RIYADH, 11 August 2005 — The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MOMRA) has increased efforts to constitute all 178 municipal councils and make them functional across the Kingdom as early as possible. The MOMRA has also created a separate department within the ministry which will work to provide a broad framework within which the municipal councils will function, said Dr. Ibrahim ibn Hamad Al-Quayid, an elected member of the Riyadh Municipal Council.
RIYADH, 4 August 2005 — A cross-section of Saudis from different walks of life expect the new leadership to carry forward the reforms program set in motion by King Fahd in the economic, political and administrative fields. “As crown prince, King Abdullah was instrumental in moving the Saudi nation toward social and political reforms, while giving a stable government in the Kingdom,” said Dr. Selwa Al-Hazzaa, chairwoman of the “Friends of Saudi Arabia” — a forum set up at the initiative of then Crown Prince Abdullah.
RIYADH, 25 July 2005 — Saudi nationals traveling to European destinations will be greatly benefited from the merger of the Swiss International Airlines and Lufthansa, enabling them to choose the best from an expanded route network and an even larger service offering. The two airlines, despite their partnership on corporate level, will market their products independently and maintain their individual operational identities in Saudi Arabia.
RIYADH, 21 July 2005 — The United States has handed over three Saudi citizens who were held at the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Interior said here yesterday. The three men, among 520 inmates — which included 124 Saudis — detained at the camp since the US-led war in Afghanistan, have arrived in the Kingdom, the ministry said in a statement.
RIYADH, 11 July 2005 — Two expatriate workers have allegedly fled with a large sum of money belonging to two different Saudi companies. The news came to light when the two companies realized that their workers, believed to be cousins, from the Malappuram district of the southern Indian state of Kerala, had not reported for duty since June 25.
RIYADH, 6 July 2005 — Police have arrested a Saudi female bank employee who is believed to be responsible for embezzling about SR4 million from customers’ accounts. The woman who allegedly embezzled the money was working in a managerial position at a ladies’ branch of a leading Saudi bank in Dawadami town, about 250 km west of Riyadh.
JEDDAH/ CAIRO, 4 July 2005 — Saudi Arabia said yesterday it will resume diplomatic relations with Iraq even as Egypt’s envoy to Baghdad was reported kidnapped. Dr. Saleh Al-Kohaimi, head of the Arab states department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Kingdom was one of the four Arab states ready to send ambassadors to Baghdad. The two countries have decided to renew diplomatic ties after a break of 13 years.
RIYADH, 26 June 2005 — Saudi Arabia will participate in a high-profile international conference on desalination and water reuse to be hosted by Singapore on Sept. 11. Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen, will lead the Saudi delegation to this six-day world congress in which more than 40 countries will participate and a huge panel of world-renowned desalination and water experts will present 100 scientific and technical papers. Singaporean Minister of Water and Environment Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, who is also incharge of Muslim affairs in Singapore, announced the details of the conference yesterday.
RIYADH, 7 June 2005 — Egypt has announced relaxed tourist visa requirements for Saudi nationals. The new conditions are part of its efforts to woo more tourists from the region after a sharp drop in tourist traffic was reported between the Kingdom and Western destinations since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States
RIYADH, 29 May 2005 — An Asian car mechanic has been arrested for allegedly practicing medicine in Riyadh and Khamis Mushayt for several years. This fraudulent doctor, who was in possession of some fake medical certificates besides medicines, syringes, medical equipment and prescription drugs, is actually a General Motors mechanic by profession, according to reliable sources.