Saudi authority clears first Hajj medical shipment

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Teams are working around the clock to monitor incoming shipments and ensure the safety of products for pilgrims. (SPA)
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Teams are working around the clock to monitor incoming shipments and ensure the safety of products for pilgrims. (SPA)
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Teams are working around the clock to monitor incoming shipments and ensure the safety of products for pilgrims.(SPA)
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Teams are working around the clock to monitor incoming shipments and ensure the safety of products for pilgrims. (SPA)
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Updated 27 April 2025
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Saudi authority clears first Hajj medical shipment

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has cleared the first medical shipment for this year’s Hajj pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The shipment, weighing 44 tonnes, arrived at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and contains essential medicines and other medical products.

This operation underscores the authority’s commitment to overseeing Saudi Arabia’s air and seaports, ensuring the safety and quality of imported food, medicine and medical products.

In collaboration with Hajj affairs offices, the authority’s awareness campaigns have enhanced compliance with regulations on medicines, medical devices, and food items for Hajj.

Teams are working around the clock to monitor incoming shipments and ensure the safety of products for pilgrims, the SPA reported.

Efforts at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed airport in Madinah, are coordinated with government authorities and private sector partners.


France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

Updated 16 January 2026
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France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

  • L’Institut francais, Riyadh Art will open La Fabrique on Feb. 22
  • ‘New cultural chapter’ between the nations, says France envoy

RIYADH: L’Institut francais in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Art, an initiative of the city’s royal commission, have announced the opening of La Fabrique, a space for artists, on Jan. 22.

The project is based in the Riyadh Art Hub in JAX District and will enable Saudi and French artists to create, experiment, and bring their visions to life, according to a press release from the organizers.

La Fabrique also offers the public a rare opportunity to witness creative production including movement performances, digital and immersive arts, photography, music, cinema, cuisine and poetry.

At its core, La Fabrique fosters artistic exchange between French and Saudi artists, fostering new encounters, shared practices, and co-creation.

The initiative is aligned with the vision shared by French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have placed cultural cooperation at the heart of the renewed Saudi-French strategic partnership.

Anchored in the ambitions of Vision 2030, La Fabrique is a part of Riyadh’s transformation into a major international cultural hub.

Developed in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the project strengthens the long-standing cultural dialogue between the two nations, the press release stated.

Patrick Maisonnave, ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia, said: “La Fabrique embodies the spirit of a new cultural chapter between France and Saudi Arabia.

“By bringing our artists together, we are not only sharing techniques and traditions, we are opening a space where imaginations meet, new forms emerge, and creativity becomes a bridge between our two societies.

“This initiative reflects our belief that artistic dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, trust, and a shared future. It stands as a concrete example of France’s contribution to the ambitions of Vision 2030.”