Al-Riyadh Newspaper, June 7, 2025: Hajj Pilgrimages, Eid Al Adha, Economy, Tourism and Hospitality, Market Trends

These excerpts from an Arabic newspaper, dated June 7, 2025, cover various topics with a focus on Saudi Arabia. Several articles highlight the successful organization and management of the Hajj pilgrimage, emphasizing the Kingdom’s dedication to providing a safe and comfortable experience for visitors, alongside reporting on the celebration of Eid al-Adha by Saudi leadership and citizens across different regions. Beyond religious events, the text also touches upon economic matters, discussing the growth in the Saudi tourism and hospitality sector, and includes articles on global economic forecasts and market trends, specifically mentioning the rise in gold prices and a decline in global stock markets.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Management: A Comprehensive Approach

Based on the sources provided, Hajj management in Saudi Arabia is described as a comprehensive, organized, and safe undertaking aimed at ensuring the comfort and well-being of pilgrims. It is viewed as a national vision and a noble message from the Kingdom to the world, emphasizing that safe and peaceful Hajj is a right for every pilgrim, achievable only through an organized system respected by all.

Key aspects of Hajj management highlighted in the sources include:

• Overarching Goal: To ensure pilgrims perform their rituals easily and smoothly in spiritual atmospheres filled with submission and tranquility. The continuous success in serving the Guests of God (pilgrims) is presented as a result of the state’s efforts. Serving pilgrims is considered an honor, not a burden.
• Organization and Planning: Hajj management involves meticulous organization and effective operational plans. Plans are built on precise pillars and supported by an advanced operations center that utilizes technology. Success is attributed to the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the support and continuous follow-up of the Crown Prince. Cooperation between various relevant authorities is highlighted.
• Security and Safety: A primary focus is on ensuring a safe Hajj season, providing pilgrims with integrated services at a high level of security, comfort, and tranquility, far from chaos. The annual national awareness and regulatory campaign, “No Hajj Without Permit,” is a tangible demonstration of the leadership’s commitment to ensuring a safe season. This campaign aims to limit negative phenomena that affect Hajj organization quality, such as overcrowding, unauthorized street vending, infiltration, and the transport of irregular pilgrims. It also works to combat fraudulent Hajj campaigns that pose significant risks to pilgrims. Strict regulations are applied to violators. Security plans are implemented by participating sectors. Modern technology and advanced monitoring systems are utilized in managing security.
• Crowd Management and Flow (Tafweej): Meticulous organization is crucial for crowd management. Pilgrims’ adherence to instructions and following guidelines reflects the maturity of the organizational experience in managing crowds. Adherence to timed schedules contributes to the smooth flow of movement and the absence of usual overcrowding. The Jamarat facility is highlighted as a key modern project embodying a qualitative leap in crowd management, designed according to international engineering and organizational standards. It allows for flexible and safe grouping (Tafweej), with a capacity of over 300,000 pilgrims per hour during peak times. The facility includes multiple levels, electric escalators, bridges, entrances/exits, emergency routes, and smart cooling and monitoring systems.
• Healthcare Services: A comprehensive healthcare system is in place to serve pilgrims. Preventing heat stress is a health priority, with authorities emphasizing preventative measures and providing equipped healthcare units. Healthcare plans are supported by air medical evacuation aircraft provided by the Ministry of Defense and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority. Virtual health consultations are offered 24/7 through various platforms (Unified Number 937, Sehatty application, and X platform) in 7 languages, allowing pilgrims to receive advice, send reports, and even get electronic prescriptions. A swift medical intervention, such as an urgent catheterization, saved a pilgrim’s life from a pulmonary embolism, demonstrating the high readiness and prompt response of medical teams.
• Technology and Digital Transformation: Hajj management leverages modern technology and digital platforms to enhance services. The “Nusuk” card and the use of modern technology in supervision contribute to regulating performance and preventing violations. The “Nusuk” application is described as a cornerstone for providing all types of services pilgrims need. The “Tariq Makkah” (Makkah Route) initiative facilitates the entry of pilgrims from their home countries using modern technology and procedures, benefiting over 1,000,000 pilgrims since its launch in 2017. The “Adahi” project, which facilitates the sacrificial ritual, utilizes smart technologies for counting, tracking, and distributing meat. Virtual health consultations are a key part of digital health efforts.
• Pilgrim Support Services: Pilgrims are accompanied by a comprehensive system of services provided by relevant authorities. Designated places within the holy sites are prepared for each pilgrim, ensuring they can perform rituals in an organized environment that respects their health needs and provides services like accommodation, healthcare, supplies, modern transportation, and educational support. The Mutawif profession, with a history spanning over 30 years, plays a crucial role in receiving, accommodating, organizing, and guiding pilgrims, ensuring ease and comfort. Scout leaders also view serving pilgrims as a national responsibility and honor, working alongside government agencies to provide assistance and guidance.
• Collaboration and Integration: The success of Hajj management is a result of the integration of efforts by relevant authorities. There is collaboration between governmental, private, and non-profit sectors in preparing and executing Hajj plans. The “Adahi” project involves collaboration with over 500 charitable associations. Healthcare services are integrated between the Ministry of Health and military healthcare services. Scout leaders work closely with various government entities.
• Scale and Capability: Saudi Arabia is described as uniquely capable of organizing and receiving millions of pilgrims from around the world for the rituals. The “Adahi” project has a large operational capacity.

In summary, Hajj management, as depicted in the sources, is a complex, large-scale operation relying on meticulous planning, stringent security measures, technological advancements, comprehensive healthcare, efficient crowd management, dedicated support services, and strong collaboration across numerous entities, all guided by the vision of providing a safe, comfortable, and spiritual experience for the Guests of God.

Saudi Royal Family’s Eid al-Adha Greetings

Based on the sources, Eid al-Adha greetings are prominently featured, particularly from the Saudi leadership, highlighting the significance of the occasion.

King Salman congratulated the Islamic nation on the blessed Eid al-Adha. He expressed gratitude to Allah for the blessing and honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques. Via his official account on platform “X”, he said, “We thank Allah Almighty for having blessed us and honored us with the service of the Two Holy Mosques, and we ask Allah Almighty to accept the Hajj and rituals and acts of worship from the pilgrims of His House, and that the blessed Eid al-Adha carries goodness, peace and love for our nation and the whole world. And every year, you are well”. This message from the Kingdom to the world is described as a national vision and a noble message, a message of love and peace.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, acting on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, received well-wishers on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha at his palace in Miná. Those who congratulated him included the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, royal princes, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, scholars, senior invitees from GCC countries, ministers, leaders of military sectors participating in this year’s Hajj, and leaders of the scouting family in the Kingdom participating in Hajj.

In a speech given on this occasion, the Crown Prince congratulated the leaders and personnel of the military and security sectors, the esteemed attendees, and the citizens, residents, and pilgrims of the House of Allah on the blessed Eid al-Adha. He prayed to Allah Almighty to bring the occasion back to the country and Muslims around the world with goodness and peace.

The Crown Prince also exchanged Eid greetings via telephone calls with foreign leaders. He received a call from the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who congratulated him on the blessed Eid al-Adha. The Crown Prince reciprocated the congratulations. The Turkish President praised the good organization and the success of the procedures taken by the Kingdom to maintain the security and safety of pilgrims this Hajj season. The Crown Prince also received a call from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who congratulated him on the blessed Eid al-Adha. The Crown Prince exchanged greetings with him on this occasion, asking Allah Almighty to bring it back to the two countries, the two brotherly peoples, and the Islamic nation with Yemen and blessings.

In Riyadh, the Deputy Emir of Riyadh, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, performed the Eid al-Adha prayer and received well-wishers who came to congratulate him on the Eid. He exchanged greetings with them, praying to Allah Almighty to bring the happy occasion back to them and the Islamic nation with goodness, Yemen, and blessings.

Beyond the official greetings, Eid al-Adha is mentioned as the occasion for singer Diana Haddad and Al-Douzi to release their song “Ehdy Habba,” described by Haddad as her gift to her audience and fans of her art for the blessed Eid al-Adha and summer.

Saudi Tourism Growth and Vision 2030

Based on the sources, Saudi Arabia is experiencing significant growth and transformation in its tourism sector, driven by the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to boost tourism and diversify the national economy.

Here are the key aspects of Saudi Tourism Growth discussed in the sources:

• Current Sector Performance: The lodging sector, including hotels, serviced apartments, and resorts, is noted for a noticeable boom, particularly in Riyadh, with high occupancy rates in hotels and chalets, especially during periods like the Eid al-Adha holiday. This sector is evolving from merely infrastructure to a strategic pillar for attracting both domestic and international tourists.
• Drivers of Growth: This transformation is attributed to expanded investments, major events like “Riyadh Season” and “Jeddah Season,” and various cultural, artistic, and sports events.
• Quantitative Targets and Achievements:The number of licensed hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia reached approximately 475,000 by the end of 2024, representing a growth rate of 69%.
• The target is to reach 675,000 hotel rooms by 2030, involving the addition of 200,000 new rooms.
• The Kingdom aims to attract over 150 million visitors (domestic and international) annually by 2030.
• As of the time of the source, the number of domestic and international visitors had already reached 109 million.
• Investment and Development Efforts:The sector is witnessing the entry of global commercial brands and attracting large investments, including significant private sector contributions.
• Innovative concepts like eco-hotels and heritage lodges in historical locations are being developed.
• The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) plays a vital role in providing financing for distinct tourism projects. The TDF has contributed over 7.4 billion riyals in financing for more than 100 tourism projects across different regions of the Kingdom. These projects are expected to provide over 7500 hotel rooms and suites. Large projects financed by TDF include those in the Aseer region (valued over 10 billion riyals) and projects involving global hotel brands.
• Economic Impact: The lodging sector’s role extends to supporting the national economy by stimulating related sectors such as transportation, services, restaurants, and recreational activities. It also contributes to improving the quality of life for residents by offering diverse accommodation options. Tourism’s contribution to the GDP is targeted to increase to 10% by 2030 through the National Tourism Strategy.
• Quality Standards and Human Capital:Saudi Arabia is focusing on developing high-quality standards in the lodging sector through licensing, supervision, and professional training programs.
• A substantial budget has been allocated for training Saudi individuals in tourism, both domestically and internationally, collaborating with leading education and training institutions.
• The goal since 2019 has been to train 500,000 young Saudi men and women. By 2023, over 100,000 had been trained through various programs, including the “Tourism Pioneers 2” program which sent 1500 young individuals for training abroad in 2023.
• The number of jobs in the tourism sector exceeded 925,000 in 2023.
• Saudization rates in the tourism sector reached 26% in 2023, with hospitality specifically at 38% and travel agencies at 36%.
• The number of Saudi individuals joining the tourism sector in 2023 reached over 380,000.
• The average salaries for workers in the tourism sector exceeded 6.4 thousand riyals per month in 2023.
• The National Tourism Strategy aims to increase employment in the sector from approximately 650,000 jobs in 2019 to 1.6 million jobs by 2030.
• Development of New Destinations: Focus areas like AlUla, the Red Sea, NEOM, and The Line are expected to drive accelerated growth and a qualitative shift, enhancing the Kingdom’s standing as a global tourism destination.
• Investment Environment: Saudi Arabia is considered one of the easiest and fastest countries for tourism investment.

In summary, the sources portray Saudi tourism growth as a dynamic sector undergoing rapid expansion and qualitative improvement, strongly supported by government initiatives, strategic investments, and a focus on human capital development, all aligned with the ambitious targets of Vision 2030.

Global Economic Outlook and Trade Tensions

Based on the sources, the global economic outlook is characterized by lowered growth forecasts and significant uncertainty, largely attributed to ongoing trade tensions.

Key points regarding the global economic outlook from the sources include:

• Lowered Growth Forecasts: The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) lowered its global economic growth forecasts. The previous forecast in March expected growth of 3.1% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2026, but the outlook is now described as becoming “more difficult”.
• Impact of Trade Wars and Tariffs: The trade war and increases in customs tariffs by the US President Donald Trump are identified as a primary reason for the lowered expectations. Increased trade barriers and tighter financial conditions “will adversely affect growth” by impacting consumer and business confidence. Trade fragmentation is also considered avoidable and necessary to avoid.
• Specific Country Forecasts:The OECD lowered its 2025 growth forecast for the United States from 2.2% to 1.6%. An additional slowdown is expected in 2026 to 1.5%.
• The forecast for China this year was slightly lowered from 4.8% to 4.7%.
• The forecast for Japan was lowered from 1.1% to 0.7%.
• The forecast for the Eurozone remains at 1%.
• Financial Markets:Global stocks declined.
• Gold prices rose amid economic uncertainty and ahead of US jobs data, indicating demand for safe haven assets.
• The US dollar weakened, trading near a two-year low, which generally benefited metals prices.
• The effective US tariff rate on imported goods rose significantly, becoming the highest since 1938, and this is expected to affect household consumption and investment growth.
• US Economic Data: Weak economic data points, particularly concerning the labor market, have been observed. Investors are keenly awaiting official US non-farm payroll data. Weak jobs data could potentially give greater impetus for lowering interest rates.
• Oil Market Volatility: The oil market remains volatile, influenced by the trade war and its impact on the global economy. While oil prices saw some weekly gains due to renewed US-China trade talks, concerns about slowing demand persist, especially given weak indicators in major economies like the US and China. Expectations of lower global supply exist, but weak demand and increased production from some sources put downward pressure on prices in the coming quarters.
• Refining Sector Challenges: Refineries globally are facing challenges, including a decline in demand due to the economic slowdown and increased adoption of electric vehicles. Global refining margins remain significantly below previous peaks, although slightly higher than recent lows. Refinery closures in the US and Europe have slowed the growth of global refining capacity. While strong seasonal demand might provide a short-term boost to margins, the impact of trade wars and increased fuel production could erode this. The global oil demand growth forecast for the rest of 2025 is relatively low, linked to trade uncertainty’s effect on the global economy.

Current Oil Market Dynamics and Trends

Based on the sources, the oil market is currently volatile, influenced significantly by global economic conditions and trade tensions.

Here are some key trends and points about the oil market:

• Price Movements and Influences:
• Brent crude and WTI prices were on track for weekly gains, despite dipping on the day of the report. Brent rose by approximately 2.1% and WTI by 4%.
• This gain was partly supported by renewed trade talks between the US and China, which brightened hopes for economic growth and demand in the world’s two largest economies. US President Trump described a telephone call with China’s President Xi as having a “very positive” outcome.
• However, the market continues to be pressured by concerns about slowing demand due to weak economic indicators in major economies like the US and China.
• Expectations of lower global supply in the coming months also support prices. This forecast is particularly driven by bets on additional US sanctions against Iran and Russia. Reports indicate the US is considering more sanctions on Russia, and tension in nuclear talks between the US and Iran also contribute to this expectation.
• On the other hand, increased production from some sources and an anticipated increase in supply from OPEC+ in July put downward pressure on prices in the coming quarters. OPEC+ agreed to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day in July, although Saudi Arabia had previously been pushing for larger increases as part of a strategy to regain market share.
• Canadian production cuts due to ongoing wildfires also provided some support.
• Inventories:
• US crude oil inventories saw a significant decline (4 million barrels last week) that was much larger than analysts expected (900,000 barrels).
• However, US inventories of refined products rose, with gasoline inventories increasing by 2.5 million barrels and distillate inventories (including heating oil and diesel) also rising by 2.5 million barrels. Large increases in US refined product inventories add to demand uncertainty.
• Refining Sector Challenges:
• Refineries globally are facing challenges due to the economic slowdown and increased adoption of electric vehicles.
• Global refining margins are significantly below previous peaks from 2022-2023, although they slightly increased in early 2025.
• Refinery closures in the US and Europe have contributed to slowing the growth of global refining capacity.
• Forecasts for 2025 predict a decrease in global diesel supply by 100,000 barrels per day and gasoline supply by 180,000 barrels per day annually. Gasoline demand is expected to rise slightly by 28,000 barrels per day.
• Inventory declines in major refining centers suggest a tightness in product markets.
• While strong seasonal demand in the Northern Hemisphere summer is expected to provide a short-term boost to margins, increasing fuel production and the impact of trade wars could erode this.
• The global oil demand growth forecast for the remainder of 2025 is relatively low (an average of 650,000 bpd), linked to the impact of trade uncertainty on the global economy. This is lower than the growth seen in the first quarter.
• Exploration and Development (Petrobras Example):
• Brazilian state oil company Petrobras plans to expand exploration and production outside Brazil, focusing on Africa (Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Angola, Namibia, South Africa) and India.
• This strategy is partly driven by delays in obtaining environmental permits for drilling off the coast of the Amazon rainforest.
• The company’s plans are also influenced by balancing growth, profitability for investors, and government economic goals.
• Recent lower Brent prices are prompting Petrobras to cut costs and simplify strategic projects.

In summary, the oil market is navigating a complex environment with competing factors: hopes for demand recovery driven by trade talks versus persistent concerns over economic slowdown and trade uncertainty, and fluctuating supply expectations based on geopolitical factors and OPEC+ decisions. The refining sector faces structural challenges while also seeing some short-term tightness in product markets. Companies like Petrobras are adapting by seeking new reserves globally while managing operational and political hurdles.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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