Coronavirus: King Salman issues directive to allow Saudis to return to the Kingdom
April 5, 2020, 3:28 pm

Coronavirus: King Salman issues directive to allow Saudis to return to the Kingdom

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (Supplied)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued on Sunday directives for the foreign minister to work on procedures that will allow Saudi citizens to return to the Kingdom following the suspension of flights around the world amid the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus: King Salman

The priority will be given to citizens who are in countries that have been most affected by the virus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Saudi citizens who wish to be repatriated can use a hotline provided by the ministry for any inquiries or assistance they may need.

The Kingdom has suspended flights to 39 countries in early March, including to the European Union countries, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia.

Flights to Oman, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Italy, and South Korea have also been halted.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry that registration for the return of citizens to the Kingdom will begin next Sunday, April 12, and will continue for five days. Priority will be given to Saudi Arabian citizens who are in countries most affected by the spread of the coronavirus, the elderly, and pregnant women.

Authorities said that in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, citizens returning to Saudi Arabia will be subjected to 14 days of isolation as a precautionary measure. Authorities added that 11,000 hotel rooms are being prepared to accommodate the returning citizens from abroad.

Saudi Arabia has reported 2,385 cases of coronavirus, and 34 virus-related deaths as of April 5.

Saudi Arabia on Saturday quarantined seven neighborhoods in the Jeddah governorate to prevent the virus from spreading further. Coronavirus: King Salman

Pilgrimage for national and foreign worshippers was suspended last month, and Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims around the world to be patient and delay their plans for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages amid uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah. levant

source: Tamara Abueish levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”