Latest news with #SaudiFoundingDay
Leaders
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Cultural Fund Brings Saudi Handicrafts to Selfridges in London
The Cultural Development Fund has launched a special showcase of Saudi handicrafts at Selfridges in London, offering global visitors a unique glimpse into the Kingdom's rich artisanal traditions. Drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia's varied landscapes and urban culture, the exhibition celebrates the creative and economic significance of traditional crafts. This initiative is part of the Year of Crafts 2025 and will be on display throughout June in a specially curated space within the renowned department store. Designed to reflect the essence of Saudi culture, the installation features lavender and clay-inspired elements symbols of the nation's natural beauty and architectural legacy. The exhibition reinterprets Saudi craftsmanship through a contemporary lens, featuring a vibrant collection of palm-weaving, leatherwork, and handcrafted jewelry. Each piece is made by skilled male and female artisans across the Kingdom, showcasing the country's cultural richness and regional diversity. Finally, the display highlights the fusion of age-old techniques with modern design, underscoring the evolving story of Saudi craft. Related Topics : Celebrating Heritage: Saudi Embassy USA Commemorates Saudi Founding Day Almortajaz Arabian Horse Show to Celebrate Saudi Founding Day 500 drones fly in the sky of 'Ithra' on the Saudi founding day KSA Gears Up to Celebrate Saudi Founding Day Short link : Post Views: 1 Related Stories
Arab News
22-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia sees surging prices for religious tourism amid Ramadan rush
RIYADH: Ramadan is a highly popular period to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, and travel agencies and tour operators are cashing in on the festive rush. Flights from Riyadh to Jeddah are seeing increased demand and surging prices. 'There was an offer on Saudi Founding Day so some people got cheaper tickets, but with the beginning of Ramadan tickets went up,' said Mohammad Aslam Jameel, a travel company supervisor in Riyadh. 'If you are traveling now to Jeddah, the round-trip tickets will cost about SR1,700 ($453) to SR2,000.' There are comparatively cheaper tickets for odd timings, but they, too, will total about SR1,500 now to SR 2,000 during Qiyam — the last 10 days of Ramadan — he added. Umrah travel operators in Riyadh have almost doubled the price of the bus tour package to SR200 per person, Mohammed Iqbal, who recently booked an Umrah pilgrimage, told Arab News. 'The huge rush was due to the holy month of Ramadan since most of the people want to spend these days in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,' he said. An employee of Al-Fajr, a tour operator in the city, also added that the increased prices were due to surging demand. Ticket prices for international flights, too, have soared on dates close to Eid Al-Fitr as many expatriates plan to travel back home. Asif Ahmed, an Indian working in Riyadh and traveling home for the Eid celebration with his family, told Arab News: 'When I had checked the price with the tour operator for the same period two months ago for a round trip, it was about SR2,000. Now the tickets prices for the round trip have soared to SR4,000.' Syed Faiz Ahmad, a Pakistani expat working in Yanbu, told Arab News: 'It's my 28th year staying in Saudi Arabia. During my early years the cost of air tickets for travel to my native country during Eid was not much, but as the time has passed all airlines have started to raise the prices exorbitantly amid (the) festive rush. 'This has become economically challenging to travel home during holidays especially with family.' Saudi Arabia's religious tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with data revealing a sharp rise in travel demand for 2024 and 2025. Findings from travel booking platform Skyscanner highlight the increasing global interest in pilgrimage travel. With early 2025 travel data already reflecting strong demand, the trend of growing religious tourism is expected to continue. January 2025 saw a 21 percent year-on-year increase in flight searches to Saudi Arabia, with peak travel interest centered around March 2025 — coinciding with the start of Ramadan. Findings for 2024 also revealed spikes around Ramadan (March–April) and Hajj (June). Madinah has emerged as a key destination for travelers interested in pilgrimage, with searches for flights to Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport rising by 54 percent year-on-year. Religious tourism remains a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, serving as a key pillar in the Kingdom's economic transformation. Significant investments are being made to improve infrastructure, expand flight routes and enhance the pilgrim experience. Key projects such as the Makkah Route Initiative for Hajj pilgrims and the Haramain High-Speed Railway are instrumental in these efforts. Countering the trend of surging prices, the railway offered discounts on two-way travel between Makkah and Madinah during the first 20 days of Ramadan. The railway has also increased Makkah-Madinah trips for the final 10 days of Ramadan to accommodate the surge in Umrah performers during Qiyam Al-Layl, with 130 additional daily trips added, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Haramain High-Speed Railway, among the world's fastest railways with a speed of 300 km per hour, also increased station gate capacity from eight to 24 and added two terminals.
Leaders
28-02-2025
- Leaders
Riyadh Metro, Public Transport Buses Extend Hours during Ramadan
Riyadh Public Transport has extended the operating hours of the Riyadh Metro and public transport buses during the month of Ramadan, according to Gulf News. Therefore, the Riyadh Metro will run until 2am on all days except Friday with service extending until 3am. The metro will begin operations at 12pm on Fridays instead of the usual morning schedule. Meanwhile, public transport buses will operate daily from 6.30am to 3am. From Sunday to Thursday, the Riyadh Metro will operate from 8am to 2am. As for Saturdays, it will run from 10am to 2am, and from 12pm to 3am on Fridays. Public transport buses will run from 6.30am to 3am daily. The revised schedule seeks to facilitate mobility across the capital during Ramadan and provide commuters with greater flexibility in travel times. Related Topics: Riyadh Metro Expands with Iconic Qasr Al-Hokm Station Opening Wrth, Riyadh Metro Celebrate Saudi Founding Day with Traditional Arts Showcase Riyadh Metro Serves 18 mln Passengers since Inauguration Short link : Post Views: 12 Related Stories
Daily Tribune
25-02-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) celebrates Saudi Founding Day at King Fahd Causeway
Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), the leading provider of innovative Islamic financial solutions for simplifying money matters in the Kingdom of Bahrain, participated in the celebrations of the Saudi Founding Day on 22nd February. The event, held at the King Fahd Causeway, saw BisB employees distributing souvenirs to visitors from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, warmly welcoming them to their second home, the Kingdom of Bahrain. As part of this initiative, BisB has introduced a new remote account opening service for GCC citizens through its digital application, BisB Mobile. This service enables customers from GCC countries to effortlessly open various types of accounts, including Tejoori Al Islami, savings accounts, current accounts (excluding check books), and investment accounts. Additionally, users can apply for VISA Debit and VISA Arcade Prepaid cards via the 'BisB Digital' app without the need to visit a branch in Bahrain. The VISA Arcade Card is specifically designed to offer benefits to individuals engaged in digital gaming, providing GCC citizens with enhanced access to BisB's innovative financial solutions. GCC citizens can now open a bank account in Bahrain within minutes, benefitting from a fully integrated digital banking experience. This initiative underscores BisB's commitment to enhancing accessibility to financial services for GCC residents. The new banking service for GCC citizens aligns with the objectives of BisB's new strategy, 'Riyada,' which aims to expand the scope of its digital services to customers outside the Kingdom, achieve sustainable excellence in reliable banking services, enhance productivity, build long-term capabilities, and provide an exceptional banking experience across the Kingdom that meets the changing needs of customers.
Daily Tribune
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Deputy Prime Minister attends Saudi Founding Day reception
On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister, attended the reception hosted by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bahrain, marking Saudi Founding Day. Upon arrival, accompanied by H.E. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah was received by H.E. Nayef bin Bandar Al Sudairi, the Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah conveyed the congratulations of HRH Prince Salman to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi people. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah highlighted that Bahrain's celebration of Saudi Founding Day reflects the deep-rooted historical ties established by past generations, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the advancement in strategic cooperation and integration between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, attributing it to the efforts of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia to serve the aspirations of both countries and their people.
