Saudi Red Sea Authority issues coastal tourism guidelines

The authority has previously issued eight regulations governing coastal tourism activities, the first of their kind in the Kingdom, to ensure effective management and operation of the facilities and in order to improve public safety. (SPA/File)
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Updated 10 October 2024
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Saudi Red Sea Authority issues coastal tourism guidelines

RIYADH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has issued the first four industry-specific codes in the Kingdom with global specifications aimed at elevating the quality of infrastructure for coastal tourism.

The Marina Planning and Design Code, The Cruise Terminal Planning and Design Code, The Marina Operations Code and The Cruise Terminal Operations Code are designed to enhance the quality of the coastal tourism sector and unify technical standards and requirements for marinas and cruise terminals.

The issuance of the codes aligns with the authority’s mandates, which include establishing guidelines, rules, and standards for providing services for navigational and marine tourism activities, along with marinas.

Tasks include their development, management, operation, and supervision in coordination with relevant entities, using the best international practices to position the Red Sea as a leading global tourism destination.

The codes will accommodate yachts, maritime tourism watercrafts and cruise ships within the geographical scope. These codes ensure the quality of infrastructure and target developers, planners, designers, engineers, and technicians in related industries.

The codes outline specific requirements and standards for managing and operating coastal tourism facilities. They will serve as a standardized reference document detailing the minimum requirements for the management and operations of these facilities.

The authority has previously issued eight regulations governing coastal tourism activities, the first of their kind in the Kingdom, to ensure effective management and operation of the facilities and in order to improve public safety.


Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

Updated 29 December 2025
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Saudi Hajj Ministry suspends Umrah firm, overseas agent over contract violations

  • Company failed to provide accommodation for a number of Umrah pilgrims, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs, ministry says

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 accommodation services for pilgrims in line with approved contractual programs.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the company’s failure constitutes a clear violation of regulations governing services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.

It noted that a number of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom without secured accommodation, despite these services being documented in the contractual programs.

This prompted immediate regulatory action against the company and its overseas agent under the established legal frameworks, the ministry said. 

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 to pilgrims.

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

Also referred to as Jumada Al Thani, Jumada Al Akhira is the sixth month of the Islamic calendar. For Hijri year 1447, this sixth month ended on December 20, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.