Saudi Arabia

25 August 2022; MEMO: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education has announced that children of illegal residents will be able to enroll in schools during the new academic year.

The ministry stated that schools should provide the parents of children residing illegally in the kingdom with admission forms and direct them to the relevant offices in the regions where they are residing to complete the application process.

24 August 2022; MEMO: An Egyptian physician who worked for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has been sentenced by a Saudi terror court to 20 years in prison, according to the Freedom Initiative.

Dr Sabry Mus'ad Ibrahim Shalaby was convicted after a colleague and fellow detainee said he had voted for the late Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and was sympathetic towards the Muslim Brotherhood.

23 August 2022; MEMO: The Saudi Court of Appeals has sentenced Sheikh Saleh Al-Talib, a prominent imam and preacher at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, to ten years in prison, a human rights organisation said yesterday.

The organisation said the Court of Appeal overturned the Specialised Criminal Court's decision acquitting Sheikh Al-Talib of the charges against him.

19 August 2022; MEMO: Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Friday, met Iraqi Shia Cleric, Ammar Al-Hakim to discuss the lingering political crisis in Iraq, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The meeting came after the leader of Iraq's Hikma Movement, a political coalition, arrived in the Kingdom on an unannounced visit, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

The Agency reported that, during the meeting, Saudi-Iraqi relations alongside a number of issues of common interest were discussed.

15 August 2022; MEMO: Saudi Arabia's investment firm, Kingdom Holding Co, invested over $500 million into three major Russian energy companies as Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the firm's filings have shown.

According to Kingdom Holding Co's recently-released regulatory filings, the firm invested heavily in the three major Russian energy companies Gazprom, Rosneft, and Lukoil between February and March.

RIYADH, Aug 15 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi oil giant, Aramco, announced yesterday, its second quarter net profit increased by 90 percent, year-over-year, to 48.4 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new quarterly record for the company, since its initial public offering in 2019.

Thanks to increased oil prices, volumes sold, and refining margins, Aramco’s half-year net income also reached a new high of 87.9 billion U.S. dollars, up from 47.2 billion U.S. dollars a year earlier, according to financial figures released by the company.

RIYADH, Aug 14 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that, it has allowed all types of visitors, including those holding tourist visas, to perform the Umrah (minor Hajj) in the kingdom, it was reported.

The decision, which is valid for the new Umrah season, that began on Jul 30, aims to enrich Umrah performers’ cultural and religious experience, said the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Visitors eligible for on-arrival visas or e-visas and holders of U.S., British or Schengen visa are also included.

14 August 2022; MEMO: Saudi Arabian and US forces have launched a joint military exercise in the Red Sea province of Yanbu yesterday.

According to state news agency SPA, the month-long drill, codenamed "Native Fury 22" will include combined tactics, interoperability, and logistical operations between Saudi and US naval counterparts.

"The exercise aims at training on bilateral military and operational plans as well as exchanging expertise between the two sides," Saudi general Saud Al-Okaili was quoted as saying.

Saudi Arabia has applied to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at its planned megacity NEOM, as the kingdom attempts to boost its presence in international sports.

On Wednesday, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced that it had submitted a letter of interest to the Olympic Council of Asia to host the tenth occurrence of the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

06 August 2022; MEMO: Saudi Arabia late Saturday condemned the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which left at least 29 Palestinians dead and dozens injured.

A statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom stands by the Palestinian people, calling on the international community to "shoulder its responsibility to end the escalation, provide the necessary protection to civilians and exert all efforts to end this conflict."