Saudi officials hold talks with Croatian, Swedish foreign ministers in Riyadh

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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. (SPA)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman. (SPA)
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Updated 09 October 2023
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Saudi officials hold talks with Croatian, Swedish foreign ministers in Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the reception, the two reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in all fields and discussed developments in the regional and international arenas.

Prince Faisal also received his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom to discuss aspects of cooperation between the two kingdoms and ways to enhance and develop them in all fields, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also touched on the importance of intensifying bilateral and multilateral work, and enhancing economic cooperation opportunities in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in a way that serves common interests and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. 

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman also met with Billstrom to discuss ties and prospects for joint cooperation. 


Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent for violations

Updated 46 min 43 sec ago
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Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent for violations

  • Company fails to provide housing for Umrah pilgrims
  • Actions to ‘safeguard’ rights of visitors, says ministry

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 contracted accommodation for pilgrims.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company violated regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques.

It noted that several pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without mandated accommodation. This prompted immediate action against the company and its overseas agent, the ministry stated.

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 for pilgrims.

In an earlier report quoting the Hajj Ministry and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the SPA said more than 1.7 million Muslims from all over the world arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah during the month of Jumada Al-Akhirah, corresponding to Nov. 22 to Dec. 20.