Government | Thursday 29 December, 2016 3:27 am

Umrah fee does not affect inflow of pilgrims

It seems the government’s recent decision to impose SR2,000 fee on pilgrims who perform Haj or Umrah more than once has not affected the inflow of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques at the start of this year’s Umrah season. However, many pilgrims and Umrah operators requested the...

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Government | Wednesday 28 December, 2016 2:49 am

Uniform Operations Center to boost security of pilgrims: Makkah Emir

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said that the Uniform Security Operations Center (911) in Makkah Region will have a significant impact in ensuring the security of pilgrims and improving the services rendered to them during the annual Haj...

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Government | Wednesday 28 December, 2016 2:22 am

Overwhelming response to the Syria fundraising drive

A popular fundraising campaign, ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to alleviate the suffering of Syrians displaced by war, started on Tuesday all over the Kingdom. It was covered live on Saudi television channel 1. King Salman allocated SR100 million to the campaign....

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Government | Tuesday 27 December, 2016 5:36 am

King orders nation-wide campaign to collect aid for Syrians

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has issued instructions to organize a Kingdom-wide people-driven campaign from Tuesday to collect aid for Syrian brethren, the Royal Court said in a statement here on Monday. This humanitarian gesture comes in consideration of the suffering of the...

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Government | Monday 26 December, 2016 10:25 am

Budget boosts Saudi stocks

Saudi Arabia’s stock market rose sharply on Sunday in response to the release of the 2017 state budget, which includes an increase in government spending, while other major Gulf bourses were sluggish and Egypt retreated on profit-taking. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) added 1.5 percent...

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Government | Sunday 25 December, 2016 4:22 am

Makkah governor exhorts officials to serve citizens

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said that the main goal of the province and its governorates is to serve citizens and residents, and to solve problems they face, as well as to follow up on development projects that contribute to the uplift of the region. Prince Khaled was speaking while...

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Government | Saturday 24 December, 2016 12:50 pm

Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade at AED 952 billion in first nine months of 2016

Dubai saw a 11 per cent surge in the total volume of traded goods in the first nine months of 2016, rising as high as 70.82 million tons of commodities. Imports had the lion’s share at AED 594 billion (46.81 million tons and 12% increase), while exports and re-exports accounted for AED 109...

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Government | Friday 23 December, 2016 4:15 am

Economy strong enough to tackle all challenges: King

CUSTODIAN of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Thursday underlined the need for ensuring implementation of the general budget very carefully in a way achieving comprehensive and balanced development and improve the services being extended to the citizens. The King made the remarks in his...

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Government | Thursday 22 December, 2016 4:16 pm

Saudi budget 2017: Deficit forecast to drop to SR 198 billion

Saudi Arabia’s deficit is projected to decline by a third next year, according to a budget statement that is seen as a step toward eliminating the shortfall altogether by 2020. The deficit for 2016 stands at SR 297 billion, around 9 percent lower than forecast, and far below the high of SR...

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Government | Saturday 17 December, 2016 3:47 am

Ministers, economists and Shoura members commend king’s speech

Government leaders and economists said Thursday that the speech of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at the Shoura Council a day earlier provided a “road map” to the achievements of the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign affairs. Education Minister Ahmed Al-Isa described...

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