Saudi Arabia
- Middle East
New Kiswah ready for annual replacement of Kaaba
Makkah: Saudi Arabia has completed the new Kiswah, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba, ahead of its annual replacement at the Grand Mosque in Makkah with the start of the…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia: Over 11 million pilgrims perform Umrah in Q4 2025
Makkah: Saudi Arabia recorded more than 11 million Umrah performers during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, reflecting sustained demand for pilgrimage travel and religious tourism across the Kingdom. According to a…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia suspends 21 Umrah companies over poor performance
Makkah: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies after performance evaluations revealed shortcomings in service quality and breaches of regulations governing the sector. The ministry said…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia mandates work permit for Premium Residency holders
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has introduced a work permit requirement for holders of Premium Residency, with applications to be processed through the Qiwa labour platform for a fee of Saudi Riyals 100, according…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia uncovers inscription linked to Islam’s 2nd caliph
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has announced the discovery of a rock inscription bearing the name of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Islam’s second caliph, during archaeological survey work in Al-Mahd Governorate in the…
- Middle East
Centre mulls policy for CBSE Class 12 students in West Asia
New Delhi: The Central Government on Friday, June 12, informed the Supreme Court that it is considering a policy for private CBSE Class 12 candidates in West Asia whose results remain pending…
- Middle East
Bahrain sounds alerts as Iran retaliates for US strikes
Dubai: Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens Wednesday, June 10, morning after Iran said it targeted the island nation to retaliate for US airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia denies attack on Prince Sultan Air Base
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense on Monday, June 8, dismissed claims circulating online that Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj was targeted in an attack, saying the reports are inaccurate. In…
- Middle East
Air raid sirens in Bahrain as Iranian drones head for Gulf states
Cairo: Bahrain’s government said Saturday, June 6, that Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones towards it and Kuwait. The foreign ministry said they had been intercepted and called on Iran to immediately…
- Middle East
Air India, Riyadh Air sign pact for codeshare partnership
Mumbai: Tata Group-owned Air India and newly launched Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Riyadh Air have signed an initial agreement for a planned codeshare partnership and interline arrangement, among others, according to a…
- Top Stories
Haj pilgrims report stolen items from luggage at Lucknow airport
Lucknow: Haj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia protested at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Tuesday, June 2, after reporting missing valuables and damaged luggage upon arrival from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.…
- India
India urges pilgrims to keep passports ready for Haj 2027
New Delhi: The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has urged intending pilgrims to ensure their passports are ready ahead of the Haj 1448 AH/ 2027 application process, as preparations for the next…
- Middle East
India appoints Vipul as next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has appointed senior diplomat Vipul as India’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), making him the first non-Muslim envoy to serve…
- News
India’s Consulate greets Haj pilgrims as departure phase starts
Riyadh: India’s Consul General in Jeddah, Fahad Suri, has extended his heartfelt ‘Haj Mubarak’ greetings to all Indian Haj pilgrims on the successful completion of the main Haj rituals. On the occasion…
- Middle East
Video of Wasim Akram performing Haj ritual in iconic bowling action goes viral
Makkah: A video of former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram performing a Haj ritual has gone viral, drawing widespread attention from cricket fans and social media users alike. The footage shows the 59-year-old…