WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan. Trump said he had instructed naval forces to intercept vessels linked to payments to Iran, aiming to cut off what he described as Tehran’s economic leverage. “I have instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” he said, adding that ships doing so would not have safe passage. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint, previously…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Remittances of expatriates in the Kingdom recorded a decrease of two percent in February 2026, reaching SR12.55 billion, compared to the same period in 2025. This is the lowest figure in 15 months, according to the latest data released by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The SAMA data indicated that foreign remittances in February fell by approximately SR768 million or 6 percent, compared to January 2026. The data also showed a 22 percent decrease in remittances by Saudis abroad during February, compared to the same month in 2025, reaching SR 4.86 billion. Source: Saudi Gazette
The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah houses one of the rarest examples of Islamic art: a mosaic depicting the opening verses of the Holy Quran. This remarkable artwork blends the elegance of Arabic calligraphy with the precision and richness of Islamic decorative arts. Dating back to the 17th century, the mosaic reflects both exceptional craftsmanship and a longstanding tradition of expressing the Holy Quran through diverse artistic techniques. The original manuscript is preserved within the holdings of the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, one of the most prominent institutions dedicated to the preservation and conservation of…
RIYADH — Gulf tourism ministers affirmed the continued stability and resilience of the region’s tourism sector, while strongly condemning recent Iranian attacks on critical infrastructure. In a joint statement following an extraordinary virtual meeting, the ministers said the sector remains operational and continues to welcome visitors, supported by advanced infrastructure, high operational efficiency, and integrated service systems. They reviewed regional developments and their potential impact on tourism, stressing the sector’s ability to overcome current challenges and move toward rapid recovery. The ministers condemned the “unjustified and illegal” Iranian attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, including ports, airports, energy facilities, tourism assets, desalination…
JEDDAH — Simone Inzaghi and Roberto Mancini go head-to-head on Monday as Al Hilal take on Al Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16. Both sides enter the knockout clash with strong continental pedigree, but Al Hilal hold the edge historically, losing just once in four previous knockout meetings against the Qatari side. The Saudi champions will also draw confidence from their recent form against teams from Qatar, going unbeaten in their last seven matches (six wins and one draw), including a 3-1 victory over Al Sadd during the league stage, where they finished top of the…
Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif inaugurated Lenovo’s regional headquarters for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa in Riyadh today, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen its position as a regional hub for global companies in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Al-Saif stated that Lenovo’s decision to establish its regional headquarters in the Kingdom reflects the strength of the Saudi economy, the attractiveness of its investment environment, and the pace of its economic transformation. He noted that the move highlights the success of the regional headquarters program in attracting leading global companies and enabling them…
RIYADH — The average hotel room occupancy rate in Saudi Arabia reached 57.3 percent during the fourth quarter of 2025. This rate posts an increase of 1.3 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024, when it reached 56 percent, according to the statistics for tourism establishments for the fourth quarter of 2025, released on Sunday by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The average occupancy rate for serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities reached 55.9 percent during the period, showing little change year-on-year. The GASTAT data showed an improvement in occupancy indicators and significant growth in the number…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce has recalled 33,250 Toyota and Lexus vehicles due to a programming fault that increases the risk of accidents. The Ministry explained that a malfunction in the software of the vehicles’ electronic control unit — responsible for parking assistance — may cause the rearview camera display not to appear on the screen when shifting into reverse. This issue increases the risk of accidents while reversing. The fault affects multiple Toyota and Lexus models from 2022 to 2025 which include the Land Cruiser, Crown, LX600, Prado, LC500, Mirai, Highlander, Camry, LS500/LS500h, RX, UX, NX, and ES.…
RIYADH — Expatriates, without an official permit, are banned from entering Makkah, effective from Monday, April 13. This is part of a package of arrangements and regulations, announced by the Ministry of Interior, for this year’s Hajj season, with the objective of ensuring the safety of pilgrims and ensuring the performance of the Hajj rituals in ease and comfort under the slogan “No Hajj without a permit.” According to the new regulations, only those expatriates who carry a residency permit (iqama) issued in Makkah, or a Hajj permit, or a work permit for the holy sites will be allowed entry…
RIYADH — The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced that electronic payments accounted for 85 percent of total retail payments in 2025, up from 79 percent in 2024. This remarkable achievement reflects growth in national payment systems, with electronic transactions reaching 14.6 billion in 2025, compared with 12.6 billion in 2024. SAMA attributed this progress to increased transaction volumes through the Mada payment system, particularly across point-of-sale and e-commerce transactions, alongside growth in other national payment systems.The increase reflects the continued expansion of electronic payment adoption and its growing role in daily transactions. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has seen rapid…