Latest news with #AbdulazizbinSaud
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Interior Minister meets security commanders of Makkah region
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met with Makkah Region's security commanders at the regional police headquarters in the Jeddah Region on Wednesday. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to Makkah's security commanders and the personnel within their respective sectors. During the meeting, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud commended the Makkah security personnel for their efforts in enhancing the safety and security of pilgrims, citizens, residents, and visitors. He stressed the importance of this work, especially with the growing numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and the significant increase in tourists across Saudi Arabia. Prince Abdulaziz was briefed on the Makkah security sectors' key achievements and their efforts to execute security tasks with professionalism, efficiency, and full integration with other government and service entities.
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia and US sign security cooperation agreements
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud signed several agreements with US counterpart agencies. These agreements fall within the framework of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control and the Facilities Security Forces' mandate to develop human capital, transfer knowledge, and enhance the capabilities of security agencies in drug control, training, and vital facility security. These agreements are part of efforts to strengthen international partnerships with counterpart agencies.
Leaders
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Saudi Interior Ministry Signs Agreements with US Counterpart Agencies
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Interior, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, has signed several agreements with US counterpart agencies, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The deals align with both Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control and the Facilities Security Forces' dedication to boosting knowledge exchange and developing human capital. Moreover, the partnerships will further foster the potentials of security agencies in drug control, training, and vital facilities security. Signed under the directives of the Saudi leadership, the agreements will solidify bilateral cooperation with US agencies. Related Topics: Saudi Interior Ministry Announces Penalties for Hajj Permit Violations Saudi Interior Ministry Delegation Takes Part in GCC Civil Defense Meeting Interior Ministry Takes Action Against 15 Violators of Hajj Regulations Short link : Post Views: 79 Related Stories
France 24
09-05-2025
- Business
- France 24
Chicken wings, trucks: the surprising Saudi obsession with America
Now back in Riyadh, Fahd is doing something similar, highlighting the Saudi Arabian love affair with all things American that many find surprising. "When I came here, thank God, the same cafe and same order were here too," said the 31-year-old mechanical engineer, who did not want to give his family name. "I started living the same lifestyle here as I did in America." Saudi Arabia, often known for its religious austerity, is home to Islam's holiest sites, and welcomes millions of Muslim pilgrims ever year. It also has -- as just one example -- more than 600 branches of Dunkin Donuts, serving roughly 250,000 of its 35-million population each day, according to the franchise. Despite its image as a cloistered and traditional society, life in Saudi is awash in Western corporate influence, especially from American companies. Buffalo Wild Wings, Chuck-e-Cheese and Starbucks populate Riyadh's sprawl of office parks and shopping centres, while the capital's traffic-clogged streets heave with hulking American SUVs and pickup trucks. 'Every neighbourhood' The nations have shared a tight bond since King Abdulaziz bin Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, and US president Franklin Roosevelt shook hands on board a US cruiser in the Suez Canal during the final months of World War II. In the ensuing decades, the United States has been at the forefront of providing military protection in return for privileged access to Saudi's colossal oil reserves. The Saudi riyal is pegged to the greenback and US leaders have been regular guests, including Donald Trump who arrives in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first major overseas trip of his second term. The relationship has faced rough patches -- including the oil embargo in the 1970s, the September 11, 2001 attacks carried out by mostly Saudi hijackers and the gruesome murder of US-based dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul in 2018. But for Saudis, the ties that bind, including a love of American food, cars and movies, remain strong -- even after a grassroots campaign to boycott US products that has swept the region during the Israel-Hamas war. "The one thing we never disagree on is going to an American restaurant -- especially Buffalo Wild Wings," Dalal Abdulaziz, 28, told AFP, saying that chicken wings were one of her favourite foods. "You'll find American restaurants in every neighbourhood here. We eat it weekly, almost like Saudi food." Khaled Salman Al-Dosari agrees, saying it is hard to find a single street in Saudi Arabia without an American brand on offer. "American companies' products have become an inseparable part of our day," added the 21-year-old student in Riyadh. Just like home While many American companies have been in Saudi Arabia for decades, its Vision 2030 agenda -- the oil-dependent country's giant economic diversification plan -- has opened it up and paved the way for further investment. Live music and cinemas were all forbidden until recent years, but MMA fights and US professional wrestling are now among the entertainment offers available to Saudi consumers. "I think many Americans would be surprised at the extent to which American brands are all over Saudi Arabia," said Andrew Leber from the department of political science at Tulane University. Some see further correlations in terms of climate, architecture -- dry, dusty Riyadh, with its wide concrete boulevards, evokes an Arab Dallas -- and even mindset. "Texas is close to Riyadh in terms of climate," said Fahd, the mechanical engineer. "And its people are conservative like us." Meanwhile, the Saudi taste for US products has benefits for the tens of thousands of Americans working in the kingdom, many of them in the oil industry. "It always... reminds me of home and keeps that connection with the places that I've seen since I've been growing up," said Joshua Dunning, a 36-year-old American business developer working at a Saudi tech firm. "It's always a nice reminder and seeing those places and products here in Saudi." © 2025 AFP
Saudi Gazette
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia hosts Syrian security delegation to share expertise
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — A Syrian security delegation recently visited Saudi Arabia to learn from the Kingdom's advanced security practices and benefit from its expertise. In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said: 'As part of Saudi Arabia's support for the Syrian government to achieve security and stability in Syria, the Ministry of Interior hosted a security delegation from our Syrian brothers from April 14–16, 2025, to learn about the experience of the Kingdom's security agencies and benefit from their expertise.' The visit included discussions between Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud and Deputy Head of Syrian Intelligence Muwaffaq Doukhi, who was accompanied by Khaled Eid, Director of the Syrian Anti-Narcotics Department. The talks focused on enhancing cooperation in combating drug trafficking and tracking down drug dealers. During the meetings, the delegation was briefed on the operational mechanisms and key tasks of the General Directorate of Public Security and the General Directorate of Drug Control. They also received presentations on the latest technologies and systems deployed by Saudi security agencies. The Syrian delegation's visit coincides with broader official engagement between the two countries. Saudi Arabia has consistently reiterated its commitment to supporting Syria's efforts to maintain civil peace and national unity.
