Makkah News and Updates

7 September 2013

House prices in Makkah have risen 100 percent as a result of high demand.
Residents whose houses were demolished to make way for expansion projects around the Grand Mosque have also called for new houses.

Citizens are now eyeing the suburbs of the holy city, including Al-Nawaryeh, Al-Sharaie and Al-Sabhani, according to local media. Prices of these houses are estimated at around SR2 million, against SR1 million last year. Demand for land for construction is on the decline as people now prefer to buy ready-built houses.

The price of 1 square meter of land exceeds SR2,000 in areas such as Al-Sharaie and Al-Nawaryeh on the outskirts of Makkah. The injection of funds from outside Makkah had earlier contributed to the rise in land prices.

The prices have since leveled. Prices are expected to decrease once the Ministry of Housing begins delivering land plots and embarking on the construction of houses, which will be handed to citizens when building operations end.

Shareef Mansour Abu Raiyash, chairman of the Makkah Chamber’s Real Estate Committee, said real estate speculation contributed to the phenomenal hike in the prices of these projects.

“The prices will drop when these arbitrators take their capitals out of the market,” added Abu Raiyash.

An other developer, Osama Fergally, expected the collapse of prices of prjects that are not served because the majority of speculators are from Makkah.

Prices will begin to decline once the Ministry of Housing embarks on building residential units for citizens, said Saad Al-Ghamdi, another developer.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/464907

September 16, 2013

MAKKAH – The National Water Company (NWC) has awarded the contract for the SR430 million first phase of the strategic water storage in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.

At the first site four tanks will be built with a capacity of 560,000 cubic meters to serve the Makkah Haram. The second site will be in Al-Mu’aissim area with a capacity of 760,000 cubic meters.

NWC is currently studying the second stage for strategic water storage in Makkah to increase the capacity of the tanks by a further 750,000 cubic meters at a cost of SR340 million.

NWC’s strategic plan aims to achieve water security in Makkah and holy sites by increasing the strategic water storage in Makkah to reach 5 million cubic meters by carrying out third and fourth stages with a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters at a cost of SR700 million.

Therefore, the cost of all the four stages will reach SR1.5 billion. The contract for the first stage of the project was awarded after approval from the NWC Board of Directors.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130916180600

18 September 2013

MADINAH — A special government committee will start next week recording and evaluating the real estate units in Madinah which are within the project to expand the Prophet's Mosque and develop the under-developed districts, Al-Madinah newspaper reported Tuesday quoting sources at the Finance Ministry.

The sources said demolishing of the housing units to the east of the mosque which has already started, will be completed and will be extended to include the north and northeastern areas close to King Abdulaziz Library.

They said the southern side of the mosque, consisting of hotels in the Central Area, will not be touched.

All the under-developed districts within the radius of the Ring Road (Prince Abdul Majeed Street) will be demolished.

An aerial survey of the area around the Prophet's Mosque was in its final stages and the real estate units to be demolished for the expansion of the mosque will be published in local newspapers.

According to sources, acquisition of land would pass through four stages including the aerial survey, announcements in newspapers, enumeration and evaluation of the housing units and registration of the marked lands in the name of the government.

They said the northern districts would be demolished in three phases within three years.

The evaluation of the real estate units would be done by the government committee which had evaluated the housing unit in Makkah for the expansion of the Grand Mosque.

They described the project to develop the under-developed districts to be the largest of its kind aimed at uplifting the real estate economy in Madinah.

Meanwhile, the committee on the Darb Al-Sunna (Sunna Road) of the Madinah Municipality is continuing its work to complete the project. The committee decided that instead of linking Quba Mosque with the Prophet's Mosque through Quba Road, the linkage will be done through the Darb Al-Sunna Road across the districts of Al-Bahar and Al-Maghariba.

The land for the project will be acquired early next year. When the project is completed, the gate of the Prophet's Mosque can be seen right from Quba Mosque.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130918180769

18 September 2013

The Madinah Traffic Department has deployed 900 officers, 225 vehicles and 500 motorbikes for the Haj season that ends on Oct. 29 this year

Col. Omar Al-Nazawi, press spokesman and head of the city’s traffic safety department, said officers have been deployed on a number of main roads, including King Faisal, King Abdulaziz and King Fahad roads. There will also be visible policing at intersections, pedestrian bridges, squares and all areas close to the city’s central area

Special detours have been set up at main entrances including Al-Hijrah Road, Tabuk Road, Al-Qasim Highway, Al-Qasim Old Road, and Yanbu Road to redirect pilgrims’ buses.

Al-Nazawi urged citizen and expatriate motorists to stay away from roads carrying many pilgrim buses including Al-Salam and King Faisal roads. He called on everyone to cooperate with traffic officers and take alternative roads.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465029

Wednesday 18 September 2013

The Makkah governorate has begun imposing penalties on violators of pilgrimage regulations.

Immigration authorities caught 22 expats at Al-Bhitah in Taif for trying to enter Makkah to perform Haj without a legal permit.

They were referred to the Department of Expats with their families for deportation and will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom for a period of ten years.

Hatem Qadi, undersecretary and official spokesman at the Ministry of Haj, said that the ministry is working in close coordination with both the Makkah governorate and the general passport administration to ensure that no one performs Haj without a permit.

The Ministry has authorized 199 Haj companies to issue Haj permits for pilgrims from inside the Kingdom to perform Haj this year in accordance with the requirements of the Directorate General of Passports and the instructions of the Makkah governorate, he said.

These measures will be seriously implemented, as they represent the campaign launched by the governorate last year to respect Haj as a religious and civilized event under the slogan “No Pilgrimage without a Permit.”

Qadi warned pilgrims inside the Kingdom against joining fake pilgrimage companies, which usually intensify their efforts to attract pilgrims in the last few days leading up to Haj.

These groups, he said, circumvent the system by providing individuals with forged permits. The ministry will ban such companies from operating for a period of one year, he added.

More than 200,000 pilgrims have already arrived in the Kingdom from abroad to perform Haj this year.

The Assistant Director General of Passports, Maj. Gen. Ayed Al-Harbi, confirmed that the Immigration Department has set up eight centers at Al-Shemaysi, Al-Sareea, Al Shemaysi and Al-Bhitah in Taif, Al-Kar, Al-Tanaaem, Al-Kaakih, Al-Husseiniya and Al-Aekichyah to catch any offenders trying to enter without authorized Haj permits.

Violators will be stopped and will have their fingerprints taken. Expatriate violators will subsequently be banned from entering the Kingdom for a period of ten years, while citizens will face imprisonment for one year.

Expat drivers found to be in violation of the rules will be referred to authorities, said Qadi. If the driver is a Saudi citizen, the vehicle will be impounded and the driver will be imprisoned and required to pay a fine of SR10,000.

Qadi warned citizens and residents not to perform Haj without authorization.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465026

18 September 2013

Around 1,900 pilgrims from the Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh in India have begun landing in Madinah. Residents of the district, who recently suffered communal riots, took Saudia flights from New Delhi, which is the nearest airport to their hometown.

According to pilgrims, reaching New Delhi was difficult even though it is situated just 130 km away from where they live.

Pilgrims who missed their flights were flown out on later flights.
Many of these pilgrims are still in a state of shock following the recent incidents of mob violence.

They also commended the support offered by Hindu community members, who helped them pass through the neighborhood safely when they saw the pilgrims in religious attire.

Arshad Ghayur, a pilgrim from Bejari in Muzaffarnagar, told Arab News: “Our journey to New Delhi was a big risk. We had no idea if we would make it.”
Ghayur criticized the administration of Uttar Pradesh for failing to provide security escorting for pilgrims and said that while many Hajis were dropped off by relatives and friends to the airport, others who were dependent on public transport did not make it.

“The violence in Muzzafarnagar is similar to the Gujarat carnage of 2002,” he said.

Another pilgrim, Mohammed Asif, said: “Though it is a tradition in India to have gatherings for family and friends before Haj pilgrims leave for Saudi Arabia, there were no such get-togethers this year because of the violence.”

Musheer Ahmed, another pilgrim, said: “We still can’t believe that our area was rocked by riots. This is a district that remained unaffected even during the partition of the country in 1947 or the Babri Mosque demolition in 1992''.

Mohammed Ghayub said: “It is unfortunate that the Samajwadi Party, which was supported by the Muslims, has betrayed us since coming to power.”
Tanveer Ahmed, CEO of UP State Haj Committee in Lucknow, told Arab News that a total of 1902 pilgrims from the Muzaffarnagar district would be performing Haj this year

“Some 47 pilgrims missed their flight to Madinah as a result of the riots. Thankfully, these pilgrims were able to make it on later flights. The state government is willing to provide security en route to embarkation points in New Delhi or elsewhere if needs be,” he said.

Moulana Syed Asad Hussaini, a member of the Haj committee and a prominent figure in violence-hit Muzaffarnagar, also told Arab News it would have been difficult to reach New Delhi if violence had ensued. “The situation has improved now and there is no cause for concern,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465023

18 September 2013

Haj service providers are expected to double their prices for domestic pilgrims this season, as a result of a 66 percent cut in the number of domestic pilgrims and reduction in space allocated for them in the holy sites.

Market analysts said domestic Haj firms that charged SR4,000 last year were demanding SR8,000 and more from prospective pilgrims this year.

“We were shocked to hear the new prices,” one agent told Arab News.

Saad Al-Qurashi, chairman of the National Committee for Haj and Umrah, indicated the prices could climb by 20 to 30 percent because of a drop in the number of pilgrims.

The number of pilgrims allotted to 211 service providers has dropped to 104,000 this year compared to 209,000 last year.

“We will have a better estimate of the exact prices when the Haj Ministry distributes tents to the domestic Haj companies in the holy sites,” Al-Qurashi told Arab News. He said the distribution would take place at Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.

The number of domestic pilgrims this year has dropped from 50 to 66 percent due to the ongoing construction at the Grand Mosque in Makkah that has considerably reduced the area for circumambulation (tawaf) around the Holy Kaaba.

Mohammed Ahmed Badi, an investor in the domestic Haj sector said, about 60 companies had signed an agreement with the ministry, pledging not to increase charges this year. These companies offer prices ranging between SR3,000 and SR10,000 per pilgrim.

The Haj Ministry said it would distribute tents among domestic Haj companies considering their track record.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465042

 

13,000 thermos for Zamzam

installed in the Prophet’s Mosque

18 Sept 2013

JEDDAH — The first batch of Filipino pilgrims has arrived in the Kingdom, Philippine Consulate officials have said.

Consulate’s Administrative Officer Vice Consul R.J. Sumague said the first flight carrying about 202 pilgrims arrived at Jeddah airport aboard a Saudia flight last Saturday while the next batch arrived on Sunday in Madinah.

Abdulraphy H. Ayub, information technology officer at the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NMCF), said the total number of arriving Filipino pilgrims was 1,783 adding all of them are now in Madinah.

Ayub added that 202 pilgrims from the first batch are now traveling to Makkah.

An estimated 5,000 Filipino Muslims are expected to perform Haj this year. Last week, NCMF representatives arrived in the Kingdom to prepare for the Haj.

The group serves as the advance supervisory team to ensure smooth pilgrimage for Filipino Muslims.

Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay welcomed the pilgrims and wished them a safe and successful Haj. “May Allah make all your dreams and wishes come true. Haj Mubarak,” Garibay said in a message.

NCMF secretary Mehol K. Sadain is the head of the Philippine delegation this year.

The NCMF caters to the needs of the Filipino Muslims.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130918180772

18 September 2013

No contagious diseases have so far been reported among this year’s Haj pilgrims and they are enjoying good health, said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.

“We are optimistic that the Haj this year will be free of epidemics,” he said while highlighting the measures taken by the ministry to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Al-Rabeeah said the ministry had deployed field medical teams, including specialists, to deal with emergency cases.

Al-Rabeeah was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of Haj health committee.

“We have achieved a lot of experience in dealing with corona virus (MERS-Cov) and have taken a lot of measures to contain the disease,” he said.

The ministry has allocated SR10 million to purchase advanced medical equipment for serving pilgrims.

http://arabnews.com/news/465046

19 September 2013

JEDDAH – Two model Haramain trains for test-run arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port, according to sources.

The trains belonging to the Bombardier Saudi Arabian Company Limited will be used for trial-run between Jeddah and Madinah before the official opening of the Haramain train route by the end of the next year.

The propulsion and bogies are being made at Bombardier factories in Spain for the 449.2-km high speed inter-city rail transport system.

Bombardier Transportation Company, which specializes internationally in railway technology, announced the signing of contracts with Talgo Spanish Company to develop and supply the basic components for 36 high speed trains for Al-Haramain Train Project.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130919180916