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Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 24, 2024, saudi arabia - level 3: reconsider travel.

Updated after periodic review to provide information on the risk of arrest due to social media use and the importation of prohibited items.

Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to  the threat of missile and drone attacks.   Exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to  terrorism, the risk of arrest based on social media activity, and importation of prohibited items.  Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to the following locations due to the threat of  missile and drone attacks  and  terrorism :

• Within 50 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border, as well as the cities of Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Khamis Mushayt;
• Abha airport;
• Qatif in the Eastern Province and its suburbs, including Awamiyah.

Country Summary : U.S. government personnel under Chief of Mission responsibility must adhere to the above travel restrictions.  As such, the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these locations.

Missile and drone attacks perpetrated by Iran and Iran-supported militant groups have occurred as recently as September 2023.  The Islamic Republic of Iran has in the past supplied Yemen-based Houthis and regional proxy groups with weapons to conduct destructive and sometimes lethal attacks using drones, missiles, and rockets against a variety of Saudi sites, including critical infrastructure, civilian airports, military bases, and energy facilities throughout the country, as well as vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes.  Past attacks were aimed at targets throughout Saudi Arabia including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Jizan, Khamis Mushayt, the civilian airport in Abha, Al Kharj, military installations in the south, as well as oil and gas facilities.

Debris from intercepted drones and missiles has also represented a significant risk to civilian areas and populations in the recent past.  Militant groups have threatened to conduct attacks against locations in Saudi Arabia.  U.S. citizens living and working near military bases and critical civilian infrastructure, particularly near the border with Yemen, are at heightened risk if missile, drone, or rocket attacks reoccur.

Terrorism continues to be a concern in Saudi Arabia.  Attacks can occur with little or no warning.  Past attacks have targeted tourist locations, large gatherings, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.  Terrorists are also known to time attacks around major holidays and/or in response to military operations.  Terrorists have targeted both Saudi and international interests, mosques and other religious sites (both Sunni and Shia), and places frequented by U.S. citizens.

Be advised that social media commentary – including past comments – which Saudi authorities may deem critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order, could lead to arrest .  This may include posting, re-posting, or liking comments about Saudi institutions, policies, and public life.  U.S. citizens have been convicted for social media activity under Saudi laws concerning cybercrime, terrorism, and disrupting public order.  Punishment for social media activity has included prison sentences of up to 45 years in some cases.  Saudi courts do not necessarily consider the timeframe of the posts or the location from which they were made to be material to these cases.

The importation of drugs (including marijuana), drug paraphernalia, alcohol, weapons, pork, or any materials that could be considered pornographic or suggestive, is prohibited.   Penalties for drug possession, consumption, and trafficking are severe by U.S. standards.  An extensive list of banned items is available on our Saudi Arabia country information page .

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Saudi Arabia, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM).  For more information U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Saudi Arabia.

If you decide to travel to Saudi Arabia:

• Visit our website for information on  travel to high-risk areas .
• Stay alert in large crowds and/or locations frequented by foreign nationals.
• Obtain comprehensive medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
• Review local laws and conditions before traveling, including our Saudi Arabia country information on arrest notification and the Department of State’s general information on arrests of U.S. citizens abroad .
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Follow the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report   for Saudi Arabia.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Yemen Border, Abha airport, and Qatif in the Eastern Province and its suburbs, including Awamiyah – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Militants in Yemen have attacked Saudi border towns and other sites in Saudi Arabia with armed drones, missiles, and rockets .  Civilians that are near the border with Yemen are especially at risk.   Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia, including in Qatif.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens within 50 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border as U.S. government personnel and their families are restricted from travel to this area.

Visit our website for information on  travel to high-risk areas

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Saudi Arabia reopens to vaccinated Americans as it tries to rebrand itself to tourists

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders to tourists on Sunday for the first time in 18 months after imposing restrictions at the start of the pandemic to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The historically closed-off kingdom introduced electronic visas for tourists in late 2019, just before the pandemic struck.

Saudi Arabia is looking to rebrand itself as a unique tourist destination for nature lovers and curious travelers as a way to boost non-oil revenue and create more jobs.

Citizens of 49 countries, including the U.S. and China, will be allowed to enter the kingdom under the new rules without quarantine if they provide a negative PCR test before travel and have vaccine certificates proving a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccines.

►Saudi Arabia tourism: As kingdom opens up to tourists, will people visit?

Learn more: Best travel insurance

►Have COVID vaccine, will travel: These are the countries open to fully vaccinated Americans

Travelers vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccine must have received a third dose of one of the other vaccines.

Earlier this week, the kingdom warned that any citizen who travels to red-listed countries, such as neighboring Dubai where the delta variant is present, could face a three-year travel ban.

►Delta variant: How mutations led to the most transmissible COVID-19 virus yet

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Saudi Arabia international tourists gets boosted by 142%

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Favorite

The Tourism Department of Saudi Arabia is excited to share the initial figures for the first six months of 2023, showcasing a significant progression in tourism activities, following the impressive surge observed in 2022. This update not only keeps local and global investors informed about the latest trends in the tourism industry but also highlights the successful strategies employed by the Tourism Department and its associates in drawing tourists. These strategies include the enhancement of tourism offerings and service quality, as well as improvements in visa procedures.

The period witnessed unprecedented numbers in inbound tourism, marking a 142% rise in tourist count and a 132% increase in overall tourism revenue compared to the same period in 2022. This growth is evident across various tourism types, with leisure tourism experiencing the most substantial boost of 347% in comparison to the first half of 2022.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has seen impressive gains this year, with the total number of tourists (inclusive of overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching 53.6 million. This figure comprises 39.0 million domestic tourists and 14.6 million international visitors. The total revenue generated from tourism soared to SAR150 billion, with domestic tourism contributing SAR 63.1 billion and international tourism adding SAR 86.9 billion, marking a new historical peak for Saudi Arabian tourism.

Domestic tourism experienced a 16% growth in revenue during the first half of 2023, owing to the increased average duration of stay from 4.6 nights in the first half of 2022 to 6.3 nights in the same period of 2023. Leisure remains the primary reason for travel, with a visitor increase of 18% compared to the first half of 2022, accounting for 43% of all domestic tourism travels with 16.6 million tourists.

Outbound tourism also saw a rise in the first half of 2023, with a 37% increase in tourist numbers and a 74% surge in spending compared to the first half of 2022. This growth is attributed to the easing of global travel restrictions, coupled with the onset of the summer season and school holidays in June. Non-Saudi residents accounted for 45% of all outbound tourists, marking a 24% increase from the first half of 2022, and their spending represented 66% of total outbound tourism expenditure. The primary reason for travel among these tourists was visiting friends and relatives, which comprised 67% of all non-Saudi outbound trips. The average stay duration rose from 19.3 nights in the first half of 2022 to 45.5 nights in the first half of 2023, leading to a 109% increase in non-Saudi outbound expenditure.

Saudi outbound tourists, primarily traveling to neighboring countries, registered a 49% increase, while their spending rose by 32% compared to the first half of 2022. However, the average spending per night for Saudi tourists declined from SAR 599 in the first half of 2022 to SAR 332 in the same period of 2023.

Tags: saudi arabia , Tourists

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There’s a Huge Opportunity For Saudi Tourism – But it Needs to Embrace Nuance

Colin Nagy , Skift

May 26th, 2024 at 9:01 AM EDT

If Saudi Arabia is serious about tourism, it will need to cater to a wide range of people and price points. What I want to see is room for a certain segment of the private sector: early-stage entrepreneurs and innovators building something from the ground up.

On Experience

Colin Nagy is a marketing strategist and writes on customer-centric experiences and innovation across the luxury sector, hotels, aviation, and beyond.

You can read all of his writing here .

My colleague Josh Corder recently reported how Saudi Arabia is thinking about luxury: The country’s tourism leadership acknowledged that 4- and 5-star hotels will account for at most 20% of their traffic.

This reality stands in stark contrast with the mega projects that make headlines like The Line and Neom. But the global press has focused too much on the glitz and glamor and missed the opportunities emerging in the region. 

There is a white space here, and it’s incredibly exciting.

It will need a bold crop of new hospitality entrepreneurs building Saudi’s version of early Morgans Hotel Group or Bunkhouse: innovative manifestations of boutique hospitality that appeal to the global creative class while also infusing unique elements of Saudi/Middle Eastern hospitality, design, and aesthetics. 

I see incredible creatives, artists, and designers who live and work in the Middle East, and how wide open the opportunity is for new, interesting boutique brands. 

If Saudi Arabia is serious about tourism, it will need to cater to a wide range of people and price points. What is the Saudi-born Ace Hotel? Who are the entrepreneurs and thinkers that can dream this up?

Embrace Nuance

The problem now is actually too much capital. You can’t create something with a jewel-box, handmade appeal (which travelers really want) if you raise too much money and throw it at opulence and size.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund gets a lot of attention with its mega deals. This is to be expected. What I want to see is room for a certain segment of the private sector: early-stage entrepreneurs and innovators building something from the ground up.

There should be a moonshot project that can enable the next wave of young Saudi visionaries with an eye and an idea. It’s essential to find and cultivate homegrown talent and give it a world stage.

Diriyah Gate is a promising start: it is a development focused not on sci-fi futurism and hyper-luxury but on modernizing and contextualizing history and culture. It could continue to house this type of idea and these types of developments. For it to be successful, it needs to maintain a razor-sharp point of view and creative taste and not let the mission be watered down over time.

This new creative hospitality imperative should be a central topic in Saudi development conversations, not lost in the endless seas of capital, investment, and opportunism from Western investors. Otherwise, the incredibly unique nature of the Kingdom will be filled with rinse-and-repeat, hyper-scale projects that don’t speak to the soul of the place. That would be a wasted opportunity to build true resonance.

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Tags: Diriyah Gate , hotels , On Experience , saudi arabia , Travel Trends

Photo credit: A Habitas creation at Alula, a cultural tourism site in Saudi Arabia. Source: Habitas.

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Warnings and insurance.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice . 

Areas where FCDO advises against travel  

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. 

Saudi Arabia-Yemen border  

FCDO advises against:  

• all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen 
• all but essential travel to areas between 10km and 80km from the border with Yemen 

Abha International Airport  

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Abha International Airport in Asir province.  

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .

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If you’re arriving in Saudi Arabia from Sudan, contact the Saudi authorities for the latest entry clearance procedures. See the latest  Sudan travel advice  for information about how to leave Port Sudan.

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Travel trends: More than 50% people in UAE and Saudi Arabia are seeking new experiences

Results from a new Twitter Insights Survey showed that around 33 per cent of the respondents in Saudi Arabia didn’t know how they felt about travel in 2022 against 31 per cent who were confident to hop on a plane and travel

A new Twitter Insights Survey commissioned in May, asking audiences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE what they prioritised when planning their travels or booking a trip, has revealed the following:

Novel experiences are key: Over half of those surveyed in the kingdom and the UAE are motivated to travel to escape from everyday life and encounter new experiences. Around 33 per cent of people in Saudi Arabia don’t know how they feel about travel in 2022 against 31 per cent who are confident to hop on a plane and travel, while 56 per cent of people in the UAE are confident about travelling.

Family is the focus: The most popular reason for people in Saudi Arabia to travel this summer is for a family holiday (46 per cent), which matched the sentiments of over 51 per cent respondents in the UAE.

Price matters: On key factors that would eliminate specific travel destinations from travel plans, the most popular reason for Saudi Arabia residents was high expenses at the destination (46 per cent) closely followed by ticket prices (40 per cent). Surprisingly, these ranked above safety (35 per cent), geopolitical situations (29 per cent) and public health (19 per cent).

UAE residents differed in their opinion by placing safety as their number one factor (39 per cent), closely followed by ticket prices (36 per cent), geopolitical situations (35 per cent) and high expenses at the destination (35 per cent). Public health ranked as one of the lowest threats to travel plans for UAE respondents, at 24 per cent.

Demand for short-haul flights: People displayed mixed reactions to a question on which is the most appealing destination. Individuals in Saudi Arabia identified Dubai to hold the highest appeal (24 per cent) with Switzerland as a close second (17 per cent). Asia (25 per cent) and Turkey (23 per cent) were the most popular picks in the UAE.

Last minute getaways remain popular: Travel at short notice proved the most common lead time for booking, where most people in the UAE said they would book a trip around a month in advance (33 pere cent) and people in Saudi Arabia said they would book less than two weeks ahead of their travel (30 per cent).

Interestingly, on the likelihood of international travel this summer, only 4 per cent of people in Saudia Arabia have already booked flights while 48 per cent said they are unlikely to travel. On the other hand, 21 per cent of people in the UAE have already booked flights and 50 per cent said they are likely to travel in summer this year, suggesting a significant difference in overall confidence between the two surveyed markets.

Brand loyalty matters: Around 75 per cent of people in both markets said that the price of the ticket is the most important criteria when choosing an airline. The most popular passenger carriers for people’s next trip abroad were Saudi Airlines for people in KSA (67 per cent) and Emirates for people in the UAE (79 per cent).

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Is this the most expensive hotel in the Middle East? Inside Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Reserve

Rates at nujuma, the middle east's first ritz-carlton reserve start from $2,640 a night.

Shell-inspired architecture and overwater villas await in Saudi Arabia's Maldives-like destination, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. All photos: Ritz-Carlton

Saudi Arabia’s hotel rates have hit a new high after Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened at the Red Sea destination.

Room rates at the all-villa island retreat start from 9,913 riyals ($2,640) making the hotel the most expensive in the region, and more than double the room rates at Dubai’s seven star Burj Al Arab hotel.

One of only seven Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world, the kingdom’s newest island escape promises travellers an idyllic hideaway in one of Saudi Arabia's most remote corners.

“All of our reserves are ultra-luxury, and they're also designed to be in very remote, private places for people who are explorers and actively seek out these locations,” Tony Coveney, general manager at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve and the St Regis Red Sea Resort, which was the first property to open on the coast at the destination, tells The National .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (@nujumareserve)

Nujuma is the third hotel to open on the 28,000-square-km expanse of islands and coral reef on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea – an inland property – was the first to open in November 2023.

Sunset beach villas at the new reserve on Ummahat Island start from 6,400 riyals, which with added government taxes, fees and transfer charges comes in at over $2,600 per night. Travellers who want to stay in the resort's Maldivian-style overwater villas can expect to pay even more, with rates from 8,800 riyals, plus taxes and fees. Basic rates are for two people and include breakfast.

Travellers planning a visit over the coming Eid Al Adha holidays will need to budget for even higher prices, with starting rates for the reserve's beach villas from 14,682 riyals, including taxes and fees.

For the resort's crowning jewel – the three-bedroom Royal Nujuma Villa, which sleeps up to seven people over 359 square metres – rates start from 81,095 riyals per night, including taxes and fees, which is more than $20,000 per night. And this is even higher over the coming Eid holidays.

What do travellers get for the money?

Travellers arriving at the resort will come via electric sedan and luxury yacht, or they can opt to pay a little more to arrive by seaplane. Once on the island, there's a choice of 63 beach and overwater villas, each of which has been designed by Foster and Partners and is shaped like a shell.

Stylish interiors pay tribute to the destination, fusing traditional Saudi elements with modern luxury. Arabian ornaments, traditional ceramics, woven rugs and intricate wall hangings showcase local craftsmanship, while panoramic windows make the most of the views. Every villa has a sea-view private pool plus unrestricted access to the surrounding nature.

Several restaurant options are available, inspired by the Arabian tradition of gathering over meals at home to share stories, poetry and philosophy, as well as by the lives of the fishermen from the nearby Umluj region. All-day dining restaurant Sita evokes memories of vibrant bazaars; while Mediterranean-inspired Jamaa offers dishes by the resort's outdoor pool and private beach. Tabrah is a modern interpretation of a fisherman’s home with a menu of seafood specialities; and Maia is the place to watch the sun go down, with a wide-ranging menu of mocktails that have been prepared by expert mixologists.

Neyrah Spa is a wellness haven where guests can choose from a selection of treatments inspired by both regional and international methods. Those seeking something more active can head to Galaxea Diving Centre for excursions into the deep blue, as well as activities such as windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

With a name inspired by the Arabic word for the stars, Nujuma is set in one of the most naturally beautiful parts of Saudi Arabia. Surrounded by pristine ocean and white shores, the region is also on track to become the world's second-largest international dark sky reserve .

“It's in a part of the world that has a natural dark sky and incredible starlight. There's no cities nearby,” says Coveney. Guests can make the most of the dark sky location via telescopes on the decks of each villa.

“And the outer reef is just mind-blowing. There are sharks and sea turtles, and the other day we saw a massive pod of dolphins right by the island. What's unusual about the reef is that because almost no boats are allowed here, there's been no damage done – no anchors have been dropped and the coral is gorgeous, alive and full of colour.”

The resort's Conservation House is the place to go for travellers hoping to find out more about the indigenous plant and animal life in the Red Sea destination, as well as discovering more stories about this ancient land and how to preserve it.

Guest will want for nothing as they'll be able to rely on their najm or najma throughout their stay. Also derived from the Arabic words for star, these staff members are carefully matched to guests and are available to assist with anything around the clock.

“They are a guest's guiding star and stay with travellers throughout the visit and are reachable via WhatsApp at any hour,” explains Coveney.

Weaving a tale of Arabia

At less than 1km from the St Regis Red Sea Resort, a stay at Nujuma starts with traditional coffee and dates, setting the scene for an Arabian escape, something that continues throughout the reserve.

“Nujuma is built around 10 [themes], split into two groups. One is around Red Sea culture and the other is themed around elements of the Earth. Under Red Sea culture, there are several themes, for instance, dates. Seven dates a day is something that the Prophet Mohammed used to say, meaning if you eat seven dates a day, you'll stay healthy. So we have different date preparations in different parts of the reserve. In the morning, you get a traditional type of date to give you energy for the day; in the spa, we have date smoothies; and then in the Levantine restaurant, the chefs make date balls,” says Coveney.

Other themes include Saudi patterns, fashion and indigenous plants.

“We've been working with the Saudi Fashion Commission and have ceramics, clothing and swimwear from some of the country's top emerging designers in our retail on the island. We also use hijaz textiles, which this region is known for, and we have a magic moringa tree. It's a plant that grows near AlUla and we're using it for shampoos and toiletries.

“It's a super-special destination and you really know you're in Saudi Arabia,” says the general manager who believes the resort's rates are justified.

“In our industry, prices are almost always driven by a combination of product and service,” he explains.

“And you also have that absolute wow factor, plus the people are something special. I've worked all over the world and I don't know if I've come across a culture that has quite the same inherent hospitality – particularly on Saudi Arabia's west coast. They're just kind people, nice people, and they want to show off their country to the best of their abilities.”

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Saudi Arabia’s NEOM plans flying taxis in new push

By bne Gulf bureau

Saudi Arabia's futuristic megacity NEOM is gearing up to operate a fleet of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, dubbed 'green air taxis', as part of its ambition to build a traffic and pollution-free urban landscape, Al Eqtesadieh reported on May 26.

NEOM is envisioned as a vast, eco-friendly urban development initiative, integral to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 's Vision 2030 to shift the Saudi economy away from oil dependency. The project aims to operate on renewable energy , support sustainable tourism, and incorporate advanced technologies, including robotics, to assist its inhabitants in daily life, with a strong commitment to environmental conservation.

NEOM has been working with German firm Volocopter since 2021 on a joint venture to deploy Volocopter's eVTOL models - the VoloCity for intracity air taxi services, the VoloRegion for intercity flights within NEOM's regions, and the VoloDrone for cargo transport.

NEOM aims to have an operational eVTOL fleet by 2025, powered fully by renewable energy sources.

'The plan is to connect all areas seamlessly with 100% renewable energy while leaving 95% of the NEOM region untouched as one of the world's largest nature reserves,' said Borja Blond, CEO of the NEOM-Volocopter joint venture, at the Dubai Airshow last year.

Rather than building large runways, NEOM will rely on eVTOLs and establish safe flight corridors over less populated zones as a model for future sustainable cities, Blond added. So far, NEOM has ordered 15 Volocopter aircraft and invested $175mn in the German firm's funding round in 2022.

The green air mobility push aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader aviation ambitions, including last week's $37 billion order for 105 Airbus jets by state airline Saudia and the launch of a new Riyadh-based airline, Riyadh Air. Authorities aim to promote the kingdom as a tourist hub through such investments with the NEOM and Red Sea Developments being vanguard in projects.

Meanwhile, NEOM has also invested in US firm Boom Supersonic via the PIF into electric vehicle maker Lucid. The former is developing a sustainable supersonic airliner capable of crossing the Atlantic in 3.5 hours using alternative fuels, while the latter, which is majority-owned by the Saudi fund, is now producing cars in the country.

Earlier in April, Saudi Arabia revised its plans for the ambitious $500bn project, a futuristic city being developed in the northwest of the country, due to concerns over financing, Nemnna, a blog covering the developments, reported.

However, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources, The Line’s target has been scaled back to fewer than 300,000 people by the same deadline.

The Line, powered by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), envisioned a unique linear city stretching approximately 170 kilometres across the Tabuk province desert, featuring two parallel, 500-metre-tall skyscrapers. Yet, current projections have adjusted the completion expectation to just 2.4 km of The Line by 2030 due to financial hurdles and general difficulties in building the project, the US media report noted.

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Saudi Arabia’s traffic accident fatalities down 50%

Saudi Road Code key to achieving success well ahead of the 2030 target

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has halved its traffic accident fatalities, according to a 2023 report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Fahd Al Jalajel, Saudi Minister of Health and Chairman of the Traffic Safety Committee, announced that fatalities from traffic accidents decreased by 50 per cent while injuries fell by 35 per cent.

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The improvement comes as a result of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance traffic safety and align with global standards. The reduction in fatalities and injuries can be attributed to several factors, including the improvement of infrastructure quality and adherence to enhanced traffic safety standards, combined with legislative, technical, awareness, and health initiatives.

Al Jalajel emphasized that these efforts have enabled Saudi Arabia to achieve the global road safety objective of reducing deaths from road accidents by half as of 2023, well ahead of the 2030 target set by the Second United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

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The WHO report further highlighted Saudi Arabia’s consistent progress in mitigating road accident fatalities over the past five years. From 9,311 deaths in 2016, the toll decreased to 6,651 in 2021, marking a notable 35 per cent reduction in injury rates.

In addition to safety measures, Saudi Arabia has focused on the economic implications of traffic accidents. Traffic accidents previously accounted for a loss of 4.7 per cent of the national product, a stark contrast to figures from Australia, England, and America, which did not exceed 1.7 per cent. Annually, traffic accidents are estimated to cost the Saudi economy about SR21 billion.

In response to these challenges, the General Authority for Roads launched the Saudi Road Code, a comprehensive technical reference for road planning, design, implementation, and maintenance across the kingdom. The Saudi Road Code aims to guide ministries and local authorities in enhancing road safety and includes specific provisions for the latest advancements such as self-driving vehicles.

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First Syrian jet in over a decade transports Muslim worshippers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage

Associated Press

DAMASCUS – For the first time in over a decade, 270 Syrians traveled on a direct flight early Tuesday from Damascus to Saudi Arabia for the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, the Syrian Transportation Ministry said.

The development is part of an ongoing thaw in relations between Damascus and Riyadh, which days ago appointed Saudi Arabia's first ambassador to war-torn Syria since severing ties in 2012 .

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Syria was readmitted to the 22-member Arab League in 2023, after it had been suspended from the group for more than a decade over President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2011. Most countries in the Arab world have since restored diplomatic ties with Damascus.

A second plane of pilgrims is set to depart from Damascus to Jeddah late Tuesday, the ministry said.

1.8 million Muslims from around the world took part in last year's Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, making it one of the world's largest religious gatherings. This year, it's scheduled to begin on the evening of June 14.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

The uprising-turned-civil war in Syria, now in its 14th year has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s prewar population of 23 million. The war has largely remained frozen and so have the efforts to find a viable political solution to end it. Poverty is rampant across the front lines, with aid dwindling and a growing number of countries sounding the alarm on surging migration.

Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

A ship is attacked and takes on water in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, authorities say

The Associated Press

May 28, 2024, 7:12 AM

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship came under attack Tuesday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, with a private security firm saying radio traffic suggested the vessel took on water after being struck.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion immediately fell on Yemen’s Houthi rebels , who have launched a number of attacks targeting ships over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Few other details were immediately available about the attack, reported by the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. It happened off the port city of Hodeida in the southern Red Sea, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links it to the Gulf of Aden.

The private security firm Ambrey said the vessel reported by radio of having “sustained damage to the cargo hold and was taking on water.” It said it had been targeted in a missile attack.

The location of the attack corresponded to the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Laax. The vessel reported being heading to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

The Laax is managed by the Grehel Ship Management of Piraeus, Greece. A man who answered the phone at Grehel declined to answer questions about the attack and an emailed request for comment was not returned.

The Houthis have launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months, demanding that Israel ends the war in Gaza , which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the United States Maritime Administration.

Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. In recent weeks, the tempo of Houthi attacks has dropped, though the rebels have claimed shooting down U.S. surveillance drones .

Yemen has been wracked by conflict since the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war on the side of Yemen’s exiled government in 2015, but the conflict has remained at a stalemate for years as Riyadh tries to reach a peace deal with the Houthis.

Speaking Tuesday in Dubai, the prime minister of Yemen’s exiled, internationally recognized government urged the world to see past the Houthis’ claims of backing the Palestinians through their attacks.

“The Houthis’ exploitation of a very just cause such as the cause of our people in Palestine and what is happening in Gaza is to escape the benefits of peace and lead us to major complications that exist,” Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak told the Arab Media Forum. “Peace is a strategic choice. We must reach peace. The war must stop. This is a must. Our people need security and stability. The region itself needs stability.”

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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