Saudi Arabia affirms commitment to joint work toward building a future for GCC tourism
Saudi Gazette report
KUWAIT CITY — Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb participated in the ninth meeting of the ministers of tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.Al-Khateeb expressed Saudi Arabia's aspiration to move forward with more joint programs between GCC countries, such as the Gulf Tourism Strategy and the Unified Tourist Visa. The minister affirmed Saudi Arabia's firm commitment to joint work toward building a bright future for Gulf tourism and its aspiration to achieve new successes that enhance the position of the GCC countries globally.The meeting discussed the development of tourism in GCC countries, which enjoy prosperity, security and stability, in addition to their advanced infrastructure to host various tourism events.It also discussed the exchange of statistics and information, training and development, and inter-tourism.
Saudi Arabia has launched several joint programs with Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, which have contributed to increasing the number of tourists and visitors to the region, in addition to creating job opportunities and increasing revenue.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Most pilgrims leave Mina after performing Hajj rituals
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Most of the Hajj pilgrims vacated the tent city of Mina before sunset on Sunday, the second day of Tashreeq, after performing the ritual of casting stones at three Jamarat, pillars symbolizing Satan. The pilgrims, who are in a rush, are allowed to leave Mina for Makkah before sunset on the second Tashreeq day or else they will have to stay an extra day in Mina and have to pebble the devil. The pilgrims, who will stay back in Mina on Sunday night, will leave the tent city after completing the stoning ritual on Monday afternoon. After performing the stoning ritual, pilgrims, who are in a hurry, swiftly proceeded to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida (Farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), the last obligatory ritual of Hajj. The Grand Mosque received several batches of pilgrims, who arrived from Mina to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida, before heading to visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah or to their home. The pilgrims were seen in a spiritually elevated and euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the departure of pilgrims from Mina as per a two-day schedule prepared by them so as to avoid any congestion at the Jamarat Bridge as well as to ensure their smooth movement to the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida. Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Monday, the third day of Tashreeq, pilgrims are allowed to leave a day earlier. Pilgrims opting for early departure performed the Farewell Tawaf amid a heavy flow of worshipers at the Grand Mosque. The relevant authorities have mobilized all their capabilities to facilitate the movement of early departure pilgrims, ensuring a smooth flow within the Grand Mosque. The Hajj Security Forces at the Grand Mosque confirmed their full readiness to receive pilgrims for the Farewell Tawaf. This is part of a comprehensive security and organizational plan designed to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals in ease and comfort, within an atmosphere of faith, security, and safety. Support services include 400 electric carts, over 10,000 wheelchairs, and 210 smart gates to regulate entry and exit. These efforts reflect the implementation of the Saudi leadership's directives to provide the highest quality services to pilgrims and to facilitate the performance of their rituals in an atmosphere of security, comfort, and tranquility. The plan includes establishing organized mechanisms for entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque, as well as allocating designated routes to regulate crowd movement in the courtyards surrounding the mosque and the passageways leading to mataf, ensuring the security and safety of pilgrims. The Monitoring and Control Center at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Mina was closely tracking the movement of pilgrims on the second day of Tashreeq as part of the ongoing operations to ensure smooth crowd flow and the safety of pilgrims across all movement routes. The center relied on an advanced technological infrastructure that enables real-time monitoring of crowd density indicators and data analysis. This allowed for immediate decision-making and enhances rapid response to any emergency, thereby improving the flexibility and smoothness of pilgrim movement. The center operates based on a unified operational model that integrates all Hajj-related systems, covering group movement, transportation, aviation, and even entry data from various border points. This integration provides a comprehensive view of the pilgrim's journey from arrival to the completion of rituals. It has notably contributed to reducing waiting times at air entry points to under 40 minutes, thanks to integration with flight tracking systems and improved reception preparedness. Center teams also track the movement of pilgrim buses using smart technologies that generate precise movement maps, aiding in the organization of pilgrim flow and preventing congestion along critical routes, particularly during peak hours.
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Falih: Saudi Arabia is keen on supporting Syrian economy's stability
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting the stability and development of the Syrian economy. He also underlined the need to serve common interests and enhance regional economic prosperity. Al-Falih made the remarks during a meeting with the Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Dr. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar, via videoconference, on Sunday. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment for expanding regional investment partnerships. The ministers discussed prospects for investment cooperation between the two countries and reviewed the promising economic opportunities in the Syrian market. Their meeting addressed potential areas of public-private partnership and ways to enhance qualitative investments in the production and service sectors, contributing to supporting economic development and opening new channels for integration between the two countries.
Saudi Gazette
4 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrates 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan
Saudi Gazette report OSAKA — The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. The two countries established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1955, laying the foundation for a long-term partnership that has evolved over the decades into a multifaceted alliance enhancing cultural exchange and diplomatic cooperation. This partnership has also had a significant economic impact on both nations. In February 2025, Saudi Arabia and Japan signed a memorandum to establish a Strategic Partnership Council. In this context, Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr said that Saudi-Japanese relations have grown and strengthened over the past 70 years. 'The relations go beyond a mere economic partnership to reflect the depth and diversity of our ties. Today, we build on the strength of the past and harness the momentum of the present to jointly shape a new vision for the future,' the ambassador said. 'With Expo 2025 taking place in Osaka and Saudi Arabia hosting Expo 2030 in Riyadh, our two countries stand at the forefront of global exchange, showcasing the latest innovations and sustainable technologies, and contributing to shaping an inclusive future for all.' The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka hosts hundreds of business events aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations between the Kingdom and Japan. These include presentations led by the Ministries of Investment and Commerce, as well as events highlighting the trade and investment opportunities offered by Saudi Vision 2030. Trade volume between the two countries has grown significantly over the past decade, rising from $33.4 billion to over $41 billion currently. The Saudi Pavilion aims to increase the number of Japanese visitors to the Kingdom, targeting 30,000 annual visitors before Expo 2030 Riyadh. This is part of the comprehensive Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 strategy, which includes more than 80 projects across nine sectors: culture, food and agricultural security, media and entertainment, healthcare, advanced infrastructure, finance and investment, competitive industries, energy, small and medium enterprises, sports, and education. Cultural exchange between the two countries has flourished, highlighted by Saudi Arabia's role in bringing Japanese culture to the Middle East through local manga studios, whose works will be showcased at the Saudi Pavilion in August. The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka offers more than 700 diverse and engaging events, including daily shows and live performing arts. Since the Expo opened in April 2025, it has attracted over 500,000 visitors. On September 23, it is expected to host a variety of events and presentations in celebration of Saudi National Day.
