COMMUNITY

Saudi German Hospital Dubai Celebrates the UAE’s 54th Union Day with a Staff-Centered Community Gathering

Dubai, UAE — 28 November 2025

Saudi German Hospital Dubai celebrated the UAE’s 54th Union Day with a special community event held in the hospital garden, bringing together medical leadership, nursing teams, administrative staff, and employees from all departments. The gathering reflected the spirit of unity, pride, and Emirati heritage.

The celebration began at 3:00 PM in a beautifully prepared garden setting, where staff enjoyed a vibrant cultural program featuring Emirati horse shows, traditional dance performances, authentic Emirati cuisine, henna painting, and a variety of interactive activities that highlighted the richness of the UAE’s identity. The event provided employees with a joyful and meaningful opportunity to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey.

Honoring Team Spirit and the Emirati Identity

Hospital leadership expressed deep appreciation to the SGH Dubai workforce for their continuous dedication, resilience, and commitment to patient care. They emphasized that the strength of the hospital lies in its people and in the unity that connects them.

Dr. Ahmed Eissa, Group CEO of Saudi German Hospital UAE, shared:

“Union Day is a celebration of a nation that continues to lead with vision, compassion, and determination. Today, we also celebrate the incredible people who bring these values to life within our hospitals. Every doctor, nurse, technician, and employee plays a vital role in caring for our patients and supporting the UAE’s healthcare mission. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the UAE’s wise leadership, whose continuous efforts have made this country one of the best places in the world to live, work, and thrive. Their vision is the foundation of the stability, opportunity, and progress we all enjoy. As we gather here, we honor the UAE’s journey and renew our promise to serve its people with integrity, innovation, and dedication.”

A Celebration of Culture and Connection

The event showcased the essence of Emirati culture and strengthened the sense of belonging among staff. The shared experiences and cultural activities enhanced team spirit and reflected the UAE’s values of unity, respect, and community.

Saudi German Hospital Dubai continues to stand alongside its employees and the wider community in advancing healthcare excellence and contributing to a healthier and brighter future for the UAE.

For more information please visit our website: https://saudigerman.com/dubai/

COMMUNITY

AlUla Club Marks International Day of the Arabian Leopard

AlUla Club organized an awareness event yesterday to mark the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, with broad participation from residents of AlUla Governorate and visitors. The event is part of the club’s efforts to enhance environmental awareness and support wildlife protection initiatives.
The event aimed to educate youth and the community at large, and especially visitors to the governorate, about the importance of conserving biodiversity. It also sought to reinforce positive behaviors that support wildlife protection, underscoring the role of community initiatives in supporting national efforts to protect the environment, and sustain it.
— SPA

COMMUNITY

Saudi Arabia to issue passports for millions of camels

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to issue official passports for camels, a move aimed at better regulating and managing one of the kingdom’s most culturally and economically significant assets.

In a statement this week, Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said the initiative would help improve oversight of camel ownership while enhancing ‘productivity and efficiency in the sector’ by creating a centralised and reliable reference database.

According to state-backed broadcaster Al Ekhbariya, the document will be used to regulate the sale, transport and trade of camels, while also helping protect owners’ rights and simplify proof of ownership.

Saudi authorities estimate that the kingdom is home to around 2.2 million camels, based on government figures released in 2024. The animals remain deeply embedded in Saudi society — historically as a primary means of transport and today as symbols of heritage, prestige and wealth.

In recent years, camels have also become central to a lucrative breeding and competition industry, particularly at large annual festivals such as the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, where prize-winning animals can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That growing commercial value has prompted authorities to tighten oversight, especially after repeated scandals involving cosmetic manipulation of camels entered into beauty contests. Organisers have banned practices such as injections and fillers used to enhance lips, noses and humps, with offenders facing fines and disqualification.

Officials say the passport system is part of a broader effort to modernise agricultural governance while preserving traditional industries — using documentation, data and traceability to manage practices that once relied entirely on oral record and custom.

COMMUNITY

Saudi Arabia suspends 1,800 foreign Umrah agencies after review

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with about 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the Umrah sector, giving them 10 days to rectify their status following a periodic performance review, the ministry said.

The affected agencies are among roughly 5,800 foreign firms authorised to provide Umrah services. The decision was taken after evaluations identified performance deficiencies and weak service quality, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday

The ministry said the suspension applies only to the issuance of new Umrah visas and is intended as a regulatory measure to allow agencies to address classification issues and improve compliance with approved standards. Contracts will be reactivated once the requirements are met within the specified grace period, it added.

The ministry stressed that Umrah pilgrims holding valid visas or existing reservations will not be affected, confirming that services to them will continue without disruption.

Applying approved classification criteria and performance indicators is a core regulatory tool to raise compliance among service providers and ensure that services meet required standards, the ministry said, adding that protecting the rights of Umrah performers and ensuring service continuity remain central priorities.

Ghassan Alnwaimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said regulatory action would be taken against any agency that fails to correct deficiencies by the deadline. He added that the ministry would continue to rely on monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to strengthen the reliability of the Umrah sector and safeguard pilgrims’ rights.