Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Foreign pilgrims can now apply for Umrah and visit permits via an app

    The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched a new service that would allow foreign pilgrims to apply for Umrah and prayer permits to the Grand Mosque in Makkah as well as the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque in Madina through mobile applications, reports Arab News.

    The statement of Saudi Press Agency reads, “In cooperation with Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the launch of a new service that allows overseas pilgrims to get permits for Umrah and prayer in the Grand Mosque, as well as for visiting the Prophet’s Mosque through ‘Eatmarna’ and ‘Tawakkalna’ Applications.”

    According to the ministry, pilgrims applying for the permits must first register on the Quddum platform. Travellers have been advised to download both Eatmarna and Tawakkalna applications on their mobile phones before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

    Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj announced that pilgrims wishing to perform Umrah would no longer be required to wait for 14 days to book for the ritual.

    Last month, the Grand Mosque in Makkah operated at full capacity, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder with masks being mandatory for the first time since the pandemic began.

  • Saudi Arabia launches first-ever women’s football league

    Saudi Arabia launches first-ever women’s football league

    The Saudi football federation has announced the launching of the first edition of a women’s football league at the end of this month.

    The launch of the league is a part of a programme set up by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in 2017 to support women’s football as women’s sport was long frowned upon in the country.

    Federation chairman Yasser Almisehal said the creation of a women’s league was “an important moment” for the federation.

    Sixteen teams will take part and the matches will take place in three cities — the capital Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

    Those who qualify will be able to play in a knockout competition which will be held early next year in Jeddah.

  • After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    Saudi Arabia has agreed to revive its financial support to Pakistan, including about $3 billion in safe deposits and $1.2bn to $1.5bn worth of oil supplies on deferred payments, reports Dawn.

    The news was first broken by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. The minister took to Twitter and wrote, “Saudi Arabia announcement support Pakistan with 3 billion US dollar as deposit in Pakistan central bank and also financing refined petroleum product with 1. 2 billion us dollars during the year.”

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar confirmed the news and tweeted, “The Saudi Development Fund has generously announced for Pakistan an oil deferred payments facility of $1.2bn/annum and a $3 bn deposit with SBP. This will help ease pressures on our trade & forex accounts as a result of the global commodities price surge.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman for supporting Pakistan with the deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and extending the oil facility on deferred payment.

    The facility is expected to help Pakistan convince the International Monetary Fund  (IMF) about its financing plan.

    The news came after PM Khan’s three visit to Saudi Arabia, where he went to attend the launch ceremony of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit in the capital Riyadh.

  • Maryam Nawaz criticises PM Khan for watching the Pak vs Ind T20 match

    Maryam Nawaz criticises PM Khan for watching the Pak vs Ind T20 match

    As the world celebrated the historic victory of the Men in Green, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz did not let go of a chance to criticise Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for watching the Pakistan and India T20 World Cup match.

    PM Khan shared a picture on Twitter watching the match along with various other government figures and ministers, saying that the “entire nation was proud of the Pakistan team.”

    Maryam Nawaz, tweeting the photo PM Khan tweeted, wrote, “God! People in the country are dying of hunger, inflation, and incompetence, and look at them!”

    PM Khan is currently in Saudi Arabia for a three-day visit. The premier performed Umrah along with his accompanying delegation.

    The prime minister is visiting Saudi Arabia to attend the launch of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit being held in Riyadh, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

  • PM Khan leaves for three-day visit to Saudi Arabia

    PM Khan leaves for three-day visit to Saudi Arabia

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has left for a three-day visit to Saudia Arabia to attend the launch ceremony of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit in the capital Riyadh, announced the Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan, reports Dawn.

    The Prime Minister Office (PMO) said in a tweet that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia had extended the invitation to the premier could attend the event’s launching ceremony.

    The PMO office, in a series of tweets, briefly told about the event that would be taking place in Saudi Arabia.

    At the MGI event, the prime minister will share his perspective on the challenges faced by developing countries due to climate change, PMO statement said.

    The MGI Summit is the “first of its kind” in the Middle East. The PMO office said that during the visit, the premier would also have bilateral interactions with the Saudi leadership, with a particular focus on advancing economic and trade relations, creating more opportunities for the Pakistani workforce.

    The two sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of interest.

    PM Khan will also participate in an event for the promotion of investment in Pakistan and interact with leading investors and businessmen from Saudi Arabia and the Pakistani diaspora, read the official statement.

    “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long-standing and historic fraternal relations, rooted deep in common faith, shared history and mutual support,” the PMO said, noting that Saudi Arabia was home to more than two million Pakistanis who were contributing towards the progress and prosperity of both the countries.

    “The visit of the prime minister will carry forward the positive momentum of cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” the statement concluded.

  • Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    The Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday, operated at full capacity with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder, and floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the mosque were also removed, reports Al Jazeera.

    According to an official Saudi Press Agency, “This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity.”

    Despite the lifting of social distancing measures, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.

    Pictures and footage of worshippers performing Muslim prayers are making rounds on social media.

    In Saudi Arabia, the authorities also lifted curbs on fully vaccinated people at closed venues, gatherings, transportation, restaurants and cinemas. Masks are no longer mandatory in open public places.

    Earlier, in July, only about 60,000 citizens and residents were allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

  • Pakistanis have to get booster shots in order to perform Umrah

    Pakistanis have to get booster shots in order to perform Umrah

    Pakistanis have to get booster shots of one of the four approved vaccines, i.e. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson in order to perform Umrah. Saudi Arabia is to begin accepting vaccinated foreign visitors for Umrah, reports Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Saudi authorities will begin taking travel requests starting today and will increase the number of Umrah performers to two million per month. The Kingdom closed its borders some 18 months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to the official guidelines for travellers to the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), “Guests who have completed two doses of the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines will be accepted if they have received an additional dose of one of the four vaccines approved in the Kingdom.”

    “All visitors arriving in the country with a valid tourism visa must provide evidence of a full course of one the four vaccines currently recognised: two doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson,” reads the guidelines.

    The Kingdom announced on Sunday about reopening their borders for Umrah, a move that will boost an economy hit by the Covid pandemic. Domestic and overseas pilgrims will have to include authorised Covid-19 vaccination certificates along with their Umrah application. “A certificate of immunisation certified by the official authorities in the country of the Umrah performer must be attached within the documents of requesting the performance of Umrah rituals, with the condition that the vaccines be approved in the Kingdom.” Moreover, foreign visitors from Saudi entry-ban list will have to undergo quarantine.

    Saudi Arabia has recorded nearly 532,000 coronavirus cases and more than 8,300 deaths.

  • Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj has allowed women to perform the annual holy pilgrimage, scheduled to be held in July this year, without a male guardian (mahram).

    “Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually. Women can register without a mahram (male guardian) along with other women,” the ministry said in a tweet.

    “In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation,” the ministry said. This year’s Hajj will only be limited to Kingdom’s nationals and residents due to the ongoing pandemic. “Those wishing to perform the Hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated.” The ministry added that pilgrims should be between the ages of 18 and 65, reports Aljazeera.

    This news comes a few days after Saudi Arabia allowed women to live independently without male consent after a legal amendment. Over the last few years, the Kingdom has seen numerous reforms on women’s social freedoms, in a campaign headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

    In April this year, Saudi authorities hired women to work in frontline positions at the Grand Mosque.

    In 2020, new penalties were announced against abusing women.

    In 2019, a new amendment allowed women aged 21 and above to apply for passport and travel without a male guardian’s approval.

    In 2018, Saudi women officially earned the right to obtain drivers licenses.

  • Saudi Arabia to ban unvaccinated individuals from entering malls

    People who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to enter malls in Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Commerce Spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Hussein said on Sunday. The decision will come into effect from August 1, ARY News has reported.

    Hussein added that the dressing rooms have reopened and touchscreens are now allowed to be used in shops, malls and commercial centres while ensuring continuous disinfection and social distancing.

    Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual Hajj.

    The Saudi Hajj Ministry said this year’s pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims,” according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

  • Saudi Arabia allows women to live alone without male consent

    Saudi Arabia allows women to live alone without male consent

    Saudi Arabia has announced that Saudi women can now live on their own without the approval of their male guardians.

    Saudi Judicial authorities have revoked Paragraph B under article No. 169 of the “Law of Procedure before Sharia Courts”, reported Gulf News which has been replaced now. It states “An adult woman has the right to choose where to live.”. It is also included, under the law if a woman is imprisoned, she will not be handed over to her guardian after the expiry of her sentence.

    While speaking to a local newspaper, Saudi Attorney Naif Al-Mansi said, “Families can no longer file lawsuits against their daughters who choose to live alone.” Prior to this, under the old  “absenteeism” law, families were able to file a report with the police against the woman in case she disappears or choose to live independently.

    Read More- In a first, Saudi Arabia appoints women security guards at Grand Mosque.

    Under this law, last year, a Saudi woman Mariam Al Otaibi was detained because her family sued her for traveling alone. However, she won a historic ruling after the Saudi court passed a remarkable ruling that she had “the right to choose where to live”.

    This new amendment made after the passing of a law that allowed Saudi Arabia women over the age of 18 to change names on their ID cards without guardian approval. Moreover, in 2017, the Kingdom’s Head of State granted permission to women to drive putting an end to an old traditional practice.

    These developments are actually a part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Vision 2030, formed five years ago to focus more on public sectors.