1,000 Riyal Fine Imposed for Feeding Pigeons near Masjid al Haram
The Secretariat of the Holy Capital has implemented a strict ban on feeding pigeons in Mecca and Medina, with violators facing fines of 1,000 Saudi riyals.
The new regulation, announced to protect public health and maintain environmental cleanliness in Islam’s two holiest cities.
The secretariat has established continuous monitoring programs to enforce the ban and is encouraging citizens and visitors to participate in reporting violations.
Individuals can photograph offenders and submit evidence to local police, creating a community-based enforcement system.
Officials cite concerns about disease transmission, property damage, and environmental pollution as primary reasons for the prohibition.
The initiative represents the latest in a series of measures to enhance urban quality and public health standards in the holy cities, which host millions of pilgrims annually.
Previous regulations have addressed street vending, waste management, and public behavior to preserve the sanctity and cleanliness of the religious sites.
Municipal officials emphasized that the ban particularly targets areas around the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque, where large pigeon populations have historically gathered due to public feeding.
Direct Amman–Tashkent flight boosts tourist arrivals from Jordan to Uzbekistan
The launch of the first-ever direct flight between the capitals of Jordan and Uzbekistan has marked an important step in strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation and is already delivering its first positive results, reports Dunyo IA.
The inaugural direct Amman–Tashkent flight brought an organized group of around 40 Jordanian tourists to Uzbekistan. During their visit, the guests explored Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, discovering the country's rich historical and cultural heritage, UNESCO World Heritage sites, national cuisine, and the traditions of the Uzbek people.
The Jordanian visitors praised Uzbekistan's renowned hospitality, the quality of its tourism infrastructure, its high level of safety, and the convenience of the new direct air service, which has significantly reduced travel time and made visiting Uzbekistan more accessible. They were particularly impressed by the architectural ensembles of Samarkand and Bukhara, the modern cityscape of Tashkent, the diversity of Uzbek cuisine, and the warm welcome extended by local residents.
According to tourism industry representatives, the launch of direct flights between Amman and Tashkent creates new opportunities for expanding two-way tourist exchanges. Uzbekistan is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for travellers from the Middle East, thanks to its unique combination of rich history, well-developed tourism infrastructure, a visa-free regime for Jordanian citizens, and its expanding international air connectivity.
The number of visitors from Jordan is expected to grow steadily in the coming months. Tour operators in both countries are already developing new travel packages featuring cultural and heritage tours, gastronomic experiences, family holidays, and pilgrimage itineraries.
