Makkah News and Updates

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Ministry of Hajj has managed to address the world in seven languages: Arabic, English, French, Indonesian, Turkish, Persian, and Urdu, so that it has become the first of the ministries and governmental bodies to take such a step. It declares through this step its complete implementation of technology by launching its electronic portal www.haj.gov.sa, and having access to the information society, especially since it is concerned with serving and caring for the guests of Allah, including pilgrims, Mu`tamirs, and visitors.

His Highness the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, considered that this achievement would facilitate for the guests of Allah the access of information about the services and arrangements relevant to the affairs of Hajj, `Umrah, and the visitors to the Kingdom. This achievement also would help them identify the set of facilities harnessed by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the sake of the guests of Allah travelling from all over the world. This is expressed through this electronic technological project, which goes hand in hand with the e-transaction program ‘Yasser’ that has facilitated the Ministry’s works and has linked it electronically with all the ministries, governmental sectors, companies, and establishments working in the affairs of Hajj and `Umrah.

His Highness pointed out that the Ministry of Hajj has accomplished an unprecedented achievement, making reference to the Ministry’s application of the Hajj and `Umrah e-track in this regard, which has eliminated many problems, including the phenomenon of the Mu`tamirs’ lagging behind in the Kingdom. The e-track has been achieved with the participation of seven governmental bodies: the Ministry of Interior, being represented by the National Information Center, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Finance, and Communication and Information Technology, the Supreme Hajj Secretariat, and the e-transaction program ‘Yasser’. This is achieved by dealing with the pilgrim or Mu`tamir while still resident in his country, then upon his arrival at the land, air, and sea ports, and during the performance of his rituals until he leaves the Kingdom to return to his country.

The Minister of Hajj emphasized that the information technology projects in the Ministry are carried out in keeping with the Ministry’s strategic plan. He also indicated that the Ministry intends to extend the electronic projects, as there is an electronic link between all the Ministry’s administrations. In addition, there are new administrative and financial systems for the Ministry of Hajj that will be implemented through these systems, not to mention the continuous update of the information of the Ministry of Hajj portal. This is achieved to enable the visitor to know of any new developments concerning this service with which Allah honored the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, i.e. serving and caring for the guests of Allah.

The Minister of Hajj indicated that the tireless efforts exerted by the Ministry come in response to the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the honorable Crown Prince (may Allah safeguard them) concerning promoting the e-transaction and maintaining the Kingdom’s high status among the developed countries. This will be reflected on all the security, economic, and electronic aspects of the program and also on the field administration. It will also be reflected on the structure of the entire Ministry’s works and how they are linked electronically with all the ministries, governmental sectors, companies, and establishments working in the affairs of Hajj and `Umrah. In addition, all the programs that have not yet used technology will be included in the e-government system, and the personnel will be qualified through training and practice, so as to be fully acquainted with this great turnover in the Ministry’s history and the subsequent change in strategy.

His Highness stated that the Ministry makes use of technology in the very sense of the word to facilitate matters for the pilgrims and Mu`tamirs, and to provide them with the best service, as all the contracts concluded between the Hajj and `Umrah companies and their beneficiaries are electronically ratified. In addition, the Ministry completely refuses to use paperwork with regard to the services provided for the guests of Allah, and it makes use of technology in all its work. He expressed his wish that all the Ministry’s works, programs, and services would proceed according to the vision of enabling every person, anywhere and at any time, to obtain the services of the Ministry of Hajj at a remarkable level and in a detailed and easy way through many secure electronic methods.

http://www.haj.gov.sa/en-US/SitePage...spx?newsid=714

Makkah, Muharram 20, 1435, Nov 23, 2013, SPA

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments , Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh bin Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his patronage of the works serving Islam and Muslims and all Quranic events, including King Abdulaziz International King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization of the Holy Quran.

The thirty fifth session of the competition will be held on Sunday at the Holy Alharam Mosque in Makkah.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1171010

 

150 contestants from the Islamic world
 

 

Competition for Holy Quran in Makkah
 

Madinah, Muharram 21, 1435, Nov 24, 2013, SPA

On behalf of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Madina, will attend on Tuesday the opening ceremony of " World Conference on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his rights of the mankind", to be organized by the Islamic University in Madinah within its programs in the celebration of Madinah as the capital of Islamic culture for the year 2013.

The University's Rector, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Sanad has expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his approval that the university organizes this conference.

He noted that 39 researchers from 15 countries will take part in the conference.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1171313

25 November 2013

The Abdul Lateef Jamil Real Estate Investment Company has revealed that The Anjum Hotel Makkah is set to open during the first quarter of 2014.

The flagship 1743-room hotel is the main feature of ALJREIC’s Jabal Al Kaaba project, which aims to stimulate the growth of the local tourism and hospitality sectors.

The project has been undertaken to accommodate the increase in numbers of visitors who travel to the city for religious pilgrimage, while also providing work opportunities for locals.

Anjum Hotel general manager Ahmad Sabry explained: “The increased activity in the Kingdom’s hospitality sector will bring in more revenues for the government, in addition to creating new employment opportunities for Saudi Nationals.”

The hotel will feature an air-conditioned tunnel to the Holy Haram, separate large prayer rooms for males and females and accessible rooms for guests with special needs.

It will also have several food and beverage outlets capable of accommodating a large amount of guests especially during peak seasons such as Ramadan.

Anjum Hotel Mekkah is also equipped with a multipurpose hall, which can be used for meetings as well as social events.

The 1743-room hotel is currently set to be completed in March 2014.

http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/18.../#.UpNq4yd_vAE

26 November 2013 - 22 Muharram 1435 H

JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia will launch the ambitious ‘Extended Umrah Tourism Program’ from the beginning of the new Umrah season on Dec. 4 (Safar 1).

Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), announced on Monday that Umrah pilgrims from 65 countries can benefit from the program, which will be a joint package of the ministries of Haj, foreign and interior.

Prince Sultan was speaking to reporters at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Rabigh after opening Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina, the first hotel at KAEC, and signing a memorandum of cooperation between SCTA and Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON).

The integrated system to link Umrah and tourist visas will benefit millions of pilgrims who come to the Kingdom for Umrah every year. Prince Sultan said pilgrims from the permitted countries can take advantage of their visa to spend some more time in the Kingdom and visit historical places and tourist attractions. “The Umrah visa will be converted into a tourist visa after its expiry. The domestic tourism program will be restricted to companies approved by SCTA while the licensed Umrah tour operators need an additional license for this,” he said.

Prince Sultan disclosed that a number of tourist projects will be arranged in coordination with SCTA so as to increase the economic value of these projects. He also unveiled plans to create more job opportunities for Saudis in tourism, which is the second largest job generating sector in the Kingdom.

Earlier, the SCTA chief opened Bay La Sun Hotel, which houses 591 deluxe rooms, including six executive suites, located in the Bay La Sun district in KAEC, which is being constructed on a total area of 168 square kilometers. Prince Sultan said that such projects will take Jeddah to new heights of qualitative and excellent tourism.

Prince Sultan also signed MoC with MODON to enhance cooperation in the fields of investment, planning and development of tourist sites, preserving urban heritage sites, in addition to exchanging tourist information and statistics. MODON was represented in signing the deal by Abdullatief Al-Othman, Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and chairman of the board of directors of MODON.

Under the deal, there are seven areas of cooperation between the two organizations. They are licensing, classification, monitoring, and quality control of tourism hubs within the economic cities, planning and developing tourist sites in economic cities, tourism activities, tourism investments in economic cities, urban heritage, protecting archeological sites within economic cities, and establishing information centers.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131126187795

 

26 November 2013

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, will inaugurate a world conference on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the Islamic University of Madinah on Tuesday ( 26 Nov).

President of the university Abdulrahman Al-Sanad thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman and Prince Muqrin for extending support to the university. He also thanked Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman and Education Minister Khalid Al-Angari.

Al-Sanad said the first theme of the conference is “The Universal Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and His Message,” which would include topics like the role of Islam in meeting human, spiritual and moral needs, Islam and the building of human civilization, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the unity of the nation, the global Islamic da’wa (causes and constituents) and the Islamic da’wa autonomy amidst time, space and race constraints.

The second theme, he said, is “The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the establishment of universal human principles,” which will include the principles of justice and consultation, equality, dialogue and acceptance of others, peaceful coexistence between individuals and nations and tolerance while achieving rights.

The third theme, entitled, “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Building the Islamic Identity,” will cover topics like respect for human dignity based on the guidance from the Prophet, the endorsement of values of loyalty to the religion and the nation as spelt out in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his actions, building of Islamic character, building of the foundations of Islamic identity, methodology of obedience to the governors, and the issue of personal freedom as expressed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The fourth theme, entitled “The Rights of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on Humanity,” will look at issues like the rights of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as expressed by him, teaching of his curriculum and the dissemination of his call, consideration of his call as a source of legislation, how to distance oneself from everything that is not worthy or meets the qualities of the prophets and messengers of God, how to stop abusive information about the Prophet (pbuh) and defend him, and exploring mechanisms to spread global recognition of his rights on humanity.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/483341

 

Workshop in Makkah searching implementation
of the second phase of the "Mataf expansion" project

ورشة عمل بمكة تبحث تنفيذ المرحلة الثانية لمشروع “توسعة المطاف”