Madinah research center’s projects and initiatives unveiled

Madinah region officials maintain social distancing regulations as they attend the inauguration of the works of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Research and Studies Center in Madinah city on Saturday. (SPA)
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Updated 02 May 2021
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Madinah research center’s projects and initiatives unveiled

MADINAH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman inaugurated projects and initiatives of the Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Research and Studies Center.

One of the projects was an electronic platform with all the center’s publications on Madinah’s history and heritage, as well as magazines with research on the historical, geographical, social and literary aspects of Madinah and Saudi Arabia.

He also inaugurated the digital doorway for the “Madinah Picture Book,” which is in Arabic and English and contains old and rare photographs from around the world documenting different stages of Madinah’s history and heritage. 

It also has photographs of the Prophet’s Mosque, monuments, Quba Mosque, and prominent landmarks. 

Prince Faisal praised the center’s contributions and important role in preserving and highlighting the history of Madinah and Islamic monuments since its establishment in 1997.

The prince launched a new competition organized by the center, with prizes of more than SR325,000 ($86,654). 

It focuses on promoting the values of Islam, spreading tolerance and moderation, as well as shedding light on Prophet Muhammad’s life through four different tracks. 

The four tracks are: Research on the prophet’s life, the best short film on his life, the best photograph or sketch of Madinah and its monuments, and the best creative idea showing the prophet’s life.

The prince also launched the “Sighted” initiative, with the center’s publications issued in Braille for the visually impaired and blind.

He was briefed about the projects being carried out in the scientific, cultural, historical and administrative fields.

These include an online encyclopedia of Madinah’s landmarks, updating the center’s bylaws and regulations and developing its execution plan, and the center’s achievement report for 2020.


Saudi Cabinet condemns ‘blatant’ Iranian aggression; affirms Kingdom’s right to respond to threats

Updated 04 March 2026
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Saudi Cabinet condemns ‘blatant’ Iranian aggression; affirms Kingdom’s right to respond to threats

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has warned it reserves the “full right” to respond to Iranian aggression following a series of “blatant and cowardly” strikes targeting the capital and the Eastern Province.

The warning came during a late-night Cabinet session on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman via videoconference, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

During the session, the Cabinet “reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with the brotherly countries whose territories were subjected to blatant Iranian aggression”, signaling a united front against regional threats.

The session followed a dramatic escalation of hostilities, including a direct drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh. 

Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that while air defenses intercepted multiple threats, the embassy compound sustained a “limited fire and minor material damage.”

General Al-Malki further announced that Saudi forces successfully intercepted and destroyed eight additional drones targeting the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj early Tuesday morning.

In a sharp rebuke of the embassy strike, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) cited a flagrant violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“The repetition of this flagrant Iranian behavior... will push the region toward further escalation,” the Ministry stated, underscoring that these provocations occurred despite Riyadh’s explicit policy of not allowing its airspace or territory to be used as a launchpad for strikes against Iran.

Global condemnation and solidarity

The Cabinet expressed deep appreciation for the wave of international support as world leaders condemned Tehran’s “indiscriminate” behavior.

In a joint show of force, the US and GCC member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) along with Jordan stood united, labeling the strikes a “dangerous escalation” and reaffirming a collective right to self-defense.

Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and India. — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — voiced strong solidarity with the Kingdom. The UK government confirmed its forces are engaged in “defensive actions” to maintain regional stability.

Amid the heightened military tension, the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom’s hospitality efforts for GCC citizens currently stranded at Saudi airports due to regional airspace closures. The crown prince reaffirmed that the state would mobilize all capabilities to support brotherly nations in any measures they take to restore regional peace and stability.