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#601 [Permalink] Posted on 11th February 2012 13:20

250m copies of Qur'an distributed

Ordinary Edition – 70 gm

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 10, 2012 02:59 Updated: Feb 10, 2012 02:59

RIYADH: The King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an distributed more than 250 million copies of the Holy Qur’an, translations and other religious books until January this year since its establishment 27 years ago, according to its report issued Thursday.

King Fahd launched the Holy Qur’an printing complex with the aim of preserving, printing and distributing sacred texts to the Muslims all over the world in Madinah in February 1985.

The complex has an annual production capacity of more than 10 million copies.

Its publications include complete mushafs (books which contain the text of the Holy Qur’an), parts of the holy text, audio recordings, translations and books on the Sunnah and biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The report said the complex distributed 224,630 copies and translations of the Holy Qur’an in 21 languages during the Hijri month of Safar (Dec.26, 2011 to Jan.23, 2012), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“The complex distributed 174,224 copies of the full text of Holy Qur’an and 9,760 copies of parts of the text, 2,570 copies of audio recordings of recitations, 30,960 translations in other languages and 7,116 copies of the various religious books over the first two months of the new Hijri year,” the statement said.

The copies were distributed through charitable societies, the Prince Sultan bin Salman Competition for the Memorization of Holy Qur’an for Children with Special Needs, National Guard’s guidance offices in different parts of the Kingdom, the religious affairs department of the Armed Forces, the King Fahd National Library in Riyadh, Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Othaimin Charity Foundation and the Ministry of Economy and Planning in addition to the Cairo International Book Fair and the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Sacred Places and Affairs Ministry of Jordan. Each pilgrim is given a copy of the mushaf when returning after the Haj in line with an order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

The complex is supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance. Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh, minster of Islamic affairs, is the general supervisor and chief of the complex.

The complex also trains Saudis to work in different technical departments of the complex such as montage, printing, binding and maintenance.

The complex also has five manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article573455.ece

All Quran Complex Publications

http://www.qurancomplex.org/Contest/...esCategories=1

Historical Manuscripts

Scribed in 549 A.H. ,Write Type Normal, Scribed by Abu Saad Muhammad bin Ismail Muhammad al-Khattat
Source : Gift
A possession of : Library of King ‘Abd el-Aziz, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah

All Historical Manuscripts: http://www.qurancomplex.org/OldQuran...=6&SubItemID=2

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#602 [Permalink] Posted on 12th February 2012 19:54

Worshippers want Kashgari punished

He made blasphemous comments about Allah,
the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the religion.

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 12, 2012 01:45 Updated: Feb 12, 2012 01:45

MAKKAH: Imams of mosques in Makkah were unanimous in their Friday sermons on the necessity of bringing Saudi columnist and writer Hamza Kashgari to justice for making insulting comments about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Twitter.

Kashgari fled to Malasyia after realizing that the deletion of his slanderous comments and the repentance he had announced in his tweets were not enough to save his neck. He was arrested on arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport on Thursday.

Worshippers, many of them in tears, were in agreement with their imams calling for bringing Kashgari to justice for his blasphemous tweets about the Prophet, local daily Al-Eqtisadiah reported Saturday. The article said the worshippers expressed happiness over the government's move to arrest the blogger and bring him to justice.

The Malaysian police confirmed the arrest of Kashgari as part of an Interpol operation under the request of Saudi Arabia but did not disclose if he would be extradited to his country.

The imams and the worshipers strongly denounced the slanderous comments against the Prophet and said anyone who dared to badmouth the Prophet should be severely punished to deter others from doing the same.

Some of the imams dedicated their entire Friday sermon to attacking the blogger and calling for his trial, while others strongly warned against insulting the Prophet in words or deeds. Some of the imams were not able to hold back their tears while defending the Prophet, recalling verses from the Qur'an warning against attacking Allah or His Prophet.

"The unison between the imams and the worshipers against this heinous act is a crystal-clear indication that attacking the Prophet is a red line no one should cross or come close to," a worshiper said. He did not want to be identified.

A number of worshipers said they were determined to file lawsuits against Kashgari in Shariah courts calling for his execution on charges of apostasy.

The 23-year-old Kashgari has become notorious overnight because of his sacrilegious tweets he had later deleted. Various sections of Saudi society have been asking for his immediate trial. A number of Saudis have also called for the trail of all those who tweeted support for Kashgari saying they were equally guilty.

"Those who supported the contents of Kashgari's tweets are considered criminal exactly like him," said Khaled Abu Rashid, a lawyer and a legal consultant. He said the sentence to be passed on Kahgari should be imposed on his supporters too.

The lawyer, however, said it was important to use the written texts to differentiate between two things in this case. "If the support was for general principles like freedom of expression, then this is a different matter but if the support was for the attacks against Allah and His Prophet, then the supporters should be tried for apostasy," he explained.

Abu Rashid said the court should use the text of the tweets to decide the nature of the support.

The newspaper noted that a number of well-known people and bloggers from Saudi Arabia and abroad were quick to lend their passionate support to Kashgari but said most of the supporters tried to downplay his crime. On the other hand, bloggers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries called for the execution of Kashgari for mocking Allah, His Prophet and the religion.

Individual and collective calls were made to the Prosecution and Investigations Commission to try Kashgari and all the bloggers who supported him in his blasphemy.

arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article574314.ece

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#603 [Permalink] Posted on 12th February 2012 20:10

Holy Mosque Expansion at the Museum in Makkah

Exhibition of the two Holy Mosques Architecture

As these images are from the Makkah Museum, they are most likely to be the final plans of the current expansion.

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#604 [Permalink] Posted on 14th February 2012 19:25

''Mecca'' banned for use as brand name by top courts

14 February 2012

BU DHABI // Cola brands cannot register trademarks featuring the holy city of Mecca, the Federal Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

The owners of two cola brands, "Mecca Cola" and an Arabic equivalent, were challenging a decision by the Ministry of Economy that such trademarks were unacceptable because of the city's holy status.

they argued that the trademarks were already registered, produced and distributed in many countries and that consumers were familiar with the brands.

The Dubai-based Mecca Cola World Company launched Mecca Cola in the UAE in April 2003.

The court's deliberation centred on Law Number 37 of 1992, which states: no trademark or any part of it should be registered if it has a religious connotation.

The Federal Appeals Court had previously ruled against the ministry's decision, and a decision by the Court of First Instance, as it considered "Mecca" to refer primarily to a geographic location. It ruled that the Kaaba was the holy place, rather than the city itself.

However, the Federal Supreme Court said the presence of many other holy monuments in the city, such as Mount Arafat, Mina and Mudalepha meant that the word Mecca was linked to religion in the minds of the public.

www.thenational.ae/news/uae-n...-by-top-courts

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#605 [Permalink] Posted on 15th February 2012 09:38

Scientists, scholars to redefine halal

Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam opens an exhibition at the international conference
on halal food in Riyadh on Sunday. (AN photo Iqbal Hossain)

By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 14, 2012 02:50 Updated: Feb 14, 2012 02:50

RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam inaugurated the first international conference on halal food and a related exhibition in the Saudi capital on Sunday.

The program held under the aegis of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is being organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

On arrival at the Prince Faisal Conference Hall, the prince was received by SFDA Chairman Mohammed Al-Kanhal and other senior officials of his organization.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Sattam said it is fitting to note that the king had given his support to this conference, which had attracted global as well as local leaders in the halal food industry.

"The conference will provide an effective platform for Islamic scholars and dieticians and others involved in the food industry to exchange their experiences and viewpoints on the production of halal food in the world," the prince said.

He hoped the recommendations of the conference would reassure Muslims the world over on the quality of halal food consumed by them. "Islam gives us the guidelines as to what we consume in our daily life," the prince said.

In his speech, Al-Kanhal said the Kingdom feels happy and elated in organizing the first ever such event under the aegis of the king. "People look upon Saudi Arabia as the cradle of Islam and we have to show the world the type of halal food that can be consumed for their own good health," he added.

"There are around 1.8 billion people in the world who consume halal food and its global market is valued at SR2 trillion," he added. The Kingdom imports food from 150 countries. He estimated the food industry in the Kingdom produces goods worth an average of SR250 million a day.

"The conference aims to elucidate the concept of halal food and its requirements from an Islamic perspective and to present the technical and economic aspects of halal food in the light of its increased global demand," Al-Kanhal said.

"Besides boosting public and private sector cooperation in the relevant food industry at national, regional and global levels, it would also serve as an ideal platform for exchange of experience between countries in the field of supervision and control of halal food."

"The SFDA has brought scientific and religious scholars to a common platform to explore new ways of improving the global halal food industry and to chalk out a mechanism to maintain a uniform check on the quality as well as the regulations adopted by the local authorities to ensure that the food consumed is halal," Al-Kanhal noted, adding that the Kingdom has a responsibility toward the cause.

A total of 60 technical papers will be presented during the scientific session of the conference. "They will be distributed across eight sessions and delegates will be able to exchange their ideas on various topics regarding halal food."

The main sessions will focus on genetically modified food, lawfulness of food additives, analysis methods of halal food, control of halal food, its standards, certification and countries' experiences in halal food control.

There will be two panel discussions on stunning and automated mechanical slaughter and the lawfulness of food produced using biotechnology and nanotechnology, among others.

He said the mission of the SFDA is to ensure the safety of food, quality and efficacy of drugs, and the safety and effectiveness of medical devices by developing and enforcing an appropriate regulatory system.

Supreme Judicial Council Chairman Saleh bin Humaid said Islam clearly lays out the principles involved in the production of halal food. However, he said halal food is no longer limited to matters such as the methods of slaughter, whether it is free of pork, other dairy products and alcohol.

"Now the issue is more complicated, especially with respect to imported food by virtue of the tremendous development in production technology, manufacturing and trading of food, such as the use of biotechnology, nanotechnology, food additives and many others."

Therefore, he said the situation makes it imperative for Islamic countries to agree on maintaining uniform standards and specifications to better facilitate the food trade.

"The conference reflects a holistic view of this topic and we hope to come out with directions and recommendations in such a way that wherever a Muslim comes from, he would be assured of pure halal food," Al-Humeid stressed.

Sheikh Saleh Kamel, president of the Federation of Islamic Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the food industry was estimated at $640 billion in 2010, when the world Muslim population was 1.6 billion. "Muslims form a significant part of the consumers," he said, pointing out that a vast majority of halal products are imported from non-Muslim countries.

Kamel hoped the conference would discuss the challenges faced by the halal food industry and that delegates would resolve some of the issues faced by the industry. He requested international organizations and private institutions to discuss this vital subject and request them to come up with recommendations that can enhance global trade and harmonize halal food requirements, conditions and control methods.

On Monday, the first scientific session on halal food monitoring was chaired by Ibrahim Al-Mohizea, vice president of SFDA for the food sector.

During the second session, Ibrahim Al-Sheddy and Mohammed Al-Debessi from the SFDA presented a paper on halal food certification.

Describing halal food as a global concept, they said it is being adopted by non-Muslim countries too since the Kingdom imports the majority of food items from these nations.

There is strong need to ensure the quality, safety and compliance of imported foods with the provisions of Islamic law, they added.

arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article575203.ece

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#606 [Permalink] Posted on 16th February 2012 14:07

Number of pilgrims continues to increase

15 February 2012

The tourism authority has announced it aims to attract 88 million tourists by 2020 as the kingdom focuses on developing religious tourism and business travel in particular," he added.

Religious tourism remains the main reason for overseas visitors to the Kingdom. More than half of inbound visitors travel to Makkah and Madina, making it a major focus for major investment in hotels and leisure development.

The Kingdom issued 9.5 million religious visas last year, up 11.3 percent from 2010, according to the Ministry of Haj website, with Umrah visas rising by one million in 2011 from 2010. Nearly two million foreign pilgrims arrived to perform Haj last year.

Saudi Arabia’s government is undertaking major infrastructure initiatives to provide better services to pilgrims including enhancement of the Holy Mosque in Makkah as well as expanding and upgrading King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, and Madina Airport, as well as an aggressive marketing strategy.

Overall pre-event visitor registrations for the four-day Arabian Travel Market show, which opens on April 30, 2012, are already up 132 percent from the same time last year, at nearly 2,000 visitors. Exhibitors from the Kingdom already include the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities, Al Hokair Group, Al Khazama Management Company and e-travelgate.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...ate=15/02/2012

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#607 [Permalink] Posted on 16th February 2012 14:09

Food exporting countries urged to heed halal norms

Delegates attending the First International Conference on Halal Food in Riyadh pose
for a souvenir picture at the conclusion of the forum on Tuesday

By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 16, 2012 01:00 Updated: Feb 16, 2012 01:00

RIYADH: The First International Conference on Halal Food in Riyadh concluded on Tuesday, calling on non-Muslim countries exporting food to Islamic countries to strictly adhere to Islamic regulations with regard to ensuring products are halal.

Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam inaugurated the conference and a related exhibition in the Saudi capital on Sunday. The first ever such program held under the aegis of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah was organized by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

Making his concluding remarks, SFDA President Mohammed Al-Kanhal said countries importing halal food from non-Muslim countries should jointly present a proposal stipulating the requirements for halal food in accordance with Islamic guidelines.

He stressed that the rules should cover the right form of slaughtering of animals (not by electric shock). The form of production and additives used in the preparation should be spelled out in all food labels, supported with proper halal certification. He requested the scientific committee of the conference to prepare a set of recommendations based on the discussions during the four-day conference.

"Such resolutions should be forwarded for necessary consideration by the Muslim World League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation," he added.

Thanking the king for the successful conference, Al-Kanhal said the SFDA hopes to conduct the conference again in two years. He also said the conference achieved its target and affirmed the Kingdom's commitment toward the production and distribution of proper halal food advocated by Islam.

The conference discussed seven main topics with 60 scientific papers, which included the principles of halal food, monitoring halal food, lawful additives, slaughtering of animals, and other aspects involved in halal food production.

Professor Maha M. Hadi, chairwoman of the nutrition department in Cairo University, warned that bovine growth hormones mixed with some feed may cause breast and colon cancers.

"If you eat meat, you must be concerned about what the animal or poultry were fed," she said, adding that generally animal feed will include ingredients from different origins.

"Regarding halal and haram in animal feed, we should be concerned with the origin of each ingredient and additive used in animal feed," she noted

Paulo Luciano, from the General Directorate for Trade in the European Commission said consumers, businesses, religious authorities in importing countries and competent certifying bodies in exporting countries benefit more when detailed requirements are publicly known and efficient controls are implemented.

Dr. Hani Al-Assaf, a specialist in the National Center for Agricultural Studies, said Muslim observers must be sent to slaughterhouses in non-Muslim countries to check the form of slaughtering carried out in those countries.

arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article576268.ece

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#608 [Permalink] Posted on 16th February 2012 18:42

Makkah, Madina hotels lead region RevPar in ’11

Elaf Taiba Hotel in Madinah

16 February 2012

JEDDAH – Saudi Arabian and Dubai hotels beat off competition from other countries in the Middle East as they continued to improve their occupancy and RevPar (revenue per available room) figures during 2011, while Cairo registered the highest drops in all three parameters, a recent survey by Ernst & Young (E&Y), a global leader in advisory services, said.

According to the Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey, the star performer of December 2011 was Makkah where RevPar on a monthly basis grew 47.8 percent, followed by Madina at 26.8 percent and Doha at 24.4 percent.

Yousuf Wahbah, Partner and Head of MENA Transaction Real Estate, E&Y, said: “Dubai and Saudi hotels have held their own and continue to improve their RevPar (an industry benchmark), occupancy and room rates.”

He added tough that “it is uncertain that the rise can be sustained as more hotels are expected to come on board this year, easing shortage in demand and stabilizing RevPar even with increased visitor numbers.”

“The possibility of the figures reaching a plateau or even perhaps sliding down is likely, given that most of MENA’s new hotels are expected to be in Dubai, Riyadh and Makkah.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20120216117670

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#609 [Permalink] Posted on 17th February 2012 23:01

King OK’s forming Haj, Umrah committee

The committee will work out an organizational mechanism for the development of a transportation strategy

17 February 2012

MAKKAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has given the go-ahead for the formation of a committee to work out a 25-year long-term strategy for Haj and Umrah. The committee will be chaired by the Ministry of Haj and will include members from the ministries of interior, transportation, health and municipal and rural affairs, the Commission for Development of Makkah, the Commission for Development of Madina and the Haj Research Center. The announcement was made by the Minister of Haj, Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar.

“The committee will work out an organizational mechanism for the development of a transportation strategy as the absence of such a mechanism will create a great gap in the service in the future,” Al-Hajjar said.

The minister made the comments in an address to members of the General Syndicate of Cars in Makkah which oversees 18 transportation companies.
He also discussed the prospects for the localization of 25,000 seasonal jobs in Haj.

“The strategy will address the problem of the breakdown of the buses used for transporting pilgrims and Umrah performers between Makkah and the holy sites.”

Al-Hajjar said the strategy will calm investors who have invested more than SR7 billion in the Haj transportation field. Investors have expressed fears that the introduction of the Haramain Train service will negatively affect their investments.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20120217117747

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#610 [Permalink] Posted on 19th February 2012 15:10

Summer preparation around the Grand Mosque

New ventilators

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#611 [Permalink] Posted on 19th February 2012 15:11

Pakistan seeks hike in pilgrimage quota

Minister for Haj Bandar Al-Hajjar holds talks with Pakistan's Minister of Religious Affairs
Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah in Jeddah on Saturday.
By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 19, 2012 00:30 Updated: Feb 19, 2012 00:30

JEDDAH: Pakistan Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said his country's request for an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims to Saudi Minister for Haj Bandar Al-Hajjar was positively received following talks between the two ministers here on Saturday.

The two ministers and their teams discussed many issues at the Ministry of Haj office in Jeddah. Al-Hajjar also approved Pakistan's request for the use of Mashair train facility by all Pakistani pilgrims (government and private Haj groups).

The Pakistani minister said this year the Pakistani pilgrims would also be allowed to take guided tours of Jeddah during their stay in the Kingdom.

Numerous other issues relating to better services for Hajis were discussed. The Saudi side stressed on a continuous improvement of the pre-arrival training of Pakistani pilgrims and also sought improved operational mechanism, which further reduced any discomfort to the pilgrims, like delays of buses between Jeddah airport and Makkah.

To ensure quality food for Hajis, the Saudi side insisted that local authorities should supervise the catering services.

Al-Hajjar welcomed his Pakistani counterpart to the annual bilateral ministerial meeting.

On his part, Shah praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Naif and the Saudi government for the numerous steps being taken for the constant improvement of services provided to pilgrims from all over the world.

arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article577405.ece

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#612 [Permalink] Posted on 19th February 2012 15:11

Makkah development chair set up

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal arrives to attend a meeting of Makkah History Center's executive committee.

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 19, 2012 00:39 Updated: Feb 19, 2012 00:39

MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Saturday emphasized the need to develop undeveloped Makkah districts by providing them with full-fledged health, cultural and social facilities and services to improve the lives of their residents.

"Unplanned districts are not just the problem of Makkah or Saudi Arabia. It's a global problem and one can find unplanned districts even in major cities of the world...the United Nations gives utmost importance to this issue," the governor said.

Prince Khaled was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of an agreement for the establishment of a chair at Umm Al-Qura University for the development of undeveloped districts in Makkah. The chair named after the prince will be financed by Binladin Group.

The governor thanked Umm Al-Qura and the Binladin Group for their initiative. "The development of undeveloped Makkah districts was the first project I presented to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah after becoming Makkah governor," he said.

King Abdullah then ordered the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior. At present there are six ministers in the committee. "Time has come to change the situation of these districts, and we have a caring leadership to implement the project," he said.

A survey was conducted to develop certain districts and officials found that land in some areas were owned by a single person. The governor called for the cooperation of public and private sectors and the society to develop these districts.

The university has established the chair as part of its scientific and research initiative to work on more than 100 undeveloped districts in the Makkah region. Saudi Binladin Group will finance the activities of the chair during its five-year term.

Bakri Assas, president of the university, told Arab News that the chair would help translate into reality the vision of the Saudi leadership to transform undeveloped districts into modern urban districts with all infrastructure facilities.

The university president unveiled the chair's plans to undertake scientific documentation of various phases of the project for developing target districts in the Makkah region, with special focus on the administrative, technical, organizational, humanitarian, security and economic domains.

arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article577368.ece

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#613 [Permalink] Posted on 19th February 2012 15:16

Louvre Officials Unveil New Islamic Art Wing
Confirm Summer Opening

(Very Interesting considering their Ban on certain Islamic rulings)

06 January 2012

The Louvre unveiled a new architectural structure on Wednesday to house the museum’s new Arts of Islam galleries – hailed as the most important architectural feat since its glass pyramid.

With a roof designed to look like a floating sheet of silk, a reference to the Islamic headscarf, the new wing of the Louvre housing Islamic art is nearing completion.

The project to house the Paris museum's well regarded collection of Islamic objects was launched by former president Jacques Chirac in 2002.

Six years later his successor, Nicolas Sarkozy, laid the first stone. After four years of construction, the wing is set to open in the summer.

On Wednesday, the Louvre's director, Henri Loyette, gave an update on the progress of the building, which is due to open in the summer.

He said the new addition to the museum would put on show "collections that have been largely neglected for 25 years."

The building's architect Mario Bellini, who has designed the structure with Rudy Ricciotti, told the BBC the structure should seem as if it is "floating in mid-air."

"The roof is only supported by eight very narrow tubes which are leaning and dancing together and which support the weight of the veil to the bottom of the foundations," he said.

The 3,500 square metre space, including two additional underground levels, is the museum's biggest project since the construction of the glass pyramid that sits in the Louvre's main courtyard twenty years ago.

The €98 million ($126 million) new wing will sit in one of the Louvre's hidden courtyards in the Denon wing of the gallery and can house around 18,000 works.

The roof's transparent composition allows light to pass through, revealing the museum's classical architecture just beyond.

In 2011, the Louvre attracted a record 8.8 million visits, with around two-thirds coming from outside France.

A Saudi Prince is the project's largest single benefactor, contributing 17 million euros in funding. Other sponsors include Morocco, Kuwait, Oman and the the Republic of Azerbaijan which lent 26 million euros, of the 98 million estimated total.

The Louvre museum still needs to raise 10 million euros to complete work on the project, but officials confirm that the wing will open this summer as scheduled.

http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-236-4309.htm

The construction