Middle East

Jeddah, Nov 25: Saudi Arabia has exempted Palestinian and Burmese nationals who are found to be in violation of the new labor laws from deportation. Palestinian and Burmese nationals comprise the bulk of expatriates who are unable to return to their countries due to internal strife in their countries. Over half a million Palestinian expatriates currently live and work in the Kingdom, mainly in

Riyadh, Nov 24: The 21st conference of the Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) concluded with a unanimous call to stop Muslim bloodshed irrespective of sect. The resolution said that sectarian killing is strictly unlawful, as it violates the sanctity of Muslim blood. The resolution was read out by IIFA’s Secretary-General Ahmad Khaled Babakr. The event, which was launched in

Jeddah, Nov 22: The government has mobilized its security forces after six mortar bombs landed near a remote Saudi border post close to neighboring Iraq and Kuwait on Wednesday. Nobody was hurt in the bombardment. The mortar rounds hit a desert area on the far northwestern fringes of the Kingdom's oil-producing region and several hundred kilometers from the major fields operated by the world's

Jeddah/Riyadh, Nov 21: The principal of the Pakistan International School Jeddah English Section (PISJ-ES), who was sacked by the Pakistan ambassador earlier this week, has rejected allegations against her and refused to vacate her position. Sehar Kamran has instead accused Mohammad Naeem Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador, of playing politics because she is a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)

Jeddah, Nov 19: Qatar Airways will launch domestic operations in Saudi Arabia in the first half of 2014, the chief executive of the airline said on Monday. Akbar Al-Baker said the Saudi domestic services carrier will be called Al Maha Airways and will start with the main cities of the Kingdom including Riyadh and Jeddah, and then move to the second-tier cities. “We have chosen the name of the

Dubai, Nov 18: Foggy conditions, low visibility caused by dust storms, and mild showers resulted in disruption of road traffic across the Emirates on Sunday, with incidences of mild to heavy showers in Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Kalba, and neighbouring areas. The UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology Seismology (NCMS) has confirmed that rains will continue on Monday, in Fujairah, Sharjah and Ajman

Riyadh, Nov 14: The Ministry of Labor has shut down a total of 514 women’s wear shops in four months for violating the ministry’s regulations to feminize them. Abdullah Abu Thunain, Deputy Minister for inspection and improving work environment, said that a total of 1,173 shops came under penal action for violating regulations between July 7 and Nov. 4. Among these shops, some 403 were forced to

Riyadh, Nov 13: Riyadh Emir Prince Khaled Bin Bandar said on Tuesday that the ongoing security campaign is not targeting any specific section of expatriates but is directed against all violators of the labor and residency laws. “We will vigorously continue the campaign up to the point of ensuring that all the foreigners in the Kingdom are legal residents,” he said during a reception at Al-Hakam

Riyadh, Nov 12: A camel from a Jeddah farm has tested positive for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the first case of an animal infected with the coronavirus that has killed 64 people worldwide, the Ministry of Health said Monday. A ministry statement carried by Saudi Press Agency said the camel “tested positive in preliminary laboratory checks.” The ministry said it was working with

Riyadh, Nov 12: Nearly 17,000 illegal foreigners, including women and children, have surrendered to Riyadh police until Monday evening. Riyadh police spokesman Brig. Gen. Nasser bin Saeed Al-Qahtani said: “Arrangements will be made to deport them immediately after going through their documents.” On Saturday, the police asked violators to surrender to the authorities to facilitate their deportation