SAUDI CABINET APPROVES NEW ANTI-BENAMI LAW; 5 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF 50 LAKH RIYALS

 

 Riyadh: The Saudi cabinet on Tuesday approved Saudi Arabia's new anti-benami law, which includes heavy penalties and fines.

Violators face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 50 lakh riyals. Earlier, he was jailed for two years and fined one million riyals. In addition, earlier penalties, such as deportation and other revocation of the company's license, apply to life imprisonment in the case of a foreigner.

The law, passed by the Saudi Shura Council last month, aims to curb benami sources and eliminate the shadow economy, the commerce ministry said.

The new law requires that any information provided by benefactors be protected from inclusion in the case files. In addition, those who provide up to 30 percent of the fine will be rewarded.

The government had yesterday set up a special ministerial-level committee to prevent benami transactions such as foreigners secretly exercising ownership in the commercial sector in the name of Saudi citizens. In short, the Saudi authorities have decided to put their noses to the benefactors.

REPORTS THAT THE RE-ENTRY PERIOD OF VACATIONERS FROM SAUDI ARABIA CAN BE RENEWED ONLINE; EXPATRIATES AWAIT OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Riyadh: Expatriates are still awaiting the official announcement of re-entry visas as the maximum validity of Saudi Javasat automatically renewed re-entry visas expires on August 20.

Earlier, when asked about the renewal of re-entry on Saudi Javasat's social media account after August 20, he said that the employer could renew the re-entry of workers through Abshir or Muqeem.

According to some media reports, some companies have started renewing the re-entry visas of their domestic workers through Abshir or Muqeem.

According to reports, the renewal can be done after paying the iqama number at the rate of 100 riyals per month to extend the re-entry period. However, as Javasat has not yet made an official announcement on the matter, it is questionable whether such a re-entry should be renewed in this case.

This is because there are many people whose Iqama period is currently coming to an end and they are also limited in renewing their re-entry. The official decision on the iqama of such people is also known. It is hoped that the official announcement will be made in the coming days.

SAUDI COMPANIES HAVE BEGUN RENEWING THE RE-ENTRIES OF THOSE STRANDED AT THE KOVID LOCK DOWN

 Saudi companies have begun renewing the re-entries of those stranded at the Kovid lockdown. Renewal of re-entries of all those who have gone on leave will be renewed in case of expiration tomorrow.

Many are stranded at home after international flights were disrupted due to Kovid. Saudi Arabia has renewed their expired iqama and re-entry visas in two phases. For many re-entry renewals expire tomorrow. Javasat has not yet announced whether it will renew the re-entry for free.

But all companies can now renew the re-entry visa period of their employees online. Re-entries of Iqama holders can now be extended only through the company's or sponsor's Abshir and Muqeem systems. You can renew online by paying 100 riyals a month.

Payments can be made through online banking and ATMs. Payment should be made along with Iqama number and re-entry number. After this all you have to do is open the company Muqeem, Abshir and click on the icon to extend the re-entry. Re-entry will be extended soon. Dependents can extend re-entry through their parents' Abshir. The companies themselves have started renewing the re-entry of employees due to the ambiguity of what will happen if the expired re-entry is not renewed.

19 Illegal Expats Arrested In Riyadh For Violating Work And Residency Regulations

 

Saudi labour authorities have arrested 19 expatriates in the capital Riyadh for violating work and residency regulations in the kingdom. The illegals were detected during inspection tours launched by the Riyadh labour office affiliated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, Saudi online newspaper Sabq reported.

The illegals were found to be self-employed workers in the used furniture business. They have been handed over to the Interior Ministry’s Expatriates Affairs Directorate to be deported from the kingdom, according to the report.

The inspection campaigns in Riyadh aim at ensuring businesses’ compliance with labour regulations including a ban on outdoor work under the sun in summer and laws to employ Saudi nationals, it added.

Forty-three violations have been detected and 29 warnings issued during the field tours, the paper said.

Foreigners make up around 10.5 million of Saudi Arabia’s total population of 34.8 million.

SOURCE : GULF NEWS

Saudi Cities Of Rafha, Al Jawf, Dammam See Record Temperatures In July

Saudi cities of Rafha and Al Jawf in northern Saudi Arabia, and Dammam in the eastern province, have registered three global temperature records during the July, according to Yale Climate Connections website.

The first record temperature of 50.6 degrees Celsius was registered in the city of Rafha on July 24, while Al Jawf recorded 47.6 degrees Celsius on July 26.

The last observation of the highest temperature in the world was 50.4 in Dammam on July 31.

Sweltering summer days can put people’s health at risk. And in most parts of the Gulf region, hot days are increasingly common.

Hottest month

According to the researchers, July witnessed significant increases in temperatures compared to the same time previous years since the beginning of record-keeping.

According to the National Environmental Information Centers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on August 13, the temperatures this year are in second place, in comparison with the record set in July 2016.

July was the second warmest month on record, and the Japan Meteorological Agency rated it the fourth warmest July on record.

Often slight differences in classification occur between the different research groups, as a result of the different methods they use to deal with low-data areas such as the North Pole.

Yet another hot year

According to the NEIC, the seven months from January to July rose by an average of 1.05 degrees Celsius, which is a higher rate from the average of the 20th century. This ranks as the second hottest period, after only 0.04° C recorded in 2016.

Annual temperature in 2020 has a great chance to be among the five hottest years since the start of monitoring and if so, then the years 2014 to 2020 will be the seven hottest years on record. Also, projections indicate that 2020 has a 9.36% chance of replacing 2016 as the warmest year on record. These probabilities are based on statistical relationships rather than unfolding weather and climate events.

The remarkable warmth for 2020 came in the absence of a strong El Niño and during the shortest cycle of the weakest solar cycles, which lasted 11 years in the last century, confirming the dominant role of human-induced global warming of our planet.

KNOW THE FINAL EXIT PROCEDURES FOR WORKERS IF THE SPONSOR DIES

 

Riyadh - Javasat Explained The Procedures To Be Followed For The Final Exit Of Domestic Workers In Case Of Death Of Sponsors. Javasat Said The Steps To Be Taken In Such Cases Were In Response To A Saudi Citizen 's Inquiry Into What Steps Should Be Taken To Grant A Final Exit To A Maid Under The Sponsorship Of Her Deceased Father. 

If The Beneficiary Foreign Worker Wants To Get The Final Exit, The Beneficiary Along With One Of The Sponsor's Heirs Should Approach The Legal Department Directly Under The Javasat Directorate. The Javasat Directorate Said The Final Exit Would Be Granted On The Request Of One Of The Heirs Of The Beneficiary And The Sponsor. 

130 SHOPS CLOSED IN JEDDAH IN 72 HOURS

Jeddah: More than 130 companies have been shut down in the past 72 hours after being found to be failing to comply with Covid protocols. Sub-Municipality Undersecretary Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Zahrani said several establishments, including 73 workshops, were involved in the closure.

Al-Zahrani added that the sub-municipalities were tasked with ensuring compliance with the defense protocols issued by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, adding that surveillance was being carried out in all commercial areas and strong action would be taken against the culprits.

Saharani especially thanked the residents of Jeddah for reporting violations through the online application Baladi 940 and the emergency number. He added that this would help improve services and maintain public health

 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS WILL NOT RESUME SOON IN KINGDM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Aviation authority has announced that due to the situation in the kingdom and across the globe there is no specific date for restarting international flights in kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GACA) has posted on Twitter about the information too that the dates are not yet decided to when International flights will resume in Saudi Arabia and have asked everyone to keep following their social media or official website to get updated information about International flights in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

All the International Flights in Saudi were suspended in the mid of March 2020 due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic and since then the situation has been worsening due to increase of cases and that is the reason of not resuming flights to & fro from other countries.

The restrictions in the kingdom  of Saudi Arabia have been eased in phases and a bit from a strict lockdown and travel restrictions between cities have been removed.

Domestic flights were resumed in the month of June to travel between one location to other inside Saudi Arabia.

 

 

KING SALMAN IN HIS DREAM CITY OF NEOM FOR RELAXATION

Riyad-  Saudi Arabia, King neom dream city. The king will stay here to rest and regain his health, the official news agency SPA reported. 

King was admitted to Riyadh's King Faisal Specialist Hospital last month with surgery for gallbladder inflammation. Within days of the successful operation to remove the gallbladder, King was discharged from the hospital.

Neom is a dream city being developed as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan.

FINES OF UP TO 2,000 RIYALS FOR CROSSING HIGHWAYS

Riyadh - The Directorate of Traffic has said that crossing expressways by pedestrians is a traffic violation. It will be fined between 1000 riyals and 2000 riyals. Crossing expressways can endanger people's lives. In addition, it can cause traffic jams and increase the risk of accidents. The Saudi Traffic Directorate has asked that expressways be crossed only by pedestrian overpasses (footover bridges). 

 

International flights from Saudi Arabia; Spreading fake news

 

Riyadh: The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has denied reports that international flights will resume in Saudi Arabia in October.

Officials said the fake circular was widely circulated on social media.

Ibrahim bin Abdullah al-Rawza, a spokesman for the GACA, told Arab News that the circular was "false" and that what it said was baseless.

Domestic flights have started but GACA has not set a date for the resumption of international services. The rumor is circulating that there will be no international flights until October

CRUISE SHIP SERVICE STARTING ACROSS THE RED SEA FROM AUGUST 27

 

Riyadh - The first service of a luxury cruise ship across the Red Sea will begin on the 27th of this month, the Saudi Tourism Authority said. The cruise ship service, which offers the opportunity to visit the Red Sea coast and the islands, is a novelty for Saudi residents and visitors alike. This is the first time in Saudi Arabia that luxury cruise ships are in service. The Saudi Tourism Authority has invited world-class service providers to provide better services to tourists through cruise ships. 

There will be a few restaurants on the cruise ship depending on the package available. Luxury services and luxury services are available to travelers on cruise ships. Room and suite rates vary depending on the location of the deck. The ship will have rooms with windows and balconies overlooking the sea. Passengers in private suites will have access to private lifts supported by personal assistants and magnetic cards, 24-hour meals and unlimited services. Passengers in suites will receive a special reception and quick access to the ship. 

The ship will also have facilities including a large theater, a market selling souvenirs, a video game area, a gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment and two swimming pools. One of the swimming pools is an open swimming pool on the deck of the ship and the other is a closed swimming pool. The Saudi Tourism Authority wants to run one of the world's most luxurious cruise ships with five-star facilities, the opportunity to enjoy the most luxurious food, spend a vacation at sea and present beautiful memories by operating cruise ship services.

From next week, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will begin implementing 70 percent Saudiization in nine areas

 

Riyadh - From next week, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will begin implementing 70 percent Saudiization in nine areas. Mandatory Saudiisation of retail and wholesale establishments will take effect from Muharram 1 (August 20).

Tea-Coffee-Honey, Sugar-Spices, Mineral Water-Drinks, Fruits-Vegetables-Dates, Cereals-Seeds-Flowers-Plants-Agricultural Items, Books-Stationery Products-Student Service, Presentation-Accessories-Crafts-Artifacts Saudiization is mandatory for retail and wholesalers selling toys, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, vegetable oils, cleaning materials and plastic-soap. 

If the foreigner is given a final exit, the dependent visas will also be exited

 

Riyadh - If a foreign worker is issued a final exit visa, the visas for his dependents under his sponsorship will also become a final exit, according to the Javasat Directorate. The woman informed the court that her husband was under sponsorship and that his wife's iqama had been automatically extended as per the royal order. Javasat said that with the issuance of the final exit, the visas of the dependents will also become the final exit. 

At the same time, Javasat clarified that it is mandatory for newborns to have iqama if the father wants to give a final exit to the newborn. The Javasat Directorate said the Iqamah was mandatory in response to an Egyptian inquiry into whether his son, a newborn, had a birth certificate and did not have an iqama and passport, and whether his son would get a final exit in this case. 

Penalty for failing to renew driving license in Saudi Arabia each year

 

Riyadh - The Traffic Directorate has clarified that if a driver's license is not renewed, he will have to pay a fine every year. A fine of 100 riyals will be imposed for each year the license is not renewed. A grace period of 60 days is allowed for renewal of driving license after expiration. The Traffic Directorate said it would impose a fine for not renewing the license after it expires.