Latest news with #Al-Dossary
Saudi Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Dossary: Saudi Arabia won't allow violators to disrupt the comfort of pilgrims
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Kingdom won't tolerate any unauthorized pilgrims disrupting the comfort of other pilgrims, and that the "No Hajj without a permit" campaign will be intensified. He made the remarks while addressing a joint government press conference, which was also attended by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Transport and Logistics Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, and Minister of Health Fahd Al-Jalajel. Al-Dossary said that Saudi Vision 2030 is based on three detailed objectives to serve the guests of God: facilitating the hosting of more pilgrims and access to the Two Holy Mosques; providing high-quality services to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims; and enriching religious and cultural experience of the pilgrims. The minister pointed out that the royal directives have been issued to host 1,000 pilgrims from the families of martyrs in Palestine and 1,300 pilgrims from 100 countries under the "Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" program, which is organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance. Regarding preparations, Al-Dossary stated that the Ministry of Interior is fulfilling its role in the security and organizational arena through the "No Hajj without a permit" campaign, to preserve the sanctity of the site and ensure the safety of pilgrims in addition to enable them to perform the rituals in an orderly and peaceful environment. He stated that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has prepared approximately 25,000 mosques and prayer halls in Makkah and Madinah, along the roads leading to Hajj, land entry points, the holy sites, and neighborhood mosques. It has also secured the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' gift of 2.5 million copies of the Holy Qur'an, which will be distributed at land, sea, and air ports. Approximately 1.3 million identification cards containing QR codes for the electronic library have also been distributed. Regarding volunteers, the minister indicated that the target for this year is 25,000 male and female volunteers, through the efforts of the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development. Regarding water services, the system produces and transports more than 1.2 million cubic meters of water daily to meet peak demand during the Hajj season. The transportation networks extend over 1,300 kilometers. The water system also conducts more than 4,000 laboratory tests daily to ensure water quality and safety, with a staff of more than 2,000 specialized Saudi technicians and engineers working around the clock. Al-Dossary said that the Ministry of Commerce has intensified its inspection of markets and vital facilities in Makkah and Medina through more than 11,000 field visits to ensure the compliance of facilities and the availability of food supplies for pilgrims. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Municipality and Housing has mobilized more than 22,000 personnel along with 980 vehicles, and 177 shelters. The conference coincided with the approaching countdown to the Hajj season, as pilgrims continue to flock to the Holy Capital from all corners of the globe to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Saudi Gazette
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Minister of Media: Saudi Vision 2030 achievements are the greatest response to skeptics
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH —Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary described 2024 as "the year of record numbers of accomplishments" with regard to the Saudi Vision 2030. "The Vision 2030 always precedes numbers and time," he said while addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Monday. Al-Dossary emphasized that the vision has achieved major successes ahead of schedule as the percentage of vision initiatives has reached 85 percent. "Saudi Vision 2030 is the greatest success story of the 21st century, and transparency is its most important hallmark. The Vision 2030 is not a vision restricted to time and place, but rather an inspiring model for nations, peoples, and societies." "One of the most important highlights of the vision is transparency, which the Saudi Crown Prince always emphasizes and directs all state officials to follow, because no journey can take place without the ambition of the citizen becoming a partner in this journey," he said. The minister said that the results achieved by the vision are amazing. "We are not supposed to respond to or make justifications to those, who raised skepticism about the vision. What we see of achievements made on the ground ahead of their schedule of completion, is the greatest response," he said adding: "There is no doubt that we have a wise leadership and an ambitious people, and nothing is difficult or impossible to achieve for this people," he said.
Arab News
23-03-2025
- General
- Arab News
The volunteers working to ensure no one goes hungry at iftar
JEDDAH: As many residents struggle to get home in time for iftar during Ramadan, a group of young volunteers has stepped in, providing free meals to ensure that no one stays hungry when it is time to break the fast. Volunteers aim to provide assistance to motorists, taxi drivers and service workers who may have difficulty reaching iftar locations on time. In the hours before iftar, many people are seen on the streets of Jeddah, heading home after a long day. As the sun begins to fade each day of Ramadan, more than 300 volunteers — students, employees and entrepreneurs — arrive at the various sites in Jeddah by the Asr afternoon prayer. Firstly, they work together to pack boxes full of dates, and bottles of water and juice and later distribute meals by hand. Al-Muthana Al-Dossary, the leader of the Hattan volunteer organization which has been carrying out various activities all year long, told Arab News that his team has been organizing the Ramadan iftar for the past 5 years. 'The response has been incredible. Locals from various parts of Jeddah are actively participating as volunteers,' he said. Al-Dossary said that his team serves approximately 400 to 500 people daily. 'Motorists, Laborers, bike riders, taxi drivers, building keepers and others rely on this initiative to break their fast,' he explained. 'The iftar initiative is directly supported by kind-hearted people who contribute not just to this effort, but to other charitable activities under our project. 'This campaign is truly wonderful, especially when you find yourself on the road and can't reach home in time for iftar. 'This meal is not just to meet our nutritional needs, but it also reminds us of the essence of Ramadan and the spirit of giving,' he added. For 17-year-old Lina Al-Mamari, distributing iftar meals to drivers and those who are in need at various spots in Jeddah is a great initiative which reflects the spirit of compassion during the blessed month of Ramadan. She said: 'I am very proud to be part of this campaign. It gives us the opportunity to offer a helping hand to those in need, and it strengthens social solidarity in our community.' Yazen bin Essa, who also volunteers with Hattan, expressed his satisfaction and pride. 'When you help others especially in the holy month of Ramadan, that's the acts of kindness. 'We want to ensure that as there is a call for breaking fast no one should go hungry during this sacred time. We want to provide a sense of comfort in iftar, the meal to break the fast after sunset,' he said. Some 50 meters away, Namaa Charity and Al-Ittihad Club have jointly collaborated to distribute iftar meals and food provision kits to workers, individuals, and underprivileged families. 'The joint initiative called the 'Fakkat Reeg' (breaking fast) aims to distribute around 5,000 meals a day in different locations,' said Abdulrahman Alamri, the leader of the distributing team. 'This initiative is a key pillar of Al-Ittihad Club's annual Ramadan program, in partnership with Namma Charity and it comes within the project of breaking the fast of a fasting person on the road.'
Saudi Gazette
18-03-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia demands international community's urgent intervention to stop Israeli aggression on Gaza
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Saudi Council of Ministers denounced the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' aggression on the Gaza Strip. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session in Jeddah on Tuesday. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet emphasized the international community's responsibility to intervene urgently to stop these crimes and end the humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the discussions held during his telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Cabinet reviewed the latest developments in the Arab, regional, and international arenas, reiterating the Kingdom's steadfast positions on these issues and its support for efforts promoting regional and global security and stability. Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet welcomed the conclusion of peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the signing of a border demarcation agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It extended best wishes for their continued progress and prosperity. On the domestic front, the Cabinet commended the launch of the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, which highlights 19 architectural styles that represent the Kingdom's geographical, natural, and cultural traits, and contributes to the preservation of urban heritage, the enhancement of quality of life, and the development of urban landscapes. The Cabinet discussed strategies to boost development and service projects and reinforce the social welfare and protection system in order to accelerate progress, harness potential, and achieve the nation's ambitions. The Cabinet reviewed indicators of the national economy's performance and the Kingdom's credit rating upgrades by international agencies, emphasizing the continued implementation of structural reforms and the creation of an environment conducive to unprecedented economic transformation and diversification, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. Al-Dossary reported that the Cabinet expressed appreciation for the proactive security monitoring and response to drug smuggling networks, carried out in partnership with friendly countries. The Cabinet specifically praised the Iraqi Ministry of Interior for intercepting an attempt to smuggle 7 million amphetamine pills, acting on information provided by the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The Cabinet authorized the minister of interior or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministries of Interior of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the field of scientific, training, and research activities. The Council approved a cultural cooperation memorandum between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and a MoU for economic cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Investment of Comoros. The Cabinet authorized the minister of municipalities and housing and chairman of the Real Estate General Authority or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft MoU between the Saudi authority and the Qatar's Real Estate Regulatory Authority for cooperation in the real estate sector. The Council approved an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iceland to avoid double taxation on income taxes and prevent tax evasion and avoidance, along with its accompanying protocol, and an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters. The Cabinet also approved two agreements on air transport services between Saudi Arabia and Suriname and Lithuania, and another MoU between the General Authority for Statistics in Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Gulf Area Office to collaborate on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. The Council approved a MoU between the Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) and the Ministry of Education and the Reform of the Education System in Mauritania to enhance assessment, measurement, and accreditation tools, and another MoU on technical and vocational training between the ETEC and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission in Pakistan. It authorized the Saudi Institute of Internal Auditors to negotiate and sign a MoU with the Malaysian Institute of Internal Auditors, focusing on cooperation in internal auditing, governance, and compliance.
Saudi Gazette
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Dossary: Crown Prince does not accept flattery
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary emphasized that Saudi media is the strongest, most influential, and most widely spread in the Arab world and it enjoys a high level of freedom compared to some surrounding countries. He stated that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman does not accept either false praise or flattery. "We work with him and listen to him, and we know that this is his approach. However, there is a difference between highlighting our achievements — which is an essential role of the media — and false praise that is unacceptable and undesirable," he said while attending Al-Liwan program on the Rotana Khalejia channel. Al-Dossary emphasized that the Saudi government does not demand the press to practice "praise," saying, "Praise is not required." He noted that Saudi media is the best model of media freedom, characterized by disciplined freedom. "The ceiling of media freedom in Saudi Arabia is not as low as some claim. We have disciplined freedoms, and we do not accept the distortion of these freedoms," he said. Speaking with renowned Saudi journalist Abdullah Al-Mudaifer, the minister highlighted that the media's paramount mission is embodied in its inherent role in exposing flaws, as criticism is a fundamental duty undertaken by the media. The Ministry of Media regulates the media scene without controlling it, he said. The minister emphasized that there is a high sense of responsibility among the media and media professionals in the Kingdom. "Today, journalists have self-censorship and they know the interests of the state and can avoid sensitivities or adhere to a certain limit they set themselves. The same applies to media institutions, and we rely heavily on this sense, and not on the daily oversight that we do not have," he said. Al-Dossary emphasized that media professionals must fulfill their role while citing that one of their fundamental roles is to expose flaws. "We encourage them to do so as long as it is within the disciplined freedom. They have the right to speak to citizens in the manner they see fit to serve their country," he said while affirming that the media's criticism of services is part of its fundamental duty, and in doing so, it provides a service to the government, and we do not consider it a negative matter."Regarding the challenges facing Saudi media, the minister stated that the real challenge lies in the sector's ability to keep pace with technology. "There is no old or new media, but rather national media that presents you, whether it is a television channel, a website, or a social media account. We provide positive content, much more than negative or degrading content, but the real challenge is keeping pace with technology."Regarding the demise of print journalism, Al-Dossary commented: "This does not worry me because paper is a means, not an end. What worries me is the death of the journalist. When we talk about the three pillars of Saudi media, the foundation is the journalist. When we talk about positive content, influencers, and content creators, the foundation is the journalist,' he pointed out.'In the previous period, it was the journalistic kitchen that created journalists, and with the absence of print journalism, it has become difficult to find them. What we must work today is the survival of the journalist and our role is as an enabler to protect him from death through the existing media academies and partnerships with major companies such as Google, Amazon, and others, as well as with ministries and agencies.'Regarding the future of the sector in the country, Al-Dosari said: "We have two main pillars in Saudi media: national media and media economics. When we talk about the former, it is purposeful across all its platforms and represents and advances the Kingdom's Vision by 2030. As for the latter, unfortunately, for many periods, the media has been a burden on the state. We need to increase its contribution to the GDP, which currently stands at less than 1 percent, at 0.4 percent. However, we aim to increase it by 150 percent by 2030."Regarding employment opportunities in the sector, he emphasized the importance of this issue for the media system, noting: "In 2023, we had more than 60,000 jobs, and we aim to reach 150,000 jobs by 2030, a 100 percent increase over current jobs."Regarding the leakage of advertising revenues abroad, the minister considered the Saudi market, advertisers, and media to be the largest in the Arab region, and that advertising lost abroad amounts to 90 percent, instead of being recorded as part of the media's contribution to the GDP. 'Therefore, we aim to keep all advertising spending in Saudi media outlets and entities within the Kingdom, preventing it from leaking abroad,' he added.
