RIYADH: There was excitement but no crowds early on Monday morning at Riyadh’s international airport as Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on citizens traveling out of the Gulf state without prior permission from authorities.
Saudi nationals who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot a minimum two weeks prior to travel, those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease within the last six months, and those under 18, will be allowed to travel for the first time since March 2020.
“It’s a great feeling, thank God, we are happy, especially after the difficult period we and the entire world have suffered,” said Bandar Al Nawash, a passenger waiting in the departure lounge of King Khalid International Airport.
Fellow national Faisal Al Tamimi said he had expected large crowds at the airport, but there were only a few travelers early on Monday after the suspension was lifted at 1 a.m. local time. read more
“I think people are worried about the coronavirus variants such as the one in India, and new developments in some countries,” Al Tamimi said.
There are 13 countries Saudi nationals are still banned from visiting without prior permission, whether through direct or indirect flights due to COVID-19 risks. read more
Saudi Arabia, with a population of some 30 million, reported 825 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking total caseload to 433,094, including 7,162 deaths.
Authorities said on Sunday more than 11.5 million vaccines had been administered in the Gulf Arab state so far.
“Thank God ... today we can travel whether for tourism or for business. God willing this pandemic will be over and everyone will be able to travel,” said Jaber Al Mahadi, another traveler at the airport on Monday morning.
It’s a great feeling’: Saudis free to travel abroad after more than a year
https://arab.news/gr623
It’s a great feeling’: Saudis free to travel abroad after more than a year
- Saudi nationals who have received at least one COVID-19 shot a minimum two weeks prior to travel can travel from March 2020
- Those who have recovered from the coronavirus within the last six months and those under 18 will also be allowed to travel
Saudi woman transforms Arabic learning for children with interactive calligraphy game
- Lujain Abulfaraj established “Akwan” (universes in Arabic) to enrich language learning for children a
RIYADH: Driven by her passion for the Arabic language, Saudi woman Lujain Abulfaraj has embarked on a mission to make it more engaging for children. After noticing her son’s disinterest in Arabic, she sought a solution.
In 2015, Abulfaraj enrolled in a design program dedicated to exploring the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and its potential as an educational tool, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Realizing its ability to be both entertaining and instructive, she created a game featuring large Arabic letters that could be arranged into words for play.
This led her to establish a venture aimed at enriching language learning for children. In 2020, she introduced “Akwan” (universes in Arabic), a set of magnetic bricks inspired by Arabic calligraphy, designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable for children.
At the Riyadh International Book Fair, Abulfaraj highlighted the boundless creative possibilities “Akwan” offers children, SPA reported.
She praised the Ministry of Culture for its efforts in revitalizing Saudi culture, particularly the language, and for supporting young talent in the country.
In recognition of her dedication, the Ministry of Culture nominated Abulfaraj for the 2023 Cultural Awards in architecture and design, where she became one of the top three finalists in the Kingdom.
Her work also earned the “Designed in Saudi” seal.
Deal signed to promote falconry on Hawi platform
- The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition
- The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform
RIYADH: Saudi Falcons Club’s CEO Talal Al-Shamaisi, and Khalid Al-Baker, the Quality of Life Program’s CEO, have signed a memorandum of cooperation to support falconry and establish amateur clubs through Hawi, the national hobbies portal.
The deal was signed on the sidelines of the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, which is being held in Malham, Riyadh, until Oct. 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The agreement will help enthusiasts form falconry clubs and produce supplies via the Hawi platform. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration to promote falconry and enhance the community’s cultural and recreational life.
Hawi, an initiative of the Quality of Life Program, aims to stimulate the hobbies sector by creating clubs while providing a supportive environment.
The memorandum supports the club’s goals to increase the number of falconry practitioners, preserve cultural heritage, promote environmental awareness, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for falconry.
Separately, the Saudi Falcons Club and King Khalid University have signed a memorandum of cooperation to implement awareness initiatives and rehabilitation programs related to falcons and falconry.
The agreement also includes research and training programs in falconry. It aims to attract investors, share data and studies, and collaborate on events, exhibitions, and conferences.
Saudi project clears 1,579 Houthi mines in Yemen
- A total of 465,252 mines had been cleared since Masam's inception in 2018
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,579 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included five anti-personnel mines, 126 anti-tank mines, 1,442 unexploded ordnances and six explosive devices, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 465,252 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
Moon-Venus conjunction visible in northern Saudi Arabia
- Celestial show after sunset over the Northern Border region was visible to the naked eye
RAFHA: A spectacular celestial event occurred over Saudi Arabia’s northern skies on Saturday night, with the moon and Venus in conjunction, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Known as a conjunction, the phenomenon in the sky after sunset in the Northern Border region was visible to the naked eye, with the moon and the planet separated by just three degrees.
A conjunction occurs when two celestial objects appear close to each other in the sky and share the same celestial longitude, according to astronomer Berjis Al-Fulaih.
Al-Fulaih, an official with the AFAQ Society for Astronomy in Taif, noted that Venus is often referred to as the “Evening Star” or the “Morning Star,” depending on its position in the west or east.
The alignment marks the beginning of the moon’s monthly journey past the bright planets.
In an interview with SPA before the celestial event, Jeddah Astronomy Society chief Majed Abu Zahra said the appearance of the crescent moon and Venus together shortly after sunset, before the sky darkened fully, created the spectacular view.
“As the second and third brightest objects in the night sky, after the sun, they will present a striking view,” he said.
A faint glow, caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth (known as Earthshine), will softly illuminate the unlit part of the moon’s disk, he explained.
Abu Zahra said there will be another astronomical event in mid-October: the arrival of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, which will appear 20 to 25 degrees northwest of Venus on Oct. 13 and 14. The comet may even be visible to the naked eye, although comets are notoriously unpredictable.
By Oct. 25, Venus will appear three degrees north of the star Antares. Toward the end of the month, Venus will draw closer to Earth, with its disk measuring 14 arcseconds and being 77 percent illuminated, Abu Zahra told SPA.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF considers larger stake in Nintendo
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said on Saturday it was considering raising its stake in Japan’s Nintendo and other Japanese gaming companies, according to reports.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice chair of the PIF’s gaming unit, disclosed the plan in an interview with Kyodo News.
He said that the PIF was “not in a rush to increase its stakes” and that the investments would be made in a “friendly way.”
The PIF currently owns 8.58 percent of Nintendo and has stakes in video game companies Capcom, Nexon, and Koei Tecmo.
