Pilgrims benefit from projects in Makkah, holy sites

arabnews.com

Pilgrims benefit from projects in Makkah, holy sites

MAKKAH: Projects carried out by the government in Makkah and the holy sites are facilitating pilgrims’ movement and providing them with the services they need to complete their Hajj comfortably and easily.

The Makkah Development Authority has implemented 14 projects worth SR300 million ($80 million).

The most prominent projects are the third expansion of the Grand Mosque (the largest expansion in Saudi history), the Jamaarat facility, the Muaissem slaughterhouse, the shuttle bus service, Al-Mashaaer Metro, pedestrian routes separated from vehicle traffic, fire-resistant tents and the removal of slums.

The Jamaarat facility has attracted global attention for its advanced architectural construction and its ability to hold millions of people without any major incident.

Al-Mashaaer Metro is expected to accommodate more than 350,000 pilgrims this year. Maj. Gen. Hamid Al-Jahdali, assistant commander of Hajj security forces, said 9,500 soldiers and officers will help with crowd management at the metro.

“We have 17 trains, each has 12 vehicles, and each vehicle can accommodate 250 people, including 50 seats for the elderly and 200 standing,” he said.

“The total capacity of each metro is 3,200 passengers in nine stations. The total number of passengers will be 72,000 passengers per hour.”

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source: arabnews.com

King praised for directive to hike Haj quota

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King praised for directive to hike Haj quota

Riyadh — The Council of Ministers on Monday lauded the directive of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to lift from this year the cuts in the quota of both domestic and foreign pilgrims imposed five years ago.

The Cabinet said that the King’s directive shows his care for Muslims and his efforts to provide the best services to pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.

The authorities had imposed a 20 percent reduction in the quota for foreign pilgrims coming from each country and 50 percent reduction in quota for domestic pilgrims in view of the expansion work at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Chairing the Cabinet session at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh, King Salman spoke about the outcome of his talks with President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Borge Brende.

The Cabinet commended the achievements of security agencies in monitoring and fighting terrorism, defending borders, defeating aggressors and thwarting any attempt to target the country’s security and stability.

The Cabinet also approved splitting the Agency for Mosques, Call and Guidance Affairs which comes under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs into Mosques Affairs Agency and Agency for Call and Guidance Affairs.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

15m Umrah pilgrims expected

saudigazette.com.sa

15m Umrah pilgrims expected

MAKKAH — As many as 1,511 hotels in Makkah with a total of 219,350 rooms have completed preparations to receive up to 15 million pilgrims expected to arrive during the current Umrah season, which began in mid-November. The Umrah season will continue until July 7, 2017.

Sources in the hospitality sector expects the number of Umrah pilgrims this year to increase by 3 million over the past season.

In addition to the hotels, there are 852 licensed buildings and furnished apartments in Makkah with a total of 36,456 rooms to accommodate the pilgrims.

The sources said hotel reservations during the first days of the season reached about 85 percent especially in the central area around the Grand Mosque as well as in the districts of Jarwal, Kudai, Al-Aziziyah and Al-Rawdah, which are not far from the mosque.

Riza Shalabi, a reservation clerk in one of the hotels in the central area, said the bookings of the internal rooms reached about 90 percent while they were about 80 percent for rooms overlooking the plazas of the Grand Mosque.

He said the price for single rooms stood at SR350-SR450 per night, almost unchanged from last year. The prices per night for royal suites overlooking the Grand Mosque ranged from SR1,100 to SR1,300, breakfast and dinner included.

Abdul Rahman Al-Amri, a reservation clerk in another hotel, said the pilgrims start making bookings online about 45 days before the advent of the Umrah season.

He said the early reservations were made by Umrah pilgrims from the Kingdom and the GCC countries, who represent about 35 to 45 percent of all pilgrims.

Amri said the occupancy rate in his hotel has reached about 95 percent and added that the price of a room per night is SR650-SR700, including breakfast.

Hussain Salem, a reservation clerk in one of the five-star hotels in the central area, said their price of a royal suite per night is SR2,500 while the price of a single room is SR1,000.

He said the occupancy in his hotel has reached 100 percent and 75 percent of the bills have been paid in advance.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles

 

saudigazette.com.sa

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles

MAKKAH — The floors of the tents in Mina will be covered with ceramic tiles under a three-year project which began before the beginning of last year’s Haj season.

So far about 30 percent of the floors have been covered with ceramic tiles under contracts being financed by the Public Investment Fund of the Finance Ministry.

The first phase of the project covered locations specified for external pilgrims. The locations included the Jamarat area, the Wadi (valley), Al-Shuabateen and east of Mina sector.

Sources said the project has been assigned to two national companies responsible for the maintenance of the holy sites.

The two companies will install ceramic tiles in an area of 120,000 square meters.
Prior to last Haj season, 30% of the old air conditioners in the tents at Mina were upgraded.

The tents, which measure 8 meters by 8 meters, were permanently constructed by the Saudi government in the 1990 and were upgraded in 1997 to be fireproof.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Shoura studies women-only timings to kiss Black Stone

Shoura studies women-only timings to kiss Black Stone

Riyadh — A Shoura Council member has proposed that specific timings should be allotted for women to kiss the Black Stone.
The Committee for Islamic Affairs in the Shoura Council is studying the proposal, a source told Okaz Arabic daily.
The proposal put forth by Modhi Aldeghaither includes setting three specific times during the day for a period of two hours each to allow women a chance to kiss the Black Stone.
The proposal is expected to undergo a vote within the committee prior to further discussions among Shoura members.
The Black Stone is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba.
Pilgrims circle the Kaaba as a part of the tawaf ritual and many try to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that Islamic tradition records that it received from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Today, the Black Stone consists of a number of fragments held together by a silver frame, which is fastened by silver nails to the Kaaba. The smaller fragments have been cemented together to form the seven or eight fragments visible today. The Stone’s exposed face measures about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) by 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Its original size is unclear and the recorded dimensions have changed considerably over time.

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source: saudigazette.com.sa

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

Over six million pilgrims performing Umrah

JEDDAH – A record number of more than six million pilgrims will perform Umrah by the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which witnesses the peak Umrah season of the year.

As of Tuesday, a total of 5,888,986 pilgrims arrived in the holy city of Makkah from all over the world, according to the statistical report of the Information Center at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The holy city will witness huge influx of Umrah pilgrims during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

“The number of Umrah pilgrims will exceed six million over the coming days.
The ministry, in cooperation and coordination with the concerned agencies, has made elaborate arrangements to cope with the unprecedented rush of pilgrims as well as to enable them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort,” the center said in a press statement adding that it has so far rendered 43,000 services to the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Tarek Al-Abdul Jabbar, assistant president of the Airports, made an inspection tour of the Haj and Umrah terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday.

Accompanied by Abdullah Al-Reemi, director general of KAIA, and other senior airport officials, he reviewed the arrangements and facilities being made for the pilgrims. It is noteworthy that there are around 7,000 officials and employees, representing 27 public and private sectors, engaged in serving the pilgrims at the 14 departure and arrival lounges at the airport.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

30% increase in Umrah pilgrims seen by 2020

JEDDAH: The National Transformation Program of 2020, one of the initiatives of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, stated that the annual increase of Haj pilgrims to the Kingdom stands at 13 percent. However, annually increasing in Umrah visitors will be 30 percent.

According to the National Transformation Program, whose details were announced Tuesday at a news conference, the number of Haj pilgrims from both inside and outside the Kingdom, is expected to go up by 2020 to 2.5 million, an annual increase of up to 13 percent. The number of pilgrims last year, was estimated at 1.5 million.

The spokesman of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Hatem Alqadi, said the annual increase in pilgrims will be open to all Muslims from all over the globe, adding that the work will be the same, and the mechanism of housing and feeding the pilgrims will be pursued by the ministry based on contracts with companies and institutions that provide pilgrim services, including transportation.

He said the ministry will be working throughout the year and has much experience in supporting pilgrims and those visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

He added that by 2020, 15 million Umrah visitors will reach the Kingdom, a 30 percent increase over the current 6 million, according to Al-Watan.

Source: arabnews.com

Madinah gears up for Ramadan rush

Madinah gears up for Ramadan rush

MADINAH — The Madinah Mayoralty has deployed 20,000 employees to inspect hygienic condition of 8,449 shops round-the-clock as part of preparations for the holy month of Ramadan when millions of pilgrims and other worshipers will visit the city to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.

Salamat Bin Salman Alluhaibi, spokesman of the mayoralty, said: “We have set out a comprehensive plan for improving services during Ramadan by deploying adequate number of employees and cleaning equipment following the directives of Emir Prince Faisal Bin Salman.”

He said the mayoralty has contracted with a specialized company to provide consultancy services for improving hygienic condition of the city. “Inspections will be carried out with the support of qualified staff members including 80 doctors,” he said.

Alluhaibi said the inspectors would focus on foodstuffs, licenses, slaughterhouses, general cleanliness and health protection. “We have deployed 156 inspectors to check hygienic condition in other shops,” he said, adding that they would ban street vendors in the central region of Madinah.

He said the mayoralty would intensify its efforts to clean markets and residential districts to achieve a high degree of cleanliness in streets, districts and the areas around the Prophet’s Mosque, which will be crowded with a large number of pilgrims and visitors. “We’ll deploy more than 4,000 employees to ensure cleanliness of the city and increase the number of cleaning supervisors and drivers,” Alluhaibi told Al-Madina daily.

The cleaning workers will be supported by more than 500 equipment including compressors, dump trucks, huge vacuum cleaners and waste carriers.

“The mayoralty also supervises model slaughterhouses in Madinah and manages the abettoirs in general. This includes veterinary services to protect the health of citizens and animals,” he pointed out.

Authorities ensure adequate supply of foodstuffs in the central region of Madinah during Ramadan and supervise resthouses and restaurants along the highway.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

New security cameras installed in Makkah

New security cameras installed in Makkah

MAKKAH — Security authorities have installed new 14 surveillance cameras in Makkah and around the Grand Mosque to ensure the safety of pilgrims, residents and visitors, Makkah newspaper reported.

Head of Security Affairs and Supervisor of Crises and the Disaster Management Center in Makkah Saud Bin Jelwi said the center is fully equipped with technological and human resources.

“People can contact us via 911 to report a crisis. The center will be fully functional by Ramadan. Our employees are highly trained and our equipment use state-of-the-art technologies. The quality of our security facilities rival international standards,” said Bin Jelwi.

He also said the Commission for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites has reequipped 150 surveillance towers to monitor the flow of crowds in Makkah.

“The commission is working on several projects to be finished before the upcoming Haj season. The commission is installing parasols to protect pedestrians from sunlight and providing chairs to allow them to sit and rest. The commission has also set a limit of 300,00 pilgrims at a time to take Al-Mashaer Train to ensure that the compartments are not overcrowded,” said Bin Jelwi.

He also said the commission has set new regulations for crowd management and for the movement of pilgrims.

“There are more roads open to reaching the Jamarat area. There will be a new pedestrian bridge on Sidqi Street connecting the Jamarat area to Al-Aziziyah. The commission has also installed 1,000 cameras in Mina,” said Bin Jelwi.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Pilgrims told not to overstay visas

Source: arabnews

Pilgrims told not to overstay visas

JEDDAH: The Passport Department has warned that pilgrims and visitors overstaying their visas could face fines up to SR50,000, six months in jail and deportation.

Any expatriate or citizen who transports, accommodates, harbors and employs a violator faces a fine of up to SR100,000 and six months in jail. Expatriates would be deported. Penalties would be multiplied for repeat offenses.

There would be a SR100,000 fine for a Haj and Umrah company that fails to report a violation, with a one-year jail sentence for the director of the firm, and a ban on hiring workers for five years.

The department said that pilgrims must make sure they leave the country because they have been provided an opportunity by Allah to perform Umrah.

Article by: arabnews.com

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. 

Image source

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