King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is briefed about a recent archeological discovery at Almaqar area in the Kingdom's central part in Makkah, Tuesday. The archeological site indicates that people of the Arabian Peninsula bred horses 10,000 years ago. The King listened to a detailed explanation from Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), and the Saudi scientific team that participated in the discovery. The site is believed to be the oldest in the world in terms of horse breeding. — SPA MAKKAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has called on officials to intensify efforts to provide better services for pilgrims visiting Makkah and other holy sites. He was speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting at Al-Safa Palace here Monday night. The King, who chaired the meeting, thanked Almighty Allah for giving the country the means to undertake a number of important projects over the last few days. He cited the laying of the foundation stone for the massive expansion project of the Grand Mosque and initiation of several development projects in the city and at the holy sites. He said he was reassured about the quality of services provided for Umrah pilgrims and visitors, but directed the authorities concerned to exert more efforts to ensure that people have a comfortable stay at the sacred sites. The Cabinet reiterated that non-Saudis were barred from taking part in timesharing in Makkah and Madina. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities was instructed to enforce the rules and ensure violators are penalized. A timeshare is a form of ownership or right to the use of a property, or the term used to describe such properties. These properties are typically resort units in which multiple parties hold rights to use the property, and each sharer is allotted a period of time in which they may use the property. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet was “following up on the continuous Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, including air raids and shelling resulting in several deaths and injuries, and called on the world community to pressure Israel to desist from such measures and policies that aggravate the tense situation”. The Cabinet also expressed “profound sorrow” at the many deaths and injuries due to violence in some Arab and Islamic countries. “In this regard, the meeting reiterated the Kingdom's firm position denouncing the acts of violence and terrorism which contradict the principles of the Islamic Shariah and humanitarian norms.” The Cabinet also announced that no one in the Kingdom would be allowed to become a member of more than five boards of directors of listed companies at the same time. However, people may become directors of five listed companies and non-listed companies at the same time. The Monarch also briefed the meeting on talks he had with some leaders including a telephone call from King Abdullah of Jordan and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. The Cabinet also renewed the membership of Ahmed Bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Khalid Bin Abdulrahman Al-Guwaiz, Hussein Bin Hasan Abu-Dawood, Salman Bin Mohammed Al-Jishy and Khalid Bin Malik Al-Ghalib Al-Shareef on the Board of Directors of the Saudi Commission for Industrial Cities and Technology Regions for three years, starting from 10/7/1432 H. The Cabinet appointed Saleh Bin Hasan Al-Afaleq as a representative member of the private sector to the Board of Directors of the Saudi Commission for Industrial Cities and Technology Regions for three years. The Cabinet approved the following appointments: Eng. Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Bin Hasan Al-Khalil as Mayor of Asir Region, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (15th Rank); Dr. Saad Bin Mohammed Bin Saad Mufleh as Assistant Undersecretary of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment for Environment Affairs; Atiyyah Bin Othman Bin Gurmallah Al-Ghamdi as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry; Mohammad Bin Ali Bin Othman Al-Zamel as Economic Expert at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (14th Rank)
