JEDDAH: Saudis leaving the Kingdom after March 31 will not require a COVID-19 vaccine to travel, a Saudi Health Ministry spokesman said on Saturday.
“There is no condition that states one must be vaccinated to travel. Studies for this are still ongoing. This matter is related to the Kingdom. Other countries might be applying this, but there is no condition in the Kingdom so far,†said Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly.
The Health Passport is a unique service issued by the Health Ministry’s “Twakkalna†application in cooperation with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and other entities. It is important that recipients of the vaccine have their appointments documented.
The ministry recorded 110 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, raising the total number of infections to 363,692.
The Riyadh region recorded the highest case count with 40 cases, while Makkah reported 31, and the Eastern Province and Madinah region saw 12 cases each. Hail, the Northern Border region and Al-Jouf recorded zero cases.
FASTFACTS
• The ministry recorded 110 new COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
• The Kingdom recorded one of its lowest death rates in weeks.
• There are now 2,024 active cases, 308 of which are in critical care.
There are now 2,024 active cases, 308 of which are in critical care.
There were 174 new recoveries recorded, raising the total number of recoveries to 355,382. The Kingdom’s recovery rate is holding steady at 97.7 percent.
The Kingdom recorded one of its lowest death rates in weeks after only four new coronavirus-related deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 6,286.
More than 11.3 million polymerase chain reaction tests have been conducted in the Kingdom since the beginning of the pandemic, with 37,043 completed in the past 24 hours.
Saudi Arabia to open borders Pre-Covid on March 31st
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the reopening of all borders including International Flights and lifting of all restrictions to pre Covid-19 measures from March 31st, 2021.
The Kingdom has also allowed the travelling of Citizens abroad starting from March 31st. Saudi Citizens are banned from travelling abroad since March of last year.
The Kingdom’s Interior Ministry also said that a thorough analysis of the Covid-19 measures before reopening of Flights.
Earlier the Kingdom announced the reopening of all borders and lifting of all restrictions from January 1st, 2021 which wasn’t put in effect because of the emerging new strain of Covid-19 in the UK and South Africa. Currently Citizens and travellers who have spent 14 days in the UK, South Africa, Brazil, India and Argentina are not allowed to travel to the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia: Exhibit of rare manuscripts in Prophet’s Mosque to open this week
Rare copies of the Holy Quran set to go on display
Published: January 17, 2021
Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
A permanent exhibition of rare manuscripts will open this week in the Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Medina
Cairo: A permanent exhibition of rare manuscripts will open this week in the Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Medina, a senior official has said.
The exhibit is due to open Monday evening in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, President General for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Abdulrahaman Al Sudais said in media remarks.
“The General Presidency for Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques seeks to highlight the role of manuscripts through the Arab history in preserving and storing information as well as making it available to everyone,†he added.
The exhibit aims to shed light on efforts of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives in recording history of the two holy mosques and the foundation’s scholarly projects mainly in Medina, media reports said.
Rare copies of the Holy Quran will be put on display.
In October, Saudi authorities allowed worshippers to return to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque after a seven-month suspension prompted by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Muslims, performing the Umrah or less pilgrimage in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, usually visit the Medina and pray in the Prophet’s Mosque.
The Umrah trips resumed last October according to a phased plan and amid stringent measures against COVID-19.
arab.news/jztfh The holy city gained World Health Organization accreditation after meeting all global standards
ARAB NEWS
January 24, 2021
JEDDAH: The Saudi city of Madinah has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO) as among the world’s healthiest cities.
The holy city gained the accreditation after a visiting WHO team said that it met all the global standards required to be a healthy city.
Madinah is believed to be the first city with a population of more than 2 million to be recognized under the organization’s healthy cities program.
A total of 22 government, community, charity and volunteer agencies helped prepare for the WHO accreditation.
The city’s integrated program included a strategic partnership with Taibah University to record government requirements on an electronic platform for the organization’s review.
The WHO also recommended that the university provide training to other national city agencies interested in taking part in the healthy cities program..
A committee chaired by the university’s president, Dr. Abdul Aziz Assarani, supervised 100 members representing the 22 government, civil, charity and volunteer agencies.
Criteria included meeting goals set by the Madinah Region Strategy Project and the launch of a “Humanizing Cities†program.
According to WHO, “a healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential.â€
President Sheikh Sudais reviews proposal to afforest the courtyards of Masjid Al Haram
His Excellency the General President for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Prof. Dr. Abdul-Rahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais was briefed on the proposal to plant squares in the Grand Mosque, in the presence of members of the committee formed by His Excellency headed by His Excellency Eng. Sultan bin Ati Al-Qurashi.
The proposal aims to take advantage of the exposed area above the escalators in the yards of the Grand Mosque, to be like agricultural ponds, and at the same time shade and cover the stairs, and protect them from climatic conditions, with the provision of irrigation system and drainage of agricultural ponds, in addition to the use of the vertical farming system to be on the pillars of bridges in the yards And the huge concrete walls, after carrying out the necessary engineering solutions to protect these facilities in accordance with international standards
Occurrence was witnessed by those in the vicinity of the mosque during the first hour of Friday
January 29, 2021
RIYADH: The full moon appeared directly above the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Islam’s holiest site.
The occurrence was witnessed by those in the vicinity of the mosque during the first hour of Friday.
“This will be followed by the moon’s alignment with the Kaaba at 12:43:35 a.m. KSA time, or 09:43:34 GMT, at an altitude of 89.57.46 degrees,†Majed Abu Zahira, president of the Jeddah Astronomy Association, wrote on Instagram. “The moon’s disc will be fully illuminated at 99.9 percent at a distance of 381.125 kilometers from Earth. It will then remain visible for the rest of the night until it sets with the rise of the sun on Friday,†he added.
Located at the center of the Grand Mosque in Islam’s holiest city, the Kaaba is the direction to which Muslims across the world pray.
Because of the alignment ascertaining this direction is easy for sky watching enthusiasts.
“The moon will guide them towards Makkah with an accuracy that matches that of smart phone applications,†Abu Zahira states.
Grand Mosque in Makkah welcomed 7.5 million worshipers in four months
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said 1.9 million people performed Umrah and 5.5 million people prayed at the mosque between Oct. 4 and Jan. 30. (SPA)
Lanes around the Kaaba have been created for use by the elderly and people with disabilities
ARAB NEWS
February 03, 2021
Almost 7.5 million people performed Umrah and prayed at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the past four months.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said 1.9 million people performed Umrah and 5.5 million people prayed at the mosque between Oct. 4, when services that had been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic resumed, and Jan. 30.
Osama Al-Hujaili, director of the General Department for Crowds and Promotions at the presidency, said that the authority has “devoted all its energies to serving the pilgrims and providing them with a safe and healthy environment.â€
He added that when Umrah pilgrimages returned, in phases, health precautions were in place and lanes were added so that pilgrims and worshipers could maintain the recommended safe social distancing. When the third phase began, on Nov. 1, Al-Hujaili said additional lanes were created near the Kaaba for use by the elderly and people with disabilities.
The first of these lanes is 155 meters long, can accommodate 45 wheelchairs and takes between 10 and 15 minutes to circumambulate. The second lane, the closest to the Kaaba, is 145 meters long, can accommodate 50 people, and is for use by elderly people who do not require a wheelchair.
BREAKING NEWS | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has suspended International flights from 20 countries starting from Wednesday, 3 February 2021, 9PM where the new strains of COVID-19 have appeared.
The decision includes those coming from Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Germany, United States, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, United Kingdom, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Egypt, India, and Japan.
No COVID-19 cases reported among pilgrims in Saudi Arabia
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, attends a seminar during the 20th Scientific Forum for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit Research on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (SPA)
Precautionary measures at holy sites have proved successful, said head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques
ARAB NEWS
February 04, 2021
RIYADH: Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that no COVID-19 cases have been recorded since the start of the pandemic among pilgrims and worshipers at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, said this can be attributed to the precautionary measures that have been put in place and enhanced as the health crisis progressed.
He was speaking during a seminar about the successful efforts of the Kingdom to manage the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah throughout the pandemic. The session was part of the 20th Scientific Forum for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit Research.
Al-Sudais highlighted the services that have been provided to reduce the health risks at the mosques, Islam’s holiest sites, as well as the directive, scientific, informational, technical, social and voluntary efforts, which were enhanced by the presidency.
This “resulted in making the two holy mosques among the most healthy and compliant places for infection control in the world,†he said, adding that it is imperative that everyone continues to adhere to all precautionary measures, and ignore unsubstantiated rumors.
During the same session, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammed Saleh Benten said that thanks to the concerted efforts of government and private agencies, Saudi Arabia has been able to cope well with the pandemic, and has “mobilized all its energies and capabilities to serve Islam, Muslims and all those who want to come to the Kingdom.â€
Since the start of the pandemic, he said, the ministry has facilitated Umrah for more than 100,000 pilgrims in Madinah and more than 600,000 in Makkah, despite the health crisis and the temporary closure of both mosques. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also developed executive plans to allow the annual Hajj pilgrimage to take place last year on a limited scale.
“We were able to expect not to see the random crowding that used to happen in previous years in the holy sites,†said Benten.
This year, he said there will be specific standards set for services to pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, whether they are performing Umrah or Hajj rituals.
Meanwhile, imams at mosques in various regions of the Kingdom said they will use this Friday’s sermon to highlight the need for all people to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures and health protocols, and to provide education and guidance about the threats and dangers the virus poses to health and safety.
From Madinah to the Muslim world: A new museum dedicated to the life of the Prophet
From Madinah to the Muslim world: A new museum dedicated to the life of the Prophet
arab.news/ysmmv It aims to spread the message of Islam among people using state-of-the-art means
February 06
MADINAH: On Feb. 2, the opening ceremony of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization took place.
Prince Faisal bin Salman, governor of Madinah — where the museum is located — and chairman of the Madinah Region Development Authority, hailed the mission and objectives of the exhibit and museum, which not only achieves one of Saudi Vision 2030’s goals by boosting the Kingdom’s cultural tourist attractions, but also uses cutting-edge technology.
The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization was launched under the supervision of the Muslim World League (MWL) and is the first in a series of Islamic museums scheduled to be constructed around the world under the organization’s umbrella.
Located next to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the museum is open 24 hours a day, and is dedicated to the history of the Islamic world and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Prince Faisal said the contents of the exhibition and museum represent “a historical legacy from which to spread the correct Prophetic approach … to all parts of the world so as to demonstrate the tolerance and moderation of Islam.â€
In a statement, the MWL stressed that it aims to “instill the spirit of love and goodness and the meanings of mercy, humanity, moderation, tolerance and coexistence, as well as to spread the message of Islam among people using state-of-the-art means.â€
The exhibition features dozens of paintings and interactive displays. At the moment, there are seven languages available to visitors — Arabic, English, Spanish, Urdu, French, Turkish and Indonesian. It also includes a 4DX theater, which screens a series of films about the Prophet’s life.
One of the 25 pavilions in the exhibition is dedicated to the history of women in Islam and showcases the important part women played in the early days of Islam by spreading a message of truth and virtue, and the vital role women played in the life of the Prophet. The pavilion also sheds light on the importance of children in the life of the Prophet, recounting stories of how he used to play with them and the advice he gave on how to best raise them.
Another pavilion uses 3D, virtual-reality, and augmented-reality technology to reconstruct and describe many of the Prophet’s personal possessions, including details of his furniture, clothing, footwear and even his comb.
HIGHLIGHTS The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization aims to:
• Achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s vision with regard to enriching the experience of visitors.
• Find attractive cultural sites for the residents and visitors of Madinah.
The exhibition also contains the Constitution of Madinah — drawn up on behalf of the Prophet Muhammad after his arrival in the city following the Hijra from Makkah. It laid out the terms for peaceful coexistence and citizenship in the Prophet’s era and formed the basis for a multi-religious Islamic state in Madinah. In the exhibition, it is paired with the Makkah Declaration of 2019, a charter — signed by around 1,200 muftis and scholars from around the world at the end of a four-day conference organized by the MWL in Makkah — that laid out a pan-Islamic set of principles supporting peaceful coexistence and condemning extremism and violence.
Another pavilion is dedicated to the 99 names of Allah, explaining what each name represents and its connection to humanity. The same pavilion contains exhibits dedicated to space and the planets, explaining various astronomical objects’ relevance to Islam and mankind, as well as displays focused on Earth’s geography, stressing the importance of preserving the beauty of God’s creations.
Another pavilion is dedicated to the lives of other prophets, laying out their characteristics as described in the Quran and Sunnah, as well as a summary of their lives. Here you will also find a review of the most important events in the life of the Prophet Muhammad from birth to death, which uses interactive screens to take visitors back in time to Makkah and Madinah during his lifetime, over 1,400 years ago.
In a different pavilion, visitors will find extensive information on holistic medicine, healing, prevention and awareness, shedding light on one of Prophet Muhammad’s most important messages — that the health of mind, body and soul are all interconnected.
Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL) and chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, said that the MWL has attached great importance to projects such as the museum and prioritized it as part of its initiatives in the service of Islam and Muslims.
FASTFACTS The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization
• Size: 5,000 square meters
• Location: Next to the Prophet’s Mosque, Madinah
• Number of floors: Two
• Exhibit and pavilion displays: 25 main pavilions
• 500 antique items from the Prophet’s era
• A main screen to feature the masterpieces found in the Qur’an and the Sunnah
• A movie theater showing a film about the Prophet’s life
• Virtual reality shows
• A special presentation of the Constitution of Madinah and the Makkah Document
• A presentation of the efforts of Saudi Arabia in serving the Qur’an and the Sunnah
“The exhibition is the heart and headquarters of the Museums of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization, which the MWL is establishing in several Islamic and non-Islamic countries.â€
Al-Issa said that the museum was recognized by a number of the Islamic world’s prominent scholars, among whom are members of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom.
He said it introduces the world to the Prophet’s life and Islamic civilization, in addition to highlighting the civilizational values in the Constitution of Madinah and the Makkah Document, both of which established the foundations for human fraternity and coexistence.
Al-Issa expressed his hope for such museums to contribute in a central way to raising awareness among and outside Islamic communities. He said that the first of these museums is in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, the home of moderation and the reference in Islamic leadership.
Participating in a symposium titled ‘The efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving pilgrims and visitors during the Corona pandemic’ the President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rehman Al Sudais said: “The pre-emptive measures taken by the Kingdom in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the nation holds an exemplary position in crisis and disaster management; as well as in combating diseases and outbreaks. It has been able to do so with full ability, competence, and professionalism."
He further said that: “The only places in the world where the Pandemic has not reached are the Two Holy Mosques. We pray that Allah preserves our nation's leadership, as it has implemented a number of precautions and protective measures at the Two Holy Mosques. This emphasizes and makes clear the unflinching concern of the nation's leadership for the safety of all Umrah pilgrims and other worshippers; as well as its desire for the atmosphere of the Two Holy Mosques to remain one that is outstanding, exemplary, and free of any disease or epidemic."
The symposium was attended by their Royal Highnesses the Governor of Madinah and Asir as well as the Their Excellencies The Grand Mufti, Advisor to the Royal Court and Khateeb of Masjid Al Haram Sheikh Saleh ibn Humaid, The Ministers of Health, Hajj and Umrah and the General Director for Security
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
We apologise but you have been denied access to report posts in this thread. This could be due to excessively reporting posts and not understanding our forum rules. For assistance or information, please use the forum help thread to request more information. Jazakallah
Loading tweet
