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#5881 [Permalink] Posted on 14th November 2016 09:26

No backing off on Umrah fee, 
says Saudi Ministry of Haj 

Sunday 13 November 2016

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah have denied rumors published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media that the ministry removed Umrah fees that were placed by the Kingdom on the second or additional Umrah visits.

New amendments were introduced to visa fees in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 1438, when the government announced that the fees are fully paid by the Saudi government for all first-time pilgrims coming for either Haj or Umrah. The first entry of Haj and Umrah pilgrims will be free, but for the second and subsequent entries, they will be charged SR2,000.

Usama Khan, from the Ministry of Haj, Call and Guidance information center, confirmed to Arab News that no such information or announcement was made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah that they removed the SR2,000 fee, and that whatever was published in the Pakistani media and on social media is false news or rumors.

Tahir Mahmood, chief executive of Global Haj and Umrah Private Service Ltd. from Pakistan also confirmed to Arab News that there has been no such instruction or announcement made by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah that the Umrah fees have been abolished.

On inquiry of the news published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media about the removal of Umrah fees, he said that it was not from an authentic source and was a rumor. However the Pakistani public are requesting that the Kingdom and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman remove the extra charges, because a number of Pakistani families and people who want to come for Umrah would not be able to make it because of the fee.

“Many people from Pakistan will not be able to make their Umrah trip because they don’t have enough funds to pay this extra charges of SR2,000. It’s a request from the Pakistani people to the Kingdom to remove these charges so they can make their journey to perform Umrah,” he said.

The Pakistan Umrah Agent Association urged people not to spread rumors on social media, since there has been no announcement made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on the removal of Umrah fees.

According to the information, the news was published in Pakistani media and rumors were spread on social media that after boycott of Egypt on Umrah fees, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah removed the extra SR2,000 fees from the second or additional Umrah visits, and that the Saudi government informed their embassies in all countries about this, which was totally false, confirmed the Pakistan Umrah Agent Association.

www.arabnews.com/node/1010151/saudi-arabia​

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#5882 [Permalink] Posted on 15th November 2016 09:40
Muslim American Invention

New Automatic Translation System
for the two holy Mosques



Custom Antenna for the automatic translation system is installed at Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah by NAZTEC – Florida.

September 13, 2015

Four years ago while making Umrah, Muslim American Mohamed Salahuddin, president & CEO of NAZTEC-USA, recognized a serious problem for himself and other visitors of the two holy Mosques. Over 70% of those visiting the holy places of Islam cannot speak or understand the Arabic used for the Khutbahs at Masjid al Haram or Masjid An-Nabawi.

As a Scientist, Engineer & Industrialist, Mohamed worked on a dedicated solution to this problem along with his team of product designers & engineers at NAZTEC Florida. For three years they worked tirelessly toward creating a world class, state of the art, first of its kind technological solution. The result was a digital, simultaneous, live automatic translation system for installation at both holy places. The design involved complex and critical innovations to create a system capable of simultaneously translating the Friday Jummuah Khutbahs into 35 different languages.

The new innovations would result in registering new invention patents with the United States Patent & Trademark Office. “We invented a new Antenna system for installation at the tall minarets of the Masjid Al Haram” explains Mr. Salahuddin. All of the equipment was designed and manufactured inhouse and tested at the Florida facility of NAZTEC before being sent for installation in Mecca.

Mohamed and his team started designing the system on the basis of his recognition of need, with no contract or promise of permission to install. “We were knocking at every single possible contact in Saudi Arabia and could not reach or contact anyone,” says Mohamed. “We did not give up – made several trips to both the holy places to put forward the idea and Alhamdulillah the breakthrough came in during 2014, when I was fortunate to meet one of the haram directors for a short while and presented my idea!” This led to introducing the concept to individuals who were able to create new translation departments for both Mecca and Medina in 2014.

Alhamdulillah, early this year NAZTEC Florida was able to fulfill the dream of helping those in the holy places when Mohamed Salahuddin met up with Shaikh Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais, President & Grand Imam of Masjid Al Haram & Masjid Al Nabawi. This revolutionary project finally got the approval from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The reality of a Muslim American Invention being implemented in Mecca was getting closer.

Nearly a full plane-load of equipment was required for the automatic translation system and the broadcasting system. Mohamed Salahuddin and a team of engineers from Florida worked in Saudi Arabia for 60- days of non-stop work at both the holy places! Mohamed explains, “We started the installation at Masjid Al Haram in Makkah with too many technical and administrative challenges at the holy site.” In order to meet these challenges; they created a brand new, sophisticated control room from scratch and installed the antenna system in record time, taking only 40 days at Masjid Al Haram and 20 days in Masjid Al Nabawi. After installation, the team was on hand for verifying the reliability and coverage for the system through three Jummuah services in both locations.


During the contract signing at General Presidency of Haramain, Makkah. Left to Right: Mr. Saeed Algarni,
Mr. Waleed Alsagabi Translation Department Head, Mr. Mohamed Salahuddin President $ CEO NAZTEC- Florida 
and Muslim American inventor, Dr. Shaik Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais –President & Grand Imam of Masjid Al Haram &
Masjid An Nabawi, Dr. Al-Khuzaim Vice President General Presidency of Haramain, and Mr. Ali Algarni. 
Photo taken dureing the signing to implement the automatic translation system.



Now non-Arabic speakers can enjoy high quality coverage within both the holy masjids and covering a radius of over 30 kilometers around the masjids. They can tune in to the channels in hotels and cars via FM broadcast or listen in on smartphones and some custom devices which are available via vending machines. In the near future there will be many other digital methods of listening to the translations.

Phase 1 of the project which launched this year provides 6 language translations: English, Urdu, French, Turkish, Indonesian (Malay) & Hausa (an African dialect used by many of those employed in Mecca and Medina).

Phase-2 of the project is likely to start in next few months to add additional channels. The ultimate aim is to commission the 35-language system in both the holy places.

Other than translation of the Jummuah Khutbahs, the system will be used for tafsir of the Holy Qur’an during Ramadan, important announcements in multiple languages during Hajj, Ramadan, Fridays, and other special occasions. Mohamed exclaims, “We thank Almighty Allah to have blessed us and given this great life time opportunity to make a lasting difference to all the visiting [Muslims] for generations to come at Masjid Al Haram & Masjid Al Nabawi!”

The commercial applications of such an innovative automated translation system are limitless and could open new doors for mass communication that will benefit humanity for many generations to come. Yet another great invention that Muslims have contributed to the world!

Established in the State of Florida in 2004, NAZTEC is a leading source for Information Technology Consulting, Election Products manufacturing & Custom Engineering Project installations worldwide. NAZTEC is the nation’s leading voting booth manufacturer and supplies its election products to 33 different states and over 100 government clients nationwide. NAZTEC also installs hurricane alert broadcast terminals for NOAA. NAZTEC can be reached online at naztecgroup.com

http://muslimamerican.com/articles/s...lation-system/

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#5883 [Permalink] Posted on 16th November 2016 09:28
Islamic foreign ministers to meet in Makkah

Nov 16, 2016

JEDDAH — Foreign ministers of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an emergency meeting in Makkah tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the launching of the ballistic missile against the holy city on Oct. 27 by the Houthis and the forces of the defunct Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The executive committee of the organization met in Jeddah about two weeks ago and called for an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers.

In strongly-worded statement, the committee condemned the Houthis and Saleh’s forces for the launching of the missile against Islam’s holiest city.

It also battered those who supply them with weapons, projectiles and missiles to target the holy city of Makkah.

“This is a flagrant aggression against the sanctity of the sacred places in the country of the Two Holy Mosques,” the committee said.

It considered the launching of the missile a provocation to the feelings and sentiments of Muslims all over the world.

The committee said the act of the Houthis and Saleh’s forces was a grave challenge to the world community and the UN Security Council resolutions.
“Anyone who helps the Houthi militias and Saleh’s forces is an accomplice in the aggression against Makkah,” it said.

The committee called for an urgent meeting of the foreign ministers to discuss the aggression at a higher political level and to issue a unified statement including the member countries which did not attend its meeting among which was Iran.

The emergency meeting will also name Youssef Al-Othaimeen, former Saudi minister of social affairs, to replace Iyad Madani as secretary general of the OIC.

saudigazette.com.sa
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#5884 [Permalink] Posted on 21st November 2016 09:56

New Sayed Al-Shuhada Mosque, Madinah

Inside

جامع سيد الشهداء بالمدينه المنوره ، واللمسات الاخيره

 

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#5885 [Permalink] Posted on 21st November 2016 09:57
370,000 Umrah visas issued in 18 days


As many as 115,000 pilgrims have arrived in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah since the start of the current Umrah season
Nov 20, 2016

MAKKAH – The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has issued 370,000 Umrah visas until Friday since the start of the current season on Nov. 1 (Safar 1), according to a senior ministry official.

Isa Rowas, undersecretary for Umrah affairs at the ministry, said this figure posts an increase of 30,000 compared with the same period last year.

A total of 115,000 Umrah pilgrims have so far arrived in Makkah and Madinah. This is more than double of the number of pilgrims who arrived in the same period in 2015 when it stood at 57,000.

Rowas attributed the increase in the number of pilgrims mainly to the excellent facilities and services being extended in the two holy cities.

“There has been a qualitative leap in the operational efficiency in the fields of the pilgrims’ accommodation, transportation and food supply. The ministry has streamlined its monitoring mechanism so as to ensure that the best quality services are being offered to the pilgrims by the concerned agencies and service providers,” he added.

It is anticipated that there would be an increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims in the wake of the completion of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) expansion project. The capacity of mataf was increased from 52,000 pilgrims to 130,000 pilgrims per hour after the expansion work, which took three years to complete before the 2016 Haj season. The ministry had started preparations for the Umrah season immediately after this year’s Haj, with the departure of the last Haj flight on Oct. 15.

The ministry unveiled an ambitious plan to receive about 8 million Umrah pilgrims in the new Umrah season.
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#5886 [Permalink] Posted on 21st November 2016 10:00
Plans to link Holy Sites and Grand Mosque with tunnels approved


Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, attends
meeting of Makkah Region Development Authority in Jeddah on Wednesday
Nov 17, 2016

JEDDAH – The Makkah Region Development Authority approved plans and studies to build service tunnels linking Arafat and Jamarat in Mina via Muzdalifah, and tunnels linking Jamarat with the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The meeting was chaired by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at the governorate office in Jeddah on Wednesday.

The plans and studies will be presented to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for final approval and execution on a time-bound basis.

Minister of Haj and Umrah Muhammad Bantan, Assistant Minister of Finance Muhammad Al-Mazeed, Dr. Ahmad Muhmmad Ali, advisor to the chairman of the authority, and the authority members attended the meeting.

The plans also include construction of residential towers on the mountain slope of Mina in a way not violating the sanctity of the Holy Site.

A total of six towers have already been constructed in Mina and these have the capacity to accommodate around 12,000 pilgrims.

The studies also recommended developing the tents in Arafat and making more facilities and arrangements for the stay of pilgrims in Muzdalifah. There are also plans for boosting means of transportation in between the Holy Sites and between Holy Sites and the Grand Mosque.

Hashim Al-Faleh, secretary general of the authority, said that the meeting endorsed adoption of innovative methods to develop unplanned districts in Makkah region through the participation of citizens. According to the plan, the citizens will be allowed to develop their properties within these districts and that is in cooperation with the concerned government agencies. The meeting also discussed the plan, prepared by Jeddah Municipality, to develop the southern neighborhoods of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport. He said that the meeting also decided to organize a forum to attract investments to Makkah, as well as to encourage the private sector to take part in implementing development projects in the region.
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#5887 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd November 2016 09:10
Saudi Arabia bans Umrah for transgender persons

22 November 2016

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Saudi Arabia has banned transgender persons on Tuesday to perform Umrah, religious visits to holy places in Madina and Makkah.

Formal directives have been issued by the Saudi government in this regard while travel agents were ordered to not process applications of transgender persons.

Sources privy to Saudi government have reported that Travel Agents Association (TAA) has been instructed by the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in this regard.
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#5888 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd November 2016 09:11
‘SR2,000 visa fee won’t affect
most Indian pilgrims’

 

Nov 23, 2016

Jeddah — The new Haj and Umrah visa fees will not affect most Indian pilgrims, according to the chairman of the Haj Committee of India.

“Visa fee is not in our control. But we are not too badly affected because 90 percent of those who come for Haj from India are first-time Hajis,” Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser told Saudi Gazette in an exclusive interview here on Monday.

The Saudi government started implementing from Oct. 2 a revised visa fee structure for visitors and pilgrims who are not performing Haj for the first time.

Kaiser, who was here for a preliminary round of talks with Indian mission officials and Saudi building owners relating to Haj arrangements, admitted that the SR2,000 visa fee was quite hefty.

“But this is the Saudi government’s decision. We have to abide by it,” he added.

However, the visa fee was not on his agenda of talks here. The focus of his discussions concerned accommodation and transportation facilities for pilgrims.

“The early bird catches the worm. That’s why we are here early to start exploring the possibilities of better accommodation and transportation facilities for our pilgrims,” said Kaiser, who is the only elected Muslim member in the present Indian parliament from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“The feedback was that Indians often came a little too late in the market. So they did not get the type of buildings they wanted. This was an exploratory visit to see how best we could accommodate the Hajis,” he said.
Kaiser, who was accompanied by the CEO of the Haj Committee of India and one of its members, visited the Aziziya area in Makkah and had talks with building owners.

“There was feedback from them that the water tax and electricity tariff have gone up. But we want to select the best facilities at a budget price.”

The challenge is to trim the Haj cost in view of the phased withdrawal of subsidy on airfares and the rupee’s loss of value against the Saudi riyal.
Kaiser is of the opinion that the so-called green category accommodations should be done away with.

“There were a lot of complaints in review meetings about green category buildings. Now that Saudi authorities have banned kitchen facilities in these buildings, I don’t think many people will opt for it.”

Listing the disadvantages of green category accommodation, Kaiser said, “The price is almost double. Pilgrims have to walk a minimum of one-and-a-half kilometers and a maximum of three kilometers in the heat to reach the Haram.”

In contrast, there was favorable feedback from Hajis about buildings in Aziziya, which is a cheaper category.

“In Madinah, we have also had talks with building owners. This time we want to rent all buildings in the Markazia (the central area around the Prophet’s Mosque). Last time, 30 percent Indian pilgrims stayed outside the Markazia,” Kaiser said.

Another possibility being explored is to arrange catering services despite the bad experience in Madinah. Kaiser is hopeful that with an early start, arrangements for Indian pilgrims will be much better this year.

“We have set the ball rolling. There is no stopping now.”

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...dian-pilgrims/

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#5889 [Permalink] Posted on 5th December 2016 09:51

Still waiting for 
an official announcement!


Saudi Arabia cancels fees 
for Hajj, Umrah visas

 

December 3, 2016

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia has issued a royal decree that will cancel Hajj and Umrah visa fees starting from this year, a member of the High Committee for Hajj and Umrah, Nasir Toruk, announced.

The decision to cancel the new imposed charges came after protests of Egyptians and Muslims in other countries about the fees that are perceived to be expensive, Alborsa News reported.

In addition to the cancellation of the newly imposed charges, Saudi Arabia would grant two free visas for each licensed company working in the field of Hajj and Umrah.

Meanwhile, the Saudi authorities called for the Egyptians to reform the body which governs the Egyptian companies specialised in this kind of religious tourism.

The former head of the Religious Tourism Committee in Egypt, Basel Al-Sisi, said that the cancellation of the charges would have a positive impact on the religious tourism sector, noting the Saudi move as a “positive measure in the right direction.”

However, he insisted that they did not receive formal notice about the decision, claiming that all that was now happening was only based on media reports from the Saudi side. Al-Sisi’s comments come despite an official announcement being made by Nasir Toruk.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20...j-umrah-visas/




Saudia Arabia revises Umrah
visa fee policy

 

December 03, 2016

RIYADH: The Kingdom of Saudia Arabia have announced to revise its policy of an increase in Umrah fees on the second or additional visits for the current year, local media reported.

According to details issued by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, no additional fees would be taken from the Umrah pilgrims this year.

However, from next year onwards, Saudi Riyal 2,000 would be imposed on the pilgrims performing Umrah more than once in a year time.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/122415-Sau...isa-fee-policy

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#5890 [Permalink] Posted on 14th December 2016 13:23
SR500 Umrah fee for short stay 
under consideration

Dec 13, 2016

MAKKAH — An Umrah visa fee of SR500 for pilgrims who will stay in the Kingdom for a maximum of five days is under consideration, Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammed Saleh Bantan was quoted as saying in a section of the Arabic press on Monday.

“This is one of many other options the ministry is considering,” Al-Madina daily quoted him as saying.

From October, a revised visa fee structure has been implemented in the Kingdom.

The first entry of Haj and Umrah pilgrims will be free, but for subsequent entries they will be charged SR2,000.

The minister said the new Haj and Umrah fees will not constitute any financial burden on Muslims as the Saudi government will bear the fees for first-time pilgrims.

Bantan called for consolidating the concept of hospitality for the guests of Allah through creative projects.

He said the hospitality industry requires getting rid of the brokers. “This should be replaced by the old system of hospitality when the guests of God were served free of charge for the sake of Allah,” he said.

Bantan was talking at the closing ceremony of the month-long Hara Makkawiya festival which concluded on Sunday.

Head of Al-Nuzha neighborhood Sheikh Adel Amin Hafiz said the festival showcased the historical and cultural heritage of the holy city. More than 470 antiquities were shown during the festival in which about 180 productive families participated.

Ten cultural seminars were held during the festival which hosted 20 government and private departments and received about 34 delegations. “More than 200,000 people visited the festival which was a window through which the modern generations could look at the achievements of their ancestors,” said Hafiz.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...consideration/

 

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#5891 [Permalink] Posted on 14th December 2016 13:27

Saudi Arabia Unveils New Version of Currency


The other side of the note has a slight change where the  Mataf area is the newly built one.

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#5892 [Permalink] Posted on 19th December 2016 14:39
Giant umbrellas in courtyards of 
Prophet’s Mosque fail to unfold


Non-availability of spare parts stops maintenance work for weeks


The umbrellas in the outdoor courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque did not unfold
even during Friday prayers for the past three weeks.

Dec 19, 2016

MADINAH — A dispute between the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs and a contracting company over payment of dues has left 250 giant umbrellas that provide shade to worshippers in the outdoor courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah without maintenance for weeks, a source told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

The source said the Saudi Binladin Group has stopped maintaining the automated canopies after the company was unable to procure essential equipment and spare parts from SL Rasch, a specialized German company with which Binladin has a partnership agreement for maintenance.

The source said the Binladin and SL Rasch also have disagreements over contract terms.

“SL Rasch is not supplying Binladin with necessary equipment and parts for maintaining the umbrellas. These equipment and parts are not available in Saudi Arabia,” said the source.

He said Binladin has ordered the equipment and parts from SL Rasch but does not know how long it will take for the consignment to arrive.

“The sunshades are normally in use from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but worshippers noticed that they were not unfolding during Friday prayers for the past three weeks,” said the source.

With a diameter of 25.5 meters, each umbrella weighing 40 tons gives cover to a 576 sq. meter area.

They are set up in different heights to ensure the sun’s rays do not seep through. Some of them have a height of 14.40 meters and others 15.30 meters when unfolded. When folded, they stand at a height of 21.70 meters.

The sunshades have been designed to withstand winds blowing at a speed of 90 km per hour for 10 minutes and winds with a speed of 120 km per hour for 5 minutes.

Like blooming flowers, the umbrellas are programmed to fold and unfold in a slightly punctuated sequence to avoid collision between their moving parts.
Their near-silent operation is automatically aligned with changes in the daily temperature. They open each morning, creating a translucent ceiling, and retract each evening in less than three minutes.

In summer, the open umbrellas provide daytime shade and reflect away much of the sun’s radiant energy. When closed at night, they allow residual heat absorbed by the stone floors and walls to escape back into the atmosphere. The process is reversed in winter. When temperatures are relatively low, umbrellas are closed during the day to allow the winter sun to warm the site, and opened at night to retain heat near ground level.

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#5893 [Permalink] Posted on 3rd January 2017 17:44
Prophet’s Mosque umbrellas continue to be non-functional


The umbrellas in the outdoor courtyards of the Prophet’s Mosque did not unfold even during Friday prayers.
Jan 3, 2017

MADINAH – The umbrellas at the Prophet’s Mosque are of service now for almost a month. Sources accused the operating German company of umbrellas that maintenance is being purposely delayed despite repeated demands, which caused them embarrassment especially because there are no specialized Saudi technicians available.

Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is dealing with the matter through phone communications and did not hold any meetings with them for three weeks to discuss the details, including delayed financial payments, at a time when the company is facing problems with its employees regarding termination of some contracts and delayed salaries.

The sources claimed that they are not satisfied with the slow pace of the presidency in paying the operating company, arguing that there are violations the company must adjust and then receive financial dues.

The sources confirmed that they were upset with the maintenance company’s attitude and officials of the presidency.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette continued to communicate with the presidency’s spokesman Wahid Abdul Khattab regarding the issue. His response was, “You precisely have no right” and then ended the phone call and never responded to several calls and text messages.

The functioning of the umbrellas was disrupted due to lack of spare parts in Saudi Arabia, and the operating company has sent a request for the same from Germany more than 40 days ago.

The number of umbrellas in the Prophet’s Mosque are 250. The dimensions are approximately 25.5 × 25.5 meters, with a weight of about 40 ton. They operate automatically.
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#5894 [Permalink] Posted on 5th January 2017 17:12
‘Hajj & Umrah’ visa
fees remain: Riyadh

 

4 Jan 2017

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 4: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has no intention to cancel fees for Hajj and Umrah visas, reports Al-Anba daily quoting Saudi diplomatic sources.

This came after the proliferation of advertisements mentioning the visa fee waiver, uploaded by several Umrah and Hajj caravans on social networking sites and certain commercial platforms.

Sources confirmed the visa fees remain in effect, clarifying only those who will perform the ritual for the first time are exempted because the Saudi government will shoulder the fees Sources said those who already went on pilgrimage earlier must pay 2,000 Saudi riyals for the visa.

Sources advised the public to verify reports published on social networking sites and other platforms, affirming the Embassy of Saudi Arabia provides accurate information.

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/...remain-riyadh/

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#5895 [Permalink] Posted on 5th January 2017 17:23
App that helps
Grand Mosque navigation


 

Jul 14, 2016

MAKKAH — There are 30,000 users of the Grand Mosque navigation app Al-Maqsad, Makkah newspaper reported.

Amjad Al-Hazmy, director at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Projects, said that the app is designed to guide users to places inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The application does not need internet connection to determine location.

“Users can easily navigate to important areas and service checkpoints in all floors of the Grand Mosque. The app was downloaded by 30,000 users on various devices including Android, iPhone and iPad,” said Al-Hazmy.

Umm Al-Qura University Businesses and Information Creativity President Nabil Kowshak said his company Wadi Makkah for Technology designed the app.

“The app aims to facilitate the navigation of users in the Grand Mosque.

The app provides information on the services offered at the ground level of the mosque. The app was developed in cooperation with the Internal Navigation Company,” said Kowshak.

CEO of the Internal Navigation Company Saleh Basalamah said the app depends on core blue low energy sensors that send signals to the mobile phone of the user to determine the user’s location.

“The app can then instruct the user by voice where to go in order to reach the desired destination. The app also provides 3D maps to help users,” said Basalamah.

He also said there are 1,500 sensors dispersed all across the first floor of the Grand Mosque.

“The company will be working on the second phase of the project soon.
The app has eight features including offline usage. The app, which is in Arabic and English, is available in iOS and Android. A tour guide of the Grand Mosque works on Bluetooth,” said Basalamah.

He said the app also provides navigation to the main roads in Makkah, the Grand Mosque and its arenas, special needs services, the gates of the Grand Mosque, bus stops and other facilities. 

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...ue-navigation/



App '' Al Maqsad '' 
Al Haram Navigation
 


 
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