Makkah News and Updates

Monday, 22 September 2014

MAKKAH — About 70,000 security officers will be deployed during this year’s Haj season to ensure the safety of pilgrims and provide them with quality services that will enable them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort, the director in charge of the public security has announced.

Maj. Gen. Osman Bin Nasser Al-Mahraj said: “We have enough security forces to organize entry to Makkah and the Holy Sites and monitor the movements of pilgrims. The security forces are ready to deal promptly with any emergency situation. They are maintaining a vigilant eye in the service of the guests of Allah.”

Al-Mahraj met on Saturday with commanders of the Haj forces at the Public Security Department headquarters in Makkah.

The meeting discussed the latest pilgrimage security plans. “All our forces are ready to serve the guests of Allah and exert efforts for their ease and comfort,” he said.

Al-Mahraj said there would be no leniency shown toward the fake Haj campaigns or those who forge their Haj permits to enter Makkah and the Holy Sites.

“Every day we nab many people who try to enter Makkah from various parts of the Kingdom without Haj permits.

“We will never allow anyone without a permit to do the pilgrimage.”

He said the introduction of Haj permits and a fingerprinting system will reduce the number of domestic pilgrims and ensure those coming from outside with better services because the Holy Sites is limited in space.

Al-Mahraj also made an inspection tour of the locations of the security forces inside the Holy Sites on Saturday to assess their readiness.

He inspected the Al-Bahitah district between Makkah and Taif, through which about 40 percent of local pilgrims pass on their way to the Holy Sites.

Meanwhile, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has prepared about 1,200 wheelchairs for pilgrims to use while doing Sa’i (traveling back and forth between Safaa and Marwa seven times).

A spokesman of the presidency said wheelchair pushers were medically examined before they were licensed to do the job.

He said the pushers would be covering shifts around the clock.

“The wheelchairs are provided free of charge to pilgrims who only have to pay nominal fees to the pushers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the general syndicate of cars and the Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims from Southeast Asia have signed an agreement to launch a GPS service that would work on the smartphones of pilgrims.

Marwan Bin Rashad Zibaidi, spokesman of the syndicate, said the system would provide electronic guidance to pilgrims toward their various destinations. “It will also show them the locations of the rescue and guiding teams,” he said.

Meanwhile, the director of King Abdulaziz Hospital in Makkah, Dr. Hani Bihairi, said 168 new beds have been added to the hospital, taking its capacity to 423.

He said a total of 842 doctors, nurses and technicians are working in the hospital around the clock to serve pilgrims.

“There are 22 outpatient clinics that receive sick pilgrims throughout the day and night,” he added.

Bihairi said there are 47 beds and 25 doctors in the emergency ward and 26 beds and 26 doctors in the intensive care unit.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140922219004

Monday 22 September 2014

Pilgrims arriving at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) are being screened, tested and given preventive medication against the Ebola virus.
Fahd Al-Ghazwi, supervisor of the preventive center at the airport, told a local newspaper that a medical team wearing protective clothing “examines pilgrims who have flown in for Haj, especially pilgrims coming from West Africa.”

Passengers are required to fill out medical forms and are administered medication as soon as they disembark from their flights.

Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, KAIA’s health control center director, emphasized the pressing need to examine each and every pilgrim entering the Kingdom.

“We are in the process of implementing a drill on how to handle a suspected case of illness or Ebola to ensure that teams are ready to act,” explained Al-Malki.

Fuad Sindi, medical director of the airport’s health control center, said the medical teams will use thermal cameras and visual observation to detect signs of Ebola.

“A rapid intervention team will be on standby to take any diagnosed case of Ebola directly to the hospital,” said Al-Malki.

A traveler who had been suspected of having the Ebola virus was recently transferred to hospital in an ambulance, but was found to be free from the disease upon testing.

Ahmad Al-Issa, medical services supervisor at the Interior Ministry, recently inspected health facilities in Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah to ensure readiness ahead of the busy season.

http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/633786 Monday 22 September 2014

Ibrahim K. Muna, senior official of the Nigerian federal health ministry and head of his country’s Haj health affairs mission announced that some 42,020 pilgrims have arrived from Nigeria so far.

He said that the remaining 33,980 pilgrims are scheduled to arrive in the next couple of days, adding that most of the pilgrims are camped in Madinah and had started to move to Makkah from last week. The pilgrims came via the main entry ports of Prince Mohammed Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah aboard some 92 flights.

Commenting on the deadly Ebola virus in his country, Dr. Ibrahim said: “Nigeria is one of the largest countries in Africa with 36 states while the Ebola cases were reported in two states. “Only one of these states recorded two cases of Ebola,” he affirmed.

He also noted that about a 150 pilgrims hailed from the Ebola-ridden state and all of them were in good health condition and free from any diseases.

The official said that all the pilgrims arriving from Nigeria had undergone close multi-level screening under observation of the World Health Organization.

He explained that over 90 percent of the Haj pilgrims are arriving from non-Ebola regions but even in their case, the health authorities were screening them very carefully prior to their departure.

The official informed that the Nigerian government has deputed 400 medical teams including senior physicians and specialists in epidemiology in the holy cities to provide health care to Nigerian pilgrims besides monitoring their health condition.

“Pilgrims can have free medical check-ups in their accommodation where there is a medical team to provide health care,” he said, adding that the medical team supervised by a doctor had been assigned to each accommodation to care for the pilgrims.

“We treat pilgrims in our mission-run clinics and if it is required, patients may be referred to Saudi hospitals,” he said.

He pointed out that this year, Nigerian health officials in the holy cities are insisting on their pilgrims to maintain strict personal hygiene to prevent the incidence of communicable diseases.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/633711

Riyadh, Dhu-AlQa'dah 27, 1435, September 22, 2014, SPA

The Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah, on Wednesday evening, 29 Dhu-AlQa'dah, 1435 AH corresponding to September 24, 2014.

The Supreme Court requested in its announcement whoever sees the crescent of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah by the naked eyes or binoculars to report to the nearest court and register his testimony, or report to the nearest center to facilitate his reaching of the court.

The Supreme Court also urges all Muslims to sight the Crescent for the cooperation of all in righteousness and piety.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1275676

Monday, 22 September 2014

MAKKAH — A number of mutawifs (Haj guides) have called for setting up a university college that specializes in Haj and Umrah affairs.

They said the college would develop and train all workers in different services needed by pilgrims and deliver curricula that focus on providing high standard services, Makkah daily reported.

Mutawif Abdulaziz Sarhan said the college could develop ideas and suggestions provided by various stakeholders and use the expertise of experienced workers in the field.

“The proposal will help a lot in laying down the ideal bases to serve pilgrims through developed curricula as well as field expertise and work.

“We will study how to facilitate Haj for pilgrims.

“The college will contribute to teaching and educating mutawifs and those working to serve pilgrims.

“The curricula will be based on the principles of facilitating Haj and will be supported by specialist curricula from the faculties of Islamic Shariah, specifically those related to Haj.”

Sarhan believed the college could have engineering departments that would help lay down plans to develop the Holy Sites and improve traffic flow, cut waiting times at airports, seaports and land border posts, and end the problem of pilgrims squatting outdoors.

Mutawif As’ad Bushnaq said: “The college proposal might not be fully practical.

“Mutawifs’ work in Haj is more field-based than office-based.

“Earlier proposals to build a college had already been mooted but they did not succeed.”

He believed if such a college is established, admission would not be restricted to the sons of mutawifs and those working in this field.

“What I fear for the profession is that it will be outsourced to other institutions.”

Several people working in the mutawifs sector supported the idea of setting up a college. They said many of the problems that face the season can be studied and will lead to logical solutions.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140922218929

 

Field teams to clean Jabal Al-Noor


Jabal Al-Noor

Tuesday 23 September 2014

The incredible land of Saudi Arabia has been a dream travel destination for centuries and millions of people visit the Kingdom each year from around the world to see this wonderful land.

Most of the visitors have historically been Muslims undertaking pilgrimages to perform their religious duty of Haj and Umrah, however, there are others in substantial numbers who come to experience the scenic beauty spread across the beautiful. Of course the citizens and expatriates have been traveling to experience domestic tourism.

Apart from the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the most favorite and popular destinations of religious tourism in the world with around two million pilgrims performing Haj every year and millions performing Umrah around the year, the Kingdom offers both natural and historical wonders, from the mountain resorts of Taif and Abha, the majesty of ancient Nabatean tombs and the historic Jeddah and Madain Saleh in Madinah province to the multicolored coral reefs of the Red Sea.

Majed bin Ali Al-Sheddi, director general of information and official spokesperson of SCTA, in this context recently pointed out that the number of visitors to the Kingdom, which exceed 14 million in a year, are mostly Haj and Umrah pilgrims, as Haj and Umrah are the two important religious rites that the Kingdom is proud to serve their seekers and saves no efforts in their service.

The others who visit the Kingdom are for the various purposes of work and along with the citizens these residents constitute the visitors for domestic tourism, which is witnessing rapid growth.

A recently released report for 2014 by the Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS), the statistical arm of the SCTA, revealed that the number of domestic tourist trips during the current summer (June to August), were over 5.8 million, compared to 5.5 million tourist trips during the same period last year, registering a growth of 5.4 percent.

The report also said that the expenditure by domestic tourist trips for current summer was over SR6.2 billion, compared to SR 5 billion during the same period last year with a growth rate of 24 percent.

Moreover, the statistical data for the current summer (June to August) indicates that the number of outbound tourist trips have reached 5.5 million with a growth rate of 2 percent.

Moreover, the outbound trips expenditure, as per the report, has exceeded SR 29.6 billion, compared to SR 22.3 billion for the same period in 2013, registering a growth rate of 32.7 percent.

Furthermore, with the ongoing multi-sectoral rapid developments under the visionary leadership of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the Kingdom has entered a new phase of comprehensive development with focus on travel and tourism sector under the able leadership Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of SCTA, with the tourism commission entering a new stage of comprehensive tourism development, through which it focuses on a number of vital sectors and job and investment opportunities at its forefront.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council projections, the Saudi travel and tourism sector has the potential to generate an income of more than $48 billion (SR180 billion) by 2022.

Commenting on domestic tourism Al-Sheddi underlined, “As SCTA strongly believes that the most important tourism that it should focus on is the domestic tourist, it persistently seeks to meet its aspirations and is committed to provide highly integrated tourism experience in a manner that suits the Kingdom’s status, name and displays the level of its progress.”

He asserted that thousands of expatriates of different nationalities also constitute an important tourism market.

Meanwhile, in a major step forward to develop geo-tourism in the Kingdom, Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) joined with the SCTA to review the list of geological sites in the Kingdom and work out a comprehensive formula on it and the two government agencies have begun work to determine a number of sites for development under the geological tourism project.

Geo-tourism is a kind of tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents and in tourism industry parlance it is considered as a niche market and significantly growing at the global level.

SCTA explored the international experiences for utilizing them in the development of geo-tourism in the Kingdom, as the tourism sector is witnessing unprecedented growth and handsomely contributing to the national GDP and job market with new opportunities for the Saudi youth.
This new dimension of tourism is under serious consideration to take the tourism sector to new highs by transforming deserts in the Kingdom from empty wastelands into a source of revenue generation and employment opportunities.

Commenting on geo-tourism, Osama Al-Khelaiwi, director general of tourism sites development, SCTA, recently said: “Development of geo-tourism is a strategic goal for SCTA as it has promising future and indeed a source for domestic and international tourism in the Kingdom.”

According to him two projects will be selected as model and a nucleus for the development of geological tourism in the short term and also will locate a geological site for registration

in the UNESCO’s list as the first geological park in the Kingdom.

Notably, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in a report recently announced that Saudi deserts have a huge potential and appeal when it comes to environmental and geo-tourism.

“For a country like Saudi Arabia, where a huge segment of its geographical area is covered by desert, there is great potential to develop geological tourism,” the world tourism body said.

Interestingly, according to the annual report of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) for 2012-2013, the tourism sector is set to create about 1.3 million jobs by 2015 and about 1.8 million by 2020, offering direct employment opportunities in its sub-sectors and indirect jobs in areas induced by tourism-related activity.

The 49th SAMA report released recently said: “The SCTA evaluation has confirmed the tourism sector’s ability to provide a growing number of direct jobs in the tourism sub-sectors as well as indirect employment opportunities induced by tourism activity in other economic sectors linked to the tourism sector, in addition to job opportunities that could be developed in subsequent periods as a result of the economic spending cycle in all the sectors that are related to tourism development.”

The report also refers to the SCTA’s efforts in the development of the hotel sector, as the number of hotels operating in the Kingdom by the end of 2012 reached 1,098 of different grades, and the number of furnished residential units in the Kingdom by the end of 2012 reached 1,971, distributed across various cities in the Kingdom.

The biggest share of these are found in the Makkah province reaching 522 units (26.5 percent), followed by the Riyadh region (26.3 percent) with 519 units.

Significanlty, in order to promote local tourism SCTA has come together with the commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) to strengthen ethical part and work for the rapid development of the tourism sector by jointly working on ways to enhance cooperation and integrating efforts in the tourism events and festivals across the Kingdom and has signed agreements with several public funds such as the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank, the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, Agricultural Development Fund, Centennial Fund and the Human Resource Development Fund to finance the tourism medium and small enterprises.

The cooperation between SCTA and the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank and a number of other funds have resulted in the financing of a number of tourism and heritage projects worth over SR250 million.

They include Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah; Masjid e Nabwi, Madinah; Entertainment cities boosting local cities; Scenic beauty of Abha; Resort city of Taif; Historic Jeddah; and A collage on Saudi Tourism

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/634406

Tuesday 23 September 2014

The Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, reviewed the Kingdom’s preparations for the annual pilgrimage, which is likely to start on Oct. 2.

Prince Salman highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the service of pilgrims, including the expansion of the two holy mosques and the implementation of giant projects in the holy sites for the welfare of the guests of God.

The Kingdom has deployed about 70,000 officers, including traffic police, to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims.

About 900,000 foreign pilgrims have already arrived from different parts of the world.

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet expressed its pride on the Kingdom’s 84th National Day, while highlighting the progress it has achieved under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/634396 Tuesday 23 September 2014

The Saudi government has issued 15,300 temporary work visas to Egyptians this year, a reduction from a high of 70,000 five years ago, according to sources at the Ministry of Haj.

The sources reportedly said recently that the visas granted were for the same jobs previously created for Egyptian workers during the Haj. This includes bus drivers to transport pilgrims, train drivers for the holy sites, butchers at slaughterhouses and veterinarians.

Seven thousand visas were issued in the first phase mostly for technical jobs and drivers in the run-up to the pilgrimage season. The second phase of visas is for jobs that would be needed when the Haj starts, which includes veterinarians, butchers and other professions.

Visas are organized jointly by the Egyptian Ministry of Labor and Immigration and Saudi recruitment firms, the sources said. A total of 20,000 Egyptian drivers and technicians had applied for work in Saudi Arabia for this year's Haj, but only 15,300 were hired.

The sources said that the ministry grants visas on a merit basis and does not allow any favoritism or lobbying for positions.

The sources said that all temporary workers employed for Haj, from Egypt and other countries, would have to arrive in the Kingdom by Sept. 24.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/634361 Tuesday 23 September 2014

Many private drivers shuttling pilgrims between Jeddah and Makkah ahead of Haj are charging prices that are 10 to 20 times higher than the fares they charge on regular days, especially for illegal expats and permitless pilgrims who risk traveling to Makkah ahead of time to avoid inspections.

Salem Al-Beishi, a driver with a four-wheel jeep, said he has taken a month’s leave from his regular job during the Haj season for years since he makes huge profits.

Al-Beishi said transport prices soar thanks to high demand and tighter restrictions.

“I charge SR50 to SR200 to take pilgrims between Makkah and Jeddah, but this price might increase as we approach the day of Arafat,” said Abdullah Al-Zahrani from Al-Baha.

Drivers determine prices after enquiring about where travelers are staying in Makkah and whether or not they are residents.

“Passengers with residency visas issued from Makkah pay the lowest prices, while anyone from outside of Makkah will pay SR50, SR70 or SR100 extra if they don’t have a visa,” he said.

Al-Zahrani said drivers often take mountainous routes to avoid inspections, which could take three times as long as traveling on ordinary roads.

Saleh Yamani, a Yemeni worker in his 30s, said he wanted to enter Makkah before Haj to find a job opportunity ahead of Arafat.

He said he made a deal with a driver to pay SR100 extra because his residency visa had expired and he had not had it renewed.

Imad Mohyi Al-Din, an Egyptian who works as a sales rep at a private sector company, said he has to allow a bigger budget for transportation between Makkah and Jeddah because drivers have hiked prices.

“This happens every year since there are no price control mechanisms to determine how much drivers should charge,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/634336

 

General statistics
of the Haj season 1435/2014




Until 29 Dhu-AlQadah 1435 - 24 September 2014

Arrival - Number of International Pilgrims:

983,362
______________________________________
More than 1.3 million foreign pilgrims
are expected to perform Haj this year

Statistics from Ministry of Hajj

 

Riyadh, Dhu-AlQa'dah 29, 1435, Sep 24, 2014, SPA

The High Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced here this evening that, according to testimonies of a number of adult and wise witnesses, the crescent of Dhul Hajja month of this Year 1435 H. was eye-seen in the skies of the Kingdom just after sunset this evening of Wednesday.

Accordingly, tomorrow, Thursday, will be the first of Dhul Hajja 1435 H. corresponding to September 25, 2014, the standing of the pilgrimage at Arafat mount on the outskirts of Makkah, which was fixed on the 9th of Dhul Hajja, will be on Friday corresponding to the 3rd of October 2014 and Eid Al-Ad-ha (Greater Bairam), will fall one day after that (Saturday) corresponding to October 4th, 2014.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1277469

Thursday 25 September 2014

Economists predict more than SR70 billion in revenues from this year’s Haj and Umrah seasons, according to experts.

Abdullah Al-Marzoouq, a professor of Haj economy at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, told Arab News there are positive indicators for enhanced Haj profits.

“This is thanks to the 9 million pilgrims who will have performed Haj and Umrah this year,” he said.

Al-Marzoouq called for greater efforts to create more job opportunities for Saudis during the Haj and Umrah seasons.

Abdulkhaleq Al-Kashef, director of the Haj Research Center, said that Haj service companies will undoubtedly take advantage of the upcoming Haj season.

“The large Haj and Umrah market will increase the sale of Saudi products, which includes gift items,” said Khaled Ramadan, the manager of a Haj and Umrah service company.

Ramadan told Arab News that Saudi-made gift items are facing big competition from Chinese products.

He stressed the need for strengthening the capabilities of young Saudi men and women in making innovative gift items with a Makkah and Madinah touch for sale among pilgrims and other visitors.

Ramadan believes that Saudi products could make a revenue of SR500 million to SR800 million annually if properly marketed.

Saleh Al-Rasheed, the owner of a shop selling souvenirs and gifts, urged Saudi youth to start small and medium-sized enterprises to produce gift items to market among pilgrims.

“This is a potential goldmine for young Saudis,” he said.

“It can also create more seasonal jobs for Saudis during the Haj season,” he added.

The Ministry of Haj, meanwhile, has implemented a plan to crack down on fake Haj operators who fleece customers by collecting money for Haj in advance and then vanish without a trace. Bogus operators often shut down their offices and keep their mobiles switched off, leaving their victims in the lurch.

The ministry is also monitoring the service category of Haj operators, since many claim to offer “VIP” services in order to con their victims into paying higher amounts.

Authorities have advised residents to be cautious while dealing with Haj operators.

“The Haj Ministry will closely monitor the marketing and advertisement campaigns of local Haj operators to prevent fraud,” said Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/635351 Thursday, 25 September 2014 - 01 Thul-Hijjah 1435

JEDDAH — The Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP) has received up till now 10,000 pilgrims and no infectious diseases have been documented among the arrivals, said the head of the port’s supervision center.

Adel Turkistani added that they apply strict measures to prevent any infectious diseases from crossing the borders.

The center also ensures that no passengers arrive here from the West African countries affected by Ebola. The port already has thermo cameras that were trialed a couple of months ago, said Turkistani.

However, they will not be used unless the port is directed to do so by health authorities.

These cameras have been used previously during the SARS and avian flu outbreaks.

Turkistani said 15,000 pilgrims are expected to pass through the port. “Pilgrims have been provided with necessary health care including vaccines for meningitis and yellow fever,” he said.

Representatives of the Health Ministry held meeting with carriers’ crews to introduce its awareness plan, which includes the distribution of 18,000 brochures and 79 posters.

This year the ministry has made it mandatory for pilgrims to provide a signed statement indicating they are in good health.

Turkistani noted that Sudanese pilgrims sail for 16 hours, which he said is enough time to introduce the awareness program and even air videos providing useful health information.

Crews also have to consult doctors as part of measures ensuring each individual leaving the Kingdom undergoes a medical checkup.

The port has 61 regular employees but during the Haj season this number reaches 100, including 18 doctors, a manager and a medical manager, 24 male nurses, eight female nurses, 14 epidemic supervisors, a chief pharmacist and nine pharmacists, five X-ray technicians and 19 administrative workers and drivers. The common illnesses among pilgrims are blood pressure and diabetes and many cases deteriorate because patients forget to take their medications on time.

Turkistani said the center has drawn up an emergency plan to deal with highly infectious cases in cooperation with different authorities including the heath observation center at the port, the emergency department, the Ministry of Health control center, the general port department, passport department, security forces and Haj authorities. Turkistani said that there are committees that sit to organize the Haj season each month.

They include a committee that has representatives from different government bodies and the port administration. He noted a special committee would be formed to monitor health safety.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140925219276

 

Pilgrims offered best health services


PREMIERE SERVICES: The emergency section at Ajyad Hospital in Makkah
will be attending to patients in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque.

‘Anjum Makkah’ hosts blood donation camp