Saudi Arabia temporarily closes 10 mosques after detecting COVID-19 cases

The ministry called on mosque employees to follow up the implementation of all precautionary measures adopted in mosques. (File/AFP)
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Updated 24 February 2021
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Saudi Arabia temporarily closes 10 mosques after detecting COVID-19 cases

  • Three of the mosques were later opened after completing sterilization procedures
  • Islamic Affairs ministry said will continue inspections of mosques throughout Kingdom

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced on Tuesday the temporary closure of 10 mosques in six regions after detecting COVID-19 cases among worshipers.
The closed mosques were in Jizan, Riyadh, Makkah, Asir, Medina, and the Eastern province.
Three of the mosques were later opened after completing sterilization procedures. Two of which were in Riyadh and one in the Eastern province.
In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has closed 135 mosques, of which 108 were later opened following sterilization.
The ministry called on mosque employees to follow up the implementation of all precautionary measures adopted in mosques, and notifying the ministry of any violations.
The ministry said it will continue to carry out inspections of mosques throughout the Kingdom to ensure the health and safety of worshipers.

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Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to the two-state solution

Updated 27 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to the two-state solution

  • Waleed Elkhereiji stressed the “importance of mobilizing political and economic support and advancing practical steps that translate commitments into concrete measures and accelerate the realization of the two-state solution”

RIYADH: In Riyadh on Friday, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji participated on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan in the extraordinary meeting of the Open-Ended Executive Committee at the level of foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Elkhereiji reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and its efforts to unify international positions.

He stressed the “importance of mobilizing political and economic support and advancing practical steps that translate commitments into concrete measures and accelerate the realization of the two-state solution,” the SPA stated. 

He also restated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continuing this path with partner countries to achieve “a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative.”