ARAR: The Arar crossing on the Saudi-Iraqi border is seeing a heavy flow of Iraqi pilgrims heading to the Kingdom to perform Hajj.
It has also been attracting diplomats. Saudi minister of state for Gulf affairs, Thamer Al-Sabhan, and Brett McGurk, US special envoy for the anti-Daesh coalition, on Wednesday inspected the crossing.
This came two days after a similar visit by Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad Abdul Aziz Al-Shemary, and his Iraqi counterpart Rashid Al-Any.
The vice president of the Anbar provincial council, Faleh Al-Issawi, said he had received Al-Sabhan and McGurk at the crossing.
Sabhan tweeted a picture of himself with McGurk and Al-Issawi during his visit, with the caption “from the Iraq of fraternity and brotherhood.”
Al-Issawi said the visit was intended to “inspect the crossing, its working mechanism and the mechanism of receiving Hajj pilgrims, in addition to its readiness for trade between Riyadh and Baghdad.”
The deputy governor of Anbar, Mustafa Al-Ersan, said the visit is “a positive step,” and the crossing will be open after the Hajj season for bilateral trade.
Saad Al-Hadithi, spokesman of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, said: “There is an agreement with Saudi Arabia on reopening the crossing for trade and visits between the two countries.”
The decision was made during Al-Abadi’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Al-Hadithi said, adding that Riyadh and Baghdad are also preparing to reopen the Jamima crossing.
Saudi-Iraqi border sees heavy flow of pilgrims headed for Hajj
Saudi-Iraqi border sees heavy flow of pilgrims headed for Hajj
Saudi authority sets new standards for beach operators on the Red Sea
JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has announced a new regulatory framework for beach operations, redefining beaches as managed operating sites rather than informal recreational spaces, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The framework introduces standardized requirements for beach operators, focusing on licensing, safety, risk management and service quality across coastal tourism activities.
Under the regulations, beach operations will be permitted only through licensed entities, with license issued for two-year periods.
Renewal applications must be submitted at least 30 days before expiration. The authority said the system is intended to bring consistency to beach management and provide operators with clearer operational timelines.
The framework applies along more than 1,800 km of Red Sea coastline and establishes a unified national approach to regulating beach activities. The authority said no beach operation will be allowed without an official license.
The initiative supports the authority’s broader objectives to develop a coastal tourism sector that contributes SR85 billion ($22.66 billion) to GDP by 2030, creates approximately 210,000 jobs, and attracts 19 million visitors, the SPA noted.
To ensure a smooth transition, the regulations will come into effect one month after their announcement, while existing operators will be granted a one-year grace period to comply.
Safety forms a central pillar of the new framework. Licensing conditions include environmental permits, insurance coverage, approved safety plans, defined activity zones, and assessments of beach capacity.
Operators will also be required to provide licensed lifeguards, safety equipment, and systems for incident reporting and analysis.
The requirements extend to infrastructure and operation standards, including compliance with the Saudi Building Code to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities and structural safety.
Operators are also encouraged to align with international benchmarks such as Blue Flag standards and the ISO 13009:2024 for beach management, the SPA added.
The authority said this framework is designed to reduce operational risks, improve oversight and support the sustainable development of coastal tourism.
Unified requirements reduce operational risks, minimize inconsistencies, and improve the sector’s ability to attract financing and scale sustainably.
