Makkah News and Updates

3 December 2013

Domestic Haj service companies have urged the Haj Ministry to adopt a series of measures for improving services to domestic pilgrims, including renovation of Mina tents and the early allocation of tents.

“The early handover of tents to companies will help reduce expenses,” said Fadhl bin Mohammed Al-Jahoury, a member of the Coordination Council. The companies urged the ministry to set out a new mechanism to distribute tents, as well as the newly constructed residential towers in Mina.

The ministry was also told to give special considerations to those companies that provide low-cost services to reduce their expenses.

“The existing tents in Mina should be renovated and their air conditioning systems should be changed,” the council said.

The companies complained against the late supply of water in Mina, adding that it was delaying maintenance and the repair of tents and toilets. “We also need separate kitchens,” they added.

They welcomed the mechanism followed by the ministry during the last Haj season, as it allocated tents after taking into consideration the capacities of companies.

They urged the ministry to publish a directory of conditions and instructions to be followed by Haj firms. “It will also enable monitoring committees to assess the performance of companies and prevent negative practices. This directory should include safety requirements set out by the Civil Defense.”
The ministry was also urged to develop its electronic services in order to cover all services, including the renewal of licenses.

Al-Jahoury said the council’s proposals would be presented to Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar shortly to take action. The council recently held a workshop at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the participation of more than 100 officials.

In a previous statement, Hajjar said his ministry has no plan to increase the number of domestic Haj service companies due to the shortage of space in Mina, which can accommodate only 210,000 domestic pilgrims. “We can increase their number only when we have more space in Mina,” he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/486686
For centuries pilgrims converge towards Makkah through the narrow Mina Valley. Their arrival at Mina marks the beginning of the Hajj. Then for a short time the topography of the place is overwhelmed by housing millions of believers. For only three days Mina is the biggest and most impressive tent city of the world.

April 16, 1997 was a terrible day in the history of the Hajj. The huge tented city in Mina, which accommodates hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, was shaken by an explosion. Shortly after the midday prayer gas bottles exploded in the scorching heat. Strong winds carried the flames through the camp, and 30,000 tents caught fire. Panic broke out among the pilgrims. Hundreds died, thousands were injured. As some two million believers were expected for the spring of 1998, and since the host country of Saudi Arabia is responsible for the security of the holy places, a solution had to be found as quickly as possible to prevent such disasters from ever happening again.

With its proposal to build new, incombustible tents, SL Rasch prevailed over other suggestions from all over the world and was commissioned to realize the project. The considerable experience in the use of membranes for construction and decades of intensive, research on the critical problems facing the Hajj, enabled the team to develop fireproof tents that are in conformity with traditional pilgrims’ tents. In this way the most modern art of engineering converged in harmony with traditional architecture.

Description

In reference to the traditional Hajj tent and to satisfy the needs of pilgrims’ families and groups, twelve different types of tents were designed, based on the 4 x 4 m module. The typical pointed shape was retained, but received a protected ventilation opening around the top of the mast. In not more than seven months the first 10,000 tents for 500,000 people were produced and built on a new town plan.

To handle this task, new factories had to be built, to produce the necessary amount of Teflon coated glass fiber fabric, in patterns as prescribed by SL Rasch. A total of 40,000 new, fireproof tents were built. The tents’ module was a square of 8 x 8 meters. Steel frames fixed to concrete foundations support the membrane walls and the roof, which is suspended from a mast in the center.

Wiring for the illumination of the tents passes through the tubes of the structure. In addition to natural ventilation a desert cooler mounted on the roof edge supplies air conditioning for each tent. The 8 x 8 m tents can be subdivided by canvas into 4 x 4 m spaces. Several tents can be combined to larger units. Walls can be rolled up for better ventilation. When the pilgrims have left, the tent walls are rolled up and carefully stored under the tent roofs. This way the tent city of Muna has become a permanent installation. But the chosen form keeps the Hajj-tradition and safeguards a very old man-made landscape. In recent time plans for two-floor tents are being developed, to accommodate ever increasing crowds of pilgrims safely and comfortably, but without destroying the character of the valley and the tent city.

http://www.sl-rasch.de/p_175.html

2 December 2013

MAKKAH – The Kingdom is witnessing unprecedented development in terms of places and people, said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region and Chairman of Executive Committee for Development of Unplanned Neighborhoods, who patronized the signing of the articles of association of Jurhom Company for Urban Development here on Sunday.

The company has been assigned to develop the Al-Sharashif Mountain area.

Prince Khaled, who is also Chairman of Makkah and Ritual Sites Development Commission, called upon businessmen to make domestic investment their priority.

“This country has played a major role in helping you expand your businesses. You should therefore invest your money here. By doing so, you will achieve a lot for future generations.”

Development of the Al-Sharashif Mountain area, which covers a total area of 1,631,000 square meters, will transform the unplanned Makkah neighborhood into a major urban center, consisting of hotels, commercial and residential buildings, educational and health facilities and other supporting services.

Al-Sharashif Mountain, one of the most crowded unplanned regions, which is close to the Grand Mosque, will witness development work. The region is characterized by insurmountable terrain with several deep curves and valleys and thus posing difficulties in building infrastructure facilities.

Dr. Osama Al-Bar, Makkah Mayor, said work at Al-Sharashif Mountain project will start in three months from now. A company with a capital of SR3 billion has been set up for this project.

A ring road will be built around the mountain while all unplanned houses will be demolished. Hotels for Haj and Umrah pilgrims will be constructed.
After development, 30% of neighborhood population will be allocated for citizens while the rest will be earmarked for Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

Regarding the projects of Al-Ruwais, Khuzam, and King Abdul Aziz Road in Makkah, the Emir said the companies which were assigned to develop these areas were set up before the final regulations of unplanned neighborhoods had been approved.

Prince Khaled announced that a professional team is studying the negative aspects of previous development projects to correct all mistakes.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131202188360 2 December 2013

كشف أسامة البار أمين العاصمة المقدسة أن مشروع جبل الشراشف سيتم تنفيذه في مدة لا تتجاوز خمس سنوات مبينا في تصريح لـ"الرياض" أن عام 2019 سيشهد افتتاح المشروع بإذن الله موضحا بأن المستفيدين الدائمين يبلغ عددهم 50 ألفا.

وأشار أمين العاصمة المقدسة أن المشروع الذي ينتظره الجميع من سكان منطقة مكة المكرمة سيكون نقلة تنموية مختلفة وسيخدم أكثر من مليون حاج ومعتمر ممن يحتاجون إلى السكن الموسمي. وشدد البار بأنه سيتم التعامل مع مالكي العقارات حسب لائحة العشوائيات بمنطقة مكة المكرمة وذلك بالتعويض او المساهمة في المشروع او السكن البديل.

http://www.alriyadh.com/net/article/889210

Google translation: Osama al-Bar Secretary revealed the Holy City that the project will be implemented in Mount sheets in a period not exceeding five years, noting in a statement to " Al-Riyadh" that 2019 will see the opening of the project , God willing, explaining that the beneficiaries of permanent numbering 50 thousand.

The Secretary of the Holy City that the project is awaited by everyone from residents of Mecca will be different developmental leap and will serve more than a million pilgrims and Umrah performers who need to stay seasonal . He stressed that the bar will be dealt with by the owners of real estate to the list of slums in Mecca and that compensation or contribute to the project or alternative housing.
3 December 2013

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Sunday urged Saudi businessmen to invest their money in the Kingdom to take the country to greater heights.

“Saudi Arabia is now going through an unprecedented phase of progress,” he added.

Prince Khaled was speaking at a signing ceremony for the establishment of the Jurhum Development Company, which has been assigned to develop the Sharashif mountainous region in Makkah, which spans 1.63 million square meters.

“Such are moments that cannot be calculated in days and years but by work and achievement,” the governor said.

He described Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as a courageous king who takes initiatives.

“You should give priority to the Kingdom when investing,” the governor told Saudi businessmen and businesswomen. “You have a duty toward the Kingdom since this is the country that helped you achieve wealth,” he said.
Prince Khaled said such investments would boost the Kingdom’s growth, benefiting future generations.

“Sharashif will be the first region to be developed under a massive project to develop poor residential districts in the Makkah region,” he pointed out.
He urged businessmen to complete the Sharashif project as quickly as possible.

The governor said the bylaws for the development of the Ruwais and Khozam districts in Jeddah would be revised to comply with new rules and regulations.
Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar said work on the Sharashif project would commence in three months.

The Jurhum company will hold its first meeting in a week, he said, adding that its bylaws would be reviewed by mid-December in time for the company to begin business activity by the beginning of 2014.

There are 66 underdeveloped districts in Makkah, which will be developed through five mega projects, the mayor said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/486741

4 December 2013

JEDDAH – The King Abdullah Integrated Pilgrims City Project will be a landmark achievement in offering the best-ever services and facilities to the Haj and Umrah pilgrims, according to Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar. In an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Hajjar said studies have been completed for the project and it will be presented soon to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for approval. The project, situated 10 km southwest of Makkah, on Jeddah-Makkah Expressway, will be implemented on an area covering two million square meters.

The minister said the city aims at receiving and grouping Haj and Umrah pilgrims and providing them all the facilities and services in one place with the easiest accessibility even in the rush Haj and Umrah seasons. He said that extensive studies, covering all the economic and environmental aspects of the city, will be carried out immediately after getting the approval from the King.

“The city will house all the facilities and departments related with the activities of the ministry in a single site. This will be a sustainable city with several unique features, including facilities for purification of water, using solar energy, basement parking lots, isolated thermal system, central air-conditioning and covered pedestrian paths,” he said.

According to the minister, the city will have service and utility buildings for all the agencies and departments concerned with Haj and Umrah, as well as field service offices and stations for metro and buses, housing for pilgrims, centers for Civil Defense, police, Passports Department, as well as a Haj and Umrah museum, and airline offices.

King Abdullah has approved setting up of a similar pilgrims’ city in Madinah at a location, 4 km from the Haram. “These cities will reduce pressure and rush at the Central Haram Areas,” he added.

Hajjar said a total of 48 Umrah service companies have been licensed for this Umrah season, which begins on Wednesday. These firms will offer services in cooperation with about 2,000 foreign agents.

“The ministry or any other agencies are not levying any fee for issuing Haj and Umrah visas. What the pilgrims have to pay are the expenses for their housing, transportation, food and other services.

Hajjar said the government’s initiative to curb Haj and Umrah overstayers has yielded excellent results. “During the year 2005 (1426H), there were 480,000 overstayers out of the total number of Umrah pilgrims, which was less than three million. However, in the year 2012, which witnessed the highest number of Umrah pilgrims totaling 5.43 million, the number of overstayers fell to 14,000 (0.24 percent),” he said while attributing this mainly to bringing the service under the global electronic network.

“This contributed substantially in controlling the pilgrims’ movements as well as in simplifying procedures for pilgrims. Before introducing this digitized system, the process of issuing Umrah visas took more than two weeks but now it is possible to issue visas within a few minutes,” he said, adding that this helped considerably in improving the services and facilities offered to the pilgrims.

The minister said the extended Umrah program would have a positive impact in further boosting domestic tourism. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), which introduced the program, wants to benefit from the huge presence of Umrah pilgrims by making them aware of the tourist and archeological sites, especially Islamic historical places.

There are many pilgrims who want to visit these places, he said. Under the program, pilgrims from 65 countries will be allowed to convert their visas into tourist visas so as to enable them to spend some more time in the Kingdom and visit historical places and tourist attractions.

According to Hajjar, the ministry held several meetings in coordination with the SCTA to work out the integrated system to link Umrah and tourist visas.

“We have taken all measures to prevent overstaying of pilgrims, and the pilgrims will be offered housing, transportation and food during their extended stay,” he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131204188554

2 December 2013

ذكرت مصادر صحفية أن مقبرة بقيع الغرقد، ستشهد أكبر توسعة في تاريخها، ضمن التوسعة الحالية للمسجد النبوي الشريف.

وأوضحت المصادر أن التوسعة التي ستكون من الجهة الشرقية للبقيع، ستعادل ضعف التوسعة السابقة التي كانت قبل نحو 15 عاماً والتي بلغت مساحتها نحو 180 ألف متر مربع، وكانت ضمن مشروع توسعة وعمارة المسجد النبوي الشريف الأولى.

وأشارت المصادر إلى أن التوسعة المقترحة ستشمل تحويل مسار طريق الملك فيصل (الستين)، وضم الأراضي والمزارع الواقعة في الجهة الشرقية من تعويض أصحابها، متوقعة أن يدخل مبنى هيئة الأمر بالمعروف والمباني المجاورة له ضمن التوسعة، وفقاً لـ "عكاظ".

جدير بالذكر أن أهالي المدينة المنورة كانوا قد رفعوا عدة طلبات لتوسعة مقبرة البقيع، نظراً لكثرة من يدفن فيها من أهالي المدينة ومن الحجاج والزائرين على مدار العام.

http://akhbaar24.argaam.com/article/detail/156899

Google translation: 2 December 2013

[ Baqi Cemetery ] press sources reported that the cemetery Bakie Algrkd , will see the largest expansion in its history , within the current expansion of the Prophet's Mosque .

The sources pointed out that the expansion , which will be from the eastern side of the Bakie , would be equivalent to twice the previous enlargement , which was 15 years ago , which amounted to an area of ​​about 180 thousand square meters , and was part of a project to expand the Prophet's Mosque Building first .

The sources pointed out that the proposed expansion will include rerouting by King Faisal ( sixty ) , annexation of land and farms located in the eastern side of compensating owners, expected to enter the building of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the neighboring buildings within its expansion , according to the " Okaz " .

It is worth mentioning that the people of Medina had raised several requests to expand the Baqi cemetery , due to the large number of people buried there from the city and the pilgrims and visitors throughout the year .

4 December 2013

The top two prizes of the King Abdul Aziz International Qur’an contest, which was held at the Grand Mosque in Makkah recently, went to non-Arabs from Nigeria and Bangladesh, an official said.

Abdullah Basfar, secretary-general of the Jeddah-based International Qur’an Memorization Organization (IQMO), told Arab News: “The King Abdul Aziz competition is the mother of all international Qur’an contests.”

Basfar said it encouraged 20 Arab and Muslim countries to hold similar international contests.

More than 6,000 students from different parts of the world have taken part in the King Abdul Aziz contest since its inception 35 years ago. They included Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, and Ali Al-Thubaity, the imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Speaking about the contest’s significance, Basfar said it encourages Muslim youth to learn and memorize the Holy Qur’an, follow the way of life shown by the Qur’an and Sunnah and keep them away from extremism and violence.

A total of 150 contestants from 61 countries took part in the Makkah competition. Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh distributed the prizes to the winners. He highlighted the resurgence of Islam all over the world, despite smear campaigns by its enemies. He cautioned about moves to create divisions among the Ummah by proponents of destructive thoughts.

First prize: Kabiru Abubacker Mousa from Nigeria won the first prize (SR100,000) in the first category while Mohammed Najm Abdul Kalam Azad from Bangladesh (SR80,000) won the top place in the second category. Abdul Kareem Abubacker (SR60,000), Ameen Mohammed Aftab Alam from Saudi Arabia (SR30,000) and Khaled Mohammed Jobi from Mauritius (SR25,000) were the top winners from the remaining three categories.

Second prize: Second place winners were: Adel bin Mahmoud Ghulam Al-Khair from Saudi Arabia (SR90,000), Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Khalaf, also from Saudi Arabia (SR70,000), Saeed Ahmed from Bangladesh (SR50,000), Akram Mohammed Al-Maleeki from Yemen (SR25,000), and Suwaid Bilal Ishaq (SR20,000).

Third prize winners were: Naeem Balout from Lebanon (SR80,000), Rakan Ibrahim Khidr from Iraq (SR60,000), Abubacker Sulaiman Buji from Nigeria (SR40,000), Habibullah Sirajul Islam from Bangladesh (SR20,000) and Sham Saeed Sham from Tanzania (SR15,000).

Basfar said his organization was holding 35 countrywide contests, and three regional contests for Europe, Africa and Asia. “We also hold special contests for girls,” he said.

Mansour Al-Sumaih, secretary-general of the King Abdul Aziz competition, said it had attracted contestants from all over the world. “They will return as messengers of peace and goodness to their respective countries.”

Muhammad Abdul Aal Al-Sheikh from Sudan, a contestant, thanked Saudi Arabia for the encouragement it has given Muslim youth to learn and memorize the Qur’an. “The contest has given us an opportunity to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/487266

 

Tents

__________________

Tents on top of the Towers

of the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project, Makkah, 2011

5 December 2013 - 01 Safar 1435 H

MAKKAH – As part of the program to develop unplanned areas of Makkah, Al-Nakkasah District is witnessing a massive demolition operation. Bulldozers are at work to demolish 1,250 properties in the district located in the center of Makkah.

Makkah Municipality selected five districts in the city to carry out the development work. The districts are Jabal Al-Sharashif in Jabal Omar 2 Project, Al-Khaldia District behind Al-Zumurrudah Palace, Al-Zuhoor District located south of the Third Ring Road, Al-Kidwah District located between the Second Ring Road and Al-Furqan Street, and Gowz Al-Nakkasah District that begins from Al-Furqan Street and ends at the Third Ring Road.

The municipality’s plans also include developing the undeveloped areas on four focal points – King Abdul Aziz Road the western focal point extending from Jabal Omar in the east to Makkah-Jeddah Expressway in the west, and the northern focal point. It starts from Al-Sayyidah Aisha Mosque in Al-Taneem and ends at the old fruit and vegetable market in Jarwal.

Work is going on in three projects at the exits for tunnels in Jabal Daffan Area in Al-Hujoon, Dahlat Harb in Jarwal and in front of the old fruit and vegetable market in Jarwal, and an exit in Ree Al-Rassam before the dome (Al-Qubbah). This is aside from the central services station project located in Al-Beeban District.

Work is going on at present in the Third Ring Road Project starting from behind Souk Al-Hijaz and ends at Al-Sayyidah Aisha Mosque. Nearly 600 properties will be demolished to carry out the project.

Work is going on in the western flank for the Second Ring Road that starts from Al-Beeban up to Gowz Al-Nakkasah.

Demolition is going also on at King Abdul Aziz Road and Jabal Omar projects. Work will start on the Al-Haramain Train Project Station at the intersection of the Third Ring Road and Al-Dawariq Square in Al-Hokair recreation area.

Makkah Municipality is supervising the Fourth Ring Road projects linking the holy sites with King Faisal Bridge in Muzdalifah and then with Makkah-Jeddah Expressway and the part linking King Faisal Bridge in Batha Quraish with the other part.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20131205188667
5 December 2013

A Pakistani worker sustained serious injuries when he fell from a 12-meter high scaffolding while engaged in work on the Shamia side of the Grand Mosque Expansion project in Makkah.

The worker was standing on a scaffolding near a huge crane and lost balance due to sudden motion, losing his grip of the pole in the process. “The man was brought to the hospital unconscious,” Jama Al-Khayyat, PR director at the Makkah Medical Center, said in a statement to Al-Sabaq online daily.

Dr. Abdullah Mujib, the doctor on duty at the emergency ward, said a team of doctors examined the accident victim and that detailed tests were being conducted. The worker is out of danger, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/487721

Madinah, Safar 1, 1435, Dec 4, 2013, SPA

The Director General of Cultural Activities of the Ministry of Culture and Information Abdulrahman Al-Ahmadi opened here yesterday the International Contemporary Arab Calligraphy Art Forum organized by the Ministry within the framework of the events of Madinah as the capital of Islamic culture 2013.

On behalf of calligraphers, Saudi Calligrapher Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Maymoun thanked in his speech the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja and the Ministry's officials for their support for calligraphers.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1174957

6 December 2013

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has set up the Haj preparatory committees for Makkah and Madinah for the forthcoming season, according to a statement issued by the ministry on Thursday.

Mohammed bin Hamza Khoshaim, deputy minister of health for planning and development, has been appointed the head of the new committee. Other committee members include deputy ministers of health, undersecretaries and the director generals of health in Makkah and Madinah.

An official from the ministry said the committee is being appointed ahead of time to allow health officials to make the necessary arrangements for next year's Haj season.

The Haj central department within the Ministry of Health will coordinate with the new Haj committee for necessary arrangements this year.

Koshaim explained that the functions of the committee would be subdivided into three sections — planning arrangements, preparatory work and supervision of the Haj health-related issues.

The committee will also be responsible for taking preventive measures against contagious diseases and drawing up a contingency plan for the Haj season in Makkah and Madinah, he added.

The directors general of the two regions will be directly in charge of the Haj arrangements in their respective areas under the overall supervision of the health minister.

In addition, the primary purpose of the committee will be to provide adequate manpower for health services and to ensure that the health facilities for pilgrims in hospitals, clinics and dispensaries are well maintained, the official indicated.

Every year, the ministry sends out a circular to the Foreign Ministry for dissemination to all its missions abroad spelling out the quarantine requirements for entering the Kingdom during Haj season.

The official explained that before announcing the health requirements, the Kingdom would carefully monitor developments that take place throughout the world, especially those in relation to infectious diseases. He pointed out that the stipulated requirements in the new circular would be in line with the World Health Organization’s requirements for combating the spread of infectious diseases.

He added that the quarantine requirements would also prescribe some vaccines, considering the incidence of infectious diseases in some of the pilgrims' respective countries.

Moreover, ships and aircraft carrying pilgrims should also produce a certificate that the carriers are free of mosquitoes.

Meningitis vaccines are compulsory for all pilgrims but vaccines against yellow fever and cholera are advised according to the pilgrim’s country of origin.

Yellow fever endemic countries are Angola, Benin, Sudan, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic and several other African and South American countries.

Polio vaccines are also compulsory for pilgrims coming from African countries as well as for pilgrims coming from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Afghanistan.

Oral polio vaccine is compulsory for pilgrims arriving from countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. On arrival, pilgrims from these countries are given another oral dose of polio vaccine irrespective of their age.

Besides these vaccinations, the official pointed out that pilgrims would be advised to take necessary precautions against influenza to prevent a flu attack during their stay in the Kingdom. The flu vaccine is not mandatory but is desirable to take considering the prevailing weather conditions and the susceptibility of the pilgrims to influenza. He said that high-risk patients, who have chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases, would be advised to take the flu vaccine to facilitate the performance of their Haj and Umrah rituals without any problems.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/488251