The Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the UN Youth Office during the Misk Global Forum 2025.
The partnership will strengthen youth capacity, expand access to global resources, and launch initiatives that enhance preparedness and community impact.
The MoU builds on Misk’s ongoing collaboration with the United Nations on youth issues, supporting partnerships that empower international youth organizations and enhance the impact of their programs.
— SPA

Saudi Arabia has issued a comprehensive set of binding regulations governing the naming of public facilities across the Kingdom, introducing unified standards, governance frameworks, and explicit religious and administrative restrictions.

Published in the Umm Al Qura official Gazette, the new “Rules and Standards for Naming Public Facilities” were approved by the Saudi Cabinet and are set to take effect 120 days after publication.

The rules apply to all publicly owned facilities nationwide, including municipal buildings, schools, cultural centres, sports arenas, and transportation hubs.

According to Okaz newspaper, public facilities are broadly defined to encompass government-owned assets across multiple sectors, including education, culture, sports, religion, health, and transportation. Each government entity will be responsible for naming facilities under its control, ensuring compliance with the new regulations and existing laws.

The rules require government bodies to issue their own executive bylaws outlining procedural, technical, organisational, and operational standards for naming decisions. Governance mechanisms must also be established to oversee and enforce these decisions internally.

The regulations introduce stringent prohibitions on certain names. Public facilities may not be named after Kings of Saudi Arabia, Crown Princes, or leaders of friendly or allied states without prior approval from the King. Names that contradict Islamic Sharia are explicitly banned.

Restrictions also extend to the use of the names of God. Only seven names are permitted when naming public facilities: Al Salam, Al Adl, Al Awwal, Al Nur, Al Haqq, Al Shahid, and Al Malik.

Where facilities are named after individuals, authorities must verify a candidate’s integrity, including their intellectual orientation and criminal or security record, in coordination with relevant bodies. The chosen name must also be appropriate to the individual’s status and standing.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing will issue official naming categories following coordination with concerned authorities, and government entities must adhere to these classifications. Final approval of facility names rests with the head of the relevant entity, though this authority may be delegated.

To increase flexibility, the regulations permit numerical designations to be used in naming public facilities, either independently or in combination with names.

In a bid to enhance coordination and consistency, each government entity must also establish and maintain a comprehensive database of public facility names under its jurisdiction. These records must be updated regularly and submitted annually to the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.

The new framework also repeals previous regulations related to the naming of streets and squares contained in earlier Cabinet decisions, as well as any conflicting provisions.

Story by Gulf News

Saudi security authorities have arrested 17,880 people residing illegally in the Kingdom over the past week, following a series of coordinated inspection campaigns, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.

Operations and violations

The arrests were made during joint operations conducted between December 11 and December 17 by security forces in cooperation with relevant government agencies. According to Okaz newspaper, those detained included:

• 11,190 violators of residency regulations
• 3,801 in breach of border security laws
• 2,889 violating labour regulations
• Follow-up actions and deportations
• As part of follow-up procedures, over 20,000 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 5,080 were directed to complete travel arrangements. A total of 12,661 people have already been deported, the ministry said.
• Border interceptions and demographics
• The operations also intercepted 1,509 individuals attempting to cross the border illegally. Among those arrested, 44% were Yemeni nationals, 55% Ethiopian, and 1% of other nationalities. An additional 40 people were detained while trying to leave Saudi Arabia unlawfully.
• Facilitators of illegal residency
• Authorities also arrested 15 individuals accused of aiding illegal residents by providing transportation, shelter, or employment. The ministry reported that 29,771 expatriates—including 28,198 men and 1,573 women—are currently undergoing legal procedures as part of enforcement measures.
• Strict penalties warned
• The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone assisting illegal entry, transport, accommodation, or employment of violators faces severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison and fines up to SR1 million. Vehicles used in such activities and properties providing shelter to violators may also be confiscated.

Story by Gulf News