Iraq’s prime minister performs Umrah during Saudi visit

1 / 4
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi performs Umrah. (@IraqiPMO)
2 / 4
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi performs Umrah. (@IraqiPMO)
3 / 4
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi performs Umrah. (@IraqiPMO)
4 / 4
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi performs Umrah. (@IraqiPMO)
Short Url
Updated 01 April 2021
Follow

Iraq’s prime minister performs Umrah during Saudi visit

  • Al-Kadhimi was pictured entering the Kaaba on the second day of his Saudi visit and looking at the Black Stone
  • The prime minister arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday and held meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

RIYADH: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi performed Umrah on Thursday.

On his arrival at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, he was received by a number of officials from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

Al-Kadhimi was pictured entering the Kaaba on the second day of his visit to Saudi Arabia and looking at the Black Stone.

On his arrival at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, he was received by a number of officials from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

After performing Umrah, the Iraqi prime minister left Jeddah. At King Abdul Aziz International Airport, he was seen off by Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, and a number of officials.

Al-Kadhimi arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for a visit on the invitation of King Salman. His official delegation included Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein as well as the ministers of finance, interior, oil, agriculture and housing.

He met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and they agreed on the need for their countries to continue coordinating in confronting extremism and terrorism. The two leaders also agreed to boost economic cooperation, starting with the creation of a joint Saudi-Iraqi fund worth $3 billion. 

 


Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index

Updated 29 December 2025
Follow

Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index

  • Jordanian capital second Arab city to be ranked in UN-backed index after Saudi Arabia’s Madinah

AMMAN: Jordan’s capital Amman has completed its first Quality of Life Index, ranking among the world’s leading cities to be assessed under the globally recognized framework, it was reported on Monday.

As a result, the city has become only the second in the Arab world — after Saudi Arabia’s Madinah — to be ranked in the program.

The Greater Amman Municipality said the city placed 10th globally out of 100 participating cities, with its index set to be officially listed on the international Quality of Life platform, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The assessment was developed in collaboration with the Quality of Life Initiative of the UN Human Settlements Programme — known as UN-Habitat — to advance urban well-being and human-centered development.

The Quality of Life Index combines objective data with residents’ perceptions, using global well-being indicators alongside local measures, offering a comprehensive picture of daily life.

The index measures performance across nine key areas: basic services, mobility, culture and recreation, education, environment, economy, governance, health and well-being, and housing and social cohesion.

Yousef Shawarbeh, the mayor of Amman, said the initiative aimed to support the city’s long-term vision of becoming a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable urban center, Petra reported.

He added that the index provided deeper insight into residents’ lived experiences and would help guide policymaking to improve quality of life.

Akram Khraisat, director of the Amman Urban Observatory, said the city’s participation marked a major step toward data-driven urban planning.

He added that the index would enable the municipality to better prioritize services, promote inclusive development, and assess the impact of policies on residents’ well-being, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Officials said the initiative complemented a range of ongoing development projects in the capital, including public transport improvements, participatory greening and urban agriculture schemes, climate action planning, digital transformation initiatives and the Greater Amman Municipality Strategic Plan 2022–2026.