The wire

RIYADH — The founding members of the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance on Thursday approved the establishment of the coalition as a framework for maritime defense cooperation, with Saudi Arabia designated as its founding nation, leader and permanent headquarters.In a joint statement, the founding states said growing threats to global maritime security require stronger collective cooperation to protect freedom of navigation, international trade routes and global energy supply lines through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.The alliance said it will operate in accordance with international law, United Nations conventions and internationally recognized norms to enhance maritime security, safeguard international shipping and protect shared maritime interests.The…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Thursday hosted an international meeting to advance its proposal for a multinational maritime defense alliance aimed at strengthening maritime security, protecting international shipping lanes and countering threats to global trade.The meeting brought together chiefs of staff and their representatives from 43 countries, as well as the European Union Delegation to Saudi Arabia, underscoring growing international support for enhanced maritime defense cooperation.Participants reviewed escalating threats to maritime security, including attacks on commercial vessels, energy tankers and critical maritime infrastructure, warning that such incidents pose risks to freedom of navigation, global supply chains and the international economy.The meeting also examined the propose…

JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables of condolences to Emperor Naruhito of Japan following the earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, resulting in deaths, injuries, and missing persons. In his message, King Salman expressed his deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the emperor, the families of the deceased, and the people of Japan. He also prayed for the safe return of the missing, a speedy recovery for the injured, and that Japan be spared any further harm. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also conveyed his sincere condolences and sympathy to Emperor Naruhito, expressing sorrow over the tragedy and extending his support to the families of the deceased and the people of Japan. The Crown Pr…

RIYADH — More than 6,500 BMW vehicles have been recalled by the Ministry of Commerce due to a defect in the driver's seat wiring harness that may cause an electrical short circuit, increasing the risk of smoke emission or a vehicle fire. The recall affects 6,574 BMW 5 Series and 7 Series vehicles from the 2023–2025 model years. The Ministry urged owners to verify whether their vehicles are included in the recall by checking their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through Recalls.sa. Customers were also urged to contact Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Company to have the necessary repairs carried out free of charge.

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia is expected to experience warmer-than-normal conditions across most regions from August through October 2026, with rainfall forecast to become more widespread toward the end of the period, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The NCM’s seasonal outlook indicates a 60 to 80 percent probability of above-normal surface temperatures during the three-month period, with temperatures forecast to rise by as much as 2°C above the climatic average in parts of the Kingdom. The center's long-term climate analysis also shows that August is typically the Kingdom's hottest month, recording the highest average, maximum and minimum temperatures before temperatures gradually decline during September and October. In August, the probability of above-normal temperatures…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development conducted more than 120,000 proactive inspections during the first quarter of 2026 as part of efforts to combat human trafficking, strengthen worker protection and improve compliance across workplaces.The ministry said it received more than 1,600 reports of suspected human trafficking cases during the period and referred alleged offenders to the relevant authorities for legal action.It also organized specialized training workshops on identifying indicators of human trafficking to enhance employees' ability to detect suspected cases and respond professionally.Marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, the ministry reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to combating one of the world's most serious…

JEDDAH — Extremely hot weather is expected to persist across parts of Saudi Arabia from August 1 to 8, with temperatures reaching up to 49°C, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). Beginning Saturday and continuing through Friday, the heatwave is forecast to affect the Eastern Province and the eastern parts of the Riyadh Region, where maximum temperatures are expected to range between 47°C and 49°C. **media[2744215]**

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's non-oil economy continued to grow in Q2 2026 despite an overall decline in real gross domestic product, which fell 4.8 percent year-on-year due to a 24.7 percent drop in oil activities, according to flash estimates released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Despite the overall contraction, non-oil activities grew 0.6 percent compared with the same quarter of 2025, while government activities increased 0.9 percent. **media[2744201]** Oil activities reduced overall GDP growth by 5.4 percentage points, while non-oil activities contributed 0.4 percentage points. Government activities and net taxes on products each contributed 0.1 percentage points. On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP declined 4.9 percent from the previous quarter, reflecting a 21.5…

RIYADH — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday expressed Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of the continued Iranian aggression against Jordan, reaffirming the Kingdom's solidarity with the country and its people. In a statement, the ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for Jordan in all measures it takes in response to Iran's violations of international law and the principles of good neighborliness. The Kingdom stressed the urgent need for an immediate end to the Iranian attacks targeting Jordan and other countries in the region. It also emphasized the importance of taking serious steps to safeguard the security and stability of the region and its peoples.

RIYADH — The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has urged owners of shared residential facilities to comply with updated health and technical safety requirements. It stressed their responsibility to provide safe living conditions and maintain preparedness for emergencies.The ministry said evacuation routes and emergency exits must remain clear at all times and be equipped with illuminated directional signs and backup lighting systems that activate automatically during power outages. Emergency doors should also be fitted with mechanisms that allow easy opening from the inside without obstruction during evacuations.It also emphasized the importance of maintaining fire detection and firefighting systems through regular inspections and maintenance, while prohibiting the random storage of m…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will host the third International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO 2026) in Jeddah, with the participation of 19 countries represented by approximately 120 students and scientific specialists. The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), and the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE). With King Abdulaziz University hosting the event from August 2 to 9, 2026, the opening ceremony will be held on Monday, August 3, under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region. The International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO), approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2024, serves as a global s…

ROME — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called for the immediate end of settler violence against the Palestinian people, saying attacks carried out under the protection or with the support of Israeli security forces must be halted and those responsible held accountable.Speaking at a high-level interfaith dialogue meeting in Rome on Wednesday, Prince Faisal said dialogue among followers of different faiths has become a strategic necessity and a fundamental pillar for achieving a just and lasting peace.The meeting, held as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Plan, was chaired by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and attended by Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, members of the Global Alliance for the Impleme…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance welcomed the International Monetary Fund's 2026 Article IV Consultation report, which said the Kingdom's economy has remained resilient despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The IMF said Saudi Arabia entered 2026 with strong momentum after its economy expanded by 4.6% in 2025, driven by the gradual unwinding of OPEC+ production cuts and robust domestic demand. The report also noted an improvement in the Kingdom's fiscal position, with the non-oil primary deficit narrowing from 24.5% of non-oil GDP in 2024 to 23.3% in 2025.The report credited Saudi Arabia's long-term planning and strategic infrastructure investments for helping mitigate the impact of regional tensions. It highlighted the East-West pipeline, which can transport around 7…

RIYADH — The Muslim World League (MWL), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and several Arab countries strongly condemned the attempted attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region. The organizations and countries reaffirmed their solidarity with the Kingdom and support for the measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and stability. MWL strongly condemned the continued attacks by Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq against Saudi Arabia, including the attempted targeting of oil facilities in the Eastern Region. The Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa described the attacks as treacherous criminal acts that violate religious values and international and humanitarian laws and norms.…

RIYADH — A penalty of up to SR100,000 will be imposed on Hajj and Umrah service companies that fail to notify authorities of pilgrims or Umrah performers who overstay their authorized period of stay in the Kingdom, Saudi Public Security warned. Public Security said the fine applies to companies and establishments that delay notifying the competent authorities of any Hajj pilgrim or Umrah performer who remains in the Kingdom after the expiration of their authorized period of stay. It added that the financial penalty may reach SR100,000 and will be multiplied according to the number of violators. Authorities urged the public to report violations of residency, labor, and border security regulations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in the rest of the…

RIYADH — Saudi Border Guard arrested seven border security violators and foiled a separate drug smuggling attempt in operations across the Jazan and Asir regions, seizing 140 kilograms of khat and 139,950 tablets subject to medical circulation regulations. In Jazan, Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Daer Sector arrested five border security violators of Ethiopian and Yemeni nationalities for attempting to smuggle 100 kilograms of khat. **media[2743949]** In a separate operation in Asir, Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Raboua Sector arrested two Ethiopian border security violators for attempting to smuggle 40 kilograms of khat. Meanwhile, in another operation in the Al-Daer Sector of the Jazan Region, Border Guard land patrols foiled an attempt to smuggle 139,950 tablets subject to me…

JEDDAH — The annual Delta Aquariids meteor shower will peak over the Arab world in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, offering stargazers one of the year's most prominent celestial displays. Under dark skies away from light pollution, several meteors will be visible to the naked eye, making the event especially appealing to astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers. Head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society Majed Abu Zahra said the Delta Aquariids could produce up to 25 meteors per hour under ideal observing conditions. **media[2743893]** He said the best viewing time begins around 3 a.m., when the shower's radiant rises above the southern horizon, with activity continuing until dawn. Abu Zahra explained that the Delta Aquariids are active annually from July 12 to August 23, as Earth passes thr…

RIYADH — Saudi diplomat Aseil bint Sultan Al-Shehail has drawn attention after taking the oath of office before Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman as one of the Kingdom's newly appointed ambassadors.Al-Shehail was recently appointed as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Ambassador to Sweden and non-resident Ambassador to Iceland.She is regarded as one of the first Saudi women to gain international prominence in diplomacy through her work on human rights at the United Nations. In 2010, she was elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child after being nominated by Saudi Arabia.Her election followed a highly competitive two-year selection process that included interviews, evaluations of candidates' priorities and objectives, and debates assessing their expertise…