Saudi Arabia

MECCA, (AP) --- Over 2 million Muslims from around the world are beginning the five-day hajj pilgrimage on Friday. They will circle Islam’s most sacred site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca, and take part in a series of rituals intended to bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims.

The hajj this year comes at a time of heightened sectarian and political tensions in the Persian Gulf and as Muslim minorities in China, Myanmar, India, New Zealand and other countries face increased threats, even attacks.

5 Aug 2019; MEMO: A Saudi royal, Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, yesterday warned against “the kingdom’s involvement in a war with Iran.”

“I’d oppose the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman if he decided to join a US-British military alliance to confront Iran,” The New Khalij quoted Abdul Aziz as saying.

22 July 2019; MEMO: A prominent opposition figure in Saudi Arabia has said that citizens across society in the Kingdom have been angry ever since Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman became the de facto ruler, Al-Khaleej Online has reported.

15 July 2019; MEMO: Saudi Aramco announced, Saturday, that domestic gasoline prices will increase on Sunday, July 14.

The company said in a statement that the price for Octane 95 gasoline will be increased to SR2.18 from SR 2.10 last quarter and Octane 91 to SR1.53 from SR1.44 per litre.

Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, explained its decision citing plans to reform energy prices sold in the domestic market.

RIYADH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flyadeal has withdrawn a preliminary agreement for an order of up to 50 Boeing's grounded 737 MAX jets, U.S. top aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company said on Sunday.

The Saudi carrier said in a statement on Sunday that it would operate only Airbus planes in the future, the German news agency dpa reported.

"We understand that Flyadeal will not finalize its commitment to the 737 MAX at this time given the airline's schedule requirements," a Boeing spokesman was quoted by the AFP as saying.

5 July 2019; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is holding an Iranian oil tanker in the port of Jeddah, sources in Tehran said yesterday. The tanker docked in Jeddah for emergency repairs following “engine failure and the loss of control” two months ago.

Now the Saudi authorities are demanding that Iran should pay $200,000 for every day that the vessel has been in dock, Russia Today has reported.

TASS, June 30: The Ansar Allah (Houthi movement) backers have attacked the airport of the cities of Jizan and Abha in Saudi Arabia using drones, Al Masirah TV channel reported on Saturday.

The Houthis said that military facilities and hangars located at the airports had been targeted by the strikes. According to the rebels, the air traffic was suspended at the airports.

26 June 2019; MEMO: Saudi Aramco’s CEO Amin Nasser said the company has the expertise and infrastructure it needs to maintain the flow of crude oil in the event supply is disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are increasing our readiness. We can supply through the Red Sea and we have the necessary pipelines and terminals,” Nasser said in an interview in the South Korean capital Seoul, published by Bloomberg yesterday.

24 June 2019; DW: Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, killing one person and injuring seven others, the kingdom's official media outlet SPA said Sunday.

Houthi rebels said earlier that they had launched drone attacks on airports in Abha and Jizan, both near the border with Yemen. Saudi media made no mention of an attack in Jizan. 

23 June 2019; MEMO: Saudi Arabia launched on Sunday their new special residency scheme similar to green card systems applicable in other countries, aimed at attracting wealthy and high-skilled expats, reports Reuters.

The residency scheme offers two types of residencies, a permanent one for 800,000 Saudi riyals ($213,321.96) and a one year but renewable residency for 100,000 Saudi riyals ($26,665.24).