Extreme Heat in Saudi Arabia: How to Travel Safely
The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) on Thursday warned of a heatwave across the Eastern Province, with temperatures expected to reach 49–50°C.
News for pilgrims
Visa rules, Nusuk and Rawdah changes, transport and season dates — short, with what it means for your trip.
Exhibition of the Sunken Ship in Jeddah: The History of 18th Century Trade
A UNIQUE EXHIBITION OF TREASURES FROM A SUNKEN TRADING SHIP IN JEDDAH The Red Sea Museum in Jeddah has opened an exhibition dedicated to a trading ship that sank off the coast of Umluj, discovered in 2007. Archaeologists found high-quality Chinese porcelain, ceramics, and other artifacts from the 18th-19th centuries, evidencing trade connections between East Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the ports of the Red Sea. The exhibition tells the story of the shipwreck and shows how the sunken vessel has transformed into an artificial coral reef over time. It also aims to raise awareness about the preservation of Saudi Arabia's underwater archaeological heritage.
Saudi Dates Conquer the Global Market: 1.69 Billion Riyals in Exports
SAUDI DATE EXPORTS EXCEED 1.69 BILLION RIYALS The date season has begun in Medina, aimed at supporting farmers, developing processing, and promoting Saudi dates in the global market. Today, dates from Saudi Arabia are exported to more than 133 countries, with an export value exceeding 1.695 billion riyals (≈452 million $). The kingdom has over 37.5 million date palms, yielding about 1.92 million tons annually. The Medina region ranks third in the country for production, providing about 347,000 tons of dates per year.
The Largest Library of Arabic Calligraphy Opens in Saudi Arabia
A WORLD CENTER FOR ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN SAUDI ARABIA The library of the World Center for Arabic Calligraphy named after Prince Mohammed bin Salman contains about 2000 specialized publications in 11 languages, including 450 rare books, and is the largest library in the world entirely dedicated to Arabic calligraphy. Its collections feature works on the history of calligraphy, biographies of masters, materials on inks, pens, and paper, as well as manuscripts, scientific journals, dissertations, and works of calligraphic art. The library can accommodate up to 60 researchers and visitors at the same time.
Saudi Media Forum 2027: A Global Platform for Media Leaders
RIYADH — The sixth edition of the Saudi Media Forum will be held under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman from Feb. 1 to 3, 2027, in Riyadh, bringing together media leaders, policymakers, experts and technology companies from around the world.Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for the royal patronage, saying it reflects the leadership's commitment to developing the media sector and strengthening Saudi Arabia's global position.Al-Dosari said the forum has established itself
Smart Crowd: How Haram Tracks Pilgrims in Real Time
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has launched a digital service allowing visitors to monitor crowd levels in the Mataf and Masa'a areas in real time. The service provides live crowd density indicators and instant updates, helping worshippers and pilgrims identify less crowded routes and perform Tawaf and Sa'i more smoothly. It also provides smart indicators designed to improve crowd management efficiency and enhance the quality of services offered to visitors at the Grand Mosque. The authority said the service can be accessed
Umrah: 22.5% Increase in Arrivals at the Start of Season 1448H
Saudi Arabia recorded a 22.5% increase in Umrah visa arrivals to 931,500 at the start of the 1448H Umrah season, with more than 1.27 million pilgrims arriving from abroad.