JEDDAH: Municipality inspectors closed 83 restaurant kitchens and seized the rotten meat of 725 animals that were supposed to be distributed to restaurants and shops on the first and day of Eid Al-Adha.
Naseer Al-Matab Musad, the secretary of municipalities, confirmed on Sunday that the Briman branch of Jeddah Municipality seized the rotten meat of 725 animals that was ready to be distributed by 62 trucks.
He said Jeddah Municipality is combating all illegal activities, even the distribution of rotten sacrificial meat, in the framework of health safety and security of the residents and visitors of the city. He explained that the municipality is coordinating with security agencies and checkpoints of the province's entrances to keep an eye on the movement of vehicles, monitor any type of violation and report it to the municipality.
The municipality has ordered all checkpoints to seize any vehicle that transports sacrificial meat without the required preservation and storage. The official said Jeddah Municipality is keen on providing security and safety of food to residents and visitors of Jeddah and stresses the implementation of plans to reduce the negative phenomena during the Haj season, especially the smuggling of meat from the holy sites.
The official also said that in the framework to protect the residents and visitors of Jeddah from any health hazards, inspectors have closed 83 kitchens, gave notice to 37 other kitchens and shut down nine meat shops in different parts of the city after noticing irregularities.
He explained that these kitchens were closed due to irregular licenses, poor distribution of food, lack of health certificates for workers, low levels of hygiene, unhealthy cooking utensils and rotten food.
M. Mohammed Al-Zahrani, the head of the southern area sub-municipality, said that since last Thursday morning they have seized 461 sacrificial animals which were rotten and detained 41 vehicles that were used in smuggling this rotten meat.
He also said that they checked all the animals with veterinary clinics before destroying the meat under the observation of branch management representatives.
Faisal Al-Maliki, the head of Briman Municipality, said they seized 264 sacrificial animals in 21 vehicles used for transportation at the Usfaan checkpoint and all the meat was destroyed by the veterinarian slaughterhouses under the observation of the branch management representative.
Officials close 83 restaurant kitchens, seize rotten meat
Officials close 83 restaurant kitchens, seize rotten meat
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
- A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
