Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

• In a show of deepening diplomatic ties and shared goals, the leaders of Senegal and Mauritania have officially pledged their support to Saudi Arabia's bids to host the Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
• During their discussions, they focused on enhancing bilateral ties and Senegal's commitment to Saudi Arabia's global aspirations.
• Similarly, in the Presidential Palace of Nouakchott, HE Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, received HE Ahmed Al Khateeb and his delegation.
• These endorsements demonstrate the growing international confidence in Saudi Arabia's vision and its capability to host events of a global magnitude.

• ACES will equip India's longest underground metro line with State of Art mobile telecom infrastructure with 4G and 5G technologies and will cover the entire stretch of 33.5 Kilometers line, which includes 27 stations, platforms, concours, and tunnels.
• Thus, providing Metro's 1.6 million passengers per day with seamless coverage and enhance mobile data speeds.
• Dr. Akram Aburas, CEO of ACES expressed his pride association with this prestigious project and explained ACES future vision as International Neutral Digital Infrastructure Company.
• MMRC Management expressed happiness in partnering with ACES, which aims to equip its longest underground Metro Line-3 with a state of art 4G and 5G Mobile Infrastructure for an exclusive period of 9 years and will neutrally cater 600 million Passengers annually.

• "The third edition of FMF underscores the mining and minerals sector as a pivotal pillar in Vision 2030, playing a crucial role in the global shift towards clean energy.
• Our commitment to supporting technology adoption for environmentally conscious mining, and to foster global advancement in the minerals sector, especially within the super-region.
• Recognizing the sector's challenges, there's an urgency to develop a roadmap and address the growing demand for critical minerals essentials for energy transition.
• The JV developed into Manara Minerals providing investment opportunities for mining assets globally, while securing strategic minerals essential for Saudi Arabia's economic development and global supply chain resiliency.

• The new rules don’t apply just during the Hajj.
• Women can also perform the Umrah, known as the “lesser pilgrimage,” or other routine pilgrimages such as ziyarat that can be undertaken any time of the year to Islamic holy sites, without a “mahram,” or male guardian.

Saudi Arabia and the West

• Nevertheless, in some patriarchal societies where sexual harassment is common, restrictions are put on women irrespective of religious affiliation.
• However, Saudi Arabia is an exception.
• Colonization created a dichotomy within the world where Islam was often seen to be the opposite of the values of the West.

Insider perspectives

• To some it may appear to violate the norms of Western egalitarianism, but it’s an ancient practice meant to encourage a spiritual intimacy and fellowship.
• These barriers, erected for women in Saudi Arabia in the 20th century, are being removed in accordance with the older prophetic tradition of women’s independence.
• For example, the first wife of the Prophet, Khatija, was an independent businesswoman who initially hired the Prophet as an employee for her trading caravans.

Community and camaraderie

• The ultimate truth in Islam is the unity of God, and a Muslim pilgrimage is a manifestation of that unity through integration and service to the community.
• Additionally, Islam is a religion of right action in which individuals find realization by integrating into the community.
• The communal model of pilgrimage helps them go through a physically demanding schedule of ritual observance and creates camaraderie, that continues beyond the pilgrimage.