RIYADH: In an emergency, call 911 — but only if you can speak Arabic.
That was the lesson learned by an American expatriate who endured a frustrating time when she tried to make a report to the police operations center in Riyadh.
Now Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif has ordered an investigation into the police’s handling of the call, which was cut off because the woman spoke only English.
In a recording posted on social media, a staff member at the operations center can be heard asking colleagues if anyone speaks English.
The call was then cut off, but another staff member called the woman back and advised her to either speak Arabic, or find an Arabic speaker to make her report.
The ministry said the conduct of the operations center staff did not fulfill their responsibilities to serve citizens and expatriates alike.
The minister ordered that those responsible be held accountable, and that shortcomings in the 911 Riyadh operations center be addressed.
A senior security official told Arab News the minister would take the necessary measures after the investigation. Staff were expected to carry out their duties professionally, the official said. In the event of a language difficulty, they should refer to senior officers to resolve the issue.
The official said the 911 police operations center in Makkah was fully equipped and had multilingual staff. The Riyadh center had recently been partially upgraded, with completion expected by the end of the year.
Saudi interior minister orders inquiry after language clash in 911 call
Saudi interior minister orders inquiry after language clash in 911 call
Grand Mosque launches Ramadan plan for women
MAKKAH: The Women’s Affairs Agency at the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched its Ramadan enrichment plan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The plan includes six main tracks and 24 initiatives. It aims to enrich female worshippers’ experiences, enhance Shariah and behavioral awareness, empower women, and improve religious services while upholding the sanctity of the site.
The six tracks are: awareness and guidance; scholarly and guidance affairs; enrichment and volunteering; women’s empowerment; public relations and communication; and development and quality.
The awareness and guidance track intensifies field presence in high-density areas to provide Shariah guidance, answer questions, correct worship misconceptions, and distribute multilingual materials.
The scholarly affairs track offers lessons, enrichment talks, and programs that strengthen devotional knowledge and promote moderate values.
The enrichment and volunteering track expands female volunteer participation in organizational and service roles, improving efficiency and field support.
The women’s empowerment track develops the professional and cognitive skills of female staff and prepares qualified women to serve at the two sites to a high standard.
The public relations and communication track strengthens engagement with female worshippers and relevant entities, ensuring integrated services and smooth experiences inside the Grand Mosque.
The development and quality track monitors performance and improves operations to elevate service standards.
The initiatives aim for a lasting religious and educational impact, improving the Ramadan experience for female worshippers and supporting an integrated, high-quality service model.
