Latest news with #CrownPrinceMohammedBinSalman
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia's flynas announces first direct flight to Syria
Saudi Arabian budget airline flynas announced on Thursday that it will launch its first direct flight between Riyadh and Damascus next week. ' announces the launch of its first direct flight between Riyadh and the Syrian capital, Damascus, starting June 5th next week,' the company said on X. For more Saudi news, visit our dedicated page. It follows the introduction or resumption of services by several airlines to and from Syria. Many airlines pulled out of Syria during its 14-year civil war. International flights also stopped for a period after former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024, but then resumed with services. The CEO of another Saudi budget carrier - flyadeal - said on Wednesday that the airline could start flying to Syria as early as July. United Arab Emirates-based FlyDubai has also said it will resume services from June. US President Donald Trump's administration last week issued orders effectively lifting sanctions on Syria. The US President said he did so at the behest of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. EU foreign ministers also agreed last week to lift economic sanctions on Syria. With Reuters
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
What Mauritius can learn from Saudi Arabia's revolutionary transformation
Saudi Arabia, once defined by its oil wealth, is undergoing a dramatic and deliberate transformation through Vision 2030, a bold national strategy spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This plan is not cosmetic, it is systemic. It reimagines the Kingdom as a global leader in technology, innovation, and tourism, moving beyond oil dependency to a diversified, future-ready economy. Inayat Ramjean, a Mauritian with over 35 years of experience in Saudi Arabia, including leadership roles in international hospitality, has witnessed this transformation first-hand. Now back in Mauritius, he urges his homeland to draw inspiration from the Kingdom's progress. Reinvigorating tourism with vision and investment — Saudi Arabia's pivot toward tourism has been nothing short of revolutionary. From streamlined e-visas to mega-projects like NEOM, Red Sea and AlUla, the Kingdom aims to host 150 million tourists annually by 2030. This has transformed the Kingdom into one of the top 10 most visited countries globally. Mauritius, once a premier destination, is now losing momentum. To reverse this trend, the country must reimagine its tourism model, focus on eco-luxury, and leverage its direct flight connections with Saudi Arabia to tap into new markets. Leveraging technology and innovation — Saudi Arabia has moved from being a technology consumer to a global innovator, with initiatives in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure. Flagship projects like NEOM are powered by AI, renewables, and automation, setting global standards in urban planning and sustainability. Mauritius, with its youthful population and strong ICT foundation, should invest more strategically in digital skills, smart city development, and tech entrepreneurship to future-proof its economy. Ensuring safety and stability — Saudi Arabia is now ranked the safest country among G20 nations, thanks to a renewed emphasis on public order and national security. In contrast, rising crime and social instability in Mauritius threaten both tourism and investment. Addressing these issues is not just about law enforcement, it's about creating an environment where citizens and investors feel secure. Strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships — Inayat played a key role in establishing ties between Saudi Arabia and Mauritius, including the opening of a Saudi embassy and flight connectivity. Mauritius must now position itself as a gateway for Saudi investment into Africa. Aligning with Vision 2030 can unlock partnerships in tourism, health, trade, and broader regional cooperation. Mauritius stands at a turning point. The Saudi model proves what is possible when vision, governance, and ambition converge. If Mauritius embraces reform and bold leadership, it too can become a global example of reinvention and resilience. The time for action is now.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Interior Minister Meets with Security Leaders in Makkah Region
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz has met with Makkah Region's security leaders at the regional police headquarters in Jeddah Region. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Makkah's security leaders and the personnel within their respective sectors. During Wednesday's 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 performers 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. Also Wednesday, the Minister visited the Makkah Route Initiative's hall at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, accompanied by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz. During the visit, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud was briefed on the key achievements of the Makkah Route Initiative, launched by the Ministry of Interior as part of the Pilgrim Experience Program under the Saudi Vision 2030. The initiative provides the highest level of service and convenience for pilgrims by completing their entry procedures into the Kingdom at airports in their home countries and transferring them directly upon arrival to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah. Since its launch, the initiative has served over one million beneficiaries and has expanded to include 12 airports across 8 countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Türkiye, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Maldives.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Housing support opens to Saudis aged 20 in major policy shift
JEDDAH: In a significant move to broaden access to homeownership, Saudi Arabia has reduced the minimum age for housing support eligibility from 25 to 20. The policy shift is designed to accelerate homeownership among younger citizens and aligns with the Kingdom's broader economic and social development goals. Announcing the update on social media platform X, Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for endorsing the changes. 'This step will contribute to enabling more families to benefit from diverse housing and financing options, in line with the goals of the Housing Program and Saudi Vision 2030 to raise the homeownership rate to 70 percent,' the minister said. The reform marks a continued commitment by Saudi Arabia to expand the reach and impact of the Saudi Housing Program, or Sakani, a key initiative driving social welfare and economic growth. The program was recently lauded by the International Monetary Fund in its September Article IV Consultation report, which cited notable accomplishments including a rise in the homeownership rate to approximately 64 percent, a 90 percent satisfaction rate among beneficiaries, and a wide variety of housing options. According to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Hogail stated: 'The move reflects the leadership's continued commitment to strengthening the Kingdom's housing sector and enabling more citizens to own their first homes with ease and flexibility.' He added that the updated regulations would offer a wider array of options tailored to the needs of different Saudi households. One of the landmark reforms includes removing the financial dependency requirement previously applied to wives and divorced mothers, ensuring equal access to housing support regardless of gender. The eligibility period for divorced women has been also revised, with details to be clarified in forthcoming implementing regulations. Previously, divorced mothers were subject to a two-year waiting period before qualifying for support. Another notable change reduces the mandatory holding period for housing support assets—from 10 years to five—allowing beneficiaries to transfer or sell their supported assets more quickly. This is intended to provide greater flexibility and reflect the changing economic and social landscape of Saudi families. The amendments also include enhanced accountability measures. Stricter penalties have been introduced for submitting false information, and authorities will now be able to reclaim any type of housing subsidy—including financial aid, residential units, or land—if an applicant is found to have provided misleading data. Citizens will be able to apply under the new criteria once regulatory procedures are finalized and officially announced.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Tehran pushes for Saudi Arabia to release Iranian cleric who posted critical video
DUBAI, May 27 (Reuters) - Iran's judiciary on Tuesday denounced the arrest of an Iranian cleric in Saudi Arabia who shared a video criticising the kingdom's recent policies to ease many social restrictions in its bid to open the economy for tourism and Western businesses. Gholamreza Qassemian, who is in the kingdom for hajj - an annual pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca with the intention of performing religious rites - was arrested on Monday after posting a video online in which he heavily criticised Saudi Arabia for what he called enabling moral corruption. His remarks came after media reports - denied by a Saudi official on Monday - that Riyadh was planning to lift a 73-year-old ban on alcohol, which is prohibited for devout Muslims. Iran's judiciary said Qassemian's arrest was "unjustified and illegal." The Saudi government communications office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. In his video, the mid-ranking cleric said: "People will now be able to go to Mecca and Medina for casinos, brothels, and vulgar concerts instead of going to Antalya," a reference to the Turkish tourist destination, which is popular for Iranians. Some Muslims see the idea of any easing of the alcohol ban in the kingdom - which is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest mosques, in Mecca and Medina - as highly controversial. Many fundamentalist Muslims also disapprove of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reforms. Those have included lifting a ban on women driving, the hosting of a film festival in Jeddah, which neighbours Mecca, as well as global sports events like Formula One motor racing. Iran, a conservative Shi'ite Muslim country, rebuilt ties with Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia in 2023 after years of regional rivalry. While some Iranian users of social media platform X celebrated Qassemian for his "courage", others berated him for what they said were insulting comments that risked reversing the thaw. State media reported that Iran's Consulate General in Jeddah was following up on the issue to secure Qassemian's release and had met him twice since his arrest. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X that Iran condemned "any attempt to harm Muslim unity, particularly in the spiritual atmosphere of the Hajj." "We are determined to not allow anyone to sabotage relations with our brotherly neighbours, including the progressive path of Iran and Saudi Arabia."
