RIYADH: The Saudi Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) has revealed that funding for employment and training initiatives and programs in January reached SR351 million ($93 million), exceeding for the third consecutive month the Hafiz job seekers’ payment support, which reached SR218 million.
The expenditures have been increasing because of the developing and improving quality of programs, and the growing number of beneficiaries, including citizens and private sector enterprises.
At the start of the year, Hadaf implemented a new strategy that focuses on promoting partnership with the private sector, while also developing and improving support initiatives, with the aim of empowering and training citizens.
Hadaf provides training, employment and enablement programs to support citizens and facilities in different sectors, including the employment support program, the on-the-job training program (Tamheer,) the Nine Tenth platform, the program to support professional and technical diplomas, the program to support the transport of working women (Wusul,) and the national e-training platform (Doroob,) as well as many others.
Hadaf is committed to training and empowering male and female citizens to find job opportunities in different fields required by the Saudi labor market, in line with the Vision 2030 reform plan.
Saudi Arabia’s Hadaf spends $93m on training, job initiatives
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Saudi Arabia’s Hadaf spends $93m on training, job initiatives
- Hadaf is committed to training and empowering male and female citizens to find job opportunities in different fields required by the Saudi labor market
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.
More than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone. (SPA)
