Makkah News and Updates

by Dynamic Energy - 1 May 2013

A joint venture between Lebanon’s Khatib&Alami and Turkey’s Istanbul Ulasim won the consultancy services contract for a new metro in Madinah. The client for the project is the local Madinah Development Authority.

The full scope of works includes preparing a feasibility study, the architectural design, the static and electro-mechanical works, as well, as preparing the tender documents for the construction and consultancy for the first metro line.

The metro will link the airport to the Prophet’s mosque. Early estimates suggest the project will cost at least $1bn to construct.

https://twitter.com/DynamicEnergySA 26.02.2013

Google translated from Turkish:

For the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia organized the tender for the Medina Public Transit and Metro Engineering 'Istanbul Transportation Inc., a subsidiary of IMM. won!

The metro project will be built in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia, leading up to the 'Public Transit and Metro Engineering Medina tender' Istanbul Transport & SCEC (Khatib & Alami) won the partnership. According to Medina, urban rail and other public transportation systems, including feasibility studies for the construction and operation processes of supplying services to be provided by the Istanbul Transportation. The purpose of the subway will be built from the pilgrims travel to the applicant to provide more convenient and faster.

Medina Development Board in February, completing assessments Istanbul Transport Inc. sent an official letter to the outcome of the tender to the Istanbul Transportation Co. 't invited to sign a contract for engineering and consultancy work. Previously the province of Istanbul Transport in Lahore, Pakistan Penjap Metrobus line is put into operation recently prepared projects.

Within the scope of the Medina counseling;

Modeling of all the public transport system of the city of Madinah Munawara i; subway system, the preparation of the tender for the construction projects; metro project financing, line construction, operation and maintenance of the comparative evaluation of alternative methods, and preparation of tender documents are subjects such as engineering and consulting.

Comes to the metro line for the city of Medina is going to be the first urban rail system implementation, the line length of about 30 km from the first phase of the Medina's Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, and Dhul-Hulaifah (fasts Mosque) projected to cross. In addition, this subway line, close to the Prophet's Mosque and Mecca and Medina, which was built between the pass from Haramain Speed ​​Railway Line stations.

Original text in Turkish:

Suudi Arabistan’ın Medine şehri için düzenlenen ‘Medine Toplu Ulaşım ve Metro Mühendislik ihalesini' İBB iştiraki olan İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ. kazandı!

Suudi Arabistan'ın Medine şehrinde inşa edilecek olan metro projesi için çıkılan ‘Medine Toplu Ulaşım ve Metro Mühendislik ihalesini’ İstanbul Ulaşım & SCEC (Khatib & Alami) ortaklığı kazandı. Buna göre Medine kent içi raylı sistem ve diğer toplu ulaşım sistemleri yapım ve işletme süreçlerini kapsayan fizibilite çalışmaları hizmet temini İstanbul Ulaşım tarafından sağlanacak. İnşa edilecek metronun amacı gelen hacı adaylarının daha rahat ve hızlı seyahat edebilmesini sağlamak.

Medine Kalkınma Kurulu, Şubat ayında değerlendirmelerini tamamlayarak İstanbul Ulaşım A.Ş’ye ihale sonucuna ilişkin resmi bir yazı göndermiş ve İstanbul Ulaşım A.Ş’yi mühendislik müşavirlik işi için sözleşme imzalamaya davet etmişti. İstanbul Ulaşım daha evvel de Pakistan’ın Penjap eyaletinin Lahor şehrinde yakın zamanda işletmeye açılmış olan metrobüs hattının projelerini hazırlamıştı.

Medine danışmanlık işi kapsamında;

Medine-i Münevvere şehrinin bütün toplu taşıma sisteminin modellenmesi; metro sistemine ait yapım ihalesi projelerinin hazırlanması; metro projesinin finansmanı, hattın inşası, işletmesi ve bakımı konusunda alternatif metotların karşılaştırılmalı değerlendirmesi; ve ihale dokümanlarının hazırlanması gibi mühendislik ve müşavirlik konuları bulunuyor.

Söz konusu metro hattı Medine şehri için ilk kent içi raylı sistem uygulaması olacak olup, hattın yaklaşık 30 km uzunluktaki ilk aşaması, Medine Prens Muhammed Bin Abdulaziz Uluslararası Havalimanı ve Dhul-Hulaifah (Mikat Camii) arası için projelendirilecek. Ayrıca bu metro hattı, Peygamber Efendimizin Mescidi yakınından ve Mekke ile Medine arasına inşa edilen Haremeyn Hızlı Tren Hattı’nın istasyonu yanından geçmektedir.

http://www.ibb.gov.tr/tr-TR/Pages/Ha...0#.UYEHskqunXI

30 Apr 2013

SAUDI ARABIA: A column line array system from JBL has been installed to cover the piazza at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The project was handled by audio consultant Ahmad Tekin Topuzdag who has served as the sound system manager for the two holy mosques for over a decade.

‘Due to extreme sun and heat, a few years back the entire piazza of Prophet’s Mosque was installed with 250 26m x 26m umbrella-like canopies, designed by SL-Rasch GmbH. Altec Lancing Horn speakers were already installed around the perimeter of the mosque to cover the piazza and surrounding areas,’ explained Mr Topuzdag. ‘However, after the installation of the new shades, the sound from the horn speakers was blocked and reflected by the new umbrellas.’

The degradation of the sound quality in this area was noticed by officials from the mosque, and an acoustic study was requested to find a temporary solution and improve the sound in general in this area. ‘The 73 horn speakers installed around perimeter had a limited frequency response of 500Hz to 10KHz,’ recalled Mr Topuzdag. ‘Therefore, Topuzdag Acoustic Consultancy took the opportunity to implement a much better frequency response in the piazza with a new sound reinforcement system.’

The initial measurements showed that the 257,000 sq-m piazza would require a further 130,000W to provide a uniform 84dBA coverage throughout. With this in mind, Mr Topuzdag designed a new system based around products from Harman Professional.

The new system centres on 140 JBL CBT 70J-1 line array column speakers with a further 85 CBT 70JE-1 extensions to provide extended bass response. ‘The JBL CBT 70J-1 series speakers have a perfect frequency response of 60Hz -20kHz as well as J shaped curving. This gives the speaker unique passive asymmetrical coverage resulting in even front to back SPLs,’ explained Mr Topuzdag. ‘Due to this, those pilgrims standing virtually underneath the cabinets do not get the disturbingly loud sound that you would expect from such powerful speakers.

‘However, the open area needed a punchier sound, therefore an additional +3dB in the 100Hz to 400Hz frequency range was required,’ continues Mr Topuzdag. ‘This was solved by adding 85 JBL CBT 70JE-1 woofers to the system.’

The 225 JBL CBT speakers are powered by 32 Crown CDi 6000 amplifiers. ‘The overall power of the system is almost 160,000W which actually exceeds power requirements of the speakers,’ said Mr Topuzdag. ‘However, this extra power was required to compensate for loss of power over long cable runs. In certain areas we had to lay 500m of cable to reach some speaker locations.’

The entire system is controlled by a single BSS Blu 160 signal processor. According to Mr Topuzdag, this equipment was particularly useful when it came to using different delays for different speakers.

The final part of the system is 225 140V/600W custom made line matching transformers from Edcor. ‘Each speaker had to pair with an Edcor custom made transformer to match the high amplifier voltage output,’ explains Mr Topuzdag. ‘With such great distances we couldn’t use the speaker’s native 8-ohm impedance.’

The result the new system has produced is something Mr Topuzdag is clearly very proud of. ‘Once the system was set and we went live, the result was amazing. Not only did we have uniform SPLs throughout the mosque’s piazza, we also achieved a perfect balance of the entire frequency range,’ he smiles. ‘As a result we now have an STI better than 0.7 (for male weighting) in many locations. In fact, outside the mosque now sounds better than inside thanks to the JBL CBT 70JE-1 woofers. This is especially true with bass preacher Sheikh Ali Hudayfe and baritone preacher Sheikh Abdul Muhsin al Qasim performing.’

http://www.proaudio-central.com/arti...-Mosque-piazza

Makkah, Jumada II 21, 1434, May 1, 2013, SPA

Under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, Chairman of Hajj Supreme Committee, and Chairman of Supreme Supervisory Committee of Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research, opened here on Tuesday evening the 13th Scientific Forum for Hajj and Umrah Research held by the Institute at Umm Al-Qura University.

Upon arrival at the venue, the Prince was received by the Minister of Higher Education and Member of the Institute's Supreme Supervisory Committee Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Anqari, the University's Rector Dr. Bakri bin Matouk Asas and a number of officials.

Addressing the Forum, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz said, "It's a pleasure to meet you on this occasion of opening the Forum under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, within the framework of the King's attention and care for the Two Holy Mosques, their construction and expansion, and his care for pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors to perform their rituals easily and comfortably.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1105004

Thursday 2 May 2013

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has described the state of gas stations and rest houses located along highways leading to Makkah as deplorable. This is especially glaring as these centers are frequented by Muslims when they head to perform Haj and Umrah, he said.

Prince Khaled’s remarks came as he addressed a meeting, which was held to discuss ways to improve and develop gas stations and rest houses on highways in the region. The meeting in Jeddah was attended by a number of officials, operators and owners.

The governor said the Kingdom was undergoing a major development process, stressing the fact that everyone wanted to see the Makkah region as an Islamic and Arab model. “We know that this spot attracts millions of visitors.”

He appreciated the attendance of the owners of gas stations and rest houses at the meeting, which, he said, indicates their keenness to develop the centers.

Undersecretary to the Makkah Governorate Abdul Aziz Khudairy said the meeting was called to discuss ways to improve the standard of rest houses.
There will be a joint program involving the governorate, municipalities and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, in addition to road and transport management to improve the quality of services in these centers, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/450160

2 May 2013

A number of cities in the kingdom are pushing forward with plans to develop metro networks

The number of pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia for hajj or umrah pilgrimages is set to boom in the coming years and will place unique pressures on the country’s transport infrastructure.

More than 3 million pilgrims visited the kingdom last year during hajj. With so many religious tourists visiting the country, there is inevitably congestion on the roads linking up Islam’s holy sites in Medina and Mecca, as well as within the cities themselves.

Medina metro - Against this backdrop, efforts to build metro systems are ramping up. The Turkish/Lebanese joint venture between Khatib & Alami and Istanbul Ulasim has just won the consultancy services contract for a new metro system within Medina. The metro will connect into the Haramain high-speed railway line, which is currently under construction and links the city to Mecca.

Jeddah metro - Jeddah, one of the main entry points for pilgrims, is also pushing forward its metro plans. In March, Jeddah Metro Company, a joint-venture between Jeddah Municipality and Jeddah Urban Development Company, was formed and is reviewing how to develop the project.

Mecca metro - Mecca itself has had a metro system in place for the past two years. However, Mecca Municipality is now looking for consultants to project manage a transport scheme, which includes a mass rail transit project.

Riyadh metro - Riyadh’s planned metro is at the most advanced stage, with bids for construction contracts being evaluated.

With contracts due to be awarded or tendered on several of these metro projects in the coming months, momentum is clearly gathering behind Saudi’s ambitious transport plans.

http://www.meed.com/sectors/transpor...177221.article

Friday 26 April 2013

Six members of a Pakistani family died in a car crash on Wednesday morning near Zulum, 170 km from Taif, on the Riyadh-Jeddah Highway.

The fatal accident occurred when Mohammed Ghulam Chirag and his family were heading to Makkah to perform Umrah. Their car had apparently swerved onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into a trailer heading to Riyadh from Jeddah.

Civil Defense and Saudi Red Crescent personnel pulled the bodies from the wreckage. There were three survivors including the trailer driver, also a Pakistani.

Sixteen-year-old Bushra, a survivor, sustained head injuries and had fractures to her left leg and hand. She is currently being treated at King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif. Bushra is a niece of Chirag. Bushra's parents traveled from Jubail yesterday to see her in hospital. Relatives in Jubail also visited her yesterday.

Another relative of the family and the truck driver were treated at a hospital in Zulum for minor injuries.

While speaking to Arab News by phone, Bushra seemed unaware of the fact that her cousins, uncle and aunt had died in the accident.

The dead were identified as Chirag, 44, Zeenat Saleem, 38, Maaz Saleem, 13, Sarah Fatima, 6, Kanin Haider, 2, and Zahid Latif, 22. Their bodies were taken to King Faisal Hospital in Taif. The family is from Multan in Pakistan.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/449478
3 May 2013 - 23 Jumada Al-Akhir 1434 H

MAKKAH — Two drivers were injured after a bus crashed into a truck in Arafat. All 30 of the passengers on the bus walked away from the scene of the accident unscathed while the drivers of both vehicles sustained several injuries. Both men had to be evacuated by Civil Defense rescue teams. They were taken to Al-Noor Specialist Hospital for treatment. Makkah Traffic Department said it is still investigating the cause of the accident.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130503164070

2 May 2013

Google translated from indonesian

PT Waskita Karya Tbk (WSKT) continue to expand my business overseas. After getting one of Waskita projects abroad by renovating the Grand Mosque, Saudi Arabia, this time owned the construction company to renovate the project targeting the Prophet's Mosque, Saudi Arabia.

Director of Waskita, M Choliq, said so far Waskita relationship with Bin Laden as the prime contractor is very good so it can do a lot of projects in the Middle East in the past five years.

"This project will further make the Waskita good reputation in the Middle East in addition to profit from this prestigious project," said M Choliq in Building Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI), Jakarta, Thursday (2/5).

Meanwhile, Director of operations II Clairvoyant Agus Sugiono optimistic to get this project, the article of the expansion project for Muslims holy mosque has been used as a royal prerogative delegated to the Bin Laden Group.

"Hopefully the government of Saudi Arabia immediately implemented in the near future," he said.

So far the company has always considered both project work along with the bin Laden group with a sub-contractor. For instance, Waskita has managed to build Riyadh Riyadh University and the Financial District. Meanwhile, for the long-term renovation project is still ongoing and the Grand Mosque started in the first section.

http://www.merdeka.com/uang/setelah-...id-nabawi.html