RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb has issued instructions for an increase in inspections of tourist hospitality facilities, including hotels and serviced apartments, in Makkah and Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan.
This initiative is part of the “Our Guests are a Priority” campaign, which sets out to ensure adherence to the tourism system and its regulations while enhancing the quality of services offered to Umrah pilgrims.
Accompanied by ministry officials, Al-Khateeb inspected tourist facilities in Makkah and Madinah, emphasizing the goals of the campaign.
At the beginning of the Umrah season in Ramadan, the ministry’s supervisory teams made at least 468 monitoring and inspection rounds in hospitality facilities in Makkah, uncovering more than 278 violations.
They also made at least 214 monitoring and inspection tours of facilities in Madinah, during which they identified more than 125 violations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Major violations included engaging in activities without a license, maintaining a low level of service, and neglecting proper maintenance. Additionally, there was a lack of commitment to announcing the price list of units and services in Arabic and English.
The supervisory and inspection tours are part of the Ministry of Tourism’s role in serving visitors and pilgrims, domestic and international. The goal is to provide high-quality services and to allow pilgrims to complete their rituals with ease and comfort.
Visitors and Umrah pilgrims are encouraged to share their feedback on services by contacting the Visitor Care Center on 930 or through the ministry’s official social media channels.
Tourism ministry steps up inspections of Makkah, Madinah facilities
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Tourism ministry steps up inspections of Makkah, Madinah facilities
- This initiative is part of the “Our Guests are a Priority” campaign
- Al-Khateeb inspected tourist facilities in Makkah and Madinah, emphasizing the goals of the campaign
Minzal brings Saudi traditions to life in Diriyah
- From leather crafts and archery to Saudi coffee, Minzal offers a lesson in ‘Sloum Al-Arab’
RIYADH: This season of Minzal places social norms and traditional etiquette at its center, with tents set up to teach what is locally known as “Sloum Al-Arab” alongside gatherings for coffee, dinner and stargazing around campfires.
“Sloum Al-Arab” refers to the unwritten customers and values that have shaped Arab and Bedouin society for centuries, including generosity, coffee preparation, courage and archery.
In Saudi Arabia, these traditions are closely ties to cultural identity and religious belief.
Leather products and the making of leather goods is one of the crafts featured at Minzal this year and is one of the oldest crafts still practiced in the kingdom.
“The most difficult thing I faced to work on was camel leather because it is a little tough,” Nada Samman, a leather trainer and craftsman at Minzal, told Arab News.
“The work on leather is wonderful whether it is goat leather, cow leather, Sawakni sheep, and of course, camel leather. At Minzal, we are offering multiple handicraft workshops, most specifically the leather handicrafts. We want visitors to spend time at something useful and fun."
Samman explained the workshops allowed participants to preserve heritage while engaging in meaning, hands on activities.
Faisal Al-Khaled, a visual artist and craftsman specializing in Saudi designs at Minzal, shared a similar goal: “I want people to have, by the end of this experience, a unique and traditional art piece created by them, and that I know I helped them to preserve this craft.”
Minzal, which has been organized for several years now, continues to evolve with each season, offering activities that highlight Bedouin values, traditional skills and sports. Archery is a key feature, reflecting its deep roots in Arab and Islamic history.
Mohammed Al-Sharif, a certified archery player and coach with the Saudi Archery Federation since 2028, said the sport was closely connected to Saudi culture. It was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad, which led people to learn and teach it through generations.
“Our traditional bow is considered one of the most important and widely used bows in Arab culture,” Al-Sharif said. “We have several styles, and professional archers specializing in traditional bow shooting … There are various types of archery, such as horseback archery and standing archery, where bow sizes vary according to specific needs, such as types used for hunting and others used during warfare.”
He explained that archery was historically part of daily life, used for protection and hunting.
Saudi coffee also plays a significant role in the Minzal experience, with live demonstrations. One of the most frequently consumed beverages in the Kingdom, it is a symbol of hospitality and generosity.
Ahmed Al-Shuaibi explained how it was prepared at the Sloum tent, first by roasting the beans and then allowing them to cool. The beans are ground with spices in a Nigr.
“Coffee is passed from our grandparents,” he added. “In significant majlis, you see them offering our local coffee and not other types of coffee. We organized this corner so that young generations can visit and learn this.”
