initiatives across 13 countries in the Middle East.

30/05/2021

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia says it foiled an attack by a boat off its Yanbu port

A remotely-piloted boat laden with explosives targeted a Saudi port on Tuesday, according to reports from the state-run Saudi press agency.

27/04/2021

Partner content

The sustainable revival of Saudi Arabia’s spectacular AlUla region

Partner content presented by Royal Commission for AlUla

An ambitious regeneration plan has seen this once important but long-forgotten region of Saudi Arabia transformed into a global destination for culture, art and nature tourism.

20/04/2021

Saudi Arabia

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul awarded 2020 Vaclav Havel prize

Loujain al-Hathloul received the Council of Europe's Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The activist had pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.

20/04/2021

No Comment

Saudi's Ta'if residents keep folklore war dance alive

The art of Taachir is known to be a traditional dance for the people of Taif, west of Saudi Arabia

13/04/2021

Partner content

Everything you need to know to plan a trip to AlUla in Saudi Arabia

Partner content presented by Royal Commission for AlUla

One of the most spectacular regions in Saudi Arabia has undergone a transformation, putting it right to the top of the must-visit list.

08/04/2021

Saudi Arabia

Jamal Khashoggi's fiancée calls for Saudi Prince to 'be punished'

"If the Crown Prince is not punished, it will forever signal that the main culprit can get away with murder which will endanger us all and be a strain on our humanity," Hatice Cengiz wrote on Monday.

01/03/2021

Saudi Arabia

Jamal Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia rejects US intelligence report

The US report claimed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman authorised the operation to 'capture or kill' journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

26/02/2021

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia releases women's driving activist after three years

Saudi Arabia releases women's driving activist after three years in jail

10/02/2021

Saudi Arabia

Rights groups calls for boycott of Dakar Rally over 'sportswashing'

One of the groups is supporting women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul who was jailed last month after being found guilty of spying and conspiring against the kingdom. But many believe she was arrested for campaigning for women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia.

06/01/2021

Saudi Arabia

Saudi women's rights activist sentenced to nearly six years in prison

The prominent activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, who campaigned to end Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.

28/12/2020

World

This is how Saudi Arabia is investing in its economic future

Saudi Arabia is experiencing an economic slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of oil prices.

27/11/2020

Women Beyond Borders

Meet Nouf Alosaimi: the woman reaching new depths in travel

In 2008, Nouf Alosaimi made the life changing decision to do a recreational scuba dive while on holiday in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

26/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

G20: Calls for worldwide coordinated response to COVID-19 pandemic

World leaders at the first virtual G20 summit, hosted this year by Saudi Arabia, called for COVID-19 vaccines for all countries and globally coordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic.

22/11/2020

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Saudi Arabia's King Salman launches G20 summit in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's King Salman officially launches the G20 summit in a first for an Arab nation, with the virtual forum dominated by efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and the worst global recession in decades.

21/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia accused of 'sportswashing' its human rights record

Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia's hosting of a golf tournament was 'pure hypocrisy' given its alleged human rights abuses.

13/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

Three injured in 'explosive' attack at a cemetery in Jeddah

Several people have been injured in an "improvised explosive device attack" on an international Armistice ceremony at a non-Muslim cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

11/11/2020

World

UAE-produced Saudi soap opera heralds new era for regional TV drama

Watching soap operas is a cherished pastime in many Arab homes.

06/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

One person injured in 'knife attack' on French Embassy in Saudi Arabia

One person was injured in a 'knife attack' on the French Embassy in the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The assailant was immediately apprehended at the scene.

29/10/2020

Travel News

In a changing Saudi Arabia, the first dog cafe delights pet lovers

Barking Lot is the first pet café in the ultra-conservative kingdom where, until recently, dog-walking was banned from public places.

05/10/2020

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Watch: In Mecca, pilgrims return to Islam's holiest site

A very small number of people circled the Kaaba in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months.

04/10/2020

Saudi Arabia

'A parody of justice': Saudi verdicts in Khashoggi case criticised

A Saudi court issued final verdicts against eight Saudi nationals in the case of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

07/09/2020

No Comment

Worshippers observe final day of Hajj amid COVID-19 restrictions

Muslim pilgrims cast sanitised pebbles as they "stoned the devil" in the last major ritual of the hajj, which the Saudi king acknowledged had been tough to organise due to coronavirus pandemic.

02/08/2020

Saudi Arabia

Interactive: See how COVID-19 has dramatically changed Hajj pilgrimage

In 2019, 2.5 million pilgrims made the journey to Mecca, Islam's holiest site. This year, numbers have been restricted to not more than 10,000.

31/07/2020

Living

Hajj goes virtual for the first time in history

The Islamic pilgrimage begins today, but amid coronavirus restrictions - could a virtual experience be the future?

29/07/2020