Makkah News and Updates

Friday 22 August 2014

Several landlords in Makkah demand that their tenants leave their apartments during Haj for them to rent them out to pilgrims.

According to leasers in Makkah, considered one of the most densely populated cities in the Kingdom, several landlords accept earning low annual rents for their housing units as long as residents leave their flats during Haj.

These apartments are rented out for 10-month terms and then leased to pilgrims during the peak season.

“These are our high seasons. We make more money renting out apartments during Haj than we do throughout the whole year,” said Abu Siraj, a landlord in Makkah.

“We ensure that tenants are well-aware of this seasonal rent agreement before they sign the contract,” he told Arab News.

Several building owners in Makkah take advantage of the busy season to make extra profits, while residents also take advantage of low rents throughout the year.

“I accepted leaving my flat during Haj season because I don’t pay much throughout the year and can take advantage of this period to visit Jeddah or Madinah,” Ali Al-Hadeedi, a Yemeni resident living in Makkah, told Arab News.
Daily rates during Haj can reach SR1,000, which are paid by Haj service establishments.

Abdallah Nasr Al-Deen, who owns a residential building in the Al-Azizyah district in Makkah, agreed with his tenants to vacate their apartments in exchange for a low annual rent of SR20,000.

“I provide housing services to pilgrims for SR800 a day. Most building owners in Makkah do the same during Haj,” he told Arab News.

The average Haj pilgrim spends SR2,500 on housing. Pilgrims who stay around central Makkah pay anywhere between SR4,000 and SR7,000, while worshipers who are lodged further away pay between SR1,000 and SR2,500.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/619216

Friday 22 August 2014

Haj service companies have been instructed by the ministry to allocate 50 percent of their tent capacity to provide low-cost services.

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar met with representatives of domestic Haj service firms and urged them to provide the best possible services to their pilgrims.
“We have allocated places for these firms in the holy sites and coordinated with government agencies to provide them with water and electricity and other facilities,” the minister said.

The ministry warned low-cost service providers that they would be banned for one season or more if they violate contracts signed with pilgrims.
Hajjar has approved the mechanism for accepting electronic applications for low-cost services from Saudis and expats.

The ministry, which has opened a website for receiving applications, said it would punish companies that try to manipulate the electronic applications.

“Forty-one thousand pilgrims will benefit from low-cost Haj services this year,” Saad Al-Qurashi, a member of the National Haj & Umrah Committee, told Arab News.

Sixty-three companies are offering the service and their names have been published on the ministry’s website. Companies have to open bank accounts to receive payments from pilgrims.

Each pilgrim needs to pay through the bank within 48 hours after registering. They will have another 48 hours to visit Haj companies to present necessary documents and sign the contract.

“The domestic Haj department will follow up the status of electronic applicants,” a ministry official said, adding that companies must call qualified applicants, especially those who have made bank payments, to complete the procedures.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/featured/619246

Friday 22 August 2014

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) held a ceremony at the Jeddah Hilton on Wednesday to celebrate the achievements of its former director-general, Khaled Al-Molhem, in the presence of Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and chairman of the national flag carrier.

Addressing the ceremony, Al-Molhem urged Saudia to focus on the domestic sector, as well as Haj and Umrah services, to add value to the organization, which has advanced in its privatization program. He also noted the remarkable progress achieved by the flag carrier in recent years.

“Saudia’s achievements in the past were the result of its employees’ combined work with a team spirit,” Al-Molhem said, while wishing all success to the new director-general, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

Prince Fahd commended Al-Molhem for the substantial achievements made by the airline during his eight-year tenure, including modernization of aircraft fleet, expansion of domestic and international operations, upgrading of its IT infrastructure and joining the Skyteam global alliance.

“Al-Molhem’s achievements speak for themselves. He has brought about big qualitative improvement in Saudia’s performance level and services,” Prince Fahd said, while calling for wider interaction among employees to take the organization to greater heights and prosperity.

Al-Jasser also underscored Al-Molhem’s contributions that have helped Saudia achieve four-star airline status and win several international awards.

“I had followed the development programs at Saudia when I was a member of its board of directors and I had taken note that all these programs have been transformed into achievements as a result of Prince Fahd’s directives and the efforts of Al-Molhem, the team of executives and other employees,” said Al-Jasser who took charge after Eid Al-Fitr.

Earlier, Abdul Aziz Al-Hazmi, CEO of Saudi Airlines Company, gave a presentation highlighting Al-Molhem’s achievements. “The first thing he did after becoming the director-general was form executive and field working teams in all sectors to implement the organization’s strategic plans,” he said.

Al-Hazmi noted the airline’s efforts in using modern technology to improve customer services and facilitate travel procedures. “Saudia now makes the lion’s share of its sales through modern technology to facilitate and simplify travel procedures for passengers,” he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/619196

Friday 22 August 2014

Indian pilgrims will no longer be troubled by having to pack cans of Zamzam water into their luggage when returning home after completing their Haj.

As part of the arrangement with the Haj Committee of India, Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry these cans on their return flights after disembarking pilgrims at Jeddah airport’s Haj Terminal.

The specially packaged Zamzam water cans, provided by the government-run Zamzam Packaging Factory in Kudai, Makkah, will be stored at various points in India to be delivered to the pilgrims once they return from Saudi Arabia after the pilgrimage. Each pilgrim will get one 5-liter container.

The arrangement was made to ease the difficulties of returning pilgrims who already have a great deal of luggage. Also, this method will be easier for airlines to manage the load on the return journey.

The arrangement was put into place last year. However, at that time, only Saudi Arabian Airlines was able to implement it. This year, Air India too is expected to follow the same procedure.

Of the 136,020 Indian pilgrims arriving this year, 100,020 would be coming through the Haj Committee of India. Saudi Arabian Airlines will carry 49,230 while Air India will transport 50,790 from 21 embarkation points. The remaining 36,000 pilgrims will come through private tour operators.

Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak said negotiations were in progress with Air India about transporting Zamzam containers on return flights, following the Saudia model.

“There are certain issues back home in India, but we are very optimistic that this will be sorted out, and Air India too will follow the Saudia pattern,” he told Arab News on Thursday.

Zamzam water is among the most prized items taken home by all returning pilgrims. Each pilgrim fills little bottles with the holy water and these are then given to relatives and friends as a form of gratitude and celebration.

Zamzam water is a sign of God’s miraculous powers and as such, it is valued and revered by Muslims worldwide.

Another service that Indian pilgrims enjoy is known as “City Check-In” or “Remote Check-In.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/619191

Friday 22 August 2014

The first group of around 1,000 Malaysian Haj pilgrims will arrive on Aug. 27, according to Malaysian Embassy Minister Counselor Alauddin Mohd. Nor.

“The first group is part of the 22,320 pilgrims who will come for the annual Haj. Their total is 20 percent lesser than the original 27,900,” Nor, who is also the deputy head of mission, told Arab News on Thursday.

Nor, who joined the foreign service in 2000, has been the charge d’affaires of the Malaysian Embassy since former Malaysian Ambassador Syed Datuk Omar Al-Saggaf left last year. His replacement has not yet been appointed.

Nor said that the number of Malaysian pilgrims this year was reduced due to ongoing construction work at the Grand Mosque at Makkah.

“My government hopes that the quota of 27,900 Malaysian pilgrims coming to the Kingdom for Haj will soon be restored,” he said, noting that a similar number of Malaysian pilgrims last came in 2012.

The diplomat thanked the Saudi leadership for the assistance extended to Malaysian pilgrims whenever they come to the Kingdom for the annual religious ritual.

“We thank the Ministry of Haj for improving transportation, accommodation and catering facilities, in addition to the way pilgrims are guided as they perform their rituals,” said Nor, who had earlier been posted in Uzbekistan.

He said that his country’s health ministry takes precautions through the Tabung Haji (Malaysian Haj Fund Agency) and closely coordinates with the Saudi government.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/619171

Riyadh, Shawwal 22, 1435, August 18, 2014, SPA

King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran in Madinah distributed during the last holy month of Ramadan 220,408 copies of the Holy Quran, translations of its meanings, and religious books.

In its report, the Complex said that it has distributed 275,017,360 copies of the Holy Quran, translations of its meanings, and religious books since its inception in 1405AH at home and abroad.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1263690 Madinah, Shawwal 21, 1435, August 17, 2014, SPA

King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran in Madinah has invited institutions and individuals concerning with printing the Holy Quran and its publication to participate in the exhibition to be held on the sidelines of "Symposium of Printing the Holy Quran and Its Publication between Hope and Reality" to be organized by the Complex on November 25 - 27, 2014.

The Complex called for reviewing instructions contained in the Symposium's website httP://qprint.qurancomplex.gov.sa and registering participation.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1263468

Sunday 24 August 2014

The Ministry of Health announced Saturday mandatory measures for Haj and Umrah pilgrims coming from countries with high rates of infectious diseases.

The ministry had already sent out a circular to the Foreign Ministry, which distributed among embassies the notice spelling out health requirements prior to issuing pilgrim visas.

Sami Badawood, Jeddah Health Affairs director, told Arab News on Friday that the Kingdom has been carefully monitoring developments that are taking place around the globe in the field of infectious diseases.

“The requirements stipulated in the circular are in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on controlling the spread of infection,” he said.

The Kingdom’s focus this year is on the Ebola virus, which has registered the worst outbreak ever.

Ebola is centered in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Guinea but has spread to other countries in recent months.

According to the latest WHO report, 221 laboratory-confirmed and suspected Ebola cases surfaced between Aug. 17 and 18 and a total 106 deaths were reported from these four main endemic countries during the same period.

“Although we do not issue Haj visas for pilgrims coming from endemic countries, we will still be monitoring pilgrims coming from other African countries for Ebola symptoms,” said Badawood.

He said the ministry would also focus on diseases such as yellow fever, meningitis, seasonal influenza, polio and food poisoning.

He added that vaccination should be administered to pilgrims 10 days before the dates of their departure for Makkah and Madinah.

“We have prescribed certain vaccines depending on the country,” he said.

“Ships and aircraft with pilgrims on board should also produce a certificate that carriers are free of mosquitoes.”

Yellow fever-endemic countries are Angola, Benin, Sudan, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon, Burundi, Chad, Uganda, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Kenya, Liberia, Sao Tomé and Principe, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mali, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname, Peru, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay.

He said that vaccination against meningitis is mandatory for local as well as foreign pilgrims.

The vaccination should be given 10 days before departure and is valid only for a period of three years.

Badawood pointed out that meningitis may spread during Haj, causing outbreaks, especially among pilgrims coming from endemic areas. He added that congestion and overcrowding exacerbates transmission of diseases.
The meningitis vaccine is given to adults and children over the age of two and it is not administered to pregnant women.

Vaccination for polio is also compulsory for all pilgrims coming from African countries, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Afghanistan.

An oral dose of polio is also compulsory for people coming from Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, CAR, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.

Upon arrival, pilgrims from these countries will be given another oral dose of polio vaccine irrespective of their age.

Besides these vaccinations, the spokesman advised pilgrims to take precautions against influenza to prevent flu during their stay in the Kingdom.
The flu vaccine is not mandatory but is strongly advised considering present weather conditions and the susceptibility of pilgrims to influenza.

High-risk patients who have chronic ailments, such as diabetes, hypertension and renal diseases, have been advised to take the flu vaccine, which will help them to perform Haj and Umrah rituals more efficiently.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/620061

Sunday, 24 August 2014

JEDDAH — The head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, witnessed the trial run of the airport train which will transport passengers from the King Abdulaziz International Airport's main terminals to departure gates.

The train has 10 cars, each with a capacity of between 60 and 70 passengers, and the trip to the international departure gates lasts only 46 seconds.

The trial run also included all luggage conveyors, escalators and the airport’s sound system.

The contractor, Saudi Binladin Group, has also completed bridges that connect Jeddah’s main roads directly to the airport's terminals.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140824215705 23 August 2014

شهد صاحب السمو الأمير فهد بن عبد الله رئيس الهيئة العامة للطيران المدني التشغيل التجريبي للقطار الداخلي لمطار الملك عبد العزيز الدولي الجديد، وصعد للقطار واستمع لشرح من مساعد نائب رئيس الهيئة للمشاريع المهندس محمد أحمد عابد.

وينقل القطار المسافرين من الصالات الرئيسية لإنهاء اجراءات السفر حتى أبواب صعود الطائرات عبر الجسور التي تربط الصالات بالطائرات مباشرة، إضافة لنقل القادمين.

يشتمل القطار على عشر عربات سعة كل عربة تتراوح بين 60 و70 راكبا، وتستغرق المدة التي يستغرقها لنقل الركاب إلى صالات المغادرة الدولية 46 ثانية، ويعمل آلياً وفيه محرك احتياطي يستخدم في حالة تعطل المحرك الأساسي.

كما تم التشغيل التجريبي لكافة سيور نقل الأمتعة والسلام الكهربائية والصوتيات للنداء على مواعيد الرحلات، ونجحت مجموعة بن لادن السعودية في تركيب السلالم الكهربائية والمصاعد وسيور نقل الأمتعة والقطار الداخلي، إلى جانب الانتهاء من جميع الجسور الخاصة بالمركبات والتي تربط طرق جدة بصالات المطار مباشرة وتركيب رخام الأرضيات والأسقف المستعارة.

Google translation:

HH Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation experimental operation of the internal train to King Abdul Aziz Airport new international, and ascended to the train and listened to the explanation of the Assistant Vice-President of the Commission for projects, Engineer Mohamed Ahmed Abed.

The train transports passengers from the main halls to end the travel procedures until the rise of the aircraft doors across the bridges that connect directly lounges aircraft, in addition to the transfer of the next.

The train includes ten carts capacity of each wagon ranging between 60 and 70 passengers, and lasts the duration of the passenger international departure halls to 46 seconds, and works automatically and the engine uses a reserve in case of engine failure Statute.

It also was the trial run for all conveyor transfer luggage and peace electrical and music to appeal to flight schedules, and succeeded Bin Laden Group, Saudi Arabia in the installation of escalators and elevators and conveyors luggage and the train interior, along with the completion of all the bridges for technics linking ways Jeddah halls airport directly and installation of marble floors and ceilings.