Motorists and pilgrims on Saudi Arabia's long highways will soon see upgraded fuel and rest stops offering hygienic toilets, clean mosques, good food and quality car repair services.
This comes as government starts its rehabilitation program in earnest of an estimated 10,000 rest stops across the country. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) are overseeing the project.
The government announced the project earlier this year, giving rest stop owners two years to ensure that their businesses meet stringent new quality criteria. The owners also have to contract specialized oil companies and major international fast food chains to set up shop at their rest stops.
Recently the authorities shut down a well-known roadside rest stop along the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway for violating hygiene and safety standards. The Al-Ruhaili rest stop, about 25 km east of downtown Jeddah, has been operating for over 30 years.
Mohammed Baqar, an Indian expatriate, who travels nearly 5,000 km every week on the Kingdom's roads, told Arab News: “I did not find a mosque or toilet at any of the service stations on the Madinah Highway and the situation is worse on the Riyadh Highway.”
Kalu Mian, a Bangladeshi truck driver who has been working on the country's highways for the last 27 years, said: “It's better not to talk about the cleanliness of the mosques and the sanitation of toilets on the highways.”
Individuals living in remote desert villages own most of the gas stations and allied service centers, including restaurants. These gas stations are poorly managed with dirty toilets. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has lambasted the owners of these stations for the state of the mosques.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs had tried over the last four years to upgrade services at these stations. The SCTA has also failed to implement a grading system. However, the government has now allowed the United Arab Emirates' top fuel company, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to help with its expertise. Other foreign companies have also expressed an interest in operating in Saudi Arabia, threatening the existence of the local operators.
Riad Malik, a member of the fuel stations committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers, said there are 10,000 gas stations and service centers along the country's highways that lack safe and hygienic services.
He said 90 percent of these stations are owned by individuals with no business experience and less than 10 percent are owned by business organizations such as the Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO).
He said the service stations in the Kingdom do not meet customer standards, 80 percent of the owners have no professional business experience and about 40 percent do not have permission to operate.
Revamp of highway rest stops under way
Revamp of highway rest stops under way
Riyadh Travel Fair spotlights diverse tourism offerings
- Egypt, Georgia, Turkiye and more attract Saudi tourists
- The fair serves as a platform for tourism products, services and investments, attracting leading global companies in the field
RIYADH: Top tourism companies showcased their destinations to the Saudi market at the Riyadh Travel Fair, which ended on Wednesday.
Held from May 27-29 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the event drew top travel and tourism firms from Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider world.
The fair serves as a platform for tourism products, services and investments, attracting leading global companies in the field.
This year, Riyadh welcomed 250 exhibitors from 23 countries, including 13 tourism boards. New exhibitors included Georgia, South Korea, Egypt, Russia, and the cities of Almaty, Sarajevo and St. Petersburg.
Rusudan Kokoladze, a senior specialist from Georgia’s tourism promotion office, told Arab News: “This is the first time we are participating in the fair, and what we are looking for is to expand our relations with Saudi Arabia and increase the number of Saudi tourists to Georgia, one of the target countries for Saudis who want to see the picturesque beauty and coastline of the Black Sea.
“There is a direct flight to Batumi, so it’s really easy, accessible and safe to travel. It has UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks and attractive greenery, which makes it a popular tourist destination,” she added.
Elene Gogelia, chief coordinator of the brand development department at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, told Arab News: “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had 10,000 visitors per year from Saudi Arabia. Of course, the response from year to year has been very positive with an increase in the number of tourists.
“After the pandemic, this is the first year (2024) when in the first quarter alone we have hosted 6,000 Saudi travelers. This is an increase of 28 percent compared to the same time last year.”
She added that Saudi travelers are interested in the Black Sea coast resorts as well as winter ski resorts.
Mohamed El-Sherbeiny, general manager of the International Tourism Office at the Egyptian Tourism Authority, told Arab News: “We are excited to be here; Saudi Arabia is the third biggest market for Egypt. Last year, we received almost 1 million tourists from the Kingdom. We aim to continue the growth rate this year as well, reaching 20 percent more than last year.
“We believe we could achieve it because there is great interest from Saudi travelers to explore more of the northern coast in Egypt during the summer, as it is a wonderful place to relax.”
He said that Riyadh is now a hub for tourists, and “to showcase Egypt at the RTF is interesting.”
Faruk Caluk, senior adviser for tourism development at Visit Sarajevo, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia is a very important market for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a lot of Saudi visitors come to our country. Earlier, we had visa issues, but now it’s solved and open for Saudi citizens, so we expect more visitors this year, and the RTF is a good opportunity.”
The Turkiye tourism and travel groups hosted a large delegation of hospitality partners at the fair. Additionally, the lead actors from popular Turkish series “Kurulus Osman” made an appearance — Orhan (Emre Bey), Cerkutay (Cagri Sensoy), and Holofira (Ecem Sena Bayir), as well as Gunkut Alp (Hakan Serim) from “Dirilis: Ertugrul.” The stars interacted with fans, sharing details about their work.
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation also took part in the fair. With 17 participants representing nine companies, Visit Maldives showcased the country as a premier travel destination to the Saudi market.
Saudi royal reserve abuzz over beekeeping program
- Program provides theoretical and practical training on the best methods for beekeeping and honey production
- As well as boosting economic development and promoting local products, it empowers young people by developing their skills
RIYADH: A “Bee Basics” training program by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority is offering qualifications and opportunities that will ultimately strengthen the local economy.
The program provides both theoretical and practical training on the best methods for beekeeping and honey production, reported Saudi Press Agency.
As well as boosting economic development and promoting local products, it empowers young people by developing their skills, introducing them to the latest beekeeping technologies and providing qualifications.
The training program is helping the authority achieve its strategic goals for community development, as well as building industrial leadership.
Once completed, trainees can obtain licenses from the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Water, allowing them to practice beekeeping and honey production on the royal reserve in accordance with environmental standards.
They are provided with items such as local beehives, beekeeping jackets and wax scrapers. The authority also provides technical support and consultations for a full year, as well as marketing services.
The royal reserve is well known for the quality of its honey varieties, such as sidr, talh, sayyal and shafallah honey. The authority provides places for beekeepers to set up hives in accordance with regulations that guarantee the preservation and sustainability of natural resources.
Since 2020, around 10,584 beneficiaries have shared honey industry funding of SR140 million ($37.3 million) from the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, also known as Saudi Reef.
Honey production in the Kingdom reached 3,120 tonnes in 2023, a 41 percent increase on 2021. The aim is to increase this to 7,500 tonnes by 2026.
Getty Images co-founder opens ‘Library Talks’ initiative in Riyadh
RIYADH: Mark Getty, the chairman and co-founder of Getty Images, was the guest speaker at the first of a series of “Library Talks” hosted by the King Fahd National Library in Riyadh.
The initiative aims to provide a monthly platform for thought leaders, experts and influencers from around the world to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In his presentation, titled “A Journey Through the Horizons of Technology,” Getty shared his insights on setting up and developing one of the world’s best-known visual media companies.
He spoke of the obstacles and challenges he has faced and emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of producers, authors and content creators.
Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of the library’s board, welcomed Getty to the Kingdom.
Beauty of Soudah to feature in 3 Discovery documentaries
- Media giant teams up with state-owned real estate firm Soudah Development
- Films will tell ‘captivating stories of Soudah’s natural wonders,’ Discovery says
JEDDAH: Soudah Development, a real estate company owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery International to produce three short films to promote the beauty, culture and heritage of the Soudah region in the Kingdom’s southwest.
The partnership will focus on Soudah Peaks, a luxury mountain tourism destination in Abha region, set 3,000 meters above sea level.
The documentaries will air around the world this summer on WBD’s Discovery Channel, Food Network, Travel Channel, Eurosport 1 and 2, as well as on international social media platforms.
Eng. Saleh Al-Oraini, CEO of Soudah Development, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Warner Bros. Discovery to unveil the exceptional beauty and cultural significance of the Soudah region, along with Saudi Arabia, on a global scale.
“This collaboration marks a pivotal step in our endeavor to position Soudah as a unique luxury mountain tourism destination and we are confident that it will captivate travelers from around the world.”
The Soudah region’s diverse fauna and flora, landscapes and agricultural traditions, like beekeeping, will all feature in the films.
Mike Rich, head of sports and lifestyle international brand partnerships at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “Partnering with Soudah Development presents an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the unique appeal of Soudah Peaks through our influential media platforms.
“We are thrilled to bring captivating stories of Soudah’s natural wonders and cultural heritage to our viewers. We eagerly anticipate a successful collaboration.”
The partnership comes after Saudi property developer Red Sea Global in April teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery to produce a 45-minute documentary titled “Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals.”
Released on Earth Day, the film chronicles the work of Saudi free diver and environmentalist Salma Shaker and illuminates the remarkable resilience of Red Sea corals and their pivotal role in bolstering global coral health.
“Soudah is not merely a tourist spot, it’s a sanctuary of tranquility and natural marvels,” Saudi environmentalist Hussain Asiri told Arab News.
“With this newfound exposure, I’m sure we will see a concerted effort toward responsible tourism, one that cherishes and conserves our environment while showcasing its magnificence to the world.”
Mohammed Al-Malky, a local tour guide, said: “Soudah’s beauty isn’t just for us to enjoy, it’s a treasure that deserves global recognition. Hopefully, these documentaries will inspire more people to visit and experience the magic of our mountains and valleys.”
Visa holders can’t enter Makkah during Hajj season — Saudi interior ministry
- Between May 23 and June 21, only pilgrims with Hajj permits can enter Makkah
- Interior ministry says penalties to be imposed on anyone violating the rules
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced visit visa holders will not be allowed to enter or remain in Makkah during the Hajj season.
Between May 23 and June 21, only pilgrims with Hajj permits may do so, with penalties imposed on anyone violating the rules.
The ministry emphasized that visit visas did not give the holder permission to perform Hajj. It also urged visitors currently in Saudi Arabia to avoid travel to Makkah during the specified period.
“Violators will be subject to penalties according to the Kingdom’s regulations,” said a statement from the ministry.
Earlier, the Ministry of Interior said it would start imposing fines amounting to $2,666 on anyone, including Saudi citizens, caught entering Makkah without a Hajj permit between June 2-20.
