RIYADH: In a session chaired by King Salman on Tuesday, the Cabinet welcomed Palestinian reconciliation efforts and wished them success to achieve national unity.
It approved changing the Council of Competition’s name to the General Authority for Competition, which is responsible for protecting and promoting fair competition, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Cabinet commended the Presidency of State Security for arresting five Daesh members and 22 others involved in incitement to commit criminal acts, and foiling an attempt to attack the western gate of Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of his visit to Russia and his talks with President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials.
During the visit, the king emphasized Saudi Arabia’s keenness to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation to ensure the stability of the global oil market, intensify efforts against extremism and terrorism, and end the suffering of the Palestinian people.
He highlighted the global importance of regional security and stability, which require Iran to stop intervening in other countries’ affairs, political solutions to the Yemeni and Syrian conflicts, maintaining Iraq’s unity and territorial integrity, combating terrorism, and urging the international community to assume its responsibilities toward Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims.
King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the phone call he received from Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir.
The Cabinet discussed Arab and Islamic denunciations of a flawed UN report on child casualties in Yemen.
It also discussed progress made in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030, especially regarding fiscal control and improving the business environment.
The Cabinet reiterated Saudi condemnation of a bombing in the southern Pakistani province of Baluchistan, and an attack on a patrol in southwest Niger.
Saudi Cabinet praises Palestinian reconciliation efforts
Saudi Cabinet praises Palestinian reconciliation efforts
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.
