Makkah News and Updates

30 Sept 2013


JEDDAH — The first group of 276 Egyptian pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah on Friday.

They were received by Egyptian Consul General Adel El-Alfy, who was accompanied by EgyptAir Regional Manager Jamal Al-Jazar, Deputy President of the Egyptian Haj Commission General Ayman Gad and the consulate staff.

Traditionally, the consul general receives the first group of pilgrims.

All pilgrims in the group that arrived on Friday came from Egypt’s Al-Sharqiyah governorate.

El-Alfy welcomed the pilgrims and assured them the consulate was prepared to help anyone who needed any assistance.

He also confirmed that a 24-hour hotline and the operations department at the consulate will receive pilgrims’ complaints or comments. The phone numbers were given to the pilgrims (0554316570, 0563858308).

El-Alfy toured the airport’s Haj Terminal and saw the passport office, medical care office and the bus station where pilgrims will take buses to Makkah and Madinah.

The pilgrims thanked EgyptAir for the care they received during their flight and the airport staff for the warm welcome they received on their arrival.

To streamline the departure process after Haj, pilgrims who arrived in Jeddah will depart from Madinah and those who arrived in Madinah will depart from Jeddah, El-Alfy said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130930182063
30 Sept 2013

Mustapha Young Jee Poo, chief of the Chinese Haj mission, told Arab News that 11,800 Chinese pilgrims will perform Haj this year.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a press conference held at the Chinese Consulate in Jeddah on the occasion of the welcoming ceremony held by the consulate every year.

“Chinese pilgrims have now arrived in Makkah and Madinah. They are all in good health. We commend and appreciate the efforts of the Saudi government for the service to the guests of God. In particular, we commend the expansion projects being implemented in Makkah and Madinah. The expansion of the mataf (the circumambulation area in the Grand Mosque) greatly helps to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims,” he said.

“I would like to emphasize that Chinese pilgrims receive support from the very moment they arrive at the Kingdom until they leave. Staff at the Ministry of Haj, the Passports Department, officials at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah have been cooperative. Processing was smooth and we faced no difficulties,” he added.
Chinese pilgrims were flown on direct flights of Chinese airlines from Beijing to Madinah. “They came on 37 flights,” he said.

“However, I hope that the government agencies in charge can provide more space to the pilgrims in general at the holy sites. I wish they install more camps. Chinese pilgrims find it difficult to find accommodation because there are not enough camps. I would recommend that Saudi authorities build two-story camps in order to accommodate as many pilgrims as possible. In addition, there are not enough WCs in the area,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466280

29 Sept 2013

 

 

 

28 Sept 2013

29 September 2013

MAKKAH: Sixteen Malaysians are working with a Dubai-based construction company which is involved in the expansion of the Grand Mosque mataf (area surrounding the Kaabah) to accommodate more worshippers.

The company, Premier Composite Technologies, which specialises in composite material constructions in architectural and marine industries, has been tasked with expanding a prayer space to 300,000 sq metres to accommodate 700,000 worshipers, and building multi-layer lanes for tawaf (circumambulating the Kaabah).

Hailing from Malacca, Hairul Nizam Baharuddin, 36, who is project manager of the German-Muslim owned company, is handling over 100 employees, including 15 Malaysians site and project supervisors.

"Originally, we worked with Premier Composite Technologies in Malacca before it was awarded the mataf expansion project and we were offered to work here.

"At first, not many Malaysians living in the holy land knew that a handful of Malaysians were involved in mataf construction until Pak Arshad (a Malaysian businessman here) introduced us to them.

"Pak Arshad treat us like his children," Hairul Nizam told reporters here Sunday.

Hairul Nizam said they had been working here since the construction of the Makkah royal clock tower in 2010.

After the mataf is completed after the haj pilgrimage, he said they would work on the Masjidil Haram expansion.

"We are working at irregular hours round the clock. We have to stop work one hour before prayer times and continue after the prayers are over.

"We might be here for another six years as they are still a lot of additional works that needed to be done at the mosque.

"It's challenging to manage the workers as they are mostly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syria and Egypt," he added.

Meanwhile, Malacca-born site supervisor Nursham Ibrahim, 40, said apart from earning a good salary, working in the holy land was a blessing as he was able to contribute to the biggest expansion of Masjidil Haram in history.

"This is the pinnacle of my career," he said, adding that he hoped to be part of a professional team when he returned home after the project.

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/16-mala...haram-1.365144

30 Sept 2013

MADINAH — The Ministry of Haj has completed all preparations to receive Syrian pilgrims. The head of the ministry's branch in Madinah Mohammad Al-Bejawi said Syrian pilgrims will arrive through four countries, including Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Lebanon. He expects their arrival within a few days based on his discussions with representatives of the National Coalition of Opposition Forces in Syria. Al-Bejawi said intense negotiations were held with the coalition to facilitate the arrival of Syrian pilgrims and to provide them with all necessary services to perform Haj.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130930182067
Ramallah, Dhu-AlQa'dah 22, 1434, Sep 28, 2013, SPA

The first convoys of pilgrims of the state of Palestine have left through Al-Karamah border crossing between Jordan and Palestine, heading to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the rituals of this year's Hajj.

Palestinian police said in a press statement today that about 900 male and female pilgrims from Hebron and Bethlehem governorates have already left here to the Kingdom, pointing out that the second batch of Palestinian pilgrims will leave the West Bank on Sunday.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1151690

October 01, 2013

JEDDAH – Saudis and expatriates have criticized the high prices offered by various tour operators to perform Haj.

Musab Abdullah, a 34-year-old Saudi salesman, called a local Haj operator last week to register his name and that of his wife to perform the pilgrimage this year. He thought this year getting a place would be easier as the government cut the number of quota of local pilgrims by half.

However, Abdullah had other things to worry about after calling the Haj operator.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The tour operator told me that it charged SR12,000 a person.”

According to Abdullah, the tour operator did not offer transportation from Jeddah, where he lives, to Makkah.

He said: “I have been told to send my ID and that of my wife along with passport size photos and other medical documents, and then we will be sent the Haj authorization papers to be able to go to Makkah.”

Abdullah said he is still looking for a cheaper Haj operator and if he does not find one he will leave his wife home and try to perform the pilgrimage without any official authorization.

“These companies are taking advantage of our situation. They know we need authorization, but we will just go without it as we have no other choice.”

The grace period for illegal expatriate workers to correct their status has resulted in a shortage of labor that accompany local Haj operators and do cooking, cleaning, and maintenance tasks as part-time jobs, said member of the National Haj Committee Osama Filali.

While previously these workers demanded only SR1,500, this year they demand wages of SR3,000 to SR3,500, said Filali.

He said the increase in workers’ wages as well as food prices has led Haj operators to raise their prices.

Another factor, explained Filali, is the drop of the number of local pilgrims by 50 percent.

The prices, he said, range from SR6,000 to SR15,000 a pilgrim based on the services provided and facilities offered. Filali told Saudi Gazette that Haj operators have been told by the Ministry of Haj to keep prices reasonable.

“We understand all the different factors that result in increasing prices, yet we have urged local Haj operators to set reasonable prices for the public.”

Aiman Al-Saraj, owner of a Haj company, said prices this year will increase only by 25 percent because of the drop in the number of local pilgrims due to ongoing expansion work at the Grand Mosque.

There are 248 Haj tour operators for domestic pilgrims, said Abdul Rahman Al-Nufai, deputy minister of Haj for pilgrim affairs.

Last year, he said, local operators served up to 208,000 pilgrims and this year they will serve over 105,000.

Due to this decrease, the ministry allowed tour operators to close some of their branches. This resulted in the closure of over 300 branches.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182241
October 01, 2013

MAKKAH — The traffic department in Makkah has deployed over 3,000 policemen equipped with 400 vehicles and 300 motorbikes to implement the traffic plan during the Haj

Col. Salman Al-Jumaie, director general of Makkah traffic department, told a workshop in Makkah on Sunday that cars will not be allowed to enter the central area around the Grand Mosque, including those of the traffic policemen themselves, at prayer times. "There will be no exceptions to this rule," he said.

He added that traffic police will be using motorbikes during these times.
He said ban on cars entering the central area at prayer times has been extended from 30 minutes to one hour. "The 60-minute ban will continue until Dhul Hijja 15 when it will go back to half an hour until the end of the Haj season," he said.

The workshop was held at the Tawafa establishment for the pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, the United States and Australia. Head of the establishment Tariq Anqawi, chiefs of field service teams and other senior officials attended the workshop.

Al-Jumaie said all entry points into Makkah have been equipped with special devices to prevent entry of vehicles transporting illegal pilgrims.
On Dhul Hijja 12 and 13, the official said, all roads leading to and going out of the central area will be directed toward the highways to prevent traffic accidents or bottlenecks.

He warned unlicensed drivers of motorbikes transporting pilgrims that they will be severely punished and their motorcycles confiscated. "We have so far caught about 120 people and seized their motorbikes," he said.

Al-Jumaie also asked drivers not to park their vehicles in wrong places to facilitate a smooth flow of traffic. He promised Tawafa establishments that granting of licenses to individual pilgrims' cars will be considered.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182192

1 October 2013

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has proposed the establishment of a Haj and Umrah university to boost the government’s efforts to extend better services to pilgrims.

“We hope that the Higher Education Ministry would take up this proposal seriously and conduct studies to make it a reality,” he told reporters after inspecting Haj facilities and projects in Mina and Muzdalifah on Monday.

Prince Khaled emphasized the importance of such a university, as millions of Muslims from different parts of the world come for Haj and Umrah all year round.

He hoped that the Haj Research Institute at Umm Al-Qura University and the Haram Institute would serve as a nucleus for the proposed university, which would focus on research and training.

Saudi officials and academics have welcomed the governor’s proposal, saying it would play a big role in improving Haj and Umrah services.

Mohammed Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, said a team of experts should be formed under the new university to develop an advanced curriculum for Haj courses.

“This curriculum, approved by prominent scholars around the world, can be distributed through Saudi cultural attaches,” he told Arab News. He said WAMY has been conducting such Haj courses in African countries. Badahdah said that the new university should train teachers to conduct such courses in different countries.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466354
September 30, 2013

MAKKAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, called for setting up a university specialized in Haj and Umrah affairs.

“Such a university can shoulder the responsibilities of researches, studies, training and empowerment with regard to Haj and Umrah in view of the fact that the Haj and Umrah seasons have stretched to the entire year,” the Emir told reporters after chairing the meeting of the Central Haj Committee at the new complex for government departments in Muzdalifah on Monday.

Prince Khaled suggested that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj Researches and the Makkah Haram Institute can serve as the nucleus of the university. He hoped that the Ministry of Higher Education would pay the needed attention to study this proposal and translate it into action.

Inspection tour of the holy sites

The Emir also made an inspection tour of the holy sites and reviewed the progress of various development projects being implemented there. He inspected the final phase of the project to link the Aziziyah area with the second level of the Jamarat Bridge. The project included roads, tunnels and transport stations to facilitate the movement of pilgrims from the Aziziyah area to the Jamarat.

The Emir also inspected the finishing work of the project to link Al-Shuaibain area in Mina with the Jamarat Bridge. Pilgrims can take advantage of the project this Haj.

Prince Khaled toured the new high-tech facilities under the Project for Utilizing Sacrificial Meat in Mina and was briefed on the salient features of the facilities.

He also inspected the vast facilities and services being arranged for the pilgrims in Arafat and Muzdalifah. He toured the facilities of the new complex for government departments in Muzdalifah. The first phase of the project was implemented on an area covering more than two million square meters.

Several officials accompanied the Emir during the inspection tour.

Meanwhile, Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar said that Mina can accommodate an additional 250,000 pilgrims with the completion of the second phase of shifting government departments from Mina to Muzdalifah next year.

In an interaction with media persons, Haj guides and prominent figures of Makkah at Makkah Cultural and Literary Club on Sunday evening, Hajjar said that King Abdullah has approved setting up of a full-fledged pilgrims’ city in Madinah. The city will have all the facilities to accommodate the pilgrims from their arrival up to their departure from Madinah, in addition to facilities for the concerned government departments.

The Ministry of Finance, represented by the Social Insurance Fund, is currently implementing the project, he said, adding that the design work for a similar pilgrims’ city in Makkah has already been prepared.

In another development, Sahl Al-Sabban, undersecretary at the Ministry of Haj, unveiled plans to set up fireproof tents in Arafat.

“In the first phase of the project, pilgrims who use train facilities will use these tents the next Haj. We held a series of meetings and reached a conclusion to set up tents in Arafat in the pattern of high-rise tents that form the roof of Jeddah’s Haj Terminal,” he added.

Earlier in April this year, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee Prince Muhammad Bin Naif ordered to carry out studies on setting up 60,000 permanent fireproof tents in Arafat.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182242

October 01, 2013

JEDDAH — Women working in tawafa (Haj guidance) inherited the job from their ancestors, who in the past used to serve pilgrims not in hotels but in their own homes.

In the past Makkah families used to welcome pilgrims at their homes.

Men in the family would accompany pilgrims to the holy sites while women would do the cooking at home and serve pilgrims and clean their clothes.

Some women would even go with men to direct pilgrims at the holy sites. However, women are now more restricted and their tasks are limited only to visiting female patients at hospitals and accompanying women preachers in Makkah, said mutawwif Shadia Koushk.

According to her, women used to be just like male mutawwifs, but increased restrictions have distanced them from real tawafa tasks and restricted them to basic duties.

“We want the same rights that the men get. “We opt to serve pilgrims based on rules of Shariah and get training courses as men do.”

Koushk has been working in tawafa for nearly 15 years.

“A few years back, we used to go to the holy sites of Arafat and Mina to give lectures to female pilgrims, but this is not happening anymore.”

Wafa Mahdar, a professor at Umm Al-Qura University and founder of Tawafa Without Borders for Women, said women in her generation were used to seeing pilgrims being served at their homes during their early childhood.

The new generation, she said, is interested in tawafa work through they know that there is nothing lucrative about the profession.

“Young women want to explore this career and I get many new applicants each year from girls aged 18 to 25.”

Mahdar believed that tawafa work has increasingly become a job for men.
Tawafa work, she said, requires mutawwifs to accompany pilgrims to their accommodation, the Grand Mosque and the holy sites.

She said: “Over the last 25 years, women’s role in tawafa has been marginalized and restricted to social and awareness work.”

Mahdar and her colleagues have worked on a tawafa program for women that they will show to Minister of Haj Bandar Bin Al-Hajjar for approval.

The program includes taking care of female patients at hospitals, setting up a media and awareness program for pilgrims and introducing pilgrims to Saudi heritage and historic sights in the Western Region.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182193
1 October 2013

MAKKAH — Occupancy rates in hotels and buildings in Makkah have dropped by about an unprecedented 40 percent this Haj season, realtors and investors have said.

They attributed the sharp decrease in occupancy to the 20 percent cut in the number of foreign pilgrims and also to the construction of a large number of buildings and residential towers approved without proper feasibility studies.

Investors and hoteliers expect more than 125,000 hotel rooms to remain vacant during the entire Haj season unless they decide to accept very low rates.

Investors and hoteliers accused Haj missions and foreign tourist companies of tampering with the market to obtain financial commissions. They said these companies took advantage of the decision to reduce the number of foreign pilgrims to revoke their contracts with the hotels without being questioned by any government or private bodies.

Former chairman of the committee on tourism and hotels in the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Walid Abu Sabah said contrary to what government officials have been indicating, investors have incurred huge losses amounting to more than SR200 million.

"Investments in the hotel sector in Makkah, which were more than SR100 billions have sharply dropped due to the 20 percent cut in the number of theforeign pilgrims," he said.

According to Abu Sabah a large number of investors and hotel owners have reduced their rent by more than 50 percent. “As many as 125,000 hotel rooms will remain vacant during the Haj season," he added.

He recalled that the Makkah Municipality had licensed about 6,000 buildings to accommodate pilgrims and said this has increased supply over demand.
Abu Sabha said in view of the enormous reduction in rent, a number of Haj missions and foreign tourist companies have rescinded their contracts earlier signed with the hotels to accommodate their pilgrims. "Accordingly, investors and hotel owners have suffered immense financial losses," he added. He called for the formation of a neutral committee comprising government and private representatives to assess the financial damage done to buildings and hotels.

Saeed Jameel Al-Qurashi, member of the board of directors of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said with the rapid expansion of accommodation projects in Makkah, supply has surpassed demand. The cost of accommodating a pilgrim in Al-Aziziyah District, which is close to Mina, has dropped to less than SR1,500 from about SR5,000 two years ago.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182180

1 October 2013

MAKKAH — In the history of the Zamzam well, there have been several significant milestones. The first was in 1964 when the use of buckets to draw water ended. It was replaced with taps after the late King Saud ordered the expansion of the mataf (circumambulation area). The mouth of the well was positioned below the mataf in a basement 2.7 meters deep.

Pilgrims could descend to the well using a divided staircase, one for men and the other for women.

The second phase was in 1979 when King Khalid issued directives to clean the Zamzam well using the latest available methods with the help of professional divers. This was one of the largest cleaning operations in the history of the well. This also resulted in an increase in the flow of water.

The third phase was in November 1979, the well's second cleaning operation. Dr. Yahya Koshak, a Saudi academic, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the well was cleaned twice in the Kingdom’s history. He was given the opportunity to participate in both the cleaning operations. He said the Zamzam well is peculiar in the sense that the flow of water can be stopped for a period of time.

On the first cleaning operation, he said, “We started measuring the depth of the well from several directions. The depth ranged between 19.2 and 19.8 meters. Then we placed a weight at the end of a thick rope. The weight was descended vertically to guide the divers, who had put on full diving suits.

They descended into the well with torches. They spent half an hour in the well and were able to give us a clear picture of the well from inside. They said the well was plastered from inside to a depth of nine meters. Under the level of the plastering, their compass stopped functioning. They dived once again found several metal buckets and other vessels. This was the reason the compass was not functioning.”

He added: “During the preparatory exploration operation some technical problems appeared because the divers were using compressed air cylinders for breathing in water. The quantity of air in the cylinder was enough to last 20 to 30 minutes, whereas a diver could not stay at the bottom of the well for more than 20 minutes. A continuous source of air had to be found. Compressors had to be used to pump air continuously while the drivers were in the well.”

The other problem, he said, was in carrying away the leftover items and mud. He said they used a plastic container. They also devised a method for communicating with the divers.

As to the second cleaning operation, Dr. Koshak said this was after the turbulent events in the Grand Mosque in November 1979. Groundwater collected around the well and it was necessary to remove it using submerged pumps. The submerged pump managed to reduce the water level in the well to five meters only. It was required to change the water in the well. The source of the water in the well was seen for a few minutes. Samples of the water was taken and analyzed. It was found to be free from any pollution or bacteria.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182189

1 October 2013

French minister Hélène Conway-Mouret, who wrapped up a two-day visit to the Kingdom, Monday said Haj operations in Paris had been streamlined to enable pilgrims to experience a hassle-free journey through their agents in France.

Mouret said she held discussions on the welfare program of French Haj pilgrims.

French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot was also present at the press briefing held at the French Embassy in Riyadh.

The minister, who met with senior Haj officials in Jeddah, pointed out that around 30,000 French pilgrims come for Haj every year and another 19,000 come for Umrah throughout the year.

The visiting minister, who met Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, said she also discussed a number of regional issues, including the Syrian problem and the Iranian’s nuclear program. Iran has opened its doors for dialogue, but that is not enough, she said, adding: “It has to show intentions in actions.”

In Riyadh, she held talks with Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Salem, undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, and discussed ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields between the two countries, especially in the field of security and issues concerning French citizens in the Kingdom.
Mouret commended the care provided by the Saudi government for the French community in the Kingdom. There are some 6,000 French expatriates living in various parts of the Kingdom. “There are some people who have stayed here for decades and this indicates their love for the host country.”

Al-Salem stressed the keenness of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and lauded the contribution of the French community in strengthening the bonds of the Saudi-French friendship.

The minister, who also met Saudi businessmen in Riyadh during her brief visit, said that there were ample opportunities for French businesses in the Kingdom. She said that businessmen told her that although French goods are very popular among consumers, there was need for better marketing of French products in the Kingdom.

“Saudi Arabia is an important trade partner for France and we hope to strengthen our bilateral trade for the benefit of the two countries,” she said.

In Jeddah, she launched the new Alliance Francaise d’Arabie Saoudite (AFAS) at the Jamjoom Center on Sunday in the presence of AFAS Vice President Redha Al-Kazim, French Ambassador Besancenot and French Consul General Louis Blin.

The AFAS is a nonprofit organization set up in 2010 under the sponsorship of the French Embassy. It has three centers in Riyadh (2011), Alkhobar (2012) and Jeddah (2013). The three centers currently host 2,500 students.

The Alliance Francaise is a unique cultural network in the world that has been present since 1883, with 1,040 centers in 136 countries. “The Jeddah center is the 1,041st in the world,” Mouret said, adding that the proximity of Jeddah to Makkah and Madinah and the importance of Jeddah to Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean states made the city a strategic point in the region.

She also said that there were some 1,400 Saudi students currently studying in various universities in France. “We hope to attract more Saudi students to Paris for their higher studies,” she added.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466360
1 October 2013

Several expatriates donated 155 units of blood during a blood donation campaign in Dammam on Friday for the treatment of Haj pilgrims.

Blood donations were made to Dammam Central Hospital's regional blood bank, which will be sent to health facilities in Makkah and Madinah.

The event was organized for the ninth consecutive year by an Indian organization, Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ).

The blood donation camp, held between 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., attracted around 180 volunteers. The doctor’s team, led by Abdullah Al-Otaibi from the Dammam Central Hospital's blood bank, assisted TNTJ volunteers.

Mohammed Al-Zahrani, laboratory supervisor, thanked TNTJ's organizers for organizing such a significant event for a noble cause.

TNTJ Dammam's head, Umar Farooq, said that his organization had conducted 27 blood camps in Alkhobar, Dammam, Qatif and Jubail hospitals so far. TNTJ continues to be the leading organization for the last eight years in organizing blood donations in the Eastern Province, he said, adding: “We have received more than 15 awards from government agencies in recognition of our work.”

“We conduct these camps in conformity with Verse 32 of Chapter 5 of the Qur'an, which states that 'Saving a life is akin to saving the whole of mankind.' It also promotes social harmony,” he added.

TNTJ is also the leading organization for blood donation campaigns in Tamil Nadu, as well as in GCC countries. The Tamil Nadu government has given numerous awards to TNTJ in recognition of its outstanding services.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466356

1 October 2013

The Ministry of Health has made all arrangements to provide quality health care to Haj pilgrims this year.

A total of 15 hospitals with a capacity of 3,256 beds will cater to pilgrims in Makkah. Eight of them are located at the holy sites and seven within the city of Makkah.

Health facilities in Makkah have begun receiving patients.

“Hospitals are fully equipped with emergency services, intensive care units and operation theaters,” said Ahmed bin Hasan Banjar, deputy director.

He emphasized the fact that this is in addition to 174 primary health care centers — 75 in Makkah, 46 in Arafat, 44 in Mina, six in Muzadalifah, two inside the Grand Mosque and one at the Ajyad entrance.

Banjar said that seven other seasonal health centers will be set up at Makkah’s entry points.

He also said that another 13 hospitals and 104 health centers in Jeddah and 11 hospitals and 103 health centers in Taif have been designated to provide health care to pilgrims.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466364

Hospitals in holy sites (7/8):

1- The 800-bed Arafat General Hospital, 24 beds for sunstroke patients, 130 beds for heat exhaustion patients.
2- The 30-bed Jabal Al Rahmah Hospital, 4 beds for sunstroke patients, 150 beds for heat exhaustion patients.
3- Arafat's Mobile Hospital (100) beds at the heat exhaustion center, 8 cooling units, 50 beds for admittance.
4- Mina General Hospital (350 beds).
5- King Abdul Aziz Bridge Hospital in Mina (120 beds).
6- The 370- beds Namera Hospital, 8 beds for sunstroke and 71 beds for heat exhaustion.
7- The 130-beds Mina Al Wadi Hospital, 10 beds for Intensive Care Unit.

http://www.hajinformation.com/main/u402.htm
1 October 2013

Adel bin Mohammed Turkistani, director of the health control center at the Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), has confirmed that the health of pilgrims coming through the JIP is excellent.

He said that port officials have not registered cases of infectious diseases since the beginning of September, when the first group of pilgrims arrived. The director pointed out that, the center has inspected 273 vessels arriving from various countries since the Haj season began, including 33 carriers dedicated to transporting pilgrims.

He said a total of 8,024 pilgrims of various nationalities are to arrive on these ships, in addition to 936 seasonal workers.

The center’s prevention program launched an intensive awareness campaign for pilgrims in collaboration with maritime agents. More than 30 visual awareness displays were introduced in various languages catering to the different nationalities on board.

Posters with seven different awareness messages have been posted in the vessels’ corridors and passenger lounges.

In addition, the management team distributed more than 42,000 pocket brochures with awareness messages on diseases, health and safety.

More than 317 pilgrims have availed themselves of the center’s medical services on their arrival at the port, while about 108 patients sought the assistance of health care facilities available at the port’s departure terminal.

A large number of patients have also had access to emergency clinic services, which are provided exclusively for this Haj season as a means to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims traveling through the Jeddah Islamic Port.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466365

1 October 2013

The Council of Ministers on Monday discussed plans and preparations for this year’s Haj pilgrimage and urged government departments and private agencies to mobilize resources to make the annual event a success.

The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, said the Kingdom would make every effort to help pilgrims perform their religious duties comfortably.

Prince Salman said: “King Abdullah has harnessed the state's potentials, agencies and resources with determination and dedication to serve the homeland and its citizens,” he said.

The Cabinet said Saudi Arabia has become a reference for mass gathering medicine as a result of its longstanding experience in serving the largest human gatherings during Haj and Umrah seasons.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466357 1 October 2013

Mobily has finalized all preparations and arrangements to serve the pilgrims. All technical tests to ensure the high-quality of services have been completed, the company announced.

Mobily said its Haj committee members are working around the clock to ensure that the finest telecommunication services are available to pilgrims to enable them perform their rituals.

The packages and services provided by Mobily in the Haj season is considered another dimension for the development of the telecommunication and information technology services in the Kingdom. This can be witnessed through the spread out of fiber optics network, the fixed and mobile network towers, WI-FI networks and the marketing points outside the Kingdom, in Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt and Malaysia, and the spread out of sales outlets in most vital areas, including King Abdulaziz Airport at Jeddah and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah.

Khalid Al-Kaf, Mobily’s MD & CEO, stressed that Mobily’s preparations for this year’s Haj season actually started after the end of last year’s season, in coordination with the different governmental agencies.

During the Haj season, all Mobily operations are continuously followed up by senior executive leadership that is permanently available in Al-Masher area.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466332

1 October 2013

JEDDAH — Pakistani pilgrim Kharlzada Kasrat Rai received a warm welcome on arrival at the residence of Consul General Pakistan Aftab Ahmad Khokhar Sunday.

He was accompanied on behalf of Governor Makkah Prince Fasial with Saud Al-Sheikhi, director general, Ministry of Information and Culture Makkah region.

Rai, a social worker, held a big white flag with a message that said "walking toward the destination of global unity, peace and harmony.

Addressing the gathering, comprising elite Saudis and members of the Pakistani community, Rai said he started his 6,387-kilometer walk from Karachi,Pakistan, on June 7 and crossed Balochistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan before entering Madinah.

He embarked on this mission from Karachi because it has been affected by terrorism, and it would end in Makkah, the city where Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) gave the message of peace and equality to whole mankind, today.

The world record peace walk holder said he wishes for global unity among all nations for a better future.

He said that there should be a balance of peace and power.

Born on November 20, 1976 in Khidday Kharl, Hafizabad, Pakistan, Rai spent a major chunk of his life promoting peace, education, health and cultural activities.

He said each country has should exercise their autonomy without getting influenced by another country for the best interest of its own people.

He paid rich tribute to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his services for Islam and the Muslim Ummah.

He expressed his gratitude for the Saudi government and people for encouragement, support and cooperation.

Rai thanked Pakistan Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan, Consul General Aftab Khokhar and Pakistani ministries that helped him in this journey.

His future plan is to "peace walk" from Islamabad to New Dehli.

Khokhar lauded the enthusiasm and sprite of Rai. He said: "It is a great pleasure and honor for us to welcome the patriotic and peace loving Pakistani. We are with him and fully support his cause and peace mission." The consul general highlighted an earlier "peace walk" achievement of Rai, which was from Khyber to Karachi in 2007, covering 1,999 km in 85 days.

He assured Rai that the consulate and its staffs will provide all assistance as and when required.

He thanked Express Money for sponsoring the event and read out their message, saying that Pakistanis should remit through official channels.

Saud Al-Sheikhi also addressed and appreciated the message of peace and security of Rai. He prayed for all his successes and extended his support and cooperation.

A shield and bouquet was presented to Rai by the Pakistan consul, Express Money and Pakistani female journalist group here.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131001182174