Volunteer teams in Makkah supporting medical staff

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The General Directorate of Health Affairs in Makkah has deployed volunteer teams to support medical staff in Makkah during Ramadan. (SPA)
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The General Directorate of Health Affairs in Makkah has deployed volunteer teams to support medical staff in Makkah during Ramadan. (SPA)
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Updated 17 March 2024
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Volunteer teams in Makkah supporting medical staff

  • Volunteers are working in hospitals and health centers in the central area, in the Grand Mosque and at the Haramain train station

RIYADH: The General Directorate of Health Affairs in Makkah has deployed volunteer teams to support medical staff in Makkah during Ramadan.

The volunteers are working in hospitals and health centers in the central area, in the Grand Mosque and at the Haramain train station.

They are taking part in awareness and health education campaigns, as well as providing first aid services for train passengers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The directorate said that the Sawaed Health Project began relief work on the first day of Ramadan, providing first aid and life-saving services to pilgrims and worshipers at the Grand Mosque.

A total of 170 male and female volunteers split into six teams are taking part in the project this year at locations around the Grand Mosque.

The health volunteering platform launches opportunities during the Ramadan and Hajj seasons each year to encourage Saudis to give back to the community.

Hundreds of volunteers take part in the Sawaed Health Project every year. This Ramadan, a volunteer translation service was opened, giving 12 people the opportunity to help ease communication between foreign patients and Saudi medical teams.

The directorate, through the Sawaed Health Project, has also provided a range of mobile medical services and first aid kits during the holy month.


Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah

Updated 23 December 2025
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Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah

  • The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz

RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.

He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.

They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.

Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”

He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.

The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.

According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.

The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.

It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.

Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.

The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.