King Salman received by President Essebsi on arrival in Tunisia for official visit

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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPA)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. (SPAt)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
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King Salman left Saudi Arabia for Tunisia Thursday on an official visit to the country. (SPA)
Updated 31 March 2019
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King Salman received by President Essebsi on arrival in Tunisia for official visit

RIYADH: King Salman arrived in Tunisia on Thursday on an official visit to the country, and was received by Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

The king will head Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the 30th Arab League summit that will take place in Tunis on Sunday. 

The visit comes as a response to an invitation by President Essebsi. 

Essebsi said on Thursday that King Salman’s visit confirms that relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are at the highest level. 

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Tunisia Mohamed bin Mahmoud Al-Ali said that the Kingdom and Tunisia are working together to combat the growing phenomena of terrorism and extremism.

He added that the king’s visit confirmed the depth of the historic relations between the two countries. 

The Tunisian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Lutfi bin Qayed said that “President Beji Caid Essebsi is looking forward to meeting King Salman and supervising together the launch of a number of development and investment projects in Tunisia,” especially in the housing, health, and infrastructure sectors.  

Government ministers from the 22 Arab League states are holding preparatory meetings in Tunis all week for Sunday's summit.


Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

Updated 29 December 2025
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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. 

Pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in this photo taken earlier this month. (SPA)

"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.