Saudi Arabia increase 16,000 new hotel rooms

Arab News said a new report published by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2015 reveals that the major cities of Saudi Arabia — Riyadh and Jeddah — are forecast to see an increase of 16,000 new hotel rooms by 2018. 

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Of these, over 50 percent will be part of new five-star hotel developments, as international hotel brands put in place ambitious expansion plans. 

The Prophet swa Performs Umrah

According to Imam Muslim in his Sahih, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) performed four `Umrahs, all during the month of Dhul-Qi`dah except the one he performed along with Hajj (and these are) the `Umrah that he performed from Al-Hudaibiyah or during the time of (the truce of) Hudaibiyah in the month of Dhul-Qi`dah then the `Umrah of the next year in the month of Dhul-Qi`dah, then the `Umrah for which he had started from Ji`ranah, the place where he distributed the spoils of (the battle of) Hunain in the month of Dhul-Qi`dah, and then the `Umrah that he performed along with his Hajj (on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage). 

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The First `Umrah: According to this narration, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) counted the `Umrahs performed by Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as four on the basis that the `Umrah of Hudaibiyah (that was performed during the time of the truce of Al-Hudaibiyah) in which the disbelievers prevented Muslims from proceeding to perform it has been counted. That is because the Prophet and the Muslims had intended to perform `Umrah, then they were prevented from fulfilling it and as a result they dissolved their Ihram (i.e. a state of ritual consecration). 

Benefits of hajj and umrah

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful Allah (swt) says: And complete the Hajj and Umrah in the service of Allah… (Al Baqarah, 196)

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Nabi (saw) has stated in a hadith: ‘The performance of Hajj and Umrah increase a person’s life span and eradicates poverty and sins just as rust is removed from the iron when placed in the furnace.’ (Targhib)

Makkah Railway ready for trial run

A trial run of the Haramain Express Railway will be conducted soon on the sector between Madinah and the King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh , Al-Madina Arabic daily reported Sunday.

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The high-speed train will link Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah and will also operate between Madinah and Rabigh . "The trial run will continue until summer at a speed reaching 300 km an hour," said Chairman of the Saudi Railway Organization (SRO) Mohammed Al-Suwaiket.

Raid on an unlicensed sweetmeat factory in Madinah

Arab News said hygiene inspectors have arrested five expatriate workers during a raid on an unlicensed sweetmeat factory in Hejra district of Madinah.

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The inspectors discovered that the facility was infested with insects. The civic body chief, Osamah Al-Homaidi, said the raid was conducted following a tip-off from a citizen.

Madinah airport test run in a week

Saudi Gazette said test run of the new Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah, which was to be carried out yesterday (Sunday), has been postponed by a week and will now be carried out next Sunday, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced.

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It said plans for the experimental operation were postponed because of the sandstorm, which had affected air traffic at a number of domestic airports. "We want the test run to be a complete success," it said in a statement.

Sees huge potential Made in Makkah initiative

Arab News said Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), lent his total support to the “Made in Makkah” project which was floated by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, through a partnership between the SCTA and the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

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During his visit to the Makkah Pavilion at the Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) in Riyadh, Prince Sultan said: “The ‘Made in Makkah’ project is an initiative to develop local tourism sector and stimulate investments.”