RIYADH: Minister of Education Ahmed Al-Issa yesterday presided over the sixth irregular session of the general conference of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALESCO) held in Kuwait to elect a new director general to replace Abdullah Al-Mohareb who passed away in May.
Al-Issa said in a press conference: “It is an honor for me to attend this meeting to instill educational and religious values in our Arab and educational communities leading to a brighter future.”
“The organization is doing its important role in coming up with ideas and activities for educational projects, which prompts us to support it through these hard times. Therefore, we have to stand united and exert all our possible efforts to preserve the organization by providing the necessary financial support,” he said.
“The responsibility is huge and historic, and our hopes for this meeting are high. We shall stand united to provide the present and coming generations with Islamic and humanitarian values objectively and justly. Through this meeting, we turn the page as a step that stresses our achievements, quality standards, our important values of forgiveness and rejection of hatred,” Al-Issa said.
“We support international efforts to fight terrorism, in accordance with the Islamic Shariah that bans any assault and stresses the need for respecting laws and regulations. We shall also work on achieving the predicted visions and goals, and seek to encourage and promote qualitative initiatives for a better future.”
He pointed out that the organization’s priorities today is electing a new director general who has the required experience and wisdom, and has a qualitative plan to maintain and preserve the Arab-Islamic identity of the organization.
He added that the success of the long-established organization’s goals and objectives depends on choosing the right person for this position.
Saudi education minister presides over ALESCO session to elect new director general
Saudi education minister presides over ALESCO session to elect new director general
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)
