jazakAllah for the pics. must they im very confused. it looks so different. befoe the ground floor was just a few steps up from the mataf and now it seems like an entire floor above. also in the first pic u sent today look at the top right of the mataf it looks like it goes beneatht the top floor? dont know if what im trying to say makes sense. before the mataf has a brick wall around the edge ( adn steps for exits) but now it seems to have a room or something. inshAllah i guess i will find out when Allah invites me back to his house again
1.2 million perform Friday prayers at Grand Mosque
‘BE CLOSE TO ALLAH’: Al-Sheikh Saleh Al-Taleb delivers the sermon at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday.
Saturday 27 June 2015
JEDDAH: Take advantage of Ramadan and put in the best efforts to be close to Allah, Al-Sheikh Saleh Al-Taleb exhorted Muslims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during his Friday sermon. As many as 1.2 million Muslims performed the congregational prayers at the mosque.
Director of Media and Communication General at the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Mansouri, said the presidency has created an integrated system of services, including cleaning, maintenance and operation at the Grand Mosque.
“The presidency provides guidance in all languages through its offices to answer the queries of pilgrims. It has also provided one million copies of the Holy Qur’an at the mosque. King Abdullah Project for Translation of Friday sermons with sign languages is also helping many,” he said.
According to Al-Mansouri, the presidency has organized the entry and exit of worshipers through 160 gates, leading to the Grand Mosque with a dozen electric escalators and 10,000 free trollies for the disabled.
“The Grand Mosque has 17,000 carpets. A special service is provided to pilgrims for their luggage at nominal rates, which helps them avoid carrying the same inside the mosque.” There are 250 fans to mitigate the summer heat in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque.
The presidency has taken advantage of the three phases of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Expansion Project to raise the capacity of Al-Mataf, in addition to northern yards Ajiyad Bridge which has been linked to the first floor of the third phase of the expansion project, Al-Mansouri added.
"8 million visitors" to the Grand Mosque in Ramadan's first ten days
Makkah, Ramadan 11, 1436, June 28, 2015, SPA
Hajj and Umrah public administration in the governorate of Makkah region confirmed that the number of passengers who came to visit the Grand Mosque during the first ten days of the holy month of Ramadan increased from last year by 49%.
This was stated by Director of Hajj and Umrah department in the Emirate of Makkah Region Dr. Salah Saqr.
He said that the transportation plan adopted and monitored by Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah Region, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' adviser and the Chairman of the Central Hajj Commission, and which is implemented by all relevant government sectors resulted in the transfer of more than 8 million passengers during the first ten days of current month of Ramadan.
He added that the number of vehicles that transported visitors to the Grand Mosque during the same period amounted to more than 38,000 cars, up from the same period last year rose by 25%.
Surveillance cameras to be installed in all important mosques Monday, 29 June 2015 - 12 Ramadan 1436
HAIL – The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has completed security arrangements to ensure the safety of important mosques in all governorates and regions of the Kingdom.
The ministry is providing surveillance cameras to be installed inside and outside important mosques in every region.
All important mosques are being enumerated as a first step for safety requirements.
The move follows the recent terrorist blasts that targeted innocent worshipers in the Eastern Province.
Necessary measures are taken to eliminate the illegal practices.
Monday 29 June 2015
MAKKAH: A total of 324 people have been arrested within a month and improper activities, including begging and illegal trades, have been contained in Makkah.
According to a report submitted to Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal by the committee concerned, of the 324 arrested people, 180 are cart pushers and 144 are street vendors of various nationalities.
Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, vice president of the Field Committee to Combat Negative Practices in the central region, has been quoted by local media as saying that the committee works throughout the year to monitor negative practices.
He said necessary measures are taken to eliminate the illegal practices, as per the directives of the prince, with intensified efforts during Haj and Umrah seasons.
Al-Ghamdi said these negative practices, especially begging, have significantly decreased compared to the previous years.
During the month of Ramadan, he said, work is focused on the central areas around the Grand Mosque. The central zone has been divided into sections with field teams assigned to each area to monitor and address issues.
“The joint committee consists of representatives of eight government authorities that work under the supervision of the Emirate of Makkah, including the Ministry of Haj, Makkah Municipality, General Directorate of Passports in Makkah, Anti-Begging Office and the Department of Al-Mujahideen,” he said. “These bodies support the committee by providing monitors and vehicles to transfer violators, and joint patrols to address other negative practices.”
Al-Ghamdi said the committee also deals with cases of mental illness and refers them to the relevant authorities for necessary measures and action. During the first 10 days of Ramadan, the committee issued 126,162 items of clothing, 5,055 toys, 31,115 carts, 44,400 gallons of water, 80 bicycles and 55,960 other items.
Come November, Umrah pilgrims can don tourist hats
In this May 10, 2012 file photo, Saudi tourists visit the Qasr al-Bint tombs complex in the desert archaeological site of Madain Saleh, in Al Ula city, 1043 km northwest of the capital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP)
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is expected to launch “Umrah Plus” program in November, corresponding to the second month of 1437 AH, which will allow pilgrims to visit tourist sites in the Kingdom.
At present, foreign Umrah pilgrims are only allowed to visit Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman of the transportation committee and a member of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said: “The idea of Umrah Plus enables pilgrims to contract with a tour company and develop an integrated tourism program based on their desires to visit tourist sites in the Kingdom after performing Umrah. There are many places that can be visited such as Madain Saleh in Tabuk and Al-Okhdood archaeological site in Najran.”
Al-Qurashi explained that the prices of tours would be according to the number of days selected by the pilgrim and that the licensed Umrah companies would be able to implement this program.
“The program will lead to more job opportunities for Saudi youth, and revive the trade and economic movement in the local market, especially in the hotel and tourism industry,” he said.
About the current Umrah season, he said: “This season is good with the presence of 500,000 pilgrims during Ramadan.”
It said that the Haj Ministry and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities had completed all arrangements in cooperation with the Ministries of Interior and the Municipal and Rural Affairs to facilitate the arrival of pilgrims at all tourist sites they wish to visit in coordination with the Umrah companies.
Makkah motorbike fares cost more than plane tickets
JEDDAH: Motorbikes are among the most important means of transportation in Makkah during Ramadan because they are easy to use and cope easily with congestion in the central area next to the Grand Mosque. Despite the presence of public transportation, many Umrah pilgrims prefer to use motorbikes because of the large number of visitors.
Motorbike owners exploit the needs of pilgrims and offer to transport them for exorbitant sums of money. The sums are not only beyond logic or reason but the riders are also exposing themselves to danger because the drivers drive recklessly and think nothing of going the wrong way on one-way streets.
By using undercover officers, the traffic directorate in Makkah makes great efforts to control the bikes but the numbers are simply too great.
Transportation charges for motorbikes are high in comparison with the distance covered, especially during the last 10 days of Ramdan. The price may be as high as SR500 for a 5 km ride. On the other hand, there are airline tickets which can be bought for SR300.
Imran Al-Yazidi who has a motorbike said some people transport Umrah pilgrims for astronomical sums because they see the season as a chance for high profits.
إعلان
He added that bikers don’t force pilgrims to take the service but that people choose to ride of their own free will, knowing the dangers.
MAINTAINING SECURITY: Officers watch giant screens with maps and other data updated constantly from the cameras at the Grand Mosque and surrounding streets.
JEDDAH: The government has installed 5,000 high-definition cameras on all floors and courtyards of the Grand Mosque to ensure security and crowd control.
These cameras are monitored 24 hours a day by officers at a control center in Mina. They have to watch giant screens with maps and other data updated constantly from the cameras at the Grand Mosque and surrounding streets, a local publication reported recently.
The center is also busy with reports coming in and going out, and officers communicating with patrols via wireless handsets. Maj. Gen. Saad bin Abdullah Al-Khelaiwi, director general of the center, said it monitors the data from all cameras.
“The center works with security field teams during peak times, such as before Iftar and after Taraweeh prayers to ensure the safety of every individual. The center also monitors the mechanisms for guiding worshipers and visitors at public transport stations in the central area surrounding the Grand Mosque.”
Free Wi-Fi in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Haram courtyard
Pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah can take advantage of free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the mosque. (File photo: Reuters)
By Saudi Gazette | Makkah
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah can take advantage of free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the mosque.
This is part of a series of technological services being introduced by the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques for the benefit of the faithful, according to Bandar Al-Khuzaim, director of the information technology center at the presidency.
Al-Khuzaim said the free Wi-Fi service in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque aims at establishing online contacts between the presidency staff and worshippers.
The presidency staff will use this popular wireless networking technology to send guidance and awareness text messages to pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Al-Khuzaim said the presidency will also make available Bluetooth service for worshippers in the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) so that those who perform tawaf can know the number of rounds of circumambulation that they have finished. This service is being introduced in cooperation with the technological innovation center at Umm Al-Qura University of Makkah.
“The presidency has also introduced the issuing and renewal of online booking of iftar meals at the Grand Mosque. Both individuals and firms can take advantage of this service to donate iftar meals for worshippers,” he said.
Al-Khuzaim announced that a new facility has been introduced for the electronic registration for performing itikaf (seclusion in the mosque to worship Allah) in six languages. They are Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Turkish and Persian.
A similar online facility is available for those who want to visit the Grand Mosque Exhibition and the Kaaba cover (kiswa) factory, he added.
SPA Camera Monitors Grand Holy Mosque Giant Expansion Projects
Makkah, 14 Ramadan 1436 H, corresponding to July 1, 2015, SPA
Saudi Press Agency (SPA)'s camera has monitored giant projects implemented by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the Grand Holy Mosque, including the expansion of Mataf (circumambulation track) to accommodate 105 circumbulators per hour instead of 48 circumbulators, and King Abdullah project for the expansion of the Grand Mosque;
As this year benefited from completed yards estimated at more than 50 percent of the current expansion building with an area of more than 53,000 square meters that could accommodate 150,000 worshipers, as well as northern yards project, which is under way rapidly to complete these projects in specific time periods to serve the visitors of the Grand Holy Mosque .
Dubai – Celebrating the Holy month of Ramadan, DubaiSat-2 satellite owned and operated by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) captured a one meter resolution image of the holy city of Makkah from outer space.
DubaiSat-2 provides high quality satellite imagery to several institutions, inside and outside of the UAE, that can be used in urban planning, disaster management, environmental monitoring, mapping and scientific research.
10,000 free wheelchairs and (521) in return for payment
and (200) scooters electric provided by the vehicles management
of pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan
عشرة آلاف عربة مجانية و(521) عربة بأجرة و(200) عربة كهربائية
توفرها إدارة العربات للمعتمرين خلال شهر رمضان المبارك

June 2015
انطلاقاً من تقديم أفضل الخدمات للمعتمرين والزوار من كبار السن وذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة فقد هيأت الرئاسة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي خلال شهر رمضان المبارك أكثر من عشرة آلاف عربة مجانية يتم توزيعها من خلال نقاط توزيع العربات المجانية من مكتب تسليم العربات بالساحة الشرقية والمكتب الواقع بجوار وقف الملك عبدالعزيز ـ يرحمه الله ـ و(521) عربة بأجرة توزع في الصفا بالدور الأرضي من المسجد الحرام و(200) عربة كهربائية يتحكم فيها المعتمر بنفسه تُطْلَب من مكتب الصفا (الميزانين), كما بدأ موسم شهر رمضان بعربات كهربائية جديدة لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة وكبار السن وتشمل المواصفات والمقاييس العالمية ومعتمدة من قبل الهيئة السعودية للمواصفات والمقاييس والجودة وهيئة الدواء والغذاء " كمنتج طبي وتتحمل إلى وزن (250 كجم)" وبها مقصورة أيضاً لحمل شخص آخر, أوضح ذلك سعادة مدير إدارة العربات بالمسجد الحرام الأستاذ مصلح المحمادي.
وأردف سعادته قائلاً أمَّا بالنسبة للأشخاص المصرحين لدفع العربات فقد تم التصريح لـ(2500) شخص للعمل داخل المسجد الحرام على مدار الساعة خلال موسم شهر رمضان المبارك بمقابل مادي يصل إلى (200ريال) للطواف والسعي، وقد تم تمييزهم باللون الأخضر للسديري وتم طباعة رقم التصريح على العربة وعلى السديري إضافة إلى تزويد تصاريحهم بنظام (الباركود).
واستطرد سعادته بأنه يُشرف على هذه الخطة أكثر من (140) موظفاً من المؤهلين علمياً وعملياً وتم تدريبهم أيضاً في عدد من البرامج التدريبية المتخصصة في فن التعامل مع قاصدي المسجد الحرام.
وأهاب سعادته بالزوار والمعتمرين عدم التعاون مع مخالفي الأنظمة من أصحاب العربات غير المصرحة والالتزام بالتفويج عن طريق جسر الشبيكة والسير على المسارات المخصصة بالعربات أثناء دفع العربة وذلك للتقليل من خطر الإصابة الناتجة عن اصطدام العربة بالآخرين إضافة إلى عدم دخول المشاة إلى المسارات المخصصة للعربات تلافياً للزحام, وذلك خدمة للمعتمرين والعناية بشؤونهم والعمل على أداء مناسكهم بكل يسر وسهولة .
واختتم تصريحه مدير الإدارة الأستاذ مصلح المحمادي بشكر الله عزوجل ثم الشكر موصول لولاة الأمر -حفظهم الله- الذين يولون الحرمين الشريفين كل عناية ورعاية لتقديم أرقى الخدمات لقاصدي المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي بتوجيه وإشراف معالي الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي الشيخ الدكتور عبدالرحمن بن عبدالعزيز السديس ومتابعة معالي نائب الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد الحرام الشيخ الدكتور محمد بن ناصر الخزيم.
Based on providing the best services to pilgrims and visitors of the elderly and people with special needs has created a presidency for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan more than ten thousand free trolley to be distributed through the distribution of the vehicles free points of delivery vehicles of East arena Office and the Bureau actually next to stop the King Abdulaziz God bless his soul and (521) Trolley fare Safa distributed in the ground floor of the Grand Mosque and (200) electric vehicle which controls the pilgrim himself requests from Safa office (mezzanine), as Ramadan season began a new electric carts for people with special needs and the elderly and include specifications and standards of global and supported by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality and the Food and Drug "medical product and bear the weight (250 kg)" and the compartment also to carry someone else, he explained that His Excellency the Director of vehicles Management Holy Mosque Professor reformer Mehmadi.
Abizaid and his delight, saying, for people declarants to pay for the vehicles have been declared for 2500 people to work inside the Grand Mosque around the clock during the season of Ramadan for a fee of up to (SR 200) to cruise and to seek, has been distinguish them in green for Sudairi was printed number statement on Cart and the Sudairy addition to providing their permits system (barcode).
And he went on his happiness that oversees this plan more than 140 employees of qualified scientifically and practically have also been trained in a number of specialized training programs in the art of dealing with Cassidy Grand Mosque.
He called his delight visitors and pilgrims not to cooperate with those who violate regulations of the vehicles is Almsrahp owners and commitment Baltvoaj through the lattice bridge and walk the allocated vehicles tracks during the push cart and to reduce the risk resulting from the collision of the vehicle with others of infection in addition to the lack of pedestrian access to the custom of the carts paths to avoid congestion, and that service of the pilgrims and take care of their affairs and work to perform their rituals easily and conveniently.
He concluded his statement, the Director of Administration professor reformer Mehmadi thanking God Almighty and thanks go to the guardianship of -hfezhm Allah who are paying the Two Holy Mosques all the attention and care to provide the best services for Cassidy Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque under the guidance and supervision of His Excellency General President of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais and follow-up by Deputy General President of the Grand Mosque Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Nasser AlKhozim.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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