RIYADH: The security spokesman of the Ministry of the Interior, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, announced the crime indicators in Saudi Arabia in 2016 and the total number of crimes attended to by Saudi police during the same year reached 149,781.
Al-Turki said in a press conference that the criminal offenses involved mainly assaults, thefts, drinking, moral and drug offenses, and many other types of crime.
He also explained that the rate of criminal assaults and thefts dealt with by the police in all regions of the Kingdom reached more than 60 percent out of the total number of crimes. Al-Turki stressed that the overall crime rate in the Kingdom has decreased by 4.5 percent compared to figures from 2015.
He further noted that the crime rate in the Kingdom was about 464.46 per 100,000 people. Jazan, Madinah, Makkah and Al-Baha recorded the highest crime rates per capita. The majority of crimes happened in Makkah, Riyadh, Madinah, and the Eastern Province, where 75 percent of crimes were committed, due to the high concentration of people actually living in these areas
Al-Turki explained that the rate of crimes per 100,000 people was highest in Al-Baha (774.19), followed by Madinah (755.27), then Makkah (592.5) and Jazan (487.82).
Saudi Interior Ministry reports 4.5% drop in crime rate in 2016
Saudi Interior Ministry reports 4.5% drop in crime rate in 2016
‘Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra’ shine at Maraya in AlUla
- The concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity
- It underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level
RIYADH: The “Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra” concert opened at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on Thursday under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the board of the Music Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah.
Organized by the Music Commission, the concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity.
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Hani Farhat, led audiences through carefully curated pieces reflecting heritage and modern creativity.
The repertoire combined traditional influences with orchestral scoring, offering listeners heritage-based compositions alongside recent arrangements.
Regional rhythms and layered musical textures were used to echo the Kingdom’s history, while pieces rooted in Saudi classical music tradition connected audiences with familiar cultural references in a fresh format.
The concert underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level.
The series seeks to honor national heritage while encouraging contemporary artistic engagement, and its growing local and international presence was highlighted throughout the evening.
The program also featured a visual dimension led by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, which staged live performances of Saudi folk arts.
Audiences saw presentations of Samri, Dahha, Rafeihi, Yanbawi, Zair and Khabeeti, synchronized with the orchestra to create one integrated artistic experience.
These folk elements were arranged to complement the orchestral sound, reinforcing the richness and variety of Saudi cultural identity. The combination of music and movement aimed to show how traditional forms can engage with large-scale concert settings while retaining their historical character and community roots.
This performance is an extension of the series of successes achieved by the Saudi Orchestra’s masterpieces both locally and internationally, and reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to showcasing Saudi music in its finest form.
