In a huge relief to the Yemeni expatriate community in the Kingdom, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has directed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, to take necessary measures to correct their residence status and legalize their stay.
Yemeni expats living illegally in Saudi Arabia prior to April 9 will be given the chance to correct their residence status under the royal order.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Court, the king’s move follows a request by the legitimate government of Yemen, led by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, to support and alleviate the problems of Yemenis.
“They (Yemenis) shall be granted a six-month visit visa that may be extended upon receiving travel documents from their country’s legitimate government. They shall be allowed to work in accordance with regulations set by the competent authorities,” the court said.
Mehdi Hatem Al-Nahari, head of the Supreme Council of the Yemeni community, thanked the king for his kind gesture toward Yemenis in this hour of crisis.
“The Kingdom and its citizens are always there for their Yemeni brothers. We have always felt at home in Saudi Arabia.”
Yemen has been facing problems since 2011, and Ali Abdullah Saleh made it worse and created tensions at the Saudi-Yemen borders.
“But the Kingdom was always there to help us,” he said. “We, the Yemeni community, are very much thankful to the king and the people.”
Another Yemeni national, Yones Nidam bin Abdat, on behalf of his family members, thanked the king for the kind decision.
“This order shows how much King Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia care and love Yemenis. We know that the Houthi rebels will not succeed in their evil designs. Peace and stability will return to Yemen and the country will be reconstructed.”
Ali Al-Qubaisi, another Yemeni national, also expressed joy and hailed the royal order to legalize Yemeni expats in the Kingdom.
He said that Yemenis were among the earliest expatriates to came and participate in the development of the Kingdom.
“The Kingdom adopted Yemenis and provided them with a comfortable and dignified life. This royal order shows that the Kingdom cares about their Yemeni brothers. Thanks to everyone... the King, royal family and the people of the Kingdom,” he said.
Visa relief: Yemeni expats in Kingdom praise royal order
Visa relief: Yemeni expats in Kingdom praise royal order
National Center for Wildlife releases more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve
The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, in cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife, released more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve today near Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This initiative, according to the agency, is part of programs to reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats, reflecting the integrated national efforts to protect wildlife and promote its sustainability.
“Releasing wildlife into the King Khalid Royal Reserve enhances biodiversity and restores natural habitats within the reserve. This contributes to providing a safe natural environment that supports the stability of wildlife and facilitates its adaptation to its natural habitats”, said the authority’s CEO, Talal Al-Hariqi.
He added that such efforts align with the National Strategy for Environmental Conservation and fulfill one of the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to create an attractive environment that contributes to improving quality of life and promoting sustainability.
He also said that the collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife Development is a model for institutional integration in implementing reintroduction programs. This is achieved by unifying scientific and technical expertise and applying global best practices in wildlife conservation, thus ensuring the success of these programs and the long-term sustainability of their results.
Ziad bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, director-general of projects and operations at the authority, said that the King Khalid Royal Reserve has released more than 60 wildlife species, including Arabian oryx, Arabian hares, and Arabian gazelles. This initiative aims to enrich the reserve’s biodiversity, contribute to restoring ecological balance through the reintroduction of endangered animals, promote sustainability, and support and revitalize ecotourism.
He said that over past years, the authority released more than 300 wild animals of different types, including reptiles, mammals, and local birds, all of which are classified on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as species that are vulnerable or threatened with extinction.
He said that animals released in the King Khalid Royal Reserve are subject to periodic and continuous monitoring through field studies and modern monitoring techniques, such as surveillance cameras and tracking collars, where many natural births and herd growth have been recorded, reflecting the success of the release and reintroduction programs.
