Ramadan in Makkah is different to how the month is spent in other Islamic countries. Life dramatically changes along with eating habits, and some common dishes are replaced with special Ramadan dishes.
In this month, imams in all mosques across the world — not just in the Two Holy Cities — undertake the recitation of the entire Holy Qur’an from beginning till end. This is called the “Khatm Al-Qur’an” and in most mosques in Makkah, this “Khatm” at the end of the month is celebrated with sweets distributed to worshippers.
The congregation for Isha and Taraweeh prayers inside the Grand Mosque reflects the dynamic unity of Muslims. Islam stands for unity of Muslims as one nation worshipping only God and following His divine guidance as given to the Muslim Ummah through His Prophet (peace be upon him).
For iftar, only dates and Saudi coffee are allowed in inside the Holy Mosque. People distribute dates with the hope of earning extra rewards. The air of the external plazas of the Grand Mosque is full of the smell of different dishes that delight passersby.
Samosas are a special attraction and drinks made from yoghurt, Rooh-Afza, and Vimto bring a healthy relief to people who fast the entire day.
People have 10 minutes to eat at sunset and thousands of workers in the Grand Mosque clean up, collecting the plastic tablecloths in time for prayer.
At home, Saudis and people living in Makkah have special soup made of broken wheat, meat and spices called Shorbat Al-Habb. It is said this soup revives the strength lost during the whole day of fasting. The most common dishes in Makkah during Ramadan are kabsa, zurbiyan, mandi and roasted meat. After Maghrib prayers, the visitors crowd the restaurants for food. Wh en the call for Isha prayer is given after a two-hour break, people rush back for their Isha and Taraweeh prayers that last nearly two hours.
Ramadan in Makkah has a special flavor
Ramadan in Makkah has a special flavor
Saudi Arabia, Estonia strengthen cyber defense cooperation
- Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms
RIYADH: Estonia aims to deepen defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia as both nations look to advance technology‑driven defense and cybersecurity capabilities.
Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense, told Arab News at the World Defense Show in Riyadh on Monday that Estonia’s defense industry is eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s fast‑growing defense ecosystem.
“In the modern world, cooperation built on trust and technology is the best defense,” he said. “It is important for us to be here because we clearly see there is a possibility to increase cooperation, not only bilaterally between Saudi Arabia and Estonia, but across the region.”
At Estonia’s pavilion, a cooperation agreement was signed between an Estonian company and a Saudi firm during the show, he noted.
Pevkur also said Estonia’s defense sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by technological innovation and partnership.
“Our defense industry is growing very rapidly, and we continue to see strong momentum,” he said.
He said Estonia’s strengths lie in digital and smart‑system integration rather than large‑scale weapons production.
“We will not build airplanes or tanks, but what we can do is integrate robotics, automation and drones to make existing systems smarter,” he said.
The minister said effective defense collaboration must link businesses and governments to achieve meaningful results.
“When we want to have real cooperation, we need it on all levels,” he said. “The biggest client for any defense company is the government, so we must treat this as one ecosystem where the public and private sectors work hand in hand.”
Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms.
Pevkur said several Estonian companies, including Nortal, have already assisted Gulf governments in developing open IT and digital‑service systems.
“As the most digitalized nation in the world, almost every service in Estonia can be done online, except getting married,” he said. “But with such digitalization, we also need strong cyberdefense.”
He said data protection and digital resilience are treated as matters of national sovereignty in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
“Data is what we own. When someone steals that data, it becomes a serious threat,” he added. “That is why cyberdefense is not just about technology, it is about trust, sovereignty and protection.”
Pevkur said Saudi Arabia’s advances in AI offer promising opportunities for collaboration.
“I know that Saudi Arabia is doing great work when it comes to AI,” he said. “For us, as a small country with limited human resources, AI is essential not just for defense but for everyday life.”
Pevkur added that Estonia has launched a national AI strategy to promote responsible development and closer coordination between government and industry. One Estonian company, he said, has developed a system that allows a single operator to control hundreds of drones through AI.
“It is quite easy to put a weapon into the hands of a robot, but we also need to define who is accountable for its actions,” he said.
“The big question for the future is whether we can allow a war to be fought entirely by AI, or if humans must always make the final ethical decisions.”
He said in his conclusion that governments must reach a common understanding on how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield.
