ARAR: Stationery and school supply stores throughout Saudi Arabia have been swamped with students buying essentials in preparation for the new academic year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. In the northern city of Arar, traders reported a surge in demand for school supplies and uniforms, while many shoppers took advantage of online back-to-school deals. And in Tabuk, stationery and school clothing stores had a range of offers on goods. Education officials in the Northern Borders Province said all necessary building maintenance works had now been completed and textbooks acquired in readiness for the return of more than 100,000 students to almost 500 schools. Najran’s director general of education, Fahd Aqala, on Tuesday met with regional school principals to discuss arrangements for the new academic year and reported that textbooks had already been distributed to all schools in the city. Repairs to educational and administrative buildings had also taken place and, where necessary, transport for teachers organized.