Makkah News and Updates

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

JEDDAH — A two-day coaching program was organized to upgrade the competency of Haj personnel and increase the quality of services provided to pilgrims at the Indonesian Haj affairs office in Madinah.

Attended by more than 150 staff of the Indonesian Consulate, Consul General Dharmakirty Syailendra Putra dwelt at length on leadership, decision-making and problem solving.

He discussed how to become an effective and efficient leader and Islam’s emphasis on honesty, commitment, transparency and wisdom, four values he believed were characteristics of good leadership.

Drawing on examples he encountered while inspecting Haj service operations, he said: “Leadership styles will influence the problem-solving and decision-making process significantly.

“So, to make a healthy and minimum risk decision, good leaders should engage their people as best as they can to absorb any input from them, even from those on a technical level.

“Then act promptly to reach a solution.”

Ahmad Dumyathi Bashori, Indonesian Haj consul, emphasized on the importance of human resource development.

He told delegates: “You should always bear in mind that you are serving the guests of God.

“So you must be highly committed to displaying an approachable and likable attitude and be attentive and responsive to every single complaint from pilgrims.

“React promptly anytime you receive complaints from our pilgrims.

“Any delay in tackling a problem will bring about another.

“Always put yourselves in their shoes.

“As they are strangers here, they easily lose their way.

“As a result, they are not only physically exhausted and but have had their valuable time wasted.”

Dumyathi also emphasized the importance of teamwork, sincerity, honesty, patience and commitment in extending the best services to pilgrims so they can perform their rites during their stay in Makkah and Madinah and other holy sites comfortably.

Another speaker, Muhammad Jasin Hutasuhut, founder of the MHJ Quality Control and Reliability Consulting Company based in Canada, said all Haj service personnel should be creative and innovative.

This year about 168,800 Indonesian pilgrims will arrive in the Kingdom to perform Haj.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150225234938

New Madinah Airport

Photo session & video shooting
of the New Madinah Airport

16 February 2015






Aerial video shooting of the New Madinah Airport




Airport Mosque













https://twitter.com/MadinahAirport

General statistics
of the Umrah season 1436/2014-15



Until 3 Jumada Awal 1436 - 21 February 2015

Total Number of the Mutamirs:

2,452,055
______________________________________
Number expected for the whole Umrah season
6,000,000

* Mutamir/s: is/are the one who come into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
to perform Umrah rituals and visit the Prophet's Holy Mosque.

Statistics from Ministry of Hajj



23 February 2015


21 February 2015

All Makkah projects ‘must display Islamic identity’

Friday 27 February 2015

Makkah Gov. and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee Prince Khaled Al-Faisal stressed the need to ensure all projects in Makkah are designed to display an Arab and Islamic identity.

During a meeting in Jeddah on Thursday with members of the Higher Supervisory Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expansion projects, Prince Khaled said efforts must be unified, swiftly completed and stick to the allocated budget.

Faisal Wafa, chairman of the technical committee overseeing the projects, briefed the governor on the completed stages of the projects, as well the remaining tasks. According to Wafa, the completed portions of the expansion projects have greatly increased the capacity of the mosque and the mataf (the area for the circumambulation of the Kaaba). Wafa also pointed out that greater achievements are expected as the project enters its third stage, covering the southern region from the King Fahd expansion area to Safa, a total of 81,567 square meters.

The second phase of the project is scheduled for completion next Ramadan, during which the ground and first floors of the tawaf expansion project will be completed to accommodate more worshippers and pilgrims. According to Wafa, the completed expansions will increase the capacity of the mataf by nearly 105,000 pilgrims per hour and can accommodate an additional 80,000 worshippers.

The project has included the allocation of a separate level to accommodate people with special needs and elderly worshippers, he said. Director of the Umm Al-Qura University Bakri Asas thanked Prince Khaled on behalf of the Technical Committee for his continuous support and dedication to the expansion projects. He also thanked King Salman for his efforts to ensure the rapid completion of the remaining stages of the expansion project.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/710816

No Umrah for sealed Gazans

Saturday 28 February 2015

GAZA CITY: With the war-battered Gaza Strip’s borders closed, thousands of people have been shut out of a Haj because they cannot leave the sealed territory.

Some 7,500 Gazans have sought to travel to Saudi Arabia, for Umrah but have been turned away. Egypt restricts movement in and out of the coastal enclave. Egypt has shut its border with the Gaza Strip since Oct. 24, citing security concerns in its northern Sinai Peninsula. It has opened it only intermittently for students and patients seeking medical care. Israel heavily restricts exit from the territory.

The closure is affecting a population already disaffected by a war against Israel last summer that destroyed thousands of homes and has displaced tens of thousands of people.

“I wait hour by hour. We feel every day that passes without leaving as though it’s a year,” said Fares Hayek, 80, who is among those waiting to make the pilgrimage. He applied in November along with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Travel agents who facilitate the yearly pilgrimage say they’ve taken a hit from the closed borders. Awad Abu Mazkour, the head of a group that represents travel agents, said agents in Gaza are losing some $140,000 in license fees, bank guarantees and hotel bookings each month because of the closed crossing.


http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/711316

Monday 2 March 2015

The Egyptian pilgrim, Sayyed Elwan, is in the Kingdom for the second time to perform Umrah.

Impressed with “many changes and developments in the Kingdom” since his first visit, Elwan praised the expansion projects of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, the Mashaer railway project, the Haramain High Speed Rail as well as tens of multiple projects.

He referred to the Saudis’ good hospitality, in particular, in welcoming their guests, which he said could be noticed at the airport itself.

“The reception at the airport was very classy and the employees were very welcoming as they completed the formalities in no time,” he added.

Elwan said the relationship between the Egyptian people and their Saudi counterparts are brotherly relations

“Egyptians have feelings of love and respect to the Kingdom and the Saudi people as they stood by the Egyptian people in difficult times,” he said.

The Egyptian pilgrim said he came to the holy city of Madinah after performing Umra in Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah.

“I visited the Prophet’s Mosque and had the honor of sending blessings and salutations upon the Prophet (peace be upon him),” he said.

Elwan visited the popular archaeological and historical sites and mosques in Madinah.

“Madinah is close to my heart. It has a rich history of archaeological and historical treasures and yet it looks like an international city with its great developmental projects such as the luxurious hotels, malls, roads, tunnels and bridges,” he said.

“Madinah is in every Muslim’s heart.”

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/712411

Sunday 1 March 2015

Several residents in the city of Madinah have drawn attention of the competent authorities toward multiple Prophet’s heritage sites and relics in the area, including wells, mountains, valleys and the Al-Faseh Mosque, which they say need better care.

These sites of importance have been turned into a waste dump, they say.
Mohammad Al-Ahmadi, a resident, said the mosque, which is an important Islamic relic, is in need of care and that many visitors are surprised to see the poor state of the mosque. He urged the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities for conducting a survey on the prophetic locations in the city in order to rehabilitate them.

Mohammad Al-Fayez, another citizen, said: “Many remains of the Prophet era need renovation and proper attention, because they hold heritage values and were involved in historical events during the times the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Visitors in general make it a priority to visit Madinah and these historical places. They like to pray in the Al-Faseh Mosque, he said. One such visitor, Haj Al-Turki Mahmoud, said he came to visit the Al-Faseh Mosque, but found it to be in poor conditions and in need of much attention and care.

Another visitor from Pakistan, Mohammad Ramadan, also noted the site needs road signs to direct people to easy location.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/711891

General statistics
of the Umrah season 1436/2014-15



Until 10 Jumada Awal 1436 - 28 February 2015

Total Number of the Mutamirs:

2,670,700
______________________________________
Number expected for the whole Umrah season
6,000,000

* Mutamir/s: is/are the one who come into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
to perform Umrah rituals and visit the Prophet's Holy Mosque.

Statistics from Ministry of Hajj






28 February 2015

Mataf expansion updates

where King Abdulaziz Gate once stood


via @abubakr4545


via @BadrBadrah
dome of Haram's library #KAGate #KingFahdExpansion

In the above 2 pictures the transmitter antenna remains at the same place.






via @rhezaariftha


via @hussain07_z


via @i_abu_sultan




Bab Umrah Minarets U/C








Insta Videos:


https://instagram.com/p/zfS4tnvk8C

https://instagram.com/p/zhDV-Jyq8X

https://instagram.com/p/zhVtcdgeSc



ماشاء الله تبارك الله اليوم الأربعاء التاريخ :
٠٦/ جمادى الاولى / ١٤٣٦هجري الموافق : ٢٥ / فبراير / ٢٠١٥ ميلادي










Maintenance & Construction work in King Fahd Expansion Area


via @meccamoon
A bridge that will link 2nd Floor of Expanded Mataf to Door No. 66


via @mrabdula12








via @ateeq28


via @beshoo_al3mri


New columns erected at Bab Fath (top middle) area probably for a new floor.


ماشاء الله تبارك الله
اليوم الخميس
التاريخ : ٠٧/ جمادى الأولى / ١٤٣٦هجري
الموافق : ٢٦ / فبراير / ٢٠١٥ ميلادي

الأركان الأربعة
ركن الحجر الأسود:



الركن العراقي:



الركن الشامي:



الركن اليماني:



المرحلة الثالثة من توسعة المطاف:





via @jul_press


via @one10ne


via @bo3awas


via @sofianmh


via @a.a.a1991


via @mali3787


via @najlalawadhi


via @beautyofmakkah


via @khokhaz
Mirror effect


via @meccamoon
newly opened areas in expanded Mataf






4 historical columns will be placed there



Historical column to be put in place




Insta Videos:



https://instagram.com/p/ziNtQJqVKA/

https://instagram.com/p/zk0M1-xZz9/

https://instagram.com/p/zmb3J7xZ-g/

https://instagram.com/p/zlykL5tP2p/

https://instagram.com/p/znHT-xxjYm/


Time-lapse videos are breathtaking <3

Prophet's Mosque expansion

"NEW MODEL"



via @raedalsalem

might be displayed at site office

*Walkways on roof are well connected.
*Both old & new Haram will have 1 upper floor but differ in height.
*Western side has greenery
*Old Haram gates will open in New Haram courtyard


Construction updates





via @anaserafi


by Noor.E.H.


via @raedalsalem
Masjid Imam Bukhari in the backdrop.