A number of Their Highnesses and Excellencies were honored today in the capital, Riyadh, to take the oath before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - following the issuance of the generous royal orders that stipulated their appointment to new leadership positions in the emirates of the regions, the Shura Council and the Ministry of Investment.

Details of the oath-taking ceremony for new officials

The oath was taken by His Highness Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki, on the occasion of his appointment as Deputy Governor of Al-Baha Region, His Highness Prince Dr. Saad bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud bin Faisal, Member of the Shura Council, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud, Deputy Governor of Madinah Region, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Northern Borders Region.

Their Highnesses repeated the oath, saying: “I swear by Almighty God to be loyal to my religion, then to my King and my country, not to divulge any of the state’s secrets, to protect its interests and systems, and to perform my duties with honesty, integrity, sincerity, and justice.”.

The ceremony also included the swearing-in of His Excellency the Minister of Investment, Mr. Fahd bin Abduljalil bin Ali Al-Saif, who said: “I swear by Almighty God to be loyal to my religion, then to my King and my country, not to divulge any of the state’s secrets, to protect its interests and systems, and to perform my duties with honesty, integrity and sincerity.”.

The implications of the new appointments and their strategic importance

This significant protocol step comes as a culmination of royal decrees aimed at revitalizing the government and administrative apparatus in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These appointments reflect the wise leadership's commitment to enhancing performance efficiency in the regional emirates, where deputy governors play a pivotal role in overseeing development projects and addressing citizens' needs, thus contributing to balanced development across the Kingdom's various regions.

On the economic front, the appointment of the Minister of Investment is of particular importance in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which relies heavily on attracting foreign and domestic investment and diversifying sources of income. The swearing-in ceremony marks the beginning of a new phase of dedicated work to achieve the objectives of the National Investment Strategy and enhance the Kingdom's position as a leading global investment destination.

The oath... a pledge, loyalty, and responsibility

Taking the oath before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is a long-standing tradition in the Saudi system of governance. It represents a legal and religious contract in which the official pledges, before God, the King, and the nation, to perform his duties with integrity and honesty. This procedure underscores the weight of responsibility placed upon the newly appointed officials, the necessity of adhering to regulations, maintaining state secrets, and working diligently to serve the public good.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, and His Excellency the Deputy Special Secretary to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Mr. Tamim bin Abdulaziz Al-Salem.

The Public Transport Authority in Saudi Arabia announced the results of its intensive field inspection campaigns targeting land transport activities across the Kingdom. These inspections, conducted between February 8 and 14, 2026, resulted in the identification of 1,550 violators of transport regulations. These campaigns are part of the Authority's efforts to regulate the transport sector and enhance compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

In its announcement, the authority confirmed the deportation of two foreign nationals for operating unlicensed passenger transport services, a practice known locally as "Kaddada." The authority clarified that the penalties for non-Saudis engaging in this activity include permanent deportation from the Kingdom, in addition to a fine of up to 12,000 riyals, to ensure that such violations, which negatively impact the quality of the sector, are not repeated.

Details of violations and deterrent penalties

Official statistics released by the authority revealed that violations observed last week ranged from various practices, with preparatory work related to "calling" tolls topping the list at 897 violations, followed by 653 violations related to the actual practice of transporting passengers without a valid license. These figures indicate the authority's seriousness in pursuing violators at airports, transport stations, and on public roads.

The Public Transport Authority outlined the strict penalties stipulated in the new system. The penalty for illegally soliciting passengers through unauthorized means is a fine of 11,000 riyals and vehicle impoundment for up to 25 days. If a driver is caught transporting passengers without a license, the fine increases to 20,000 riyals, and the vehicle impoundment is extended to 60 days, reflecting the firm enforcement of the regulations.

Context of organizing the transport sector and its economic and security importance

These campaigns are of paramount importance, extending far beyond simply collecting fines. Through regulating the land transport sector, the Kingdom aims to enhance safety and security for its users. Eliminating the phenomenon of unregulated transportation is a crucial step in protecting passengers from the security and social risks associated with riding with unknown drivers who are not subject to any institutional oversight and whose vehicles lack tracking devices or necessary insurance.

Furthermore, regulating the sector contributes to supporting the national economy by promoting fair competition among licensed companies, licensed taxi drivers, and approved ride-sharing applications. The presence of unlicensed drivers harms the interests of legitimate investors who adhere to the technical and regulatory requirements and standards set by the authority, thus necessitating decisive intervention to protect the market.

Banning arbitrary practices in the new system

The authority emphasized in its statement that the new road transport system has put an end to old practices, as it strictly prohibits anyone from engaging in transport activities without a license. The ban also includes all behaviors associated with unregulated transport, such as soliciting or calling out to passengers in arrival halls, pursuing them, obstructing their path, or gathering at their locations for the purpose of transporting them illegally.

The authority concluded its statement by emphasizing the continuation of monitoring campaigns to ensure that all carriers comply with the approved regulations and requirements, calling on the public and beneficiaries to cooperate with it by relying exclusively on licensed carriers to ensure safe and reliable journeys, and to contribute to raising the level of quality of services provided in the transport sector in the Kingdom.

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important weather forecast for Tuesday, coinciding with the Supreme Court's call for Muslims throughout the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Ramadan. This weather report is of paramount importance as it is the decisive factor in determining whether the crescent moon can be sighted with the naked eye or through astronomical instruments.

In detail, the National Center for Meteorology confirmed that, in preparation for the crescent moon sighting tonight, forecasts indicate generally stable weather conditions across the central region, which may enhance visibility in areas that include some of the most well-known moon-sighting observatories, such as Sudair and Tamir. Conversely, the center noted that skies will be partly to mostly cloudy over the western parts of the Tabuk, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders regions, which may pose a natural obstacle for the moon-sighting committees in those northern provinces.

For his part, the official spokesman for the National Center for Meteorology, Hussein Al-Qahtani, explained additional details about the influencing weather elements, noting that the weather may witness activity in surface winds that stir up dust and sand, the effects of which extend to include the eastern parts of the Makkah and Madinah regions, which may lead to a decrease in the horizontal visibility in those locations.

Regarding other weather phenomena, the center noted in its daily report the possibility of light rain in the northern parts of the Kingdom. The report also warned of the potential for dense fog during the night and early morning hours, which could reduce visibility in the coastal areas of Makkah, Asir, and Jazan regions, as well as parts of the Eastern Province.

The weather on this day is of great interest both locally and internationally, as Saudi Arabia relies on the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of Ramadan. Weather conditions such as dust, clouds, and high humidity are among the most significant challenges facing those observing the crescent. Therefore, the stable weather conditions in the central region are a positive indicator for the expected observations this evening.