Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot program called the package visa to make travel easier for foreign tourists. Under this system, visitors can obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services. According to a report published on Tuesday, the initiative will initially be implemented through approved travel and tourism service providers.

The program allows travelers to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process. They can also add events, tourism activities, and experiences to their packages. Only authorized travel agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service can offer this facility. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly implemented by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the package visa to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partners, and make Saudi Arabia a more attractive destination, encouraging longer stays and higher spending by foreign visitors.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot package visa program aimed at simplifying travel procedures for foreign tourists. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, allows visitors to obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services through approved travel and tourism providers.

According to the country’s state news agency, the program will initially be implemented through authorized agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service. Travelers will be able to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process, with options to add events and tourism activities. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly managed by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the program to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partnerships, and increase visitor spending and engagement in the country.

Saudi Arabia has deported 12,292 foreign nationals for violating residency, labor, and border security laws, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry cited by Gulf News on Sunday. The deportations are part of intensified nationwide operations aimed at curbing illegal stay and border-related offenses.

The ministry further reported that 16,912 individuals have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 4,174 others are completing ticketing and reservation procedures before deportation. Authorities warned that aiding illegal border crossers—through transport, shelter, or any form of assistance—is a serious crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to one million Saudi riyals, and confiscation of vehicles or property used in the offense.

Between June 25 and July 1, joint security operations detained 15,591 people, including 7,759 for residency violations, 4,488 for border security breaches, and 3,344 for labor law offenses.

The United States is reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia as tensions between Washington and Riyadh escalate over the ongoing war with Iran. Reports from multiple media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Times of Israel, indicate that Saudi Arabia’s refusal to allow the use of its bases and airspace for a planned US operation, codenamed 'Project Freedom', has strained bilateral relations. The operation aimed to weaken Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, but was canceled after Saudi denial.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House reacted angrily to Riyadh’s stance, threatening to suspend the supply of missile interceptors that Saudi forces use against Iranian drones and missiles. US officials confirmed that Washington is now considering scaling back its military footprint in the kingdom. The diplomatic chill was further underscored when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped Saudi Arabia during a Gulf tour, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined to attend the G7 summit in France.

The reports suggest that Saudi Arabia’s frustration stems from its limited influence over US policy despite close ties, and from fears that prolonged conflict with Iran could destabilize the region and global energy markets.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced an extension for expatriate workers facing work permit issues. The ministry said the deadline to regularize their status has been extended until the end of the current year, according to a report published on Tuesday by Gulf News.

The decision applies to expatriates whose work permits expired more than a year ago or who have not received a permit within six months of joining a company. The ministry stated that the move aims to ensure strict enforcement of labor laws, protect the rights of all contractual parties, and allow both employers and employees additional time to complete necessary legal and regulatory procedures.

Authorities have warned that failure to issue or renew work permits within the extended period will result in strict legal action. Additionally, the government has limited the number of immediate work visas available to new companies to a maximum of five.

Saudi Arabia has issued an urgent directive regarding the renewal of expatriate work permits. The country’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, through its Qiwa platform, announced that only two days remain before the renewal deadline. Employers have until June 30 to renew or transfer work permits for their employees.

According to the Qiwa platform, starting July 1, any worker whose permit has been expired for more than three months will be automatically removed from their employer’s records. Employers who allow employees to work without a valid permit will be responsible for all financial liabilities accrued up to the last day of work. The ministry urged employers to complete all necessary renewal procedures before the deadline to avoid penalties.

The directive aims to ensure compliance with labor regulations and maintain updated employment records across Saudi Arabia’s workforce management system.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud is set to visit China for a two-day official trip from Tuesday to Wednesday, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and follows a weekend of reciprocal attacks between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz.

The trip takes place against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. Earlier, a memorandum of understanding was signed to halt the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, followed by technical-level discussions in Switzerland. Since the war began in February, Iran has launched attacks on several Gulf countries hosting US military bases, including Saudi Arabia. These repeated strikes and the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted Saudi oil exports.

The visit is expected to focus on regional stability and energy security, though specific agenda details were not disclosed in the source.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Sunday to discuss a range of regional and international issues. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussion focused on the latest developments surrounding the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and agreed on supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing regional tensions. The conversation also covered bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France and other matters of mutual interest related to regional and international affairs.

The call reflects continuing high-level engagement between Riyadh and Paris on Middle Eastern security and diplomatic coordination, particularly in light of evolving US-Iran relations.

A helicopter belonging to Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia, crashed in the eastern Ras Tanura region on Sunday, killing all 14 people on board. The incident was reported by the Saudi Press Agency and Arab News, citing an official from the Ministry of Energy. According to the ministry’s statement, no one aboard the helicopter survived the crash.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the accident, and an investigation has been launched to determine what led to the crash. The Ministry of Energy expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the victims. Ras Tanura is home to one of Saudi Aramco’s major oil refineries and export terminals.

Preliminary reports suggest the helicopter was operating as part of duties related to the industrial zone, though further details remain under investigation.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a travel ban on citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan as a precautionary step to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The decision also suspends visa issuance and entry into Saudi Arabia for travelers from these countries. According to a Gulf News report citing the Saudi Press Agency, the restriction applies to anyone who has stayed in any of the three nations within 21 days before entering Saudi Arabia, even if arriving through another country.

The Saudi Public Health Authority, known as Weqaya, stated that the move aims to protect public health and curb cross-border transmission of infectious diseases. The country has strengthened health screening, disease surveillance, and rapid response systems at entry points, particularly for travelers from neighboring countries of the affected regions.

Authorities confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s overall public health situation remains stable, with no suspected Ebola cases detected so far. Continuous monitoring of regional and international epidemic developments is underway, and the government affirmed readiness to implement all necessary health measures.

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco has resumed crude oil loading operations at Ras Tanura, the Gulf region’s largest export terminal, after nearly four months of suspension. According to a Reuters report, two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) operated by Bahri, a Saudi shipping company, are currently loading crude at the terminal, while another vessel is waiting nearby. Each VLCC can carry about two million barrels of oil, signaling a restart of exports from one of Saudi Arabia’s key oil hubs.

The move comes as Middle Eastern oil and gas producers have recently increased production and exports amid hopes of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia’s decision to resume exports from within the Gulf aligns with this broader regional trend.

The resumption of operations at Ras Tanura indicates a potential stabilization in regional oil trade routes following months of disruption.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has issued an urgent warning to all Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, advising them not to sign or provide fingerprints on any blank papers. The advisory, signed by Counselor Md. Mehbub Zaman and released on Wednesday, emphasized that such actions could expose individuals to serious legal and financial risks.

According to the embassy notice, signing blank documents at the request or instruction of any person or organization is highly dangerous. Unscrupulous individuals or groups may exploit such signatures for financial fraud, forgery, illegal transactions, or other criminal activities. Victims could face criminal charges, financial losses, imprisonment, fines, or other legal penalties as a result.

The embassy urged all expatriates to fully understand and verify the content of any written document before signing or providing fingerprints, and to exercise utmost caution to avoid potential exploitation or legal complications.

A Bangladeshi youth named Nabi Hossain from Bahubal upazila in Habiganj has been abducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to his family, despite paying ransom money to a group identifying itself as a mafia gang, there has been no trace of him. The family reported that the ransom was sent to a mobile number provided by the abductors, but Nabi remains missing, leaving his relatives in severe distress.

Nabi Hossain had traveled to Saudi Arabia on January 2 through a local agent named Tarek Mia from Karimpur village. He was employed at a company near the Charmina Mosque in Riyadh’s Aziziyah area. On June 3, he last contacted his family to inform them about receiving his salary, after which his phone was found switched off. Thirteen days later, on June 15, a message demanding ransom was sent from an Imo account named Md. Mamun.

The family transferred a total of 41,000 taka through bKash as instructed, but the abductors later demanded more money. Despite the payments, Nabi’s whereabouts remain unknown, and his family continues to live in fear and uncertainty.

An inscription bearing the name of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab has been discovered in Saudi Arabia. The country’s Heritage Commission announced that the finding was made during an archaeological survey in the Medina province. The discovery was part of a broader exploration that uncovered a total of 1,774 archaeological artifacts.

According to the Heritage Commission, the survey teams documented 173 previously unknown archaeological sites. Among the discoveries were 1,259 inscriptions, including 461 Islamic inscriptions, 34 written in the Thamudic language, 11 stone structures, three palaces and archaeological buildings, two caravan route milestones, and four wells. The newly found inscription featuring Caliph Umar’s name is considered one of the significant findings from the survey.

The commission noted that Umar ibn al-Khattab ruled the Islamic empire from 634 to 644 CE. The discovery adds to the growing record of early Islamic-era artifacts in the region, highlighting Medina’s historical importance in Islamic civilization.

Saudi Arabia continues to offer scholarship opportunities for international students, including those from Bangladesh, to study at its renowned universities. The country’s higher education system combines Islamic studies with modern disciplines such as science, technology, and business. Foreign students typically begin with an Arabic language diploma before entering undergraduate programs. Education at public universities is tuition-free, and students receive necessary study materials at no cost.

Applicants must generally be between 17 and 23 years old, with some universities allowing up to 25. A minimum GPA of 4.00 in HSC or Alim exams is required, though certain institutions accept lower results. The application process demands verified and translated documents, including passports, certificates, and medical fitness reports, all authenticated by relevant authorities and the Saudi Embassy in Bangladesh. Female applicants must comply with specific guardian-related conditions.

Popular universities for Bangladeshi students include the Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Umm al-Qura University in Makkah, and Taibah University in Madinah. Saudi Arabia’s blend of academic excellence, Islamic learning, and international exposure makes it an appealing destination for higher education.