RIYADH: The Haramain high-speed train network, which was hit by a huge fire, will resume operations within 30 days, Saudi Arabia's transport minister said Tuesday.
The service was halted on Sunday after a fire broke out at the station in Jeddah, injuring at least five people.
“Despite the damage caused by the fire, the Haramain train will resume its services within 30 days using the new King Abdulaziz Airport Terminal, as well as as well as stations in Makkah, King Abdullah Economic City and Medina, to serve Jeddah’s residents and visitors,” Nabeel Al-Amoudi, Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Railways Company (SAAR).
The minister praised the various sectors that worked together to contain the blaze in Jeddah's Sulaimaniyah district.
Al-Amoudi thanked the Saudi Civil Defense, the General Security Aviation Command, the Red Crescent, support teams from Saudi Aramco, the Air Force and Civil Aviation.
The minister toured the site of the blaze on Monday to assess the extent of the damage.
Passengers and workers were evacuated from the station as soon as the fire alarm systems went off at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday.
The blaze, which was centered in the roof of the station, lasted for 15 hours.
The Haramain train to return to service in 30 days after Jeddah fire
The Haramain train to return to service in 30 days after Jeddah fire
- The service was halted on Sunday after a fire broke out at the station in Jeddah
- The transport minister praised the various sectors that worked together to contain the blaze
Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military
- Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
- The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.
The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”
A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.
On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”
The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.
During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.
The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.
“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.
