SR150bn spent on construction and upkeep of mosques
Al-Jouf Gov. Prince Fahd bin Badr, accompanied by Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh, is briefed on King Abdullah Mosque after opening the project on Saturday. (SPA)
By ARAB NEWS Published: Jan 1, 2012 01:59 Updated: Jan 1, 2012 01:59
JEDDAH: There are more than 70,000 mosques across the Kingdom and the government has spent nearly SR150 billion on the construction, renovation and maintenance these mosques during the past five years, a senior official said on Saturday.
Ali bin Salim Al-Abdali of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs revealed this during a ceremony marking the opening of King Abdullah Mosque by Al-Jouf Gov. Prince Fahd bin Badr in Sakaka on Saturday. The mosque, which can accommodate 3,700 worshippers, was established at a cost of SR30 million.
Al-Abdali, who is the director general of the ministry's office in Al-Jouf, said the government constructed 60 new mosques and renovated 200 others during the past five years. "In Al-Jouf province alone there are 1,300 mosques," he said.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah laid the foundation stone for the Sakaka mosque when he visited the province few years ago. The mosque complex includes two libraries, a dawa center, housing for the imam and khatib and other related facilities.
Al-Abdali commended the government's support to construct and renovate mosques. King Abdullah recently allocated SR500 million for renovation of mosques.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Islamic Affairs Saleh Al-Asheikh commended King Abdullah for his support to mosques and other Islamic projects. He also thanked Prince Fahd for inaugurating the mosque. The event was attended by a number of senior officials including Tarish Al-Shammary, acting president of Al-Jouf University.
Not too Hajj to handle:
110 year old Russian makes pilgrimage
Madinat Dzadzieva 29 December, 2011
A 110-year-old woman from Russia's North Caucasus has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by traveling 3,000 kilometers as a pilgrim to join the Hajj.
The Hajj is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world and also considered a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in every Muslim's lifetime.
It is the only pillar of Islam that happens strictly at a certain time and place, from the 8th to the 12th day of the last month of the Islamic Calendar.
For Madinat Dzadzieva, taking part in the Hajj has been a lifelong dream. She is high-spirited and fearless, despite being more than a century old.
"I've done a lot in my life, this house where I live now I built myself, I've never asked anything special - only to help me go on the Hajj," Madinat told RT.
Through the repressions of the 1940s, when she was almost starving in Kazakhstan and working in the cotton fields, to a hard life back in Russia laboring on construction sites in North Ossetia, she always dreamt of the Hajj to Mecca.
Even when in later life she lost her sight, she never lost hope.
"For years she was telling me everyday how much she wanted to go. I was afraid the trip would be too much for her. But I knew how important it was. So one day I thought we should just do it," says her grandson, Magomed.
Among her relatives - she has four children and 30 grandchildren - no one really took it seriously. But without ever letting on to anyone else, her grandson Magomed and his wife started preparing for the trip of a lifetime.
First they flew to Jordan, before taking a 36-hour bus journey to Medina. There they joined hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, all simultaneously converging on Mecca for the week, to perform a series of rigorous rituals - a testing time for people in their prime, let alone someone who has entered their 12th decade.
Radimhan, Magomed`s wife told RT that Madinat had had a difficult life, but was always strong both physically and emotionally.
"That is how maybe she coped with the trip. She is an example for me and our family," said Radimhan.
Now almost everyone in North Ossetia knows about her. Her strong drive and lack of fear not only made her dream come true, but also proved that where there is a will, there is always a way.
King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an in Madinah
2 January 2012
RIYADH — Prince Abdulaziz Bin Majed, Emir of Madina region, has expressed his thanks to the Secretary General of King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an, Dr. Mohammed Salem Bin Shadid Al-Awfi, and all employees of the Complex for their praiseworthy efforts in providing vital services to the visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque and in implementing the directives of the Saudi leadership in this regard.
King Fahd Complex is the world’s largest Qur’an printing press. It receives thousands of visitors during peak seasons. Since it opened its doors to visitors, the complex has distributed 25 million copies of the Qur’an to visitors.
The complex employs more than 1,700 workers, mostly Saudis, at this 250,000 square-meter-facility. The complex produces and distributes an average of 10 million copies of the Qur’an every year. It also produces the Qur’an translated into 47 languages.
Since its start, the complex has printed and distributed over 220 million copies of the Qur’an.
1981 files: Mecca bingo hall row with Saudi Arabia
An international diplomatic incident was caused by the name of a chain of bingo halls across Britain, newly released files reveal.
The Sunni Mufti of Beiruit was offended by the name
30 Dec 2011
The opening of a chain of Mecca bingo halls in 1981 offended the Sunni Mufti of Beiruit, who said the name was "blasphemous".
The complaint was not taken too seriously by the British ambassador to Lebanon who set a note on October 1 1981 to his opposite number, Jeremy Greenstock, in Saudi Arabia, letting him know “the silly season has definitely arrived”.
He explained that the secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had told him "with a chuckle" about a letter passed from the Sunni Mufti to the Prime Minister.
“The Mufti thought this was in bad taste. Indeed blasphemous!” Mr Roberts said.
“I told [the secretary general] that I was almost certain that he was speaking about Mecca Dance Halls Limited, a company which had been in existence in the United Kingdom for some considerable time.
“I thought that the name Mecca had probably been chosen as a metaphor, admittedly not in the best of taste, because it was a rendezvous. In England we spoke about St Andrews as the golfer’s Mecca without intending any disrespect.”
Mr Roberts said the minister was “highly amused by all this and said that as far as he was concerned he did not mind if there was a brothel in London called ‘The Vatican’. He had merely been instructed by the prime minister to take this up with me. He would now report that he had done so.”
The problem had almost certainly originated with a small story in the Arab News newspaper on May 25 1981 reporting that the Muslim World League – the official Saudi missionary organisation - “has strongly condemned the scandalous act of naming an amusement and gambling centre in Glasgow after the holy city of Mecca.”
Within weeks complaints had also been received at the Foreign Office from the US Council of Mosques and the Pakistan Embassy.
The issue was defused when, on July 23, the British embassy in Jedda was notified by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs that a royal command had been issued that the spelling Makkah and not Mecca should be used in English signs, advertisements, books, and printed materials.
Foreign Office bureaucracy came riding over the hill as the International Section of the Research Department consulted the Permanent Committee on Geographical names for British Official Use who agreed with the embassy’s recommendation that “Makkah” should be used in all official correspondence with the Saudi government and Saudi organisations and that on all other occasions “Mecca” should be used.
“It is possible that our acceptance of the revised spelling could attract ridicule,” a memo warned. “Nonetheless, it is, I believe, standard practice that we respect other governments’ rights to dictate how local names etc should be spelt.”
A handwritten note to the Foreign Office attached to the file said: “We have had complaints from time to tome over Mecca Ltd which is a subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan.
“I can think of no connection with the change in spelling. However – given the change in spelling, things called Mecca cannot be named after the holy city!”
Published: Jan 5, 2012 01:09 Updated: Jan 5, 2012 01:09
JEDDAH: Plans to transform Makkah into a smart city with advanced technological facilitiesreceived a big booston Wednesday following a Jeddah meeting of senior government officials and executives of leading global IT companies that discussed how best to fulfill this vision.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal chaired the meeting held at his office.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Khaled highlighted the significance of taking advantage of highly advanced technological facilities for the ongoing massive development of the holy city.
"The King Abdullah Project for the development of Makkah and the holy sites would tap into latestadvancesto build a technological infrastructure in order to transform Makkah into a smart city," he said.
The meeting discussed various measures to be taken to implement the ambitious project.
Discussions were also held on how to take best advantage of the King Abdullah Project. The governor was briefed on the presentations made by global IT companies that are taking part in implementing the project.
Prince Khaled had earlierannounced that Makkah would be developed into a smart city with the Grand Mosque as its focal point over the next six years.
The meeting was attended by Mayor of Makkah Dr. Osama Al-Bar, undersecretary at the Makkah governorate Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khudairyand Dr. Sami Barhameen, secretary-general of the Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites.
Representatives of companies such as Google,Microsoft and SESCO as well as the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) were also present.
By ARAB NEWS Published: Jan 6, 2012 00:29 Updated: Jan 6, 2012 00:29
JEDDAH: Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) is gearing up to receive an expected record influx of Umrah pilgrims this year, Al-Eqtisadiah business daily reported on Thursday.
There was an increase of 1 million Umrah pilgrims who came from all over the world during 2011 compared to the previous year.
As part of the new Umrah plan, only pilgrims who have reserved return tickets for their departure will be allowed to enter the airport terminal, according to the airport chief.
Abdul Hameed Abal Ari, director general of KAIA, said this arrangement was aimed at avoiding a heavy rush as well as to prevent a situation where pilgrims are stranded at the airport for a long time.
"We have virtually started preparations for the next Umrah season well in advance, and this was in coordination and planning with the concerned government agencies at the airport," he said.
Abal Ari made the remarks while addressing a function to honor the agencies that took part in making last year's Haj operation a resounding success. The event was patronized by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Abal Ari noted the Umrah season is quite different from the Haj season in terms of its operations. "The arrival halls of the Haj Terminal at KAIA will start receiving pilgrims for the seven-month season from Jan. 24 onward (Rabi Al-Awwal 1). All arrangements are in place at the arrival halls to receive Umrah season flights until the end of Rajab (June 20)," he said.
For the remaining two months of the Umrah season, the airport authorities have developed a special plan. "We will make elaborate special arrangements to receive the huge number of pilgrims during Ramadan. The airport is expected to receive some 800,000 pilgrims during the holy month," he said.
Abal Ari also announced plans to expand and renovate the arrival and departure halls of the terminal as well as ensure their proper maintenance. He also noted that there has been a substantial increase in the number of employees of various government agencies operating at the terminal.
The airport chief said KAIA witnessed the most successful Haj operation during 2011 compared to previous years. "The airport transported more than 2.5 million domestic and foreign pilgrims on board 10,650 flights," he added.
Published: Jan 4, 2012 16:21 Updated: Jan 4, 2012 16:21
JEDDAH: The Foreign Ministry issued about 9.5 million visas during 2011 through Saudi embassies and consulates in different countries, said Assistant Foreign Minister Prince Khaled bin Saud on Tuesday.
“This is the highest number of visas issued by our foreign missions in history,” he said, adding that the figure was 11.3 percent more than the visas issued in 2010 and 58.2 percent more than those of 2005.
He said the Umrah visas issued in 2011 were a million more than those of 2010. He commended embassy and consular staff for the good work.
Nearly two million foreign pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom last year to perform Haj.
Makkah governor calls for study to curb Haj squatters
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal receives Umm Al-Qura University President Bakri Assas at his office in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Jan 6, 2012 00:29 Updated: Jan 6, 2012 00:29
JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has urged the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj & Umrah to conduct a detailed study on how to end the problem of squatters in public places during the Haj season.
He also urged the institute's researchers to conduct studies on the issue of people performing the annual pilgrimage without obtaining valid Haj permits from Saudi authorities.
"I want this institute to become a lighthouse of research in Makkah," the governor said, expressing hope that the institute would be transformed into a college in the near future considering its important role in improving services for the millions of pilgrims who come to Makkah for Haj and Umrah.
Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for changing the name of Haj research institute affiliated to Umm Al-Qura University.
Prince Khaled made this comment while receiving Bakri Assas, president of Umm Al-Qura University and chairman of the committee that supervises the institute, and Abdul Aziz Sarouji, the institute's dean, as well as its senior officials.
The governor commended the contributions made by the institute during the past years. "We have benefited a lot from its research and studies while carrying out the various development projects in Makkah and the holy sites," the prince said.
He specifically noted the institute's support to designing the new expansions of the Grand Mosque and the mataf, the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba. He urged the officials to exert more efforts toward improving services for pilgrims.
In his statement on the occasion, Assas thanked Prince Khaled for his continuous support to the institute. He said the institute has a branch in Madinah and five departments for conducting research on people, environment, health, buildings and management.
"We also have a center of excellence for research on Haj and Umrah," the president said, adding that the institute is manned by a number of well-qualified and experienced researchers. "We have a plan to increase the number of academic staff in Makkah and Madinah," he pointed out.
MAKKAH – A recent study has urged the creation of a mega industrial estate in Makkah. The Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) says the project would help entice investment from the Muslim world, increase industrial exports and cover the general deficit in the Muslim world.
The findings of the study were presented to MCCI Chairman Talal Bin Abdul Wahab Mirza, several members of the Board of Directors and 12 leading industrialists on Thursday.
The Deputy Chairman of the MCCI Industrial Committee, Muneer Dahlawi, told the audience the study aims to provide a suitable climate for investment as Muslims respect Makkah. The study proposes that international companies be attracted to establish factories in Makkah. This would then attract consumers from the Muslim world. It also suggests an expansion of the Muslim products base and the exporting of these famous products throughout the Muslim world.
If the mega industrial estate is built it will achieve three important economic aims. It would create thousands of job opportunities for Saudis in Makkah, raise GNP, cut the cost of commodities and make them more competitive.
This would then reduce the consumption bill throughout the Muslim world.
The study suggested the estate be built on an area large enough for 100,000 workers and tens of big factories, and that it be close to the Red Sea coast to facilitate import and export. It suggests land on the Al-Shu’aibah Road or Bahra center would be ideal as it is close to the seaport and airport.
Muneer Dahlawi admitted that the grand project would require at least SR50 billion. However, this could be raised in two different ways. If the project were to be adopted by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the government would provide land and fund the infrastructure, he said.
The other option is to create a shareholding company that would include participation from Makkah’s residents and Saudi Nationals. The mother company would also sell shares throughout the Muslim world to raise capital for the mega industrial estate project.
Some of the arrested overstayers are shown being taken to a detention center.
By ARAB NEWS Published:Jan 9,2012 00:55 Updated: Jan 9, 2012 00:55
MAKKAH: Passport officials in Makkah arrested on Saturday 85 pilgrims of various nationalities who overstayed in the Kingdom after performing the pilgrimage.
Some of them were working illegally as construction laborers and hawkers while others were involved in begging.
"The arrested men, who carried Ethiopian, Yemeni and Indian passports, could find jobs in various developmental projects in Makkah. Some of them were found begging in crowded streets. Yemeni overstayers were mostly selling fruit and vegetables in push carts," said spokesman of Makkah passport police Lt. Col. Muhammad Al-Hussain.
Al-Hussain said his department started raiding suspicious locations for foreigners who stayed behind after their pilgrimageon Friday.
"The raids,which werefocused on neighborhoods close to the central zone of the city such as Ajyad, Reea Bakhsh and Kadwah, started at 11 p.m. on Friday and lasted until 10 a.m. the next day," Al-Hussain said.
He added that the raids would continue throughout the year to ensure that no one remained in the country illegallyafterperforming Haj or Umrah. He also warned citizens and expatriatesthatsheltering overstaying pilgrimswasa punishable crime.
Shoura Council: Computerized database needed for mosques
By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS Published: Jan 9, 2012 00:55 Updated: Jan 9, 2012 00:55
RIYADH: The Shoura Council on Sunday called on the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance to compile a computerized database of the Kingdom's mosques.
The database will include the geographical location of mosques, the number of employees working in places of worship and the progress of maintenance work being carried out by contracted companies.
The decision to compile the database was taken during the 75th regular session of the Shoura Council held under the chairmanship of Abdullah Al-Asheikh.
The Committee on Islamic Affairs presented their observations on the annual report by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for the year 2010. Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said council members showed great interest in the functions of the Islamic Affairs Ministry which supervises thousands of mosques in the Kingdom.
"The members also requested the ministry to tag all new and renovated mosques in the Kingdom with the Saudi building code," said Al-Ghamdi while adding that the house also felt that it is the responsibility of the ministry to take remedial measures to clear any misconceptions about Islam and its practices.
The council also asked the ministry to activate the Endowment Fund, which was established by the Council of Ministers in 2004 and calls for any donations made by philanthropists toward the fund to be used for the maintenance and operations of mosques.
Later, during the reading of the annual report of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) for the year 2010/2011, the members appreciated the TVTC's achievements toward building the Kingdom's human capital.
Al-Ghamdi said the members suggested that the various programs of the TVTC should be job oriented and cater to the rising needs of the public and private sectors.
Sunday morning, Al-Asheikh received Goh Chok Tong, a senior minister from Singapore. The two discussed the strong bilateral ties between the Kingdom and Singapore and explored ways of improving parliamentary relations between the two countries.
By ARAB NEWS Published: Jan 9, 2012 00:55 Updated: Jan 9, 2012 00:55
JEDDAH: Tabuk Municipality has taken precautionary measures to prevent rainwater flooding in the city and surrounding villages, Tabuk Mayor Muhammad Abdul Hadi Al-Amry announced on Sunday.
"We have completed a study on how to protect the city from floods, with the support of a consulting office, and we have identified the pathways of flood waters," he told the Saudi Press Agency.
A number of new projects worth more than SR90 million will be implemented as part of the first phase of a massive project to prevent flooding in the region.
The move comes after two massive rainwater floods in the city of Jeddah in November 2009 and January 2011 killed many people and destroyed public and private properties.
In the first phase, the municipality will identify pathways of floods in Abu Nasheefa, Wadi Dhabaan and Wadi Al-Baqar and construct intersections and bridges to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. "We are currently implementing a number of anti-flood projects at a total cost of SR63 million. Some of these projects are 90 percent complete while others are in their initial stages," he said.
Speaking about the rainwater drainage project, Al-Amry said a study on the scheme has been conducted by a consultant firm. "We have identified the areas where rainwater is usually accumulated and we have implemented a number of projects at a cost of SR58 million to remove the rainwater."
The mayor said the municipality had tried to tackle floodwater problem in difficult and dangerous spots in order to ensure a smooth flow of traffic despite heavy rains. "These are temporary measures taken to prevent flooding," he pointed out.
He said the anti-flood projects would help safeguard residential districts, industrial regions and public security housing units.
"We have carried out these projects in response to the proposals made by the main Civil Defense committee and a special panel that was set up to study the situation in Tabuk valleys."
By ARAB NEWS Published: Jan 9, 2012 00:55 Updated: Jan 9, 2012 00:55
JEDDAH: Jeddah police arrested an Indian driver for transporting bottles of alcohol in an ambulance, which belonged to a private hospital, Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Sunday.
A companion allegedly sold alcohol to people in the area. An ambulance had been moving suspiciously between sites at different times.
The police monitored these movements and noted the driver transported white bags. Police arrested the driver and found the bags contained bottles of alcohol.
Further investigations will reveal full details of the case.
Published: Jan 11, 2012 01:48 Updated: Jan 11, 2012 01:48
JEDDAH: Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed on Tuesday announced plans to develop Quba, Meeqat and King Abdul Aziz Civilization Center.
"Appropriation of land for implementing the projects will cost SR200 million in the first phase," the governor said, adding that the projects would be carried on the basis of studies conducted by consultancy offices.
He said the new projects would include expansion of Quba Mosque, establishment of gates at the entrances of Madinah and services to meet the requirements of Madinah people and visitors.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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