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Riyadh Forum for Transport Safety and Aviation Accident Investigations
The Riyadh Transport Safety Forum brings together aviation experts to promote regional and international cooperation in accident investigations and the exchange of experiences to ensure airspace safety.
The Fourth Meeting of the Air Accident Investigation Group: Strengthening Regional and International Cooperation in Aviation Safety
The fourth meeting of the Aviation Accident Investigation Group (AAIG), organized by the National Center for Transportation Safety under the theme “Enhancing Regional Aviation Safety through Cooperation,” commenced in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The event aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and knowledge among investigation authorities in the region, with the participation of experts and specialists from regional and international organizations concerned with aviation safety.
The goals of the forum: From recommendations to actions
The forum, which runs from November 2nd to 3rd, aims to share best practices and experiences in managing safety recommendations. It also seeks to discuss the challenges related to monitoring and implementing these recommendations and translating them into effective corrective actions that ensure improved safety levels.
Captain Tay Al-Shammari, CEO of the National Center for Transportation Safety, emphasized that the primary objective of the forum is to move from the recommendation phase to action and then to have a tangible impact. He explained that participants will review international best practices and experiences in managing safety recommendations and linking them to institutional capabilities that bring about real change in operational culture and safety performance.
Promoting regional integration and knowledge exchange
The forum addresses the importance of strengthening regional integration through the development of mechanisms for exchanging knowledge and lessons learned. This aims to reduce the recurrence of incidents and review countries' experiences in prioritizing recommendations based on urgency and severity, as well as mechanisms for closing them and measuring their effectiveness.
The participants also contribute to establishing a joint regional platform for exchanging safety recommendations, which enhances the achievement of regional and international aviation safety goals. This effort aligns with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's objectives to solidify its position as a leading center for promoting transport safety at both the regional and international levels.
Saudi Arabia and its pivotal role
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a key player in efforts to enhance aviation safety by hosting this important forum. This role reflects the Kingdom's commitment to supporting international and regional cooperation and the exchange of expertise, which contributes to improving global aviation safety standards.
Through this initiative, Saudi Arabia affirms its diplomatic strength and its ability to bring together different parties to achieve common goals related to air transport safety.
Future aspirations
With the conclusion of the forum, participants look forward to implementing the agreements reached and translating the ideas and discussions into concrete, practical steps that directly contribute to improving aviation safety in the region and the world. The ultimate goal remains ensuring a safer aviation environment for all and strengthening mutual trust between participating countries and international organizations concerned with this vital sector.
Local News
Ramadan 1447 weather forecast for Mecca and Medina: Heat and rain
Find out the weather forecast for Ramadan 1447 AH in Mecca and Medina. The National Center for Meteorology predicts a slight rise in temperatures and rainfall below average.
The National Center for Meteorology issued its climate report for the holy month of Ramadan 1447 AH, revealing the expected weather conditions in the Makkah and Madinah regions. Official forecasts indicate slight changes in typical weather patterns, with the two holy cities expected to experience a relative increase in temperatures compared to annual averages, coinciding with a decrease in the chance of rainfall.
Details of the weather conditions in the Holy City of Mecca and Medina
Data released by the center indicates that surface temperatures will be higher than normal. In Mecca, there is a 65% probability that temperatures will rise by one degree Celsius above the normal average of 26.8 degrees Celsius. In Medina, temperatures are expected to exceed the normal average (23.1 degrees Celsius) by 1.2 degrees Celsius, with a 60% probability.
Regarding rainfall, the report indicated that the expected amounts would be lower than the usual annual averages. The average rainfall in Mecca during this period is approximately 4.2 mm, and in Medina, 4.3 mm. If any rainfall occurs, it will be classified as light, with a 50% probability of lower rainfall in Mecca and a 55% probability in Medina.
The importance of climate forecasts for the Umrah season
These reports are of paramount strategic importance given their timing with the holy month of Ramadan, which marks the peak of the annual Umrah season. Millions of pilgrims and visitors flock to the Two Holy Mosques, making weather forecasts crucial for pre-planning trips and performing rituals. This slight rise in temperatures helps relevant authorities and pilgrims take necessary precautions against heat exhaustion and ensure adequate fluid intake, especially during daylight hours.
The reduced chances of rainfall may also contribute to smoother traffic flow and pedestrian movement in the squares surrounding the Two Holy Mosques, thus facilitating the crowd management and control operations carried out by the security and regulatory authorities with high efficiency.
The role of meteorology in supporting logistics services
These forecasts are part of the National Center for Meteorology's ongoing efforts to provide accurate information to support decision-makers across various government sectors. Service and health authorities in the Kingdom rely on this data to enhance their field preparedness, whether by equipping health centers or adapting operational plans for cleaning and maintenance services at the Two Holy Mosques to align with anticipated weather conditions.
The center concluded its report by urging everyone to follow the daily updates and early warnings broadcast through its official channels and social media platforms, to ensure access to the most accurate and reliable weather information in a timely manner.
Local News
Lulwa Al-Dossari: The story of a Saudi nurse in air medical evacuation
Learn about the story of Luluah Al-Dossari, a medical evacuation nurse at the Ministry of Defense, and her experience in transporting conjoined twins and the challenges of air nursing within the Kingdom’s vision.
In a powerful demonstration of Saudi women's ability to excel in the most challenging and demanding fields, the name of Saudi nurse Lulwa Al-Dossari has emerged as an inspiring role model in the Armed Forces Medical Services. After seven years of dedicated service in hospitals and intensive care units, Al-Dossari decided to expand her humanitarian passion, joining the Ministry of Defense's air medical evacuation fleet and establishing herself as a leading female figure in this vital sector.
From intensive care to the heavens
During her participation in the World Defense Show 2026, which recently concluded in Riyadh, Al-Dossari shared details of her career journey with Akhbar 24. She explained that she specializes in intensive and critical care, a field requiring quick reflexes and high skill, but practicing it in the air adds complex physiological and logistical challenges. She indicated that her decision to pursue this experience stemmed from a desire for renewal and discovery, describing aerial nursing as a school that teaches you to "expect the unexpected.".
Air transport challenges and the impact of pressure
Al-Dossari addressed the technical aspects of her work, noting that patients who appear stable in the hospital may experience sudden changes upon takeoff due to atmospheric pressure fluctuations and the relative lack of oxygen at high altitudes. This reality necessitates that the medical evacuation team maintain a high level of readiness for rapid intervention and handling of any emergency to ensure the patient's safety until reaching their destination, reflecting the high quality of training received by the Ministry of Defense's health services personnel.
A transcontinental humanitarian mission: Jamaica's twins
In discussing the highlights of her career, Lulwa Al-Dossari recalled a long humanitarian journey that lasted 18 continuous hours in July 2025. The mission involved transporting conjoined twins from Jamaica to Saudi Arabia. This mission is an extension of the Kingdom's leading global role in the conjoined twins separation program, which enjoys generous support and direct attention from the wise leadership. Saudi medical evacuation aircraft have traveled the world to assist humanitarian cases, making the Kingdom a leading global destination in this specialized medical field.
An inspiring message for the daughters of the nation
Lulwa Al-Dossari concluded her remarks with a message brimming with pride and admiration for her fellow Saudi nurses, urging them to recognize the immense responsibility they bear and to keep God's fear before their eyes. In her authentic Najdi dialect, she encouraged them to "strengthen their resolve" and not hesitate to embrace new experiences and innovate within the vast healthcare field. She emphasized that the empowerment Saudi women enjoy today under Vision 2030 opens countless doors for them to participate in building the nation and safeguarding its resources.
Local News
The Supreme Court calls for the sighting of the crescent moon of Ramadan 1447 on Tuesday evening
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia called on all Muslims to look for the crescent moon of Ramadan 1447 AH on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and to register their testimony with the nearest court.

The Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued an official invitation to all Muslims throughout the Kingdom to look for the crescent moon of the blessed month of Ramadan for this year 1447 AH, on the evening of Tuesday, the twenty-ninth of Sha’ban, corresponding to the seventeenth of February 2026 AD, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar.
Details of the Supreme Court's statement regarding the sighting of the crescent moon
This announcement is based on the court's previous ruling regarding the determination of the beginning of Sha'ban, which established that Tuesday, the 1st of Sha'ban 1447 AH, corresponding to January 20, 2026 CE, marks the beginning of the month. Based on this information, Tuesday, the 29th of Sha'ban, is the legally and astronomically approved day for sighting the crescent moon of the holy month.
The court explained in its statement that it hopes that anyone who has the ability to see, whether with the naked eye or using astronomical telescopes, will not hesitate to inform the nearest court to him to officially register his testimony, or to contact the nearest government center to help him reach the competent judicial authorities to document the testimony.
The importance of sighting and official committees
The Supreme Court urged citizens and residents who possess the ability and expertise in sighting the crescent moon to join the official committees established in various regions of the Kingdom for this purpose. The Court emphasized that participation in this matter is considered an act of cooperation in righteousness and piety, and will be rewarded, given its benefit to all Muslims in determining the beginning of one of the pillars of Islam.
The legal and institutional context of crescent sighting in Saudi Arabia
The sighting of the crescent moon for the month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia is a significant annual event eagerly anticipated by the entire Muslim world, given the Kingdom's status as the Qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims and its custodianship of the Two Holy Mosques. The Kingdom follows a precise legal methodology that combines direct sighting (with the naked eye or binoculars) with astronomical calculations that determine the visibility of the crescent and the times of sunset and moonset.
This call is part of the established judicial and legal traditions, whereby the Supreme Court holds a special session on the evening of the twenty-ninth of Sha’ban to receive testimonies from various observatories and courts in the regions, and based on the documented testimonies it receives, the royal decision is issued to begin the holy month or to complete the number of Sha’ban as thirty days.
Social and religious dimensions of the event
The announcement of the start of Ramadan is a pivotal moment that impacts public life in the Kingdom and the wider Muslim world. Work and school schedules change, and spiritual and social preparations begin for the month of fasting. The relevant authorities pay close attention to ensuring accuracy in this matter to guarantee that Muslims observe the fast according to proper Islamic guidelines, reflecting the leadership's and religious institutions' commitment to following the Prophetic tradition of determining the new moon.
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