More than 1 million people register for voluntary work ahead of Saudi National Day

Children in a festive mood, as Saudi Arabia prepares to celebrate its 92nd National Day on Sept. 23 with pomp and tow. Several events have been lined up across the Kingdom. (SPA)
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Updated 22 September 2022
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More than 1 million people register for voluntary work ahead of Saudi National Day

  • National Volunteer Portal aims to promote voluntary opportunities in various sectors, including chances to help with National Day activities and initiatives

RIYADH: As the 92nd Saudi National Day approaches, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has revealed that more than 1 million people have registered with its National Volunteer Portal.

The portal aims to promote voluntary work opportunities offered by organizations in various sectors, including chances to help with National Day activities and initiatives. It is described as an incubator that provides a safe environment for volunteers, coordinates their efforts with those of the organizations offering voluntary opportunities, and protects the rights of both parties.

The platform includes offers a number of advantages for volunteers, the ministry said, the foremost of which is full documentation within the Absher government services platform of the hours of work they donate. 

Mashael Al-Mubarak, general director of volunteering at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, told Arab News that her team has been focusing recently on opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the celebrations for National Day, which takes place on Friday this week.

“This is what we have worked on during the last period and we have (been) receiving requests from volunteers wishing to register in volunteer opportunities, contribute to various sectors and support activities and initiatives to celebrate the 92nd Saudi National Day,” she said. 

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The number of people who have benefited from the work of volunteers has reached more than 34 million.

“The opportunities that were presented on the occasion of the National Day cover various fields of community service and related sectors, in accordance with the controls that were set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the General Administration of Voluntary Work in the ministry.”

She added that the official efforts to promote the value of volunteering are designed to help achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 relating to “encouraging volunteer work, with the aim of strengthening and consolidating the values of giving, generating awareness of the culture of volunteer work and achieving Vision 2030’s goal of reaching one million volunteers in 2030.”

Al-Mubarak said the generous nature of the Saudi people is reflected in the fact that more than 1 million people and 3,629 public and private-sector organizations have registered with the National Volunteer Portal and the number of people who have benefited from the work of volunteers has reached more than 34 million.

She added that 345,379 people have volunteered at least once using the portal and, taking into account those who have volunteered multiple times, 1,371,324 activities have been completed over a total of 19,108,609 hours on more than 214,000 projects.


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.