Saudi aid agency launches Ramadan project in 19 countries

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSrelief, inaugurated the SR37 million ($10 million) “Eta’am” initiative on Sunday. (SPA)
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Updated 28 March 2022
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Saudi aid agency launches Ramadan project in 19 countries

  • Al-Rabeeah stressed the keenness of the Kingdom to contribute to relief efforts, noting that it ranked third worldwide in 2021 in providing humanitarian aid

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center will distribute 156,993 food baskets across 19 countries during the holy month of Ramadan.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSrelief, inaugurated the SR37 million ($10 million) “Eta’am” initiative on Sunday.

The project aims to reach 901,463 people.

Al-Rabeeah said that the project comes as part of the continuous humanitarian aid provided by the Saudi government to impoverished people around the world.

He added that it will support food needs and improve living conditions for the neediest groups in several countries during Ramadan.

Al-Rabeeah stressed the keenness of the Kingdom to contribute to relief efforts, noting that it ranked third worldwide in 2021 in providing humanitarian aid.

He said that since KSrelief’s founding in May 2015, it has launched more than 1,920 projects in vital sectors across 79 countries, spending more than $5.6 billion in the process.

According to a recent report, the countries and territories that have benefited the most from KSrelief aid are Yemen ($4 billion), Palestine ($368 million), Syria ($325 million) and Somalia ($210 million).

The center’s programs cover food security, water sanitation and hygiene, health, education, humanitarian and emergency relief coordination, logistics, nutrition and emergency telecommunication.

 


Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

Updated 29 December 2025
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Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

  • Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday announced the suspension of an Umrah company and its overseas agent for failing to provide accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.

It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.

This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said. 

Pilgrims circumambulate the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in this photo taken earlier this month. (SPA)

"The measures are intended to safeguard the rights of affected pilgrims, prevent a recurrence of such violations, and ensure the continued enhancement of service quality," it added.

Last June, the ministry suspended seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims.

In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during Jumada Al Akhira alone.

Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.