Saudi Arabia

MOUNT ARAFAT: (Web Desk) A sea of pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat on Monday to pray and repent, the climax of Haj bringing together more than two million Muslims from around the world. Carrying brightly coloured umbrellas under a blazing sun, worshippers scaled the rocky hill southeast of Makkah to atone …

MAKHA (Web Desk) More than two million Muslims have started the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.The five-day pilgrimage must be performed by all Muslims, who are financially and physically able, at least once in their lives.On Sunday, pilgrims started gathering in Mina valley, on the outskirts of Mecca, for …

MAKKAH (Web Desk) Two million Muslims gather in Saudi Arabia this week for the hajj as the annual pilgrimage becomes increasingly hi-tech with apps to help the faithful navigate Islam´s holiest sites.This year the hajj comes with the ultra-conservative kingdom witnessing an unprecedented pace of change, finally ending a ban …

TEHRAN (Web Desk)  Saudi authorities arrested another university professor in the conservative oil-rich kingdom as part of a widening crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman against Muslim clerics and intellectuals. The rights group Prisoners of Consciousness, which is an independent non-governmental organization advocating human rights in Saudi Arabia, …

RIYADH: Government-owned Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co (SRC) plans to begin issuing Islamic bonds in coming months to finance its drive to expand the kingdom’s home mortgage market, its chief executive said on Monday. Founded in 2017 by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s top sovereign wealth fund, SRC …

RIYADH (Web Desk) A Saudi activist and opposition figure said most of the young royal princes in Saudi Arabia have been banned from leaving the country.Except for elderly princes, most of the princes belonging to the second generation of Saudi Arabia’s royal families have been banned from leaving the country …

RIYADH (Web Desk) For years, Canadian pressure on human rights in Saudi Arabia had elicited no more than a standard rejection. But all that changed last week, when a Canadian complaint was translated into Arabic and set off a diplomatic row.When Riyadh responded to a call from Canadian Foreign Minister …

RIYADH (Web Desk) Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Joubeir stated that Canada’s recent tweet demanding the release of a female activist is unacceptable and Saudi Arabia does not accept impositions.He called on Canada to fix its mistake.Al-Joubeir said in a press conference held in Riyadh that several countries supported Saudi Arabia’s …

RIYADH (Web Desk) Saudi Arabia’s oil supplies to Canada will not be impacted by a dispute between the two countries, the kingdom’s energy minister said on Thursday, reassuring customers after Riyadh froze new trade with Canada and ruled out mediation efforts, Reuters reports.The world’s largest oil exporter has a “firm …

MAKHA MADINA (Web Desk) The Zamazemah United Office in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is planning to deliver 7.5 million Zamzam water bottles during the Hajj pilgrimage this year.The bottles will be distributed at guidance centers in Mecca to pilgrims arriving and to those returning to their home …