What to do in Saudi Arabia - Latest News

Kuwait has officially announced the Eid Al Adha holiday schedule for 2026 for ministries, government agencies, public bodies, and state institutions following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait. Here are the confirmed dates for the upcoming holiday period: Eid Al Adha begins on Tuesday, May 26 Holiday dates are from Tuesday, May 26 to Sunday, May 31 Official work resumes on Monday, June 1 Some government departments that require continuous operations will announce separate working schedules based on their needs.

If Riyadh is on your travel list for 2026, keep this new hotel on your radar. Atheel KAFD Hotel is opening later this year inside one of the city's busiest business and lifestyle districts. The hotel is being created by Foster + Partners and will include 214 rooms and suites, from Superior Rooms to multi-bedroom suites and a Presidential Suite. Restaurant concepts inside the hotel include: Lafana with Saudi flavours and regional dishes Riya Maison, a French brasserie with subtle Saudi influences One of the most unique features it's its direct access to KAFD’s skywalk network. Cloud 14, the hotel’s...

A new station has opened on the Orange Line of Riyadh Metro, and even if your usual route doesn’t pass through the area, it's definitely worth checking out. Western Station is located between Ad Douh and Aishah bint Abi Bakr Street stations. It's currently the largest stop of the network and features cafés, a garden, and even a mosque. Western Station is located in Dhahrat Al-Badiah in southwest Riyadh. It covers 112,000 sqm and can handle more than 60,000 passengers per hour. Here's what you find at Western Station on the Orange Line of Riyadh Metro: Commercial spaces Cafés Retail...

Planning Umrah for the upcoming season? Saudi Arabia has now confirmed the official timeline for Umrah visas, entry dates, and final deadlines for pilgrims for 1448 AH arriving from outside the Kingdom. Here are the main dates confirmed for the 1448 AH Umrah season: May 31, 2026: start of Umrah visa issuance (14 Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH) June 1, 2026: pilgrims with Umrah visas can enter Mecca and receive permits March 9, 2027: final deadline for issuing Umrah visas March 23, 2027: last date for pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia April 7, 2027: deadline for pilgrim departures Last year, Saudi...

If your burger orders always end with extra fries and “maybe a milkshake too,” there’s a new spot in Kuwait worth adding to the list. Smashy’s recently opened in Yarmouk with a classic menu focused on smashed burgers, fresh fries, and those good old apple pies many of us grew up ordering. You’ll find everything most of us want from a proper burger spot here: smashed patties with plenty of melted cheese packed into soft buns, plus fresh hand-cut fries cooked in peanut oil. But if there’s one thing worth the trip to Smashy’s in Yarmouk alone, it’s the desserts....

Residents in Saudi Arabia can now start planning for Eid Al Adha 2026. The holiday’s start date has been confirmed after the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon was sighted on Sunday evening. Here are all the dates for the upcoming holiday period: Dhul Hijjah begins on Monday, May 18 Day of Arafah: Tuesday, May 26 Eid Al Adha 2026 in Saudi Arabia: Wednesday, May 27 The holiday falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. With the Eid Al Adha 2026 start date now confirmed in Saudi Arabia, holiday plans and family gatherings...

If you’ve ever hesitated before asking an AI assistant something personal, WhatsApp is about to release a new feature that might make those chats feel a lot more comfortable. Incognito Chat is a new private mode for AI conversations on WhatsApp and Meta AI app. The feature focuses on privacy, especially for people using AI for sensitive topics like finances, health questions, work issues, or personal decisions. According to Meta, conversations inside Incognito Chat stay completely private. The company says nobody else can view the chats, including the company itself. Messages are not stored, and chats disappear automatically by default....

If your idea of a perfect Eid Al Adha getaway includes a serious adrenaline rush, AlUla has something new waiting for you high above the desert. From May 21 to 30, you can book AlUla Skydive and see the area’s desert landscapes, sandstone cliffs, and ancient oasis from above. The experience begins with a freefall at speeds of more than 200 km/hour before slowing down for the parachute ride over the scenery below. Anyone between 18 and 75 can join Tandem jump packages cost SAR 2,099 with a handheld camera or SAR 2,590 if you want a cameraman filming from...

As Saudi Arabia gears up for this year’s Hajj season, pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina are being welcomed by a new high-tech helper. Meet Manara 2, an AI-powered robot designed to answer religious questions in real time. Manara 2 is part of an initiative to integrate cutting-edge technology into the spiritual journey of millions of Muslims visiting Islam’s holiest sites. The robot can respond to Islamic and Sharia-related questions in several languages using a carefully reviewed database of answers. If someone asks something more specific or outside its stored information, the robot...

The FIFA World Cup always takes over everything else happening that year. Now the 2026 edition has a huge surprise for music fans too. Nobody knows yet which national teams will battle for the trophy in the final, but FIFA has just revealed who’s taking the stage for the halftime show and the lineup is massive. BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Shakira is also returning to the World Cup with brand-new music. The singer released a new FIFA anthem called Dai Dai on...