Gulf news

UAE arrests: 41 accused of plotting 'caliphate'

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates say 41 people will go on trial for trying to "seize power and establish a caliphate" in the Gulf nation. The state news agency said the group comprised foreigners and UAE nationals. Attorney General Salem Saeed Kubaish said the suspects planned to "carry

Sandstorm hits vehicular traffic in Riyadh

RIYADH: A thick layer of sand covered the city’s skyline on Saturday with a heavy blanket of dust caused by strong winds hampering visibility and creating traffic snarls on busy roads. The traffic department advised motorists to drive slowly and exercise caution like use of headlights as darkness e

Bin Laden relatives reportedly killed in private jet crash in Britain

LONDON (Reuters) - A private jet crashed in southern England on Friday, killing four people on board, a spokesman for Britain's Hampshire police service said, and Saudi and British media said the passengers were relatives of deceased al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. A spokeswoman for the British

Palestinian fury as 'Jewish settler' arson attack kills child

Palestinian officials say Israel is "fully responsible" for the death of an infant in an arson attack blamed on Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The 18-month-old boy was killed in the night-time attack on two homes in the village of Duma. His parents and brother suffered serious injuries. Slo

Size of tourism industry crosses SR100m mark

RIYADH: The size of the tourism industry has crossed the SR100-million mark with around 130 organizations in the field and the revenues generated through festivals are approximately SR11 billion annually, experts have said. The figures have been provided by industry experts to the Saudi Commission

After UAE, other Gulf states may cut fuel subsidies

JEDDAH: The UAE’s decision to lift fuel subsidies beginning in August has raised the possibility of other Gulf states following suit. Economists suggest a wide disparity of prices of gasoline in the Gulf countries will lead to more petrol smuggling operations that will harm the interests of all. T

King Salman backs Turkish action against Daesh

Riyadh: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has expressed support for Turkey after it launched airstrikes against Daesh (the so-called IS) group in Syria and Kurdish militants in Iraq. The King told President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that he backed Turkey’s right to self-de

Ministries launch program to help youths find employment

RIYADH: The Ministries of Health and Education in cooperation with the Kingdom’s universities launched a program dubbed, “Education and Work,” in Riyadh on Tuesday to help Saudi youth find employment in the public and private sectors. A memorandum of understanding was signed in Riyadh between Lab

Implementation of new changes in labor regulations under way: Official

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Labor was able to increase the number of Saudi women employees from 70,000 to 428,000 during the past four years, Abdul Munim Al-Shehri, assistant undersecretary for special programs, has said . The ministry is now working on a comprehensive survey for female shops in the Ki

Fuel prices: No special subsidies for Emiratis

Emiratis will not be given any additional support to offset the expected changes in the cost of living due to the deregulation of fuel prices in the UAE from August 1. The Ministry of Energy has put an end to speculations that the increase in fuel prices may see 'additional services' being offere

All-round development of Haram green-lighted

MAKKAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has launched five projects for the expansion of the Holy Mosque of Makkah, which is in its third phase and includes buildings, tunnels and a ring road. The main entrance of the new building of the mosque will comprise three gates with two shutte

Haram quiet again as ninety percent of Umrah pilgrims leave

JEDDAH: Some 90 percent of Umrah pilgrims have left Makkah. As a result, quiet atmosphere prevails over the central area of the Grand Mosque, which witnessed worshippers in increased numbers performing the daily prayers. Hatem bin Hassan Al-Qadi of the Ministry of Haj said the number of pilgrims wh

Over 34,000 banned items seized at Dubai airport

The general department of airport security of the Dubai Police confiscated over 34,000 banned items from passengers before they boarded their flights in the first half of this year. Lieutenant Walid Ali Ahmed Ghanem, head of division information entry and update section at the departmen

Saudi defense minister orders aid delivery to Yemen

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - who is also the kingdom's defense minister - ordered the delivery of cargo planes carrying humanitarian goods to Yemen’s government-held southern city of Aden, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Thursday. The deputy crown prince issued the order fo

Health insurance for visitors approved

JEDDAH: The Council of Cooperative Health Insurance in the Kingdom has endorsed a visitor health insurance system for those wishing to obtain medical insurance during their visit to the country, with treatment coverage of up to SR100,000. A local publication reported that the visitor health insuran

U.S. defense secretary meets Saudi monarch

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz received U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in Jeddah on Wednesday, who is on a regional tour aimed at reassuring Washington's allies over a nuclear deal with Iran. Carter held talks with King Salman in which he conveyed the greetings of U.S. President Barack Oba

4 people killed as car smashes into stray camel

JAZAN: Four people were killed and three injured from one family when their car hit a stray camel along a road in Jazan on Tuesday Baishi bin Isa Al-Sarkhi, spokesman at the Saudi Red Crescent, said the accident took place on the Jazan-Madhaya artery. The ambulance teams arrived at the site and pr

Customs provide 40 sniffer dogs at KFIA to curb smuggling cases

DAMMAM: The Saudi Customs Department is the first line of defense for the country providing integrated customs services to meet development requirements in the Kingdom, and keep pace with the latest developments at local and international levels. The department aims to accelerate the release of per