RIYADH: A restaurant in Taif has been shut down and its workers told to take medical tests after 150 of its customers suffered food poisoning.
The control center of the Ministry of Health received an SOS call from a hospital at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, when 36 cases were admitted to a hospital as a result of food poisoning, according to an official from the ministry.
On receiving the alert from the hospital, the official said, the ministry sent out 15 medical teams to receive the increased number of patients which brought the total number of victims to 150.
Nine out of the 150 cases found medical treatment in nearby medical clinics while the other 141 were admitted to various hospitals for emergency treatment.
According to the latest information received by Arab News, many patients have been discharged from the hospital, while others are taking treatment in different facilities.
Currently, six children are in a pediatric hospital, 45 patients are kept under observation in Thurbah Hospital, seven patients in Khurma hospital and 19 in Qiyah hospital.
A total of 73 people among the victims have gone home after medical treatment.
The official said that legal action will be taken against the owner of the restaurant if the food outlet is found to have violated any of the regulations of the local authorities. The ministry has already appointed a committee of inquiry to look into the matter.
Taif restaurant shut down after 150 suffer food poisoning
Taif restaurant shut down after 150 suffer food poisoning
Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations
- Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday announced the suspension of an Umrah company and its overseas agent for failing to provide accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.
It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.
This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said.
"The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality," it added.
Last June, the ministry suspended seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims.
In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone.
Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.
More than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone. (SPA)
