The wire

Saudi entertainment activities and events across Saudi Arabia attracted 45.7 million visitors in the first half of 2026, with a 96% satisfaction rate. The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) issued more than 2,500 licenses for entertainment and related activities and conducted over 8,500 inspection visits to ensure regulatory compliance and improve service quality, safety, and efficiency. The GEA also coordinated with 29 government entities to unify procedures as part of Vision 2030 objectives.

Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser warned that the impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis extends beyond global oil supplies to global food security, describing the closure as the largest oil supply shock in history. He noted that global markets had lost more than 2.6 billion barrels of supplies since the crisis began and emphasized Aramco's continued strong financial and operational momentum, a sustainable base dividend, and focus on strategic growth objectives.

Najran - More than 4,400 greenhouses in Najran produce over 37,000 tons of tomatoes and cucumbers, helping strengthen agricultural sustainability, enhance food security, and support the local economy. In addition to tomatoes and cucumbers, the greenhouses produce a variety of other crops, including bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, okra, strawberries, figs, and leafy vegetables, with careful attention from farmers to irrigation, fertilization, and regular crop monitoring to ensure optimal growing conditions, improved crop quality, conserved water, and year-round production.

Riyadh marks key milestones in preparations for Expo 2030, including completion of excavation and backfilling, progress on the main service corridor, high safety milestones, environmental relocation efforts, and international cooperation with Expo 2027 Belgrade and a Structured Knowledge Transfer & Observer Program.

A senior Saudi official said the Kingdom's recent military strikes in Iraq were directed solely at Iran-backed terrorist militias responsible for attacks on Saudi territory and were not aimed at the Iraqi government or its people. The operation targeted militia military warehouses linked to drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities and critical infrastructure, and came after diplomatic avenues had been exhausted and after Saudi Arabia exercised restraint. The militias were said to be harming Iraq's interests and its relations with Arab and Islamic countries by using Iraqi territory and resources.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel in Tashkent during the minister's official visit to Uzbekistan. They discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare and investment, with emphasis on digital transformation, healthcare system development, and regulation as part of strengthening bilateral ties.

OPEC+ member countries agreed to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day in September, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, as part of the broader production adjustment and to accelerate compensation for previous overproduction. They reaffirmed commitment to the OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation and will continue monthly meetings to assess market conditions, with the next meeting slated for Sept. 6.

Saudi Arabia condemns a drone attack that caused a fire on two ships at Damietta Port in Egypt, expressing solidarity with Egypt and support for its measures to safeguard sovereignty and security. The Kingdom also condemns Iran's aggression against Kuwait and Jordan, including an attack on a company facility in northern Kuwait that killed one worker, reaffirming solidarity with Kuwait and Jordan and backing measures in response to Iranian attacks that violate international law and the principles of good faith and international norms.

Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission announced the addition of 1,173 archaeological sites to the National Antiquities Register, bringing the total to 14,164. The newly registered sites span multiple regions, with notable increases in Makkah (87 sites, total 1,306), Madinah (388 sites, total 2,128), Asir (42, total 901), Tabuk (209, total 1,387), Hail (130, total 1,030), Al-Jouf (131, total 699), and Najran (region not fully shown). The move is part of efforts to preserve the Kingdom's national heritage.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who reaffirmed Syria's support for Saudi Arabia's security and sovereignty following the drone attack on Saudi oil facilities; Syria condemned the attack by Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq and expressed continued support for the Kingdom's security and sovereignty. The leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation, regional and international developments, and efforts to de-escalate tensions and enhance regional security and stability.

Saudi Arabia recorded a SR34.3 billion budget deficit in Q2 2026 as government revenue rose 12% year-on-year. Total revenue reached SR338.8 billion in the quarter, with expenditure at SR373.1 billion. Oil revenue grew 22% year-on-year to SR185.1 billion, while non-oil revenue rose 3% to SR153.7 billion. First-half 2026 total revenue reached SR599.8 billion, up 6% from the same period last year.

Aramco reports adjusted net income of $33.4 billion for Q2 2026 and $67.2 billion for H1 2026, with $56.2 billion cash flow from operating activities and $30.9 billion free cash flow in H1 2026.

Buraidah International Dates Carnival opened on Saturday near the Palm Center south of Buraidah, drawing farmers, traders and importers from within Saudi Arabia and abroad. Held under the patronage of Qassim Emir Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal and organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the carnival will run for 75 days until Oct. 14. Recognized as one of the world's largest dates markets and listed in the Guinness World Records, the annual event serves as a major economic platform for the Kingdom's dates industry, attracting participants and visitors from across the region. The carnival highlights Qassim's leading position in the palm and dates sector. The region is home to around 11 million palm trees, producing an estimated 578,000 tons of dates annually.

Saudi Arabia welcomed more than 19.5 million pilgrims in 2025 from abroad (18.03 million Umrah and 1.5 million Hajj), a 114% increase in Umrah pilgrims since 2022. The report shows Makkah 5th globally and Madinah 7th in the tourism performance index for international visitors, as part of the Doyof Al-Rahman (Guests of God) Service Program under Vision 2030. The milestone reflects the program’s readiness and impact.

JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers has approved a framework allowing investors to develop planned land and construct housing units for beneficiaries of developmental housing programs in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the land. During its session held in Jeddah on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Cabinet also approved a one-year extension of the deadline for rectifying undocumented real estate transactions. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on his telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump, during which they discussed developments in the region and their repercussions at various levels. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on prioritizing dialogue to reduce tensions and underscored…

JEDDAH — The municipal authorities have shut down 18 illegal warehouses operating within a closed complex in the southern part of Jeddah. A joint field campaign, carried out by the Jeddah Mayoralty, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, led to the seizure of the illegal warehouses. The warehouses contained clothing, furniture, honey, perfumes, foodstuffs, and fake medical products. The campaign uncovered a range of illegal activities within the closed complex, which was being used to store and distribute products and goods in violation of regulations. The seized facilities included nine clothing warehouses, two honey production warehouses, two furniture warehouses, one food warehouse, one mobile phone accessories warehouse, one warehouse storing products making medical claims, and…

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved the results of its evaluation of companies providing services to international pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season. This was part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance services, improve quality, and strengthen transparency in assessing the performance of service providers, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program. The ministry said the evaluation covered companies contracted by pilgrim affairs offices, companies contracted by affiliated organizers, and companies operating under the direct Hajj model. Companies in each category were classified into three tiers based on the approved evaluation results: Tier One (Outstanding Performance), Tier Two (Very Good Performance), and Tier Three (Good…

RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has approved the awarding of the Medal of Merit of the Second Class to 25 Saudi citizens and expatriates. This was in recognition of the humanitarian gesture of each one of them by donating blood 50 times. Saudi Arabia launched last year an annual blood donation campaign to encourage voluntary blood donation and promote community participation in humanitarian work. There was tremendous response for this from the part of the members of the Saudi society to donate their blood across the Kingdom. The campaign aimed to increase the percentage of voluntary donations to 100 percent of total donors, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of building a vibrant society with comprehensive healthcare.

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Saudi Border Guard urged beachgoers across the Kingdom to strictly observe maritime safety guidelines. It advised the public to avoid swimming in unauthorized areas, closely supervise children at the beach, and take all necessary precautions to safeguard the well-being of all.The directorate affirmed that it has mobilized all available human and logistical resources to strengthen safety measures by intensifying maritime patrols and search-and-rescue operations, ensuring the readiness of vessels and safety equipment, and securing all required permits before setting sail.The directorate also urged everyone to comply with maritime regulations and safety instructions and to contact 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, and the Eastern Province, or 994 in th…

RIYADH — A royal decree has been issued approving the appointment of members to Saudi Arabia’s 13 Regional Councils for their eighth term, which will span four years.The regional councils of Riyadh, Makkah, and Madinah each comprise 20 members, while the councils of Jazan, Eastern Province, Al-Qassim, Asir, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Northern Borders Region, Al-Jouf, and Najran each have 15 members.Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for issuing the royal decree approving the appointment of members to the regional councils.Prince Abdulaziz said the royal decree reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to strengthening the role of the regional…