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

Heavy thunderstorms continue across the UAE, with authorities urging residents to stay indoors, avoid flood-prone areas, and limit travel as unstable weather persists. Emirates and flydubai have cancelled or rescheduled several flights due to the severe weather. MoHRE has called on private sector companies in affected areas to adopt remote work on 19 December, while Abu Dhabi has suspended community events. Tragically, a 27-year-old Indian expatriate, Salman Fariz, died in Ras Al Khaimah after a wall collapsed during heavy rains. The NCM warns of ongoing rainfall, thunderstorms, hail, strong winds, dust, and rough seas nationwide. For all the updates on weather across the UAE, stay tuned to Gulfnews.com

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The police urged all parties to prioritise safety and follow official guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries.

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Story by Gulf News