Middle East

Jeddah, Jan 1: The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia) is considering shortening the time shops close for prayer, the Haia chief has said. The period would be limited to just enough time for ablution and the actual time needed to complete a prayer, said Sheikh Abdullateef Al-Asheikh in the interview broadcast on an Arabic channel on Monday. “We would need the

Alkhobar, Dec 31: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) has assigned a representative to examine the reasons behind the increased traffic during rush hours and vacations at the King Fahd Causeway. Nazaha attributed the primary reason for the traffic bottlenecks to a lack of human resources required to operate the passport booths. The commission’s representative pointed out that each

Makkah, Dec 30: The Makkah Municipality has deployed all its resources to welcome Umrah visitors to the Grand Mosque and offer them the best services like healthy environment and amenities for a comfortable stay in the holy city, said Mayor Osama Al-Bar. A labor force of about 7,000 consisting of supervisors, drivers, sweepers and others has started sanitizing the city against any epidemic. A

Jeddah, Dec 29: Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, has cleared the way for the possible execution of a prince convicted of murdering a Saudi citizen. This follows the refusal by the victim’s father to pardon the killer. “Shariah shall be applied to all without exception,” said Prince Salman in a message to Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif. “There is no

Dammam, Dec 28: Three expatriate workers are missing after a mobile platform for maintenance services sank in Al-Safaniya offshore oilfield area on Friday. Two of the missing are Indians and the third is a Bangladeshi, said a statement issued by Saudi Aramco. The remaining 24 workers were rescued and taken to safety. Saudi Aramco’s response team has beefed up search operations for the missing

Jeddah, Dec 27: Experts from Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) have joined the bid to free six-year-old Lama from a well in Haql near Tabuk. Lama had fallen into a 100-meter-deep well seven days ago while picnicking in the area. Adverse weather conditions have hampered the weeklong operation to rescue Lama. “Falling loose soil and rains have complicated the operation,” a Civil

Abu Dhabi, Dec 25: All Emirates ID holders in the UAE may now communicate with the Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) through an official account on Skype that does not break laws preventing Skype usage in the country. According to a senior official, the software, mainly designed by Microsoft Skype Division for calling other people on their computers or phones, will help customers communicate with

Dubai, Dec 24: It’s not quite a white Christmas. Showers of rain, not snow, have lashed areas of the country causing flooding of some houses and roads. Rain was recorded at a high of 28.2 millimetres at Sharjah Airport — almost 10 times the rain recorded at the other weather stations across the country. Dubai Airport registered 3mm, Jess Mountain had 5.8mm, while Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Abu Dhabi

Dubai, Dec 24: An Indian national died on the spot when his jet ski collided with another in Mamzar Lake in Sharjah on Sunday evening. Major Khalid Al Kay of Sharjah Police said a rescue unit and an ambulance rushed to the scene of the accident soon after the police operations room was informed. The dead man’s body has been moved to a hospital. Major Al Kay urged beachgoers to follow instructions

Riyadh, Dec 23: The Special Penal Court in Riyadh sentenced a wanted man to 30 years in prison and fined him SR150,000 for participating in demonstrations in a governorate. He is also banned from traveling outside the Kingdom for 30 years. According to charges, the wanted person threw Molotovs at security forces and burnt tires to hinder security operation. He along with other protesters smashed