COMMUNITY

Snow possible in northern Saudi Arabia; experts say it is not unusual

Snow was already reported in the Tabuk region, where mountains were blanketed in white

Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology has forecast a high probability of snowfall on Thursday across parts of the Kingdom’s north, including the Qassim region and elevated areas of Tabuk and Hail, as an intense weather system continues to affect large areas of the country.

The forecast follows several days of severe weather warnings, with Qassim placed under a red alert for heavy rainfall and flood risks.

Meteorologists said temperatures in higher elevations are expected to drop below zero degrees Celsius, creating favourable conditions for snowfall, alongside thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.

Against this backdrop, a leading Saudi astronomer said such snowfall events, while drawing widespread attention, are not unusual during the winter months.

Mohammed bin Reddah Al Thaqafi, an astronomer and expert at the Taif Astronomical Sundial and a member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences, said snowfall in northern Saudi Arabia occurs periodically each winter, even though it does not follow a fixed astronomical cycle. Its recurrence, he explained, depends largely on shifting climatic and atmospheric conditions.

Snowfall is typically recorded between December and February, Al-Thaqafi said, and is most common in regions such as Tabuk, Al-Jouf and Arar, which are more exposed to Mediterranean weather systems than other parts of the Kingdom.

He identified areas including Jabal Al Lawz, Alaqan and Al Dhahr in Tabuk; Sakaka and Dumat Al Jandal in Al Jouf; Arar in the Northern Borders; Jabal Aja and Jabal Salma in Hail; and the highlands of Abha in Asir as the locations most likely to experience snowfall.

While some seasons pass without snow, he noted that these areas remain among the most reliable destinations for winter conditions.

Al Thaqafi urged motorists and outdoor visitors to exercise caution during snowy weather, warning of slippery roads and reduced visibility, and stressed the importance of adhering to traffic regulations to avoid accidents.

Snow was already reported on Jabal Al-Lawz in the Tabuk region, where mountains were blanketed in white.

The National Center for Meteorology said snow conditions were expected to persist from early afternoon until evening, with forecasts also warning of moderate to heavy thunderstorms that could lead to flash flooding, hail and strong winds in several regions.

NCM spokesperson Hussein Al Qahtani said the centre is closely monitoring atmospheric developments, dismissing social media claims of widespread flooding in Riyadh as inaccurate. He urged the public to rely on official sources for weather information as unstable conditions continue across the Kingdom.

Story by Gulf News

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.