Makkah News and Updates

King appoints

 

 

new Supreme Court chief, other officials


The facade of the Saudi Supreme Court's main office.

08/01/2013

RMD Kwikform has designed and supplied more than 15,000t of formwork and shoring to main contractor Saudi Binladin Group for the expansion of the landmark Makkah Mosque in Saudi Arabia.

RMD Kwikform has designed and supplied more than 15,000t of formwork and shoring to main contractor Saudi Binladin Group for the expansion of the landmark Makkah Mosque in Saudi Arabia.

The Shamiyah Holy Haram Expansion 3 project as it's officially called is situated adjacent to the Holy Haram mosque in Mekkah, the location of Kaaba where all Muslims direct their daily prayers from around the world, and will provide additional facilities for 2.5 million people during their Hajj pilgrimage. The work on the 250,000m2 of ornate prayer halls, ceremonial halls and courtyards is the largest project RMD Kwikform Saudi Arabia has undertaken in the region to date.

The overall scope for equipment designed and supplied by RMD Kwikform covers four main areas of construction throughout the site including the main 5,000m2 central ceremonial area.

The ceremonial area contains a number of insitu concrete engineering features including the multi arched north and south entrance gates and the 14m high grand arches supporting the mosque’s 60 metre high central dome. Equipment supplied for the construction of the ceremonial area included configurations assembled from heavy duty Megashor towers, R700 trusses, Superslim, Albeam, Rapidshor, Maxima panels and a specially made 25t arch support former for the south main entrance.

Complementing the central ceremonial area are 74, 400m2 prayer halls spread across three floors. RMD Kwikform supplied 100t of formwork and falsework to support 1,600t of concrete structural frame. Configurations formed from Alshor Plus, Alform beams, and purpose designed and fabricated negative arch supports were designed and supplied by RMD Kwikform for the construction of supporting columns, beams and the support of precast artificial stone soffits.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...r-saudi-mosque

15 January 2013 - 03 Rabi Al-Awaal 1434 H

JEDDAH — The tourism committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) recommended on Monday enhancing the skills of tourist guides and investing more in tourism projects in Makkah.

At a chamber meeting, the committee believed developing the sector could generate SR200 million for tourism investors outside of the Umrah and Haj seasons.

Fahad Al-Widainani, head of the committee, said the first specialist Saudi association for tourist guides would be launched on February 21, the same day as International Tourist Guide Day.

The new body, he said, would have Saudi tourist guides who are authorized and licensed by the Saudi Tourism and Antiquities Commission.

Al-Widainani added that they would provide a specialized trainer to train and develop tourist guides.

There are now 32 tourism companies in Makkah but the city, said Al-Widainani, will need up to 100 that are well equipped and employ qualified staff to cope with increasing demand.

Abdulali Al-Qurashi, a tourist guide, said guides are demanding more training courses to improve their skills and overcome the lack of tourist guides who work at different national festivals.

He also added that there is a need for businessmen to work with tourist guides to enhance their activities.

Muhsin Al-Sulami, another tourist guide, said there is real need for a clear framework to regulate the sector for the benefit of both companies and workers.

He said there is a need for a body that can protect the rights of all involved in tourism including companies, tourist guides and tourists.

“If an organization is being launched for this purpose it has to also moderate the tourist guide business, which is operating haphazardly during the peak seasons of Haj and Umrah.”

Abdullah Al-Sawat, head of Saudi Tourism and Antiquities Commission in Makkah, said his office would be arranging tourist events in Makkah two months from now.

Makkah, he said, will host the Islamic Clothing Exhibition and a market for traditional handmade crafts soon.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130115149321

30-02-1434 06:11
( وطني الحبيب ) - المدينة المنورة واس: شرعت وكالة الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد النبوي الشريف بالمدينة المنورة في تنفيذ خططها التشغيلية لموسم العمرة لهذا العام 1434هـ الذي بدأ منتصف الشهر الجاري من خلال القيام بجميع شؤون المسجد النبوي المكانية والدينية والخدمية وتوفير كافة الإمكانات والخدمات اللازمة لزوار مسجد المصطفى صلى الله عليه وسلم.

وأوضح معالي نائب الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد النبوي الشريف فضيلة الشيخ عبدالعزيز بن عبدالله الفالح لوكالة الأنباء السعودية : أن وكالة الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد النبوي الشريف من منطلق مسؤوليتها عن المسجد النبوي تهتم بجميع شؤونه الدينية والخدمية وتعمل على توفير كافة الإمكانات لراحة زوار مسجد المصطفى صلى الله عليه وسلم خاصة وأن التوجيه الكريم أضاف زيادةً في راحة زوار المسجد النبوي بإبقاء أبواب المسجد النبوي مفتوحة على مدار الساعة ليؤدوا عباداتهم بكل راحة واطمئنان وهي تؤدي ذلك بصفة مستمرة طوال العام , فيما تزداد الاستعدادات خلال المواسم وتوضع الخطط اللازمة لتوفير كل ما يتطلبه المسجد النبوي ويؤدي إلى أفضل الخدمات.

وأبان فضيلته أن الأهداف العامة للخطة تتمثل في التوجيه والإرشاد الديني للزوار والمصلين في المسجد النبوي بالدعوة إلى الله والتوجيه بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وتوفير مكتبة متكاملة (مقروءة) تحتوي على الكتب العلمية المطبوعة والمخطوطة وكذلك (صوتية) تحتوي على الدروس العلمية والخطب والتلاوات لأئمة المسجد النبوي تقدم للزوار بعدة وسائط منها الأشرطة والأقراص المضغوطة CD والعناية بالمصلين والزوار وتلبية احتياجاتهم في المسجد النبوي من خلال تنظيم حركتهم دخولاً وخروجاً وتهيئة الممرات داخل المسجد وخارجه وتوفير عربات لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة واستدعاء الإسعاف في الحالات الطارئة وحفظ المفقودات وإرشاد التائهين وتهيئة المسجد النبوي ومرافقه وتشغيل كافة الخدمات فيه من إنارة المسجد وساحاته وسطحه وتكييف داخله وحراسة الأبواب وفتحها وتوفير السجاد وفرشه وتوفير ماء زمزم المبرد ونظافة المسجد وساحاته ومرافقه وتشغيل كافة الخدمات فيه وتشغيل التقنيات المختلفة وغيرها.

وأضاف الشيخ الفالح أن من أهداف الخطط التشغيلية للرئاسة أيضا تنظيم الخدمات وتهيئتها ليلاً نتيجة فتح المسجد النبوي على مدار الساعة وفتح أبواب المسجد النبوي البالغ عددها / 100 / باب للزوار والمصلين حسب الحاجة ووفق مواعيد محددة والقيام بأعمال التوجيه والإرشاد لزوار المسجد النبوي لأداء عباداتهم على الوجه الشرعي والإشراف والمتابعة لأداء الأئمة والخطباء وتسجيل قراءاتهم وخطبهم وفهرستها وإعدادها بأشرطة مسجلة ومتابعة المؤذنين وما يتعلق بعملهم والترتيب لطائفة من العلماء والمدرسين لإلقاء الدروس اليومية وفق جدول يوضح اسم الشيخ وموقع الدرس وعنوانه ووقته ويتم توزيع هذا الجدول في عدة مواقع بالمسجد النبوي.

وتابع كما توفير ما يحتاجه المسجد النبوي من المصاحف وترجمات معاني القرآن وحاملات المصاحف وتوزيعها في أنحاء المسجد ومتابعة ترتيبها ونظافتها واستقبال طلبات المعتمرين من المصاحف المهداة الزائدة وتسليمها لهم بعد التأكد من الطلب لوضعها في المساجد وإقامة حلقات تحفيظ القرآن الكريم وترتيب ذلك مكانا ووقتاً والقيام بتوعية الزائرين للمسجد النبوي من خلال التوجيه المباشر أو توزيع الكتب والنشرات التوجيهية والكتيبات النافعة وتخصيص عدد من طلبة العلم للإجابة عن استفسارات الزوار وإرشادهم في أمور عباداتهم عبر الاتصال بهم مباشرة أو بواسطة هواتف الإفتاء في مواقع متفرقة من المسجد واستبدال أجهزة الهاتف الخاص بالإرشاد الديني بأجهزة تتناسب مع آلية العمل وعرض الدروس المسجلة عن طريق السماعات لتكون أكثر مناسبة لاحتياجات المعتمرين وتكثيف الرقابة على حلقات التدريس واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة نحو توجيه حلقات الدروس غير المصرح لها والإشراف على مكتبة المسجد النبوي المشتملة على المكتبة المقروءة والمكتبة الصوتية بقسميهما الرجالي والنسائي وتنظيم وترتيب الزيارة الشرعية والسلام على الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم وصاحبيه - رضي الله عنهما - وتنظيم دخول النساء إلى الروضة والصلاة فيها دون اختلاط بالرجال بواقع ثلاث مرات في اليوم والليلة وتوفير مياه زمزم المؤمنة من مكة المكرمة وتقديمه مبرداً وغير مبرد في مواقع قريبة من المصلين والزائرين مع الكؤوس النظيفة ذات الاستخدام لمرة واحدة.

وإضافة إلى ذلك يجري العمل والإشراف على نظافة المسجد والسطح والساحات والمرافق ومواقف السيارات وفرش الروضة والحرم القديم بسجاد جديد محدد عليه استقامة الصفوف وفرش أقسام النساء بسجاد جديد ذو نوعية خاصة بدلاً من السابق والقيام بأعمال المراقبة وحراسة الأبواب وفتح الممرات للمصلين وتشغيل السلالم الكهربائية المؤدية للسطح عند الحاجة له وتأمين عربات لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة وتقديمها لهم مجاناً ومنع دخول الأشياء غير المصرح بها إلى داخل المسجد النبوي وإرشاد التائهين ومتابعة إيصال الأطفال التائهين إلى ذويهم والتنسيق والترتيب لزيارات الضيوف الرسمية والإشراف على صيانة جميع الأعمال المدنية والمعمارية في المسجد النبوي وساحاته ومواقف السيارات وتجهيز المصلى الخاص بالصم والبكم بسطح الحرم لصلاة الجمع ومتابعة تشغيل مصعد كبار السن وذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة ومتابعة الساحات خدمياً ورقابياً كمنع الأطفال وغيرهم من اللعب بها ومنع مزاولة مهنة البيع والتصوير بها ومتابعة المتسولين والتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة نحوهم .

أما فيما يخص مشاريع المسجد النبوي الشريف فقد ذكر الشيخ الفالح أن الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد النبوي الشريف تشرف على تنفيذ عقود مشاريع التشغيل والصيانة وخدمات النظافة والسقيا والفرش للمسجد النبوي وصيانة مواقف السيارات والمحطة المركزية وزيادة الدواليب الخشبية للأحذية بجوانب المداخل الرئيسة للتوسعات بالإضافة إلى تحديث جميع أجهزة U.P.S( التيار غير المنقطع ) بالمسجد النبوي ومواقف السيارات واستكمال جميع خطوط التغذية الكهربائية التبادلية للنظام الصوتي الأساسي والاحتياطي وبذلك يكون النظام الصوتي - بإذن الله - مؤمناً تأميناً كاملاً لاستمرار التيار الكهربائي دون انقطاع وتحديث نظام التكييف بمنطقة الروضة واستبدال الوحدات المنفصلة القديمة بوحدات جديدة بقدرات مضاعفه.

وأكد الشيخ الفالح في سياق تصريحه أن الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد النبوي الشريف تنفذ خططها التشغيلية لموسم العمرة لهذا العام 1434هـ من خلال إجراءات وآليات مدروسة تتمثل في زيادة الطاقة التشغيلية والخدمية في موسم العمرة بما يتناسب مع أعداد الزوار والمصلين لتقديم خدمات مضاعفة عن الأيام العادية مع الاهتمام بالخدمات الإضافية التي يحتاجها المعتمرون والزوار بما في ذلك التنسيق مع هيئة الهلال الأحمر السعودي لتلبية احتياجات الزوار في الحالات الإسعافية الطارئة وإعداد وتنفيذ برامج تشغيل وإطفاء الإنارة والسلالم الكهربائية والمراوح ووحدات التكييف وفتح وإغلاق القباب والمظلات بما يتناسب مع حاجة المسجد بمراعاة حالة الجو وازدحامه بالزوار والاستعداد لاستقبال ضيوف الدولة ووفود المدارس والجامعات والجمعيات لأداء الصلاة والزيارة في المسجد النبوي وتعريفهم بتاريخه وعمارته وتكوين اللجان الميدانية (كل حسب تخصصها) والتي تهدف للتأكد من جودة الخدمات وحسن سير العمل وتكليف الإدارات المختصة في الوكالة بمتابعة الأعمال في المشاريع الخاصة بالمسجد النبوي والتنسيق فيما يحقق راحة الزوار للمسجد النبوي دون تعطيل للعمل أو إلحاق الأذى بالزوار.

http://www.watny1.com/news.php?action=show&id=7532

 

Google translation:

Plan Agency General Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque for Umrah season for this year 1434 AH

30-02-1434 06:11
(National beloved) - Medina SPA: embarked Agency General Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque in Medina in the implementation of operational plans for the Umrah season this year 1434 AH, which began mid-month by doing all affairs Prophet's Mosque spatial and religious service and provide all the capabilities and services to visitors mosque Prophet peace be upon him.

The Deputy President General for the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al-Faleh to Saudi Press Agency: that agency General Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque in terms of responsibility for the Prophet's Mosque interested in all worship and service and is working to provide all the capabilities for the convenience of visitors to the Mustafa mosque Allah bless him him, especially as guidance Karim added increase in the comfort of visitors Prophet's Mosque to keep doors Prophet's Mosque is open around the clock to perform worship in comfort and reassurance They lead an ongoing basis throughout the year, while increasing the preparations during the seasons and plans are required to provide all it takes Prophet's Mosque and lead to better Services.

The Aban eminence that the general objectives of the plan are in guidance and counseling religious visitors and worshipers in the mosque to call God and guidance wisdom and good counsel and provide integrated library (Read) contains scientific books printed and manuscript, as well as (voice) contain scientific lessons and sermons and recitations of the imams of the Prophet's offer visitors several media, including tapes and CDs CD and care with worshipers and visitors and meet their needs in the Prophet's Mosque by organizing their movement in and out and create pathways inside the mosque and outside and provide vehicles for people with special needs and call ambulance in emergency situations and save missing and guidance Drifters and the creation of the Prophet's Mosque, facilities and run all services in which the lighting the mosque and its precincts and surface and air inside and guard the doors open, and the provision of carpet and a piece of carpet to provide Zamzam water coolant and cleanliness of the mosque and its precincts and facilities and run all the services and operation of the various techniques and others.

The Sheikh Faleh that the objectives of the operational plans for the presidency also organize services and configured at night as a result of opening the mosque on the clock and open the doors of the mosque's / 100 / door to visitors and worshipers as needed and according to specific dates and doing the work direction and guidance to visitors the Prophet's Mosque to perform rituals on the face of Forensic The supervision and monitoring of the performance of imams and preachers and record their readings and sermons, indexed and preparing tapes recorded and follow muezzins and related to their work and to arrange for a group of scholars and teachers to teach lessons daily schedule shows the name of Sheikh and site lesson, address and time and are distributed this table in several locations mosque of Prophet.

He also provided what it needs the Prophet's Mosque from the Koran and translations of Quran and carriers Koran and distributed around the mosque and the follow-up order and cleanliness and receiving requests for pilgrims of Korans donated excess and delivered them after making sure of the demand for them in mosques and establishing workshops teaching the Koran and arranged a place and time and do educate visitors to the mosque Prophetic through direct guidance or distribution of books, pamphlets guidelines and brochures beneficial and allocation of a number of science students to answer questions of visitors and guide them in matters of worship through contact them directly or by phone Ifta in various locations of the mosque and the replacement phone bibliographical devices commensurate with the mechanism of action and display lessons recorded by speakers to be more suitable to the needs of pilgrims and intensify control loops teaching and take the necessary actions towards directing episodes lessons unauthorized and supervising the library Prophet's Mosque containing library print and audio library Baksmehma men and women and organize and arrange the visit legitimacy and peace be upon the Prophet peace be upon him and his two companions - God bless them - and regulate the entry of women to the kindergarten and pray to it, without mixing with men three times a day and night and provide Zamzam water secured from Mecca and submit it cooled and uncooled in sites close to worshipers and visitors with cups of clean-use for once.

In addition, being and oversee the cleanliness of the mosque and the surface and arenas and facilities, parking and brushes kindergarten and the old campus carpets new specific it straighter rows and brushes sections women carpets new with special quality rather than the former and do surveillance work and guarding the doors and open lanes for worshipers and run escalators leading to the surface when needed him and secure vehicles for people with special needs and provide them free and prevent the entry of things unauthorized into the Prophet's Mosque and guidance Drifters and follow-up the delivery of children Drifters to their families, coordination and arrangement of visits guests official overseeing the maintenance of all civil works and architectural in the Prophet's Mosque and its courtyards and parking and processing Chapel your deaf and dumb surface campus to combine prayer and continue to run the elevator elderly and people with special needs and follow-up service and supervisory arenas such as children and other prevention of play and prevent the practice of selling and imaging and follow-up beggars and in coordination with the competent authorities towards them.

Regarding projects the Prophet's Mosque has said Sheikh Faleh that General Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque oversees the implementation of project contracts operating, maintenance and cleaning services and Alskie and brushes the Prophet's Mosque and maintenance parking and the central station and increase cupboards wooden shoe aspects the main entrances of the expansions in addition to updating all UPS devices (AC uninterruptible) mosque of Prophet parking and complete all lines feeding electricity reciprocity for audio system basic reserve and thus audio system - God willing - a believer insurance fully for the continuation of electricity without interruption and update the air conditioning system area kindergarten and replacement units separate the old units new capabilities to double.

The Sheikh Faleh in the context of his statement that the General Presidency for the Prophet's Mosque implement operational plans for the Umrah season this year 1434 AH through procedures and mechanisms thought is to increase the operational capacity and service in the Umrah season commensurate with the number of visitors and worshipers to provide double the normal days with interest services Additional required by pilgrims and visitors, including coordination with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority to meet the needs of visitors in emergency cases and emergency preparation and implementation of drivers and amortization lighting and escalators, fans and air conditioning units and open and close the domes and umbrellas commensurate with the need mosque to observe the weather and Ozdhamh visitors and ready to receive state guests The delegations schools, universities and associations to pray and visit the Prophet's Mosque and introduce them to its history and architecture and composition of field committees (each according to their specialization), which aims to ensure the quality of services and good workflow and assign competent departments in the agency to pursue business in special projects mosque of Prophet and coordination to achieve the convenience of visitors to the Prophet's Mosque, without disruption of business or harm visitors.

 

Inaugural Events of Madinah,

 

 

as ''Capital of Islamic Culture''

 

 

Postponed to February 17

4 June 2012 - 14 Rajab 1433 H

MADINAH — The Higher Committee for the Selection of Madinah as the Islamic Cultural Capital chaired by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed, Emir of Madinah, clarified Sunday that the event’s logo simply symbolizes the occasion and does not reflect any trends or interpretations beyond the declared objectives.

The clarification came in response to criticisms and comments circulated through local newspapers and Internet sites on the selection of the logo. The critics questioned the failure to include the green dome of the Prophet’s Mosque in the logo, which only has a minaret and the map of the Muslim world.

The statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency said the committee took note of the opinions and comments published in newspapers and websites as to why the green dome was left out from the logo.

“To make matters clear, the committee wishes to clarify that the logo was selected after a public contest under its supervision. The winner met the set conditions and fulfilled the requirements to reflect the grand occasion. The logo bears the historic architectural landmark in the form of the minaret of the Prophet’s Mosque. The map of the Muslim world represents Madinah’s stature among the believers,” said the statement.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20120604125919


I think this was a logo part of the contest...but didn't win

Jan 11, 2013

The city that completed the most skyscrapers over 656 feet in 2012 was not in China, the United Arab Emirates, or the United States. Definitely not the United States.

No, it was Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holy city of Islam, which completed five buildings over 200 meters high in 2012, including the Royal Clock Tower Hotel (above, along with the other ten biggest buildings of the year). At 1,971 feet tall, the Clock Tower is the second-tallest building in the world.

Overall, though, according to a report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, it was an off year -- a development that the authors say reflects a lag dating from the 2008 financial crisis. It was the first time in six years that there were fewer tall buildings -- 66 -- completed than the year before. In 2011, there were 82 tall buildings completed.

Still, it was the third-highest total ever for buildings over 200 meters, and there were several highlights. Dubai built four of the six tallest buildings completed in 2012. China built 22 buildings over 200 meters, in 13 different cities.

One non-highlight was tall building construction in the United States, once a skyscraper mecca. The U.S. completed only two buildings higher than 200 meters last year -- fewer than Canada, Australia, and South Korea.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/des...ay-mecca/4383/

Makkah starts security plan

 

 

for Umrah season

Thursday 17 January 2013

The minister of Haj has declared to a local newspaper that his ministry had issued 160,000 Umrah visas since the beginning of the season. “At least 40,000 Umrah pilgrims have already arrived,” Bandar Al-Hajar said.

Concerning the complaint made against his ministry by the Pilgrims-Guides Foundation of South Asia regarding the resolution of its former board of directors, he said: “The ministry respects the judiciary, and any judgment rendered by the judicial authorities will be respected and implemented by the ministry.”

Al-Hajar pointed out during the closing ceremony of the pilgrimage season of last year on Thursday evening, which he sponsored, that the ministry had begun implementing its plans for the new Umrah season. He also said the ministry had all its resources in order to serve the Umrah pilgrims, with the anticipated flow of pilgrims estimated at 400,000 a month. The number is expected to double during the holy month of Ramadan to reach a total of 5.5 million Umrah pilgrims this year.

He explained that the ministry, through its Umrah monitoring and surveillance committees, had begun operating its field works through affiliated centers deployed in the central areas of the Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

At the same time, the Haj minister denied the existence of any direction to reduce the number of Umrah pilgrims this year due to the expansion of the mataf, as the field is open to pilgrims wishing to perform Umrah from any country.

In regard to the licensing of new Umrah companies, Hajar said: “There are currently 50 companies operating in the service of Umrah pilgrims, and there is a committee formed from a number of related bodies that is considering licensing for the establishment of new Umrah companies.”

He declared that the Ministry of Haj continued to implement its plans and training programs for all employees, pointing out that the training and implementation of standards were among the conditions of career advancement as well as performance evaluation and excellence in the next stage. He indicated his ministry’s determination to expand alongside with training as well as internal and external scholarships to improve and develop its performance, since the fiscal budget for training and scholarships at the Ministry of Haj had doubled for the past years.

He said the ministry had recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of Telecommunications and IT in this aspect and specifically within the system and the electronic program YOSER to train all Haj Ministry employees in specialized institutes or within the ministry. The training will be counted under the terms of the promotion, noting that 50 employees of the ministry’s staff would benefit from this agreement in the next few days.

Al-Hajar expressed his dissatisfaction with the services provided by his ministry and the level of those services, demanding all employees to make further efforts to provide better services to visitors and pilgrims. He stressed that all the ministry’s staff should be knowledgeable and familiar with everything going on in their ministry, from technical aspects to the ongoing projects.

He pointed out that there would be a special regulation for excellence and honor according to measurable performance evaluation criteria for all employees and staff of his ministry in the coming days. Staff would be honored according to their performance during honoring ceremonies, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/haj-ministry...h-400000-month

Thursday 17 January 2013

With Umrah season under way since the first of Safar 1434 H, many travel agencies are offering pilgrim packages at modest prices as low as SR 80 in the capital.

A return fare from Riyadh to Makkah by a luxury coach including accommodation in the holy city will cost SR 80 per pilgrim, with an additional charge of SR 40 for pilgrims choosing to visit the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah en route to Makkah.

A mere addition of SR 100 will provide a pilgrim a four-star accommodation in the holy city.

According to a spokesman from Al-Rushd, a travel operator in the city, the weekend package to Makkah and Madinah starts at 4 p.m. from Riyadh on Wednesday and ends Friday midnight.

In addition these travel arrangements offer each family a large room, while bachelors are provided shared accommodations with three pilgrims sharing one room. Families with children under 12 years of age are required to pay half the fare amount.

Another travel agent said a five-day package to Makkah and Madinah including travel and accommodations expenses will cost a pilgrim SR150. The offer includes a two-day stay in a three-star hotel in Madinah and another two-day lodging in a similar rating hotel in Makkah. This five-day journey begins on Monday and ends on Friday, with pilgrims leaving Makkah after Friday prayers and reaching Riyadh around midnight. Pilgrims are given an option to choose a five star facility, with an additional payment charge.

There are nearly 200 Umrah travel operators spread across the capital, however they are largely concentrated in the city center area of Batha.

During the journey, coaches stop three times to allow pilgrims to pray Maghrib and Isha prayers and to wear their ihram clothing (the two pieces of white cloth that each male pilgrim must wear prior to performing Haj or Umrah) at the meeqat in Taif.

Two coaches carrying Sri Lankan pilgrims left for Makkah yesterday, organized by the Riyadh-based Muslim Council, charging SR 150 per pilgrim and offering two meals during the journey.

The Dawah centers in the city are also organizing Umrah packages free-of-charge to single Muslims in the capital. According to Moulavi Ramadan from the Rawdah Center, there will be weekly trips to Makkah for this segment of the society.

In addition, local hotels in Madinah in liaison with local tour operators have arranged sightseeing visits to historical sites for the benefit of pilgrims who come to Madinah. The guided tours will include a visit to the to the Prophet’s mosque as well as other historically important sites such as the Quba mosque, which is one of the oldest mosques in the world and was built by prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) during his emigration from Makkah to Madinah and the Qiblatain Mosque where the Qibla (the direction of prayer) was shifted from Al-Aqsa Mosque to the holy Kaaba.

http://www.arabnews.com/attractive-u...local-pilgrims