Saudi Arabia registers 2 COVID-19 deaths, 41 new infections

The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 235 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 4.81 million. (File/SPA)
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Updated 04 October 2021
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Saudi Arabia registers 2 COVID-19 deaths, 41 new infections

  • Citizens wishing to travel to countries on the banned list for humanitarian cases can apply through Absher electronic platform
  • Ministry of Interior records 22,380 violations against precautionary measures in past week

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia confirmed two new COVID-19 related deaths on Sunday, raising the total number of fatalities to 8,724.
The Ministry of Health confirmed 41 new cases reported in the Kingdom in the previous 24 hours, meaning 547,262 people have now contracted the disease. Of the total number of cases, 181 remain in critical condition.
According to the ministry, the highest number of cases were recorded in the capital Riyadh with 11 cases, followed by Jeddah with 10, Madinah and Khobar confirmed three cases each, and Tabuk, Makkah and Hail reported one case each.
The health ministry also announced that 49 patients had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 536,330.
Over 42.3 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the Kingdom to date through 587 centers.
The ministry renewed its call on the public to register with the Sehhaty app to receive the vaccine, and adhere to the measures and abide by instructions.


The General Directorate of Passports announced that citizens wishing to travel to countries on the banned list for humanitarian cases, can apply through the Ministry of Interior’s Absher electronic platform, without the need to visit its headquarters.
The service allows citizens to request travel permits for specific reasons, including permanent residence abroad, death of a relative, accompanying a citizen receiving treatment abroad, and citizens donating organs to their relatives receiving treatment abroad.
The Ministry of Interior reported 22,380 in the past week, with the highest recorded in Riyadh with 8,238, followed by the Eastern Province with 3,519, Makkah with 2,265, and Qassim with 2,004. Najran recorded the lowest number of violations with 164.
Municipalities in the Kingdom have shut down multiple commercial outlets as part of their efforts to monitor compliance with health and safety measures to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Eastern Province Municipality closed 14 facilities during 9,176 inspection tours carried out in the past week. Authorities also issued fines to 428 other businesses.
Jeddah Municipality closed 47 businesses and fined 67 others for violating measures during 8,585 monitoring rounds over the past two days.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected over 235 million people globally and the death toll has reached around 4.81 million.


Saudi Public Security to issue Makkah entry permit instructions on Saturday ahead of Hajj season

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Saudi Public Security to issue Makkah entry permit instructions on Saturday ahead of Hajj season

  • General Directorate of Passports also said it had begun to issue electronic entry permits for workers in Makkah

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Public Security said on Friday that it would issue instructions for residents wishing to obtain permission to enter Makkah ahead of Hajj season on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It also said any Saudi residents wishing to obtain a permit must do so from the relevant authorities and that those who fail to get the necessary permits will be prevented from entering the holy city.

Also on Friday, in an attempt to streamline entry procedures for residents during the Hajj season, the General Directorate of Passports said it had begun to issue electronic entry permits for workers in Makkah.

The digital service, facilitated through the Ministry of Interior’s online platform Absher and the Muqeem portal, will remove the need for in-person visits to passport offices and will allow those seeking entry permits to submit documents online.


Joint Saudi-US ‘Protection Shield IV’ drill begins

Updated 03 May 2024
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Joint Saudi-US ‘Protection Shield IV’ drill begins

  • The drill sought to heighten awareness of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks

DHAHRAN: In a display of strategic cooperation, the Eastern Region Command in Dhahran orchestrated the latest iteration of the joint Saudi-US exercise, “Protection Shield 4.”

Bringing together branches of the Saudi Armed Forces, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and a consortium of civilian and military government entities—including the Ministry of Defense’s health services, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, the Ministry of Health, and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority—the drill aimed to bolster preparedness against potential threats of mass destruction.

Colonel Turki bin Salem Al-Sumairi, overseeing the participating mixed battalion, underscored the drill’s dual purpose: to enhance the operational capabilities of all involved and to foster seamless collaboration between Saudi and US forces. Furthermore, the drill sought to heighten awareness of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks.

Field exercises formed the crux of the event, testing the efficacy of national response plans in confronting scenarios involving weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, coordination and information exchange mechanisms were scrutinized to ensure swift and effective joint responses.

Simulated ammunition was employed during the drills to simulate crisis scenarios arising from the deployment of weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, health services units from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Health, the Civil Defense, and the Saudi Red Crescent engaged in drills aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts and refining responses to chemical and biological incidents.


Asir region is first with launch of tourism identity

Updated 03 May 2024
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Asir region is first with launch of tourism identity

  • Prince Turki said the slogan “Karam Al-Arouma” was inspired by the generosity and welcoming nature of the people of the region

Saudi Arabia’s Asir region has become the first in the Kingdom to create a regional tourism identity, accompanied by the slogan “Karam Al-Arouma,” or “the generosity of the people of Asir.” 

Asir Gov. Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, who also heads the Asir Region Development Authority, launched the identity at an official ceremony organized by the authority and hosted by the Rijal Heritage Village in Rijal Almaa governorate.

“This identity has been in the works for quite a while. It’s a very exciting day for us to finally unveil this to the world. It’s going to help our marketing efforts both domestically and internationally,“ Hashim Al-Dabbagh, the authority’s CEO, told Arab News. 

“The vision of the Asir region is to be a preeminent destination year-round, and having our own identity is a step in that direction,” he said.  

Asir is seeking to become a global destination throughout the year, based on its authentic culture and wide range of natural attractions. 

Prince Turki said the slogan “Karam Al-Arouma” was inspired by the generosity and welcoming nature of the people of the region.

The identity was supported by the launch of the “Discover Asir” tourism website under the umbrella of “Visit Saudi,” which will provide tourist information. 


Saudi Justice Ministry to host training conference

Updated 03 May 2024
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Saudi Justice Ministry to host training conference

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Justice is to hold the International Conference of Judicial Training in Riyadh from May 6-7.

The Judicial Training Center hosts the event which will see the participation of several international training institutes, centers, and experts in the field of judicial and legal training. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and deliberations on contemporary trends in the era of digital transformation.

Called “The Future of Judicial Training in the Era of Digital Transformation,” the event will delve into the prospects of training in the future. It will explore paths for enhancing training content; strategies for harnessing modern technology; artificial intelligence in judicial training; and effective methodologies for measuring the training’s impact.


Saudi energy minister attends Tashkent International Investment Forum

Updated 03 May 2024
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Saudi energy minister attends Tashkent International Investment Forum

TASHKENT: Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Thursday participated in the primary dialogue session at the third Tashkent International Investment Forum.

In the presence of the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the energy minister highlighted the distinguished relations between the two nations, emphasizing the leadership’s strong commitment to enhancing and expanding cooperation across all sectors, particularly energy.

The partnership aims to benefit both countries and their citizens.