Latest news with #MinistryOfTourism
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Hajj 2025: Saudi boosts Makkah hospitality with over 300,000 licensed rooms
The number of licensed rooms in hospitality facilities in the city of Makkah has exceeded 300,000 rooms, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism announced on Sunday. This increase marks a 41 per cent growth during the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting the growing demand and the Ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance tourism infrastructure ahead of the Hajj season. As part of its preparations, the Ministry conducted more than 1,160 inspection and monitoring tours across hospitality facilities in Makkah. These inspections were aimed at ensuring the readiness of hotels and other accommodations to welcome pilgrims during the upcoming pilgrimage season. This growth in licensed capacity is closely tied to the Ministry's broader initiatives to elevate service quality, especially in anticipation of this year's Hajj. It can be noted that starting January 1 of this year, all hospitality establishments such as travel and tourism service providers in the Kingdom were ordered to remove any unlicensed or unauthorised facilities from their listings. This directive applies to both local and international booking platforms. The Ministry has also urged all hospitality operators to ensure they have obtained or renewed their licences before resuming business activities. Non-compliance with these regulations will result in severe penalties, including fines of up to 1 million riyals, potential closures of the establishments, or both. In some cases, violators could also face damage in reputation through "public shaming".
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Makkah records over 1,160 licensed hospitality facilities
MAKKAH — The Ministry of Tourism announced that the number of hospitality facilities licensed to operate in Makkah has exceeded 1,160, marking a 54% increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. As part of its preparations for Hajj season, the Ministry also carried out more than 1,160 inspection and monitoring tours to ensure facilities are ready to serve pilgrims and comply with quality standards. The significant growth reflects the Ministry's ongoing efforts, in coordination with other government entities, to ensure that pilgrims are provided with safe, comfortable, and high-quality services throughout their journey. The initiative aims to enhance the overall Hajj experience by ensuring the availability and readiness of hospitality infrastructure, enabling pilgrims to perform their religious rites with ease and peace of mind. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Archaeologists discover three long-lost Egyptian tombs dating back more than 3,500 years
They've been hidden for more than 3,000 years, well before the time of Jesus Christ. But now, remarkable new excavations finally uncover three long-lost tombs from ancient Egypt. 'Made by pure Egyptian hands', the tombs were unearthed in the archaeological site of Dra Abu el-Naga on the Luxor West Bank. According to experts, they date back to Egypt's prosperous New Kingdom period – which spanned three dynasties from 1550-1070 BC. Excitingly, the experts have managed to identify the names and titles of the tomb owners through inscriptions found within. They belonged to three adult males who were not royals, but had important roles in daily Egyptian life, they say. Also found were several ancient Egyptian artifacts, including tools and miniature mummy figures. Located near the famous Valley of the Kings, Dra Abu el-Naga is known to have been a resting place for high officials, supervisors and scribes. In a translated statement posted on Facebook, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the graves belonged to 'senior statesmen'. 'Completion of the excavation and cleaning works [will] get to know the owners of these graves more deeply,' the statement said. Following further study, archaeologists will 'publish these graves scientifically' – so likely in a peer-reviewed research paper. One of the Luxor tombs belonged to a man called Amum-em-Ipet, dating to around the 19th or 20th dynasties (collectively known as the Ramesside period). According to experts, Amum-em-Ipet worked in the temple or estate of Amun, the revered ancient Egyptian god of the air and fertility. His tomb was mostly destroyed and what remained were depictions of the funeral furniture carriers and a banquet. Amum-em-Ipet´s tomb begins with a small courtyard leading to an entrance and then a square hall ending with a niche, whose western wall was destroyed. The two other tombs date back to the 18th Dynasty and include one belonging to a man named Baki, who served as a supervisor of a grain silo (a structure used for storing large quantities of grain). What is Dra Abu el-Naga? Dra Abu el-Naga is an important archaeological site in the Luxor West Bank, Egypt. It stretches from the mouth of the Valley of the Kings on the north to the entrance of the valley leading to el-Asasif and Deir el-Bahri in the south. Excavations suggest it was not a burial place for royals, although prominent people were laid to rest there, such as statesmen. Source: Penn Museum/Explore Luxor The 18th dynasty, part of the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom, is considered among the most prosperous years of Ancient Egypt, reigning for more than 200 years – circa 1539 to 1292 BC. Baki´s tomb has a courtyard leading to the main entrance of the tomb as well as another long corridor-like courtyard. The third tomb contains the burial of an individual simply named 'S,' who held multiple roles, according to experts. S was a supervisor at the Temple of Amun, a writer, and the mayor of the northern oases - a fertile area of desert good for plant growth and animal habitats. While an impressive amount of detail has been garnered from inscriptions, further study of the etchings is needed to gain an even deeper understanding of the tombs' owners, according to authorities. The ministry described the discovery as a significant scientific and archaeological achievement that 'strengthens Egypt's position on the map'. Dra Abu el-Naga is one of the areas poised to greatly boost cultural tourism and attract more visitors with an interest in Egypt´s rich heritage. Despite how long they've been around, historical monuments are still constantly being uncovered in Egypt. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said: 'Completion of the excavation and cleaning works [will] get to know the owners of these graves more deeply' Earlier this year, experts announced the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, the pharaoh of Egypt 's 18th dynasty who lived and ruled nearly 3,500 years ago. A series of subtle clues that led archaeologists to confirm his resting place King Thutmose II, solving 'a great mystery of ancient Egypt. In January, Egypt made several discoveries near the famed city of Luxor, including ancient rock-cut tombs and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years, unearthed at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut´s funerary temple at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile´s West Bank. And late last year, Egyptian and American archaeologists excavated an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials near Luxor. The tomb, which dates to the Middle Kingdom, was found in the South Asasif necropolis, next to the Temple of Hatshepsut. The joint Egyptian-American excavation found coffins for men, women and children, suggesting that it was a family tomb used for several generations. WHAT IS EGYPT'S VALLEY OF THE KINGS? The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions and is the famous burial ground of many deceased pharaohs. It is located near the ancient city of Luxor on the banks of the river Nile in eastern Egypt - 300 miles (500km) away from the pyramids of Giza, near Cairo. The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. Almost all of the tombs were opened and looted centuries ago, but the sites still give an idea of the opulence and power of the Pharaohs. The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922. Preserved to this day, in the tomb are original decorations of sacred imagery from, among others, the Book of Gates or the Book of Caverns. These are among the most important funeral texts found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs.
Argaam
6 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
HRSD Ministry launches Ajeer for Tourism Seasons service
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, launched the 'Ajeer for Tourism Seasons' service. The new service aims at enabling national workforce participation in seasonal jobs within the tourism sector and increasing their involvement in the labor market. According to a statement from the ministry today, the service is designed to meet the needs of tourism sector establishments—particularly those operating in accommodation, travel, and tourism activities – which are overseen and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism—during peak seasons. It allows these establishments to benefit from seasonal labor services across the Kingdom, in accordance with defined rules and regulations that ensure a smooth and flexible seasonal contracting process. The new service allows businesses to post job vacancies through the 'Ajeer' platform, and enables jobseekers to browse and apply for available opportunities online. It also facilitates the issuance of verified seasonal work permits that enhance the reliability of the contractual relationship between both parties. The ministry affirmed that this service is part of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing labor market flexibility, improving the efficiency and readiness of the national workforce, reducing reliance on non-national labor, and empowering citizens.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia increases wage support to 50% for tourism sector jobs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has raised wage subsidies for local workers in the tourism sector from 30 percent to 50 percent, in a strategic push to expand employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and reduce reliance on foreign labor. The initiative, part of the Employment Support Program by the Human Resources Development Fund, was unveiled by the Ministry of Tourism in coordination with other government agencies. It extends financial support to 43 tourism-related professions and is designed to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers in the sector. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the program aligns with the Ahlaha initiative — the ministry's national workforce empowerment plan — which seeks to train and integrate Saudi citizens into the tourism industry. The updated wage support is expected to encourage more private sector involvement in national workforce development and marks a significant step toward achieving the goals outlined in the Kingdom's National Tourism Strategy, which aims to create 1.6 million jobs by 2030 as part of the broader Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda. 'The step aims to raise the percentage of national employment in the tourism sector, while ensuring job sustainability and stability for Saudi workers,' the SPA report stated. The decision underscores ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and its partners to empower Saudi men and women in tourism-related roles and increase Saudization rates across the industry. Latest figures from the General Authority for Statistics show that by the fourth quarter of 2024, employment in the tourism sector grew by 4 percent year on year. Saudi nationals comprised 25 percent of the workforce — or 242,073 employees — while expatriates accounted for 75 percent, totaling 724,458 workers. The Riyadh and Makkah regions led the sector in employment numbers. In a related move, authorities announced in April that 41 key tourism roles, including hotel managers, travel agency directors, and tour guides, will be exclusively reserved for Saudi nationals starting April 2026. The decision is part of continued efforts to localize critical job functions and strengthen the domestic workforce.
