MINA: The Interior Ministry announced on Friday that the Hajj Security Forces apprehended 18 suspects at Makkah’s entrances for violating Hajj rules and regulations by transporting 91 persons without Hajj permits.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the suspects, a GCC national, an expatriate and 16 Saudi citizens, were detained on Thursday.
The General Directorate of Passports’ seasonal administrative committees issued against the offenders 18 administrative decisions, including a prison sentence for a period of 15 days for each transporter, and a fine of SR10,000 ($2,666).
Fines are multiplied against transporters according to the total number of persons (without Hajj permits) transported.
Meanwhile, expatriate offenders will be deported after serving their punishments and will be prevented from entering the Kingdom for the periods specified by the pertinent laws.
The offenders will be named and shamed, and the authorities have also impounded the two vehicles used in transportation.
The Interior Ministry called on citizens and expatriates to abide by Hajj rules and regulations so that pilgrims could enjoy safety, security and comfort while performing their rituals.
Saudi authorities detain 18 suspects over violating Hajj rules
https://arab.news/bmvv4
Saudi authorities detain 18 suspects over violating Hajj rules
- The suspects, a GCC national, an expatriate and 16 Saudi citizens, were detained on Thursday
- Offenders will be detained for 15 days each and fined SR10,000 against each person transported
Prince Faisal chairs King Fahd National Library’s first board meeting of 2026
- Board approved the formation of the supreme supervisory committee for the “Memory of a Nation” project and appointed CEO and committee secretary
RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of the King Fahd National Library, on Sunday chaired the library’s first board of trustees meeting for 2026, attended by the distinguished board members.
He emphasized that, since its founding through King Salman’s initiative and support, the library has played a pivotal role in preserving and providing access to Saudi intellectual and cultural heritage, while promoting activities that advance the country’s transformation toward a knowledge-based society.
The board approved the formation of the supreme supervisory committee for the “Memory of a Nation” project, appointed a CEO and a committee secretary, and endorsed the project’s organizational structure and charter.
The “Memory of a Nation” project is a national, institutional, and participatory program. It aims to collect, preserve, organize, and provide access to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and knowledge heritage in both physical and digital formats through a unified national digital platform with governance ensuring institutional integration, sustainability, and asset protection.
The board also discussed the “Deposit Empowerment” program, designed to transform the library into an integrated national deposit center, build a reliable database of intellectual production, improve access to deposit services, and enhance the participation of relevant entities to ensure the sustainable and organized use of Saudi intellectual output.
The board approved rules for deposit violations and their investigation and agreed to establish a permanent specialized committee. It also endorsed the regulatory framework for manuscripts and rare books and ratified the previous fiscal year’s final accounts.
The meeting concluded with a review of reports on the library’s progress and the adoption of the necessary recommendations.
