The Saudi Royal Court issued an official statement announcing the call by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - to hold the prayer for rain throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, the 24th of Sha’ban, 1447 AH, following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

The statement called upon all Muslims to increase their repentance, seek forgiveness, and return to God Almighty, and to be diligent in showing kindness to others through charity and relieving their distress. The statement emphasized the importance of these good deeds as means of invoking God's mercy and bringing rain. The statement also urged those who are able to perform prayers in designated prayer areas and mosques, as a demonstration of their dependence on God and their earnest supplication.

A confirmed tradition and a great Islamic heritage

The prayer for rain (Istisqa') is a confirmed Sunnah (recommended practice) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), performed when rain is scarce and the land and its people are in need of water. It consists of two rak'ahs (units of prayer) in which the imam recites aloud, followed by a sermon in which he admonishes the people, urging them to repent and abandon sins. He then turns his cloak inside out as a symbolic gesture of hope for a change from drought to abundance and from hardship to prosperity. Since its founding, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has consistently observed this ritual, reflecting the leadership and people's adherence to Islamic identity and their reliance on God in times of both ease and hardship.

The importance of repentance and seeking forgiveness to receive divine mercy

In Islamic thought, the supplication for rain is closely linked to the state of the worshippers and their closeness to God. Seeking forgiveness is considered a key to sustenance and the descent of rain, as confirmed by Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions. Hence, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' call to emphasize the spiritual and social aspects of this supplication, advising Muslims, before going out to prayer, to purify their hearts, return what is owed to its rightful owners, and show compassion towards one another, for God's mercy towards His servants necessitates their compassion in return.

On such occasions, the mosques and prayer halls of the Kingdom witness the influx of crowds of citizens and residents, led by the princes of the regions and officials, in a scene of faith that embodies unity and supplication to the Almighty Creator, asking the Lord to grant relief to the country and its people, and to make what He sends down a message for the present and the future.

The General Authority for Roads revealed the initial results of the sixth edition of its "Safe and Distinguished Roads" campaign. Statistics from the first day showed 3,300 various observations recorded on the road network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This intensive campaign, which targets the road network outside urban areas, is part of ongoing efforts to raise safety and maintenance standards and ensure the quality of the road infrastructure, which is vital for transportation and logistics in the country.

Monitoring details and geographical distribution of observations

Data released by the authority showed that the Riyadh region topped the list of regions with the most recorded observations, with 440, reflecting the size of the network and the intensity of fieldwork there. The Makkah region came in second with 423 observations, followed by Madinah with 421, then Qassim with 335, the Eastern Province with 352, and Al-Jawf with 326.

The survey also included the rest of the Kingdom’s regions, where 253 observations were recorded in Tabuk, 219 in Asir, 216 in Hail, 120 in the Northern Borders, 116 in Najran, and 58 in Al-Baha, while Jazan recorded the lowest number of observations with 35 observations.

Strategic partnership and integration between entities

The sixth edition of the campaign is distinguished by its broad participation and integration across various governmental and academic sectors, with over 620 members distributed across 61 field teams. These teams include representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Special Forces for Road Security, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in addition to the active participation of university students, thus fostering a spirit of social responsibility and transferring practical experience to the next generation of engineers and specialists.

Campaign context and the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The "Safe and Distinguished Roads" campaign is of paramount strategic importance in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives, specifically the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom sixth globally in road quality and reduce traffic fatalities to their lowest levels. The General Authority for Roads acts as the regulatory and supervisory body to ensure the application of the highest safety and quality standards, with the field survey serving as a proactive step to address visual distortions and potential hazards before they escalate.

The importance of the road network and its economic impact

The road network in Saudi Arabia is one of the largest and most extensive in the world, connecting geographically dispersed cities and provinces and serving international trade, Hajj, and Umrah pilgrimages. Therefore, maintaining the readiness of these roads not only enhances traffic safety but also boosts economic efficiency, reduces vehicle operating costs, and supports the tourism and logistics sectors, which rely entirely on a robust and reliable infrastructure.

Call for community participation

In closing, the General Authority for Roads reiterated its call to all citizens and residents to be partners in success by identifying, photographing, and reporting visual distortions through the designated channels. The Authority emphasizes that user engagement directly contributes to expediting the resolution process and providing better services to road users, and it remains committed to continuing its efforts to overcome all obstacles that may hinder road users.

The General Authority for Real Estate in Saudi Arabia announced that the deadline for completing the property registration (real estate registration) for a total of 47,257 properties across the Riyadh, Eastern, and Qassim regions is approaching, with the deadline being the end of Thursday, February 12, 2026. This step is part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to regulate the real estate sector and protect the rights of property owners.

The importance of the real estate registry and the objectives of Vision 2030

The Real Estate Registration Project is a cornerstone of the real estate sector strategy stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030. This ambitious national project aims to automate real estate procedures and transition from traditional paper deeds to electronic deeds backed by accurate geospatial data. This transformation will enhance transparency in the real estate market, improve transaction efficiency, and reduce real estate disputes, thereby creating an attractive environment for local and foreign investment and supporting sustainable urban development.

Areas and neighborhoods covered in the Riyadh region

The call included several neighborhoods in the Riyadh region. In Al-Zulfi Governorate parts of the following neighborhoods: Al-Noor, Granada, Arairah, Al-Sayh, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Hamra, Al-Manar, Samnan, Al-Rawdah, Al-Khalidiyah, Al-Sina'iyah, Al-Rabwah, Al-Rayyan, Al-Nada, and Al-Nafl. In Al-Sulayyil Governorate , registration ended in the following neighborhoods: Al-Shifa, Al-Dirah, King Abdulaziz, Al-Zahra, Al-Rawdah, and Al-Nakheel. The deadline also included the neighborhoods of Al-Aziziyah, Al-Nahdah, Al-Yasmin, and Al-Shifa in Hawtat Sudair Governorate , in addition to the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood in Al-Ghat Governorate .

Targeted neighborhoods in the Eastern Province and Qassim

The authority clarified that the deadline will also expire for a number of neighborhoods in the Eastern Province , specifically in Al-Nairiyah Governorate, including: the livestock market, Al-Muruj, Al-Muhammadiyah, Al-Aziziyah, Al-Shuhada, the King Fahd Camel Racing Track, and part of the Al-Salmaniyah development. In the Qassim region , the authority urged property owners in Uyun Al-Jawa Governorate (neighborhoods: Al-Ufuq, Al-Murqab, Al-Muntazah, the industrial area, Al-Nuzha, Al-Nahda, Ghaf Al-Jawa, Rawd Al-Jawa, Al-Rafi'ah, Uthal, East Uthal, North Uthal, West Uthal, and part of West Buraydah) and Al-Qawarah Governorate (neighborhoods: Al-Rabwah, Al-Rawdah, Al-Rayyan, Al-Salam, Al-Safa, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Muntazah, Al-Nur, and Al-Hijrah) to register promptly.

Advantages of registering via the Real Estate Registry platform

The authority urged property owners to take advantage of the remaining deadline and register through the Real Estate Registry platform . Registration grants the owner a unified property number and a title deed containing all detailed information regarding the property's location, boundaries, and associated rights and obligations. The National Company for Real Estate Registration Services (Real Estate Registry) is responsible for implementing these processes using the latest technologies and geospatial data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information.

Penalties for failure to register

The General Authority for Real Estate emphasized that failure to register within the specified period may subject property owners to the financial penalties stipulated in the Real Estate Registration Law. However, the Authority confirmed that it will continue to accept registration applications even after the deadline for rectifying any issues, in order to protect everyone's rights and complete the national real estate database.