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  • Maximum fine of SR100000 for intentionally blocking or obstructing public road

    The executive regulations of the Law of the Protection of Public Facilities stipulate that anyone who intentionally damages, blocks or obstructs a public road or flood drainage passages shall be slapped with a fine of 75 percent of the cost of repairing the damaged area, not to exceed SR100000. In the event of committing the violation by a group of persons, they shall jointly bear the value of the penalty, and this does not prevent the completion of the procedures for referring the perpetrators to the competent court. The executive regulations, approved by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail, obligate the violator to compensate for all damages caused to the public facility, including the costs of repairing the damage caused.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Year in Sport: Highlights from a blockbuster 2024 in the Kingdom

    From football to Formula 1 and boxing to MMA, 2024 has been a huge year of sport in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom continues to cement its position as one of the globe’s leading destinations for elite-level competition. Last Saturday’s heavyweight boxing clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandar Usyk was the final major sporting event of a memorable year, which has seen numerous records tumble and titles change hands. With the curtain coming down on 2024, Al Arabiya English reflects on another busy 12 months of sport in the Kingdom.

  • Snap reveals Saudi National Day’s ‘Kingdom’s Lenscape’ AR Campaign reaches 10 million users

    ‘Kingdom Lenscape’, Snapchat’s augmented reality (AR) campaign in celebration of Saudi National Day 2024, proved to be a huge hit in the Kingdom, achieving a total reach of more than 10 million, over 64 million impressions and 12.8 seconds’ average camera playtime. The ‘Kingdom Lenscape’ campaign featured two pillars; FAKHAR, focused on celebrating national pride, and KARAM, highlighting the culture of gifting and shopping. A number of prominent brands got involved, including Ounass, Huda Beauty, NiceOne, Shahid, Spotify, Alwazn Almithaly, Zyros, Saudi Investment Bank, Laverne and Alwaleed Philanthropies.

  • UAE becomes Africa’s largest investor, overtaking China

    The UAE has emerged as Africa’s largest backer of new business projects, with Emirati companies committing $110bn (£88bn) to projects between 2019 and 2023, including $72bn in renewable energy, The Guardian reports citing FT Locations. These pledges outpace investments by the UK, France, and China, as traditional investors scale back. African leaders have also welcomed the UAE’s increased financial interest, particularly for green energy and infrastructure. “African countries are in dire need of this money [for] their own energy transitions,” Ahmed Aboudouh, associate fellow at Chatham House was quoted as saying. “But at the same time, [Emirati investors] come in with less attention to labour rights, to environmental standards.” The UAE’s investment ambitions align with its strategy to diversify from oil and gas. Major players include Dubai’s DP World, operating six African ports, and Abu Dhabi Ports, which has expanded in Guinea, Egypt, and Angola. In Zambia, International Resource Holdings—a conglomerate linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed—secured a surprise $1.1bn deal for a 51 per cent stake in Mopani Copper Mines.

  • 66 endangered species released into King Khalid Royal Reserve

    The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, has released 66 endangered species into the King Khalid Royal Reserve. As part of the initiative, the NCW has reintroduced 40 Arabian Oryx, 10 addax, 6 Nubian Ibex, and 10 Houbara Bustards. This effort forms a key component of a breeding and reintroduction program aimed at enriching the reserve's biodiversity, restoring ecological balance, enhancing sustainability, and promoting eco-tourism.

  • Taking Saudi Arabia’s World Cup 2034 from ambition to reality

    The World Cup is always more than just a series of matches. It’s a global event that transforms nations, driving development in infrastructure, the economy and tourism. For Saudi Arabia it’s also an opportunity to establish itself as a modern, ambitious and open nation. The country has announced plans to build 15 stadiums. And if you think these are just sports venues, think again. Each stadium is envisioned as a future architectural marvel designed to impress the world. But behind this grandeur lies a harsh reality: the kingdom’s limited domestic resources mean it will need to rely heavily on imported materials, technology and expertise – a significant challenge for a country determined to showcase its self-sufficiency.

  • Backing Saudi World Cup bid ‘wasn’t a difficult decision’, says FA chair

    England's FA decided to back Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup after being reassured by answers they received from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) during a meeting last month, chair Debbie Hewitt said on Friday.  Global soccer governing body FIFA officially awarded the World Cup to the Kingdom on Wednesday, with the sole bid for the tournament confirmed by acclamation. A number of rights organisations strongly criticised FIFA after the announcement, pointing to Saudi's human rights record.

  • Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034: Experts, fans say event will be ‘massive’ for Kingdom

    “Not only will it attract global media attention, but it will also allow Saudi Arabia to demonstrate its ability to deliver on major projects,” he said. “An event like the FIFA World Cup puts Saudi Arabia on the map for global leaders and foreign investment. It signifies KSA’s openness to international collaboration, adaptability, and growth.” “With an influx of people, there will be a higher demand for resources and infrastructure to accommodate. Saudi Arabia can use this win as an opportunity to showcase how it uses innovation, modern technology, and sustainability to create a business environment that will appeal to foreign investors and businesses.”

  • From Oil Kingdom to Mineral Titan? Inside Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Mining Revolution

    Saudi Arabia is striving to strike a balance between its oil and other mineral resources with the goal of trying to keep its energy dominance intact, something it has managed to do so far with regard to oil production. According to reports, the Kingdom wants to increase the GDP contribution of its mining industry to US $75 billion by 2035, a significant jump from the present day US $17 billion. The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), a key state-owned enterprise, plays a vital role in implementing the kingdom’s mining strategies, forming partnerships to develop mineral resources and managing major projects. To further boost mining initiatives, Saudi Arabia has introduced a $182 million exploration incentive program and issued 33 more mining licenses.

  • What Syria’s triumphant rebels learned from Al Qaeda’s striking failures

    The lightning victory of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham in its stunningly successful offensive to unseat the more than 50-year-old Assad family-led Baathist dictatorship in Syria was highly reminiscent of the manner in which the Taliban pushed down the house of cards that was the nominal Afghan government when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. It took the Taliban 10 days to race to victory and HTS a mere week to unseat Bashar al-Assad. In both cases the existing regime’s military forces mostly disintegrated, virtually without a fight.