Makkah News and Updates

Thursday 5 March 2015

The arrest of an Indian national in Jeddah, for allegedly posting a blasphemous image of the Kaaba on his Facebook page, has seen experts warn that such content violates the country’s cyber laws and can mean jail time and heavy fines.

Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak confirmed that the Indian national has been jailed for violating the Kingdom’s cyber laws.

“This happened a month ago in Jeddah and the Saudi law enforcement authorities are currently conducting an investigation,” he told Arab News on Wednesday. “We are trying to help him in the best possible way,” he said.

According to legal experts, once the investigations are over, judgment would be pronounced and only then would the consulate be able to enter a plea on his behalf. The public prosecutor, according to a report in a local newspaper, is calling on the courts to punish the man severely for allegedly posting the blasphemous material.

Under the Kingdom’s cyber laws, anyone involved in the transmission or storage of material violating religious values and public morals, can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to SR3 million.

The image displayed on Facebook showed the Holy Kaaba plastered with Hindu deities. The image had created a furor in many Indian cities last year. The report said a Saudi national, shocked by the image, alerted the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia), and an investigation was launched.

The Indian expat was arrested by the police at the airport. He admitted that the Facebook page was his, but said that he had seen a link to the picture on another account and that he had to click “Like” to enable him to see it. The picture was automatically loaded onto his account for his followers to see, he said.

However, investigators decided that he was guilty of breaking the Kingdom’s cyber law by publishing an offensive picture. The Indian man is said to have been in the Kingdom for only two years and was working for a catering company in Jeddah.

Social media experts said people need to be very careful about posts on Facebook and Twitter.

“These are serious issues,” said Adnan Akram, a consultant with an online security firm. “You should never click on anything automatically. It can create havoc as in the case of this young man.”

Nadira Hussain, a mother of three and an enthusiastic user of Facebook, said she was horrified at one stage when her Facebook wall was plastered with nude images. “I didn’t know what to do. My children and close relatives were all horrified but it was some kind of virus. Even then, it left quite a scar on me and I stopped using Facebook altogether,” she said.

She said children should be educated about online behavior. “They may do something innocently, but the repercussions of their acts can be devastating,” she added.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/713876 Wednesday, 04 March 2015

JEDDAH — An Indian man has been arrested for posting offensive photos of the Holy Haram in Makkah. The man allegedly posted photos of the Kaaba being replaced by a Hinduism temple on his Facebook account.

The man said he saw it posted on Facebook and clicked the like button, which made it viewable to his friends. Lawyer and former member of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution Saleh Al-Ghamdi said the man’s crime deserves a maximum of five years in prison and up to SR3 million in fines.

He added the information crimes prevention charter lists the following as information crimes: posting, sharing, saving and creating offensive content that violates the general law, religious values, societal principles and privacy on the Internet; human trafficking online or using the Internet and websites to facilitate it; creating or sharing pornographic content online; and using the Internet to deal in drugs and narcotics.

Another lawyer and former member of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution Saad Al-Malki said the man has committed a grave crime by posting the photo and should be penalized by the Jeddah Penal Court.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150304235667

Sunday, 01 March 2015

MAKKAH — Al-Tayyar Travel Group Holding Company has purchased a five-star hotel just 70 meters away from the Grand Mosque in Makkah at a cost of SR1.5 billion, Makkah reported.

The company said the property has been vacated and the balance was paid in one go to the Notary Public’s Office in Makkah on Thursday.

The hotel has 759 rooms and suites of various sizes, as well as three big restaurants spread across 24 floors. The company said it got financing reaching SR1.230 billion from the Arab National Bank that will be paid back in 20 years through half-yearly installments that will end in August 2025.

Al-Tayyar Group confirmed that the deal comes within its strategy to develop the Haj and Umrah sector, as the property is a new product among Makkah’s hotels. The financial impact of the deal would happen in 2016 after a renovation of the hotel.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150301235322 March 02, 2015

MOHAMMED AL MADANI, chancellor at Saudi Arabia’s ministry of foreign affairs, is a frequent flier, logging at least 10 international trips a year on diplomatic missions to London, Lisbon, Manila and elsewhere. Before packing his bags, he usually checks in with the Al Tayyar travel agency in Riyadh.
Mr. Al Madani is one of 3 million Saudi and non-Saudi government workers and their families who move in and out of the country every year, according to the Saudi Central Department of Statistics & Information. Publicly traded Al Tayyar Travel Group Holding Co. has captured almost half of the domestic market for the VIP travelers, and is Saudi Arabia’s largest air travel business.

“They’re always my first choice when coming to London,” Mr. Al Madani’s 21-year-old son, Fahad, an information technology student at Middlesex University, said in an e-mail.

Such loyalty has helped Al Tayyar’s founder, Nasser bin Aqeel Al Tayyar, amass a fortune valued at more than $2.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Mr. Al Tayyar, 58, is also the founder and president of Dubai-based Arab Publishers House, the publisher of Forbes Middle East and four other publications. He’s never appeared on an international wealth ranking.

A spokeswoman for Al Tayyar who asked not to be identified because she’s not authorized to comment publicly about the business, confirmed the billionaire’s stake and said he would not comment on his wealth.

PILGRIMAGE PACKAGES
Al Tayyar provides airline reservations, mobile ticketing, hotel booking and ground transportation services through 370 branches in Saudi Arabia and at 18 companies outside the kingdom. It also organizes travel for foreign medical care and education, as well as Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage packages, according to its website.

LOCAL SPONSOR
Al Tayyar was the first company to receive official permission from the Saudi government to organize and promote domestic pilgrimage travel packages in the kingdom in 2000, according to its website. Its packages cover visa services and other authorizations, and include special prices during Ramadan, accommodations, reserved seats on flights and buses, medical services and even special trips to the holy sites upon request.

Religious tourism makes up 37% of all inbound trips to the kingdom and half of all travel spending there, according to Mr. Jawdat. The Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca is a mandatory religious duty that Muslims must carry at least once in their lifetime. More than 1.3 million non-Saudi pilgrims came from 163 countries to perform the Hajj last October, according to figures released by the Minister of Interior, up from 1.1 million the year before.

CULTURAL SITES
The government plans to increase the capacity of the Holy Mosque to accommodate more than 2 million worshipers, including adding new security infrastructure and air-conditioning systems, as well as hotels and a rail and bus station in Medina.

“Once the Holy mosque expansion is complete, which is expected by 2018, the number of religious visitors might even triple,” Mr. Jawdat said.

Full article: http://www.bworldonline.com/content....ages&id=103639

Riyadh, Jumada I 12, 1436, March 03, 2015, SPA

King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran in Madinah distributed 3,209,324 copies of the Holy Quran, translations of its meanings, and religious books during the last month of Rabi' II.

In its report, the Complex said that it has distributed 282,318,894 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=1333978

March 05 2015

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the top five destinations for Muslim travellers, according to a survey by Islamic travel company Crescentrating and credit card firm MasterCard.

Malaysia was the favourite Islamic holiday spot, despite its state airline suffering two fatal air disasters last year.

Turkey was second, followed by the GCC countries and Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

Eighty-one non-Muslim and 29 Muslim countries were scored according to the ease of travel for Muslims, including access to halal restaurants and the provision of prayer rooms in airports, shopping malls and hotels.

The scores were ranked on the Global Muslim Travel Index, with Malaysia receiving 83.8, followed by Turkey (73.8), UAE (72.1), Saudi Arabia (71.3), Qatar (68.2) and Indonesia (67.5).

“For Muslim travellers, Malaysia still remains the top choice simply because it is a great holiday destination for families while offering a very Muslim friendly environment,” Crescentrating chief executive Fazal Bahardeen said, according to AFP.

“This includes everything from excellent attractions, halal food, accommodation, shopping to places for prayers. Malaysia has one of the best infrastructures for the Muslim traveller.”

Fazal said 5.9 million Muslim visitors visited Malaysia in 2014, up from 5.7 million in 2013.

Singapore was the most favoured non-Muslim nation, followed by Thailand.

Singapore has “some of the best halal food environments,” while Thailand, Japan and Taiwan have taken big steps to meet the needs of Islamic holiday-goers, Fazal said.

“The typical Muslim consumer is now younger, educated and with a larger disposable income,” the report said.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/revea...rs-584579.html Friday, 06 March 2015

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has been ranked fourth among the countries to have been visited by Muslims this year, the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMIT) has reported.

“The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2015 saw Saudi Arabia come fourth on the list behind UAE (United Arab Emirates), Turkey and Malaysia,” it said.

The three countries took the top spots “for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations” and among the top 10 in the Middle East region, it added.

“Singapore came first for the non-OIC destinations, which also saw Thailand, UK (United Kingdom), South Africa and France make the top five.”

The GMTI looks at in-depth data covering 100 destinations, creating an overall index, based on a number of criteria. This is the first time such thorough insights have been provided into one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors in the world at present
GMTI said it provides travelers, governments, travel services and investors comprehensive benchmarks across a number of important criteria to enable them to track the health and growth of this travel industry.

The study also revealed that in 2014, this segment was worth $145 billion with 108 million Muslim travellers representing 10 percentof the entire travel economy.

The Muslim travel market is forecasted to grow to 150 million visitors by 2020 and 11 percent of the entire segment with a value projected to grow to $200 billion.

“Not surprisingly, Saudi Arabia saw the highest number of Muslim arrivals into the country in 2014 from across the world with 10.2 million which accounts for 73 percent of the total arrivals,” it added.

“The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index has set a real precedent for the tourism industry,” said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating & HalalTrip.

“Not only is it the most in-depth research that we have undertaken so far on the fast-growing Muslim travel market, but has provided all stakeholders with some invaluable insight into how the halal-friendly tourism sector is growing and developing from a global perspective.”

“We are pleased to partner with CrescentRating to develop the Global Muslim Travel Index as we see it as an extension of our efforts in giving consumers ease of mind when traveling through our seamless payment solutions,” said Matthew Driver, President, Southeast Asia, MasterCard.

“Travel continues to be a core passion for consumers and we are confident the GMTI will prove to be a trusted resource for this important, fast-growing traveler segment.”

All 100 destinations in the GMTI were scored against a backdrop of criteria which included suitability as a family holiday destination, the level of services and facilities it provides, accommodation options, marketing initiatives as well as visitor arrivals, it said.

Each criterion was then weighted to make up the overall index score.
Malaysia scored an Index score of 83.8,followed by Turkey at 73.8 while Saudi Arabia had a GMTI of 71.3.

GMTI40, which will be updated quarterly around the year, will track the average score of the top 20 OIC and non-OIC destinations and will form the key index to monitor the performance of the Muslim travel segment.

The overall average score for 40 destinations (GMTI40) currently stands at 56 while the overall average GMTI score for the complete 100 destinations is at 43.8. From a regional perspective, Asia Pacific destinations lead with an average GMTI score of 54.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150306235936

25 February 2015

Turkey’s Directorate General for Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has included the al-Aqsa Mosque into the religious Umrah program that will be effective as of April 15.

One of the Muslim pilgrimages, the Umrah, which is not compulsory but is highly recommended for Muslims who can afford it, will also include the visiting of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Diyanet said they had included the al-Aqsa Mosque into the Umrah trip due to the huge demand they received from citizens.

While the applications for the new program started on Feb. 24, the first group to visit al-Aqsa under the Umrah trip will fly from Istanbul. The citizens will stay three days in Jerusalem, four days in Medina and seven days in Mecca.

Officials from Diyanet said Israeli officials responded positively about the al-Aqsa visit, saying that as long as the Turkish citizens who want to visit al-Aqsa within the concept of Umrah receive a visa from Israel, they would be able to go.

Diyanet officials said the al-Aqsa visit would be added to the original Umrah trip for the citizens who are able to receive a visa from Israel.

Turkish citizens who want to be involved in this new program need to apply to the muftis in the province or district.

During the “2014 Hajj Evaluation Meeting” held on Dec. 27-28, 2014, Diyanet head Mehmet Görmez had said that Jerusalem was a part of the Umrah trip in the past and that works were being conducted to incorporate it into the program.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/jer...&NewsCatID=341 25.02.2015

The Office of the President of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has included al-Quds (Jerusalem) in the Umrah itinerary. Those who want to travel to the holy lands for an Umrah visit will first stop at al-Quds.

According to a decision taken by the Office of the President of Diyanet regarding Umrah services offered by the institution due to high demands from the public the Umrah visits to be made to the holy lands will start with a visit to the Al Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla (the direction where all Muslims turn to during prayers) for Muslims located in al-Quds.

Registration for the Umrah trips that include the first stopover at the Al Aqsa Mosque has already begun. The first group of visitors will leave İstanbul on April 15, 2015. Citizens will be treated to a two-week holy feast three days in al-Quds, four days in Medina and seven days in Mecca. Those who want to register will be required to apply to the provincial and township offices of the muftis.

During the program in al-Quds the visitors will pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, will visit the Islamic complex that houses the tombs of Prophet Abraham, Prophet Isaac, Prophet Jacob as well as the tombs of Prophet David, Selman-ı Farisi and Rabiat’ül Adeviyye. The trip to al-Quds will also include visits to holy places like the Mahmudiye Mosque and the Masjid of Hazrat Omar.

President of Diyanet Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez who gave the good news that Umrah trips would include al-Quds in the itinerary after the “Review Meeting of the 2014 Haj Program” had said in the past al-Quds was a part of the Umrah trips in the past and that work was underway to include this holy place in the Umrah trips.

http://www.diyanet.gov.tr/en/content...83?getEnglish=

Newly Expanded Mataf

Sunday 8 March 2015

The Ministry of Haj recently confirmed that Umrah companies that do not follow rules will be closed temporarily, as the government wants to regulate religious tourism to the Kingdom. Authorities will close these establishments for a period of 12, 24 or 48 hours until the owners comply with regulations.

Undersecretary for the Ministry of Haj for Umrah affairs, and director of the ministry’s branch in Jeddah, Abdullah Mirghalani, said any such closures are temporary, to make sure the companies are committed to offering quality services for Umrah pilgrims, and implement the articles of the service contract.

“Closing them down doesn’t mean companies will be out of service permanently, it’s only temporary until the irregularities are fixed. If the violation was major, it will be transferred to the Umrah pilgrims’ complaint committee, and investigated; a fine might be imposed and the ministry will not hesitate to strike out the company,” Mirghalani stated.

The undersecretary added that most of the violations are not intentional, but rather stem from weak coordination with external organizers. “We know these closures add costs to companies but we need them to be committed to offer high quality services to umrah pilgrims,,” he added.

The ministry will not allow Umrah pilgrims to stay in unlicensed accommodations, even if they insist, because of the dangers entailed, while Umrah companies have the right to prevent them from staying in unlicensed lodgings.

According to Mirghalani, since the system was enforced, 18 companies have had to shut down temporarily.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/715306

7 March 2015

KUALA LUMPUR; An excuse to perform the umrah (minor pilgrimage) is one of the latest modus operandi used by individuals who are out to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group, said Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

He said the information was obtained through cooperation and information-sharing with foreign countries including the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

"We already know some of the tactics used by those who want to join IS militants, some were traced going for umrah but after they arrive in Madinah they disappear," he told reporters here today.

More: http://www.nst.com.my/node/75409

Sunday, 08 March 2015

JEDDAH — More than 4,500 people, including engineers, technicians and workers are racing against time to apply the finishing touches to the Haramain Railway’s Jeddah station within the stipulated period of two months.

The works on the state-of-the art station complex, with a fiberglass roofing, are expected to be completed by the end of April, paving the way for experimental operation of the 450 km high-speed Haramain Railway, linking the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and Rabigh, by the middle of the year.

Apart from relieving road congestion for millions of pilgrims and citizens, the high-speed railroad is expected to cut down the amount of time taken to travel between Makkah and Madinah to two hours, and between Jeddah and Makkah to half an hour. The railway is expected to carry three million passengers a year.

Zohdi Al-Owaiwini, director of the Jeddah station project, said that the station, spread over a sprawling area of 461,000 square meters, is unique in its features. It is equipped with highly advanced facilities to offer the best ever services and top standard comfort for the passengers, Al-Madinah daily reported.

There are 70 escalators, each 32 meters long, without any support in the middle, connecting the platforms and the lounge for passengers coming from outside Jeddah.

Al-Owaiwini said the escalators would be the longest of its kind in the Middle East region. There are 308 units of escalators at the station, in addition to similar escalators at all the other ultra-modern passenger stations in Jeddah airport, Makkah, Madinah, and Rabigh.

Finishing touches to offices and counters for baggage screening, passport control, and other services, as well as commercial shops, including world brand outlets of commercial stores, fast-food chains, and accessories are also progressing well.

Ahmed Gossa, construction manager at the station, said that the mosque, with a capacity of 600 passengers, is located at an ideal venue in between the arrival and departure lounges. The Civil Defense Center, which is sited adjacent to the station on the northern side, is nearly ready and will be handed over soon to the concerned authorities. There is a helipad close to the center to be used in case of emergency.

The parking area, situated on the western side, can accommodate 6,000 vehicles and there are separate areas for short time and long time parking. There is also a mechanism to link the station with the public transport system, which will be implemented in Jeddah in due course.

The Haramain project is over two years late and was originally planned to open in 2012 after construction had begun in March 2009. The Madinah-Rabigh section is scheduled for services by the end of 2015, suggesting a phased opening.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20150308236183 الجمعة 06/03/2015
محطة قطار جدة.. باقٍ من الزمن 55 يومًا

يسابق أكثر من 4500 مهندس وفني وعامل في مشروع قطار الحرمين الزمن لإنجاز محطة شرق محافظة جدة فى الموعد المحدد حيث لم يتبقَ من الزمن سوى 55 يومًا تقريبًا وتحديدًا نهاية شهر أبريل المقبل فيما يتركز العمل حاليًا على تركيب السلالم الكهربائية وإجراء الاختبارات النهائية لها، وبعض المستلزمات الجمالية لانطلاقة المحطة.

«المدينة» تجولت داخل مشروع محطة شرق محافظة جدة، برفقة مدير المشروع المهندس زهدي العويويني، ومدير الإنشاءات في المحطة المهندس أحمد غصة، وكانت بداية الجولة من صالة وصول الركاب القادمين من خارج جدة فيما تم تشغيل واختبار (70) سلمًا كهربائيًا، بطول 32 م بدون دواعم وسطية بحسب مدير المشروع لافتًا إلى أنها الأطول على مستوى الشرق الأوسط.

وأشار العويويني إلى أن عدد تلك السلالم يصل (308) وحدات وتشكل سلالم متحركة موزعة على جميع المحطات الأخرى في مكة المكرمة والمدينة المنورة ومدينة الملك عبدالله الاقتصادية (رابغ).

وبالانتقال إلى الصالة الرئيسة في المحطة يلاحظ وجود المساحات والفراغات الكبيرة لاستيعاب أكبر عدد ممكن من الركاب الواصلين لجدة، وعلى جنباتها يوجد عدد كبير من العمال والفنيين الذين تسابقوا لوضع اللمسات الأخيرة على واجهات المحلات التجارية، والتي خصصت لبيع أشهر الماركات العالمية لمختلف أنواع البضائع الاستهلاكية والهدايا والكماليات، إضافة الى صالات لكبار الشخصيات.

وفي نفس الطابق توجد مكاتب تفتيش العفش، وتوثيق الاوراق الرسمية للركاب (الجوازات)، حيث تتوزع الكاونترات في مواقع جانبية تتيح الفرصة لمشاهدة جميع الركاب عبر كاميرات متطورة سيتم تركيبها قبل تسليم المحطة من المقاول.

مسجد لـ600 مصل

وخلال وجودنا فى صالة المغادرة أشار المهندس أحمد غصة الى أن الموقع الذي خصص للمسجد، اتخذ موقعا وسطا بين صالتى القدوم والمغادرة ليتمكن الجميع من أداء الصلاة، مفيدا انه يتسع لعدد 600 مصل.
وحين وصلنا إلى صالة المغادرة شاهدنا العمال يضعون مصابيح الثريات الضخمة التي زينت الأسقف ثلاثية الأبعاد والتي يستطيع مشاهدتها جميع الموجودين في المحطة بمختلف الطوابق في مشهد جميل، وعلى جانبي الصالة في الطابق الأول يبدو مسار القطار ممهدًا ومهيأ لوضع القضبان خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة.

موقف لـ6 آلاف سيارة

ويوجد في موقع بالجهة الشمالية من المحطة (مركز للدفاع المدني) اتخذ في شكله الهندسى نفس الطابع العام للمحطة الرئيسة حيث انتهى العمل به ولم يتبق لتسليمه لادارة الدفاع المدني الا بعض اللمسات النهائية، وهو مزود بمهبط للمروحيات اذا دعت الضرورة لذلك، وبجواره من الجهة الغربية يوجد مواقف السيارات عدد 6000 سيارة موزعة للمواقف قصيرة الأمد وأخرى لطويلة الأمد، ويؤمن المشروع آلية مناسبة لربط المحطة بنظام مشروع النقل العام من خلال توفير أماكن مناسبة لمواقف للحافلات وربط المحطة بممر مشاة مع محطة القطار الخفيف الذي تخطط أمانة محافظة جدة لتنفيذه في المستقبل.

ويشير مدير المشروع إلى أن محطة جدة تبلغ مساحتها الإجمالية (461000) م2 وأخذت في أعمال الإنجاز جهدًا كبيرا وتضحيات مضاعفة من جميع العاملين، حيث تم العمل في بعض الأوقات إلى ساعات ضعف الساعات التي خصصت للعمل.

ولفت في ذات الوقت الى أن الأسقف صنعت من ألواح من الفيبرجلاس بانحناء يراعي وضع الفتحات التي عملت في الألواح لتسمح بمرور الضوء الطبيعي عبرها طوال ساعات النهار لتقليل الاستعانة بالإضاءة الصناعية، وتم إجراء سيناريوهات تطبيقية لمرور الضوء ومعرفة درجات انعكاساته وشكل الأسقف طوال ساعات النهار، بالإضافة إلى ألواح الفيبرجلاس أضيفت من الداخل ألواح لامتصاص الصوت، وألواح الأسقف المستعارة المعدنية ويحمل هذا التكوين الأقواس الإنشائية مشيرًا الى أنها صنعت داخل ارض المشروع لصعوبة نقلها من مكان لآخر وكبر حجمها.

وقال إن التصاميم أخذت في اعتبارها البعد الجمالي في الشكل الخارجي والمحتوى الداخلي لمكونات المحطة من حيث المرافق والخدمات، لتحقق بذلك أكثر من هدف منها أن تكون المحطات معلمًا جماليًا لمدينة جدة.

http://www.al-madina.com/node/592444...%8B%D8%A7.html

المدينة المنورة 28 شوال 1435 هـ الموافق 24 اغسطس 2014 م واس

شرعت الهيئة العامة للسياحة والآثار في تنفيذ مشروع تأهيل وترميم القلعة التاريخية بقباء التي تم بناؤها عام 1915 م بمساحة 218 مترا مربعا , ضمن مشاريع الهيئة لصيانة وترميم المواقع الأثرية والتاريخية في المدينة المنورة.

وأوضح مدير عام فرع الهيئة أمين عام مجلس التنمية السياحية بالمنطقة الدكتور يوسف بن حمزة المزيني أن القلعة شيدت لمراقبة القادمين للمدينة المنورة وصد الهجمات، وهي مربعة الشكل وتتميز عمارتها بسماكة البنيان، وتقوم على تلة عالية شمال مسجد قباء، وتبعد عن مسجد قباء 1500م، وتتكون من ثلاثة أدوار وجاء بناؤها من الحجارة، كما تم طلاؤها بالجس والنورة، وللقلعة مدخلا وبابا واحدا يقع في الجهة الشمالية، وقد عقد أعلاه بعقد دائري بني من الحجر المنتظم ويعتلي الباب برج المدخل الرئيسي.

وأفاد الدكتور المزيني أن إدارة التراث العمراني بالهيئة أنهت عمليات التوثيق المساحي والمعماري لموقع القلعة، لما لها من أهمية تاريخية وتراثية وأثرية، وأن القلعة مازالت في حالة عمرانية جيدة ولكن بدت عليها علامات تصدع ومظاهر التعرية مما تطلب ترميمها قبل سقوطها وضياع ملامحها التراثية، وقد استكملت جميع المخططات لتأهيلها وتوظيفها بما يتواءم وفق عناصرها المعمارية وهويتها التاريخية، مبيناً أن أعمال الترميم تشمل الإنقاذ وأعمال التدعيم والتأهيل لترميم الأساسات ومعالجة التربة وترميم الجدران الحجرية والطينية وتدعيم الأعمدة والأقواس الحجرية والأسقف الخشبية ، ومعالجة التشققات وأعمال اللياسة بأنواعها وأعمال العزل، وترميم الأبواب والنوافذ الخشبية، والأعمال الكهربائية والميكانيكية، وذلك في أطار ترميم عدد من المواقع الأثرية والتاريخية بمتابعة من صاحب السمو الملكي الأمير فيصل بن سلمان بن عبد العزيز أمير منطقة المدينة المنورة رئيس مجلس التنمية السياحية بالمدينة المنورة .

وأشار إلى توجيه صاحب السمو الملكي الأمير سلطان بن سلمان بن عبد العزيز رئيس الهيئة العامة للسياحة والآثار بأن يكون هناك مقار للحرفيين في مراكز التراث العمراني، في إطار الاهتمام بالحرفيين وإبراز مشاركاتهم, وفي هذا السياق سيكون هناك موقع لهم في قلعة قباء إضافة إلى قلعة عروة في المدينة المنورة والعلا وينبع، كما تتم دراسة إضافة مبنى محطة قطار الحجاز ليكون موقعاً يضم الحرفيين والحرفيات .

http://www.spa.gov.sa/details.php?id=1265499

Google translation:

Medina, 28 Shawwal 1435 AH corresponding to August 24, 2014, SPA

General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities embarked on a project rehabilitation and restoration of the historic castle Bakaba which was built in 1915 with an area of 218 square meters, within the body projects for the maintenance and restoration of archaeological and historical sites in the city of Medina.

The general manager of the Authority branch secretary-general of the Tourist Development Council in the region Dr. Yusuf bin Muzeini that the castle was built to monitor next to the city of Medina and repel the attacks, which are square-shaped and characterized architecture thickness architecture, based on a high hill north of Quba Mosque, and away from the Quba 1500 mosque, consisting of three roles came built of stone, has also been repainted palpation and lime, and the castle entrance and one door is located on the north side, was held above circular contract built from stone and regular topping the door of the main entrance tower.

Dr. Mozainy reported that the Architectural Heritage Management Authority ended documentation spatial and architectural site castle operations, because of their historical and cultural and archaeological importance, and that the castle is still in good urban condition but seemed to them cracked and manifestations of signs of erosion, requiring restoration before the crash and the loss of her features heritage, has completed all plans for rehabilitation and employment in line according to the architectural elements of historical identity, noting that the restoration work, including rescue and business consolidation and rehabilitation to restore the foundations and soil treatment and restoration of stone and mud walls and supporting columns and stone arches and ceilings of wood, and treat cracks and acts of filler types, insulation, and restoration of doors and wooden windows, and electrical work and mechanical, as part of the restoration of a number of archaeological and historical sites follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Medina Chairman of the Tourist Development Council Madinah.

He pointed to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities directed that there be headquarters for artisans in the urban heritage centers, in the context of interest artisans and to highlight their participation, and in this context, there will be a site for them in Quba Castle addition to buttonhole Castle in Medina and Ela stems, also be considered in addition Hijaz train station building to be signed includes craftsmen and craftswomen. 10 November 2014

تتواصل أعمال الترميم لقصر عروة بن الزبير التاريخي حتى شهر نهاية ربيع الآخر، وتشمل عمليات الترميم والتأهيل، التدعيم والفك والإزالة وترميم الأساسات ومعالجة التربة وترميم الجدران الحجرية والطينية، وترميم والأقواس الحجرية والأسقف الخشبية، ومعالجة التشققات وأعمال اللياسة بأنواعها وأعمال العزل، وترميم الأبواب والنوافذ الخشبية، والأعمال الكهربائية والميكانيكية للقصر الذي تبلغ مساحته 1200م تقريبًا.

ويعتبر قصر عروة أحد الأماكن التاريخية في المدينة النبوية ويعود إلى التابعي عروة بن الزبير بن العوام، حيث اكتشف فريق تنقيب من قطاع الآثار والمتاحف في هيئة السياحة والآثار خلال زيارته بموقع قصور التابعي عروة بوادي العقيق وحدات معمارية تعود إلى القرن الأول الهجري.

وكشفت أعمال التنقيب عن احتواء القصر على فناء ثالث وعدد من الغرف ووحدات معمارية تدل على أن المبنى يمثل قصرًا مدرج الشكل، وأقيم على تلة مرتفعة تطل على ضفة وادي العقيق وبنيت جدرانه وأساساته بالحجارة المقطوعة من الجبال والمنتشرة في الموقع وتلك التي جلبت من الأماكن المجاورة للمدينة المنورة، وتقع بوابته في الجهة الجنوبية، وتتوزع وحداته المعمارية حول أفنيته الثلاثة الداخلية. وأهم المواد الأثرية المكتشفة تمثلت في الفخار والزجاج والأدوات الحجرية وأواني الحجر الصابوني، وخزف ذي بريق معدني يمثل تطورًا في صناعة الخزف الإسلامي خلال القرنين الأول والثاني الهجريين.

كما تم العثور على كميات من كسر الأواني الزجاجية وأدوات معدنية قد تكون استخدمت لأغراض الزينة، حيث أن الكتابات والآثار القائمة في الموقع تدل على وجود استيطان بشري موغل في القدم، حيث بقايا قصور ترجع للعصرين الأموي والعباسي، التي من أشهرها قصور عروة بن الزبير، وسعيد بن العاص، ومروان بن الحكم، وسعد بن أبي وقاص، وسكينة بنت الحسين، وغطت القصور ضفاف وادي العقيق، وشيدت تلك القصور على أرض واسعة، وكان لكل قصر مزرعة عامرة بالأشجار.

أنماط متشابهة
ويرى الباحث والمؤرخ الدكتور تنيضب الفايدي أن الموقع الحالي هو مكان القصر ولكن ليس البناء الأول له إنما بناء تم في أواخر العهد العثماني مسستشهدًا بأن نمط البناء والمواد المستخدمة في القصر هي ذاتها المستخدمة في قلعة قباء أو مايسمى بـ «حاكم المدينة» في ذلك الوقت مما يؤكد بأن بنائهما تم في فترة زمنية متقاربة.
وأضاف الفايدي بأن موقع القصر ممتاز وذلك لوقوعه على ضفاف وادي العقيق، مشيرًا إلى أن البناء الأول للقصر تم في القرن الهجري الأول فيما أهمل القصر واندثر مع نهاية دولة بني أمية.

نظرة مستقبلية
وقال مدير عام فرع هيئة السياحة والآثار الدكتور يوسف المزيني أن هيئة السياحة قامت بجميع عمليات التوثيق المساحي والمعماري لقصر عروة فضلاً عن الانتهاء من المخططات الخاصة بتأهيل القصر وتوظيفه بما يتلائم مع هويته.
وأضاف أن عمليات الترميم التي تجري حاليًا اشتملت على أعمال الترميم الإنقاذي وأعمال التدعيم وترميم الأساسات، بالإضافة إلى معالجة التربة وترميم الجدران والأعمدة والأقواس والأسقف ومعالجة جميع التشققات فضلاً عن ترميم الأبواب والنوافذ.
وأكد المزيني أهمية إحياء التراث العمراني، وترسيخ القيم التاريخية والحفاظ على الموروث للأجيال القادمة، وتوعية المجتمع بالتدريب والتأهيل، وإحياء الأعمال الحرفية التراثية القديمة، والتعرف على ما كان سائدًا من معتقدات وأوضاع اجتماعية واقتصادية وبيئية.

http://www.al-madina.com/node/568464

Google translation: Restoration of the Palace 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr historical work continues until the end of the Rabi, including restoration and rehabilitation operations, consolidation and jaw and removal and restoration of the foundations and soil treatment and restoration of stone and mud walls, and the restoration and stone arches and ceilings of wood, and treat cracks and acts of filler types, insulation, and restoration of doors and windows, wooden, electrical and mechanical works for the palace, which covers an area of approximately 1200 m.

Buttonhole Palace is one of the historical places in the city of the Prophet and back to Tabi Urwah ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-Awam, where exploration of Antiquities and Museums in the Tourism and Antiquities Authority sector team discovered during his visit to the location of palaces Tabi buttonhole Valley Garnet architectural units back to the first century.

And the excavations contain the palace on the third courtyard and a number of rooms and units of architectural indicate that the building is a palace runway shape, was built on a high hill overlooking the West Valley Garnet and built walls and foundations stones cut from the mountains and scattered at the site and those that are brought from the neighboring city of Medina places , and the gate is located on the south side, and distributed architecture and its units on the three internal Ffenath. The most important archaeological material discovered represented in pottery, glass, stone tools and utensils steatite, ceramics and metallic luster is developed in the Islamic ceramics during the first and second centuries AD.
Also found on the amounts of breaking glassware and metal tools may be used for decorative purposes, as the writings and the effects of existing at the site indicate the presence of a very old human settlement in the foot, where the remains of palaces dating from the eras of the Umayyad and Abbasid, which is the most famous palaces Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, and happy ibn El-Aas, and Marwan I, and Saad bin Abi Waqas, and Sakina girl Hussein, and covered the banks of the palaces and Garnet Valley, and built those palaces and vast land, and each had a farm mansion full of trees.

Similar patterns
Sees researcher and historian Dr. Tnaill Faydi that the current location is the place of the palace, but not the first building to him but building was in the late Ottoman period Msschhada that construction style and materials used in the palace are the same as used in Quba Castle or the so-called b «governor» at the time, which confirms that was reconstructed in close period of time.
Faydi He added that the site of the palace and it is excellent for incidence on the banks of Garnet Valley, pointing out that the first construction of the palace was in the first century as neglected mansion and disappeared with the end of the Umayyad state.

Outlook
Director General of Tourism and Antiquities Authority Branch Dr. Yousef Al-Muzaini said that the Tourism Authority has all the spatial and architectural documentation of the short loop operations as well as the completion of the special schemes to rehabilitate the palace and employment in line with the identity.
He added that the restoration work currently underway included the restoration work rescuer and business consolidation and restoration of the foundation, as well as soil remediation and restoration of the walls and columns, arches and ceilings and address all the cracks as well as the restoration of doors and windows.
Mozainy stressed the importance of reviving the architectural heritage, and the consolidation of the historical values and the preservation of heritage for future generations, and community awareness training and rehabilitation, and the revival of the old traditional craft work, and to identify what was prevalent beliefs and social conditions, economic and environmental.

 

Researchers warn of the demise of the old Quba area
and archaeological ruins due to urbanization

باحثون يحذرون من زوال منطقة قباء القديمة
ومعالمها الأثرية بفعل التوسع العمراني