Saudi passport, railways ready for smooth Umrah in Ramadan

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The General Directorate of Passports has announced its readiness to receive Umrah pilgrims. (SPA)
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The General Directorate of Passports has announced its readiness to receive Umrah pilgrims. (SPA)
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Updated 11 March 2024
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Saudi passport, railways ready for smooth Umrah in Ramadan

  • All passport offices at border crossing points have been equipped with qualified staff and equipment such as dual translation devices and mobile passport processing counters
  • Saudi Arabia Railways announced the Haramain High Speed Railway’s readiness to welcome worshippers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan

RIYADH: The General Directorate of Passports has announced its readiness to receive Umrah pilgrims arriving at the Kingdom’s border crossing points during Ramadan.

The directorate ensures a smooth and streamlined process for efficient arrival and departure procedures, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

It stressed that all passport offices at border crossing points have been equipped with qualified staff and equipment such as dual translation devices and mobile passport processing counters.

The directorate also underscored the importance of adhering to regulations and instructions from arrival to perform Umrah until departure.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia Railways announced the Haramain High Speed Railway’s readiness to welcome worshippers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan.

All operational plans have been completed, and the high-speed railway is ready for visitors at various destinations between Makkah and Madinah.

The authorities said that over 2,700 train trips are available in Ramadan, a 9 percent increase from last year. Seat availability also rose by 26 percent, exceeding 1.3 million.

Building on last year’s plans, Saudi Arabia Railways remains committed to working with its partners to ensure a smooth journey for worshippers and Umrah performers, it said, adding that this aligns with the leadership’s focus on integrated services for visitors to the holy sites.

The company emphasized that the Ramadan operational plan anticipates increased capacity, including additional staff and trips. On top of this, train schedules will be adjusted to align with prayer times in Makkah and Madinah.


Saudi Arabia to hold Human Capability Initiative conference in Riyadh in May

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Saudi Arabia to hold Human Capability Initiative conference in Riyadh in May

  • HCI 2026 set to attract over 15,000 leaders, 250 speakers, including policymakers, industry leaders, experts from various sectors
  • Program to focus on optimizing learning, working environments to maximize human capability in age of AI

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Human Capability Development Program has announced the third edition of the Human Capability Initiative conference, featuring the UK as the country of honor.

The HCI will be held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, from May 3-4.

HCI 2026 is set to attract over 15,000 leaders and feature 250 speakers, including policymakers, industry leaders, and experts from various sectors.

Under the theme “The Human Code,” the program will focus on optimizing learning and working environments to maximize human capability in the age of artificial intelligence.

Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia's minister of education and chairman of the Executive Committee of the HCDP, said the conference would showcase the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in people for sustainable economic growth and to enriching a global dialogue.

He added: “Human potential remains the most critical driver of progress in a rapidly changing global landscape, and investing in humans is the most critical pillar in building a competitive economy and a knowledge-based society.”

Majid Al-Kassabi, the Saudi minister of commerce and chairman of the Economic and Social Committee of the Saudi-British Strategic Partnership Council, welcomed the UK as the conference’s country of honor.

He said: “(This) represents a continuation of the strategic cooperation between (Saudi Arabia and the UK), including the launch of the Skills of the Future initiative at the 2025 HCI conference, focused on advancing economic cooperation, educational exchange, and workforce development.”

The last two HCI conferences attracted over 23,000 participants, featured 550 speakers, and announced 156 partnerships, organizers said.

The HCDP aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, focusing on enhancing citizens’ potential and competitiveness, they added.