Saudi Red Crescent launches “Asefni” app to request emergency service

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Saudi Red Crescent paramedics show to the press their emergency equipment, ahead of the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. (File photo: AFP)
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ASAFNI applications is available to download for all smartphones.
Updated 21 May 2018
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Saudi Red Crescent launches “Asefni” app to request emergency service

JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has launched a new application to receive emergency services requests through smart phones in six different languages, with the aim of providing the best emergency services in the Kingdom.
The application, called “Asefni” or “Save Me,” allows users to communicate their distress to an emergency team via a phone call or text message, and are then able to track the status of their communication.

It also provides the emergency teams with the user’s location, as well as information about health facilities within their vicinity, emergency contact numbers for relief organizations, and the option of registering the user’s medical history.
There is a text-message-only option, designed to accommodate hearing impaired and special needs users, through which they can contact an emergency team without having to make any calls.
The Saudi Red Crescent seeks to provide the best emergency services to those in need by ensuring fast response to calls of distress, and increasing the accuracy of users’ locations.
Users are also able to send an urgent distress message in extreme emergencies to members of the Red Crescent and their next of kins through the SMS service.


Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

Updated 11 January 2026
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Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

  • It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content

TAIF: A special section highlighting key Saudi literary figures forms part of the Writers and Readers Festival in Taif.

The area explores the lives of distinguished writers, poets, and authors who have shaped the Kingdom’s creative landscape, influencing literature, journalism, theater and intellectual thought.

It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the festival runs until Jan. 15 and features 42 prominent publishing houses from Saudi Arabia and overseas, offering visitors the chance to explore the latest works in literature, philosophy and general knowledge.

Meanwhile, the festival’s interactive murals section engages visitors with openwork art panels, allowing them to contribute to the city’s features and identity.

The murals depict Taif’s natural and historical landmarks, including Al-Hada Mountain, the Taif rose gardens, and traditional Hijazi palaces. Others are inspired by Souq Okaz, a historic literary and commercial center linked to the region’s poetic heritage.

Designed by a visual artist, they blend folk-inspired elements with imaginative expression, creating a collaborative experience that celebrates the city’s beauty and brings art closer to the public.