Source : Arab news / 17 Dec 2013

The number of hotel rooms is expected to grow by more than 300,000 whereas new 100,000 jobs will be created in the next five years, local media said quoting a tourism and hospitality expert.

Deputy head of Hotels and Housing Units Committee at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) said the number of Saudis working in the hotel sector currently stands at only 30 percent of the overall manpower. Most of them are working in reception, security and administrative works, he told Al-Riyadh daily.

Source : IINA / 10 Dec 2013

Work has begun on the demolition of old structures, built during the first Saudi expansion, and the old Haram, so as to facilitate the expansion of the Grand Mosque as part of the King Abdullah Grand Mosque Expansion Project, it was announced on Sunday.

Source : Presstv / 5 Dec 2013

A Saudi female activist has called on other women to get behind the wheel again on December 28.

On Wednesday, activist Nasima al-Sada said the call is a "reminder of the right so it is not forgotten," AFP reported.

Source : Arab news / 3 Dec 2013

Domestic Haj service companies have urged the Haj Ministry to adopt a series of measures for improving services to domestic pilgrims, including renovation of Mina tents and the early allocation of tents.

“The early handover of tents to companies will help reduce expenses,” said Fadhl bin Mohammed Al-Jahoury, a member of the Coordination Council. The companies urged the ministry to set out a new mechanism to distribute tents, as well as the newly constructed residential towers in Mina.

Source : SG / 30 Nov 2013

Despite the Ministry of Justice assertion that judges have no reservations in dealing with female lawyers, many female attorneys disclosed that they were forced to come with their ‘mahrams’ (male guardians) to the court for identification, Al-Watan Arabic language daily reported on Thursday.

A female lawyer, who obtained a license for practicing law, said that she was forced by judges to bring a male relative to identify her in every court session, ignoring her national identity card.

Source : IINA / 27 Nov 2013

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, will inaugurate a world conference on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the Islamic University of Madinah on Tuesday.

Source : IINA / 25 Nov 2013

A group of students at King Abdul Aziz University have launched a campaign through word of mouth and social media that aims to restore the reverence and the special standing associated with the beautiful name Muhammad, the name of our Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Source : AFP / 22 Nov 2013

A rare sabre considered a “historic testimony” to the creation of modern-day Saudi Arabia sold for more than $1.2 million at an auction in France on Sunday.

The 24-carat-gold and steel sword, with an ivory handle and long curved blade, was bought for 955,400 euros over the phone “by a mysterious buyer who entered bidding mid-sale,” said auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat.

By Abdul Hannan Tago / 05 Nov 2013

A top international architect is currently visiting Madinah to provide advice on the expansion plans for the Prophet’s Mosque and surrounding area.

Paolo Portoghesi is an Italian architect, theorist, historian and professor of architecture. KhalidTaher, the mayor of Madinah, had invited him to visit the city.

Source : Worldbulletin.net / 2 Nov 2013

The head of religious affairs in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, Kamil Haji Ali, has revealed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to publish Kurdish translations of the Holy Qur’an.

On returning from the Hajj pilgrimage, he said ‘We are very pleased to know that Kurdish translations of the Qur’an will be published. Everyone, especially our pilgrims, are overjoyed to hear this news. We thank the Saudi Arabian government for this.’