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#2236 [Permalink] Posted on 22nd May 2013 12:58
 
Mataf expansion progress

20 May 2013







17 May 2013

 
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#2237 [Permalink] Posted on 22nd May 2013 13:45
 
King Abdullah gate minarets

March 2013







 
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#2238 [Permalink] Posted on 22nd May 2013 19:11
 
Launch of the logo
 

"the identity of al Madinah al Monawarah"

تدشين شعار "هوية المدينة المنورة"

لمدينة المنورة: الوطن 2013-05-21

دشن الرئيس العام للهيئة العليا للسياحة والآثار الأمير سلطان بن سلمان بن عبدالعزيز شعار الهوية السياحية لمنطقة المدينة وذلك على هامش الملتقى الثاني لأصحاب المتاحف الخاصة.

وأوضح المدير التنفيذي لفرع الهيئة العامة للسياحة والآثار في المدينة المنورة الدكتور يوسف حمزة المزيني، أن تصميم الشعار جاء بعد دراسة أهم عناصر الجذب السياحي في المنطقة، كما توصلت الهيئة بالتعاون مع شركائها من القطاعين العام والخاص إلى شعار الهوية المناسب.

مرجعا اختيار قبة طيبة الخضراء إلى ربط الزائر بمنطقة المدينة المنورة بأهم معالمها المعروفة بمجرد أن يرى الشعار الذي يجسد مفهوم الهوية للمدينة المنورة وألوانها المستمدة من بعض ملامح المنطقة الجغرافية والتراثية التي تمتاز بها، وأشار المزيني إلى أن الشعار خليط من مجموعة رسوم ترمز لمنظومة مقومات السياحة واستوحي بشكل خاص من النخلة كأحد المقومات الزراعية والاقتصادية لمنطقة المدينة المنورة ورمز لها، واشتمل أيضا على تنوع المقومات السياحية في المنطقة والمدينة المنورة بمكانتها الدينية وما تزخر به من مواقع التاريخ الإسلامي، والمواقع الأثرية ومدائن صالح إضافة إلى المواقع الطبيعية، وما تزخر به من التراث العمراني.

مفيدا بأن إطلاق الهوية السياحية للمدينة المنورة يدل على تبلور الشخصية المميزة للسياحة فيها بعد تحديد المقومات وسمات الجذب فيها، وأن هذا التشكل سيكون المرتكز الأساس الذي تقوم عليه دعائم النجاح المرتقب بإذن الله للعمل السياحي في المنطقة والذي على ضوئه ستقوم الهيئة مع شركائها في إمارة منطقة المدينة المنورة ومجلس التنمية السياحية بتشكيله الجديد والقطاعات الحكومية والمستثمرين والقطاع الخاص بتكوين صناعة فاعلة ومتطورة للنشاط السياحي في منطقة المدينة المنورة.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Culture/Ne...6&CategoryID=7

Google translation: 21 May 2013

Inaugurated President-General of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the logo of the tourist identity of the city and the region on the sidelines of the second forum for owners of private museums.

The Executive Director of the branch of the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities in Medina Dr Youssef Muzeini, logo design that came after a study of the most important elements of the tourist attractions in the area, also reached the Commission in cooperation with its partners from the public and private sectors to the appropriate logo identity.

Reference selection Dome good green to link the visitor in Medina of the most important landmarks known once to see the slogan that embodies the concept of identity for the city of Medina and colors derived from some of the features of the geographical area and heritage characterized by, and pointed Mozainy that logo mixture of a fee symbolize the system components of tourism and inspired particularly from Palm as one of the ingredients of agricultural and economic development of the Medina and the symbol of it, and included also the diversity of tourism potential in the region and Medina its position as religious and wealth of sites of Islamic history, archaeological sites and Madain Saleh, in addition to natural sites, and the wealth of architectural heritage.

Useful to launch identity tourist city of Medina indicating crystallization personal characteristic of tourism where after selecting ingredients and attributes attraction where, and that this conformation will be based foundation of the pillars of success expected, God willing, to work tourism in the region and that the light of the authority would with its partners in the Emirate city area Medina and the Tourist Development Council formation of the new government sectors and private sector investors and the composition of active and sophisticated industry of tourism activity in the Medina area.
 
 




 
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#2239 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2013 00:25
 
Haj Ministry completed e-govt system

23 May 2013 - 13 Rajab 1434 H

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Haj has completed its e-government system, called Yusr, allowing visitors to complete certain transactions online.

Yusr will restructure all of the ministry’s work and link it electronically with the other ministries, government sectors, companies and establishments working in Haj and Umrah affairs. The ministry has also trained staff to facilitate the new system.

Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar said the standard of services being provided to Haj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque will be constantly upgraded.

He said the ministry held continuous meetings with officials of Yusr, as well as representatives of the ministries of finance and communications and information technology and the Commission for Information Technology and Communications (CITC).

The objective was to ensure that all the work, programs and services of the Ministry of Haj is facilitated by e-government.

The Ministry of Haj is at the forefront of the e-government initiative being adopted by the Kingdom’s government to achieve sustainable development in Saudi Arabia, said Hajjar.

This is due to the ministry’s belief that Yusr is a program allowing anyone to obtain Haj Ministry services from anywhere at any time in a secure fashion.

Hajjar said the ministry is working in reducing centralization in implementing e-government transactions as much as possible. He said the ministry has taken time to implement Yusr on a phased basis. He said the ministry has been able to use technology in all kinds of services provided to authorities and individuals.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130523166965
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#2240 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2013 02:06
 
Saudis minimise Umrah visas for Pakistanis


Limit of 25,000 Umrah visas during coming Ramadan


May 21, 2013

The Saudi government has minimised the number of visas for Umrah during coming Ramadan to 25,000 only whereas last year this number was 125,000, said a travel agent on Monday.

He said that travel agents have issued 52000 tickets to the pilgrims across the country for the coming Ramadan and these tickets are non-refundable. Tickets are issued by 12 airlines including PIA.

A PIA officer seeking anonymity said that the PML-N upcoming government should take up the issue with the Saudi government since it would be a matter of big loss not only for the PIA and other airlines but for poor pilgrims also. He said that the PIA would be bound to operate its Jumbo and B-777LR and B-777ER for Umrah operation whether or not there was passengers load on the flight. Ultimately the PIA would have to operate under load flights causing huge losses of revenue. A travel agent on condition of anonymity said that the PIA had already minimised its Umrah fares by Rs 48,000 and it was viable by May 30, 2013 but now due to the prevailing situation he hoped that this discounted fare would prolong by June 15.

By the coming Ramadan the fare could go down further because the Saudi government has minimised the number of visas by 25,000 for all Pakistan and 0.5 millions visas for all over the world, while last year this number was 1.35 million. The Saudi authorities were of the view that they were on the extension of ‘Haramain’ and for that purpose they were trying to issue minimum visas so that pilgrims could be given better boarding lodging facilities.

The Saudi government has also asked travel agents to ensure the return of their Umrah pilgrims first batch they sent otherwise no new visa would be issued to them for further batches. A travel agent said that there was a general trend among the people from some areas that they try to slip in Saudi Arabia after performing of Umrah.

At present there were about 6,000 Pakistanis in the jails of Saudi Arabia who were held by the Saudi authorities after overstay. Now The Saudi government has asked the Pakistani government to transport back those overstaying pilgrims. The PIA has taken responsibility for 100 such passengers to transport them to Pakistan. Travel agents have appealed to the coming government of Mian Nawaz Sharif to take up the matter with the Saudi govt and resolve the issue.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...for-pakistanis
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#2241 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2013 02:07
 
 
Pilgrims’agency licenses 2,763 buildings in Makkah

Thursday 23 May 2013

Zuhair Haddad, head of the pilgrims housing committee in Makkah, said it has issued 2,763 building permits since it started work at the beginning of the year.

The buildings will have the capacity for 770,000 pilgrims, he added. Haddad said the committee wants to cater for 1.6 million Haj visitors this year.

He said there is 21 days left for the committee to receive applications from citizens who want permits to construct buildings. There are not enough accommodations for at least 600,000 pilgrims.

Haddad added that the committee is working to complete the applications as fast as possible, providing that all the documents and conditions are received for the building permits.

The committee is looking at 500 building permit applications with a capacity to house 200,000 pilgrims.

“We hope it will be enough for the required capacity, and if we don’t achieved that we look toward other options,” Haddad added.

He said the process of the ongoing expansion in the central area of Makkah has not created shortages in the overall building capacities that have been permitted for the pilgrims.

He added that the hotels have a capacity to house 400,000. However, he added that the committee has closed 30 Haj residences, which are in violation of standards in Makkah.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/452619
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#2242 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2013 21:22
 
Madinah Capital of Islamic Culture

Remained next to Quba mosque for months

Remove tent suitable for Capital
 
of Islamic Culture

ظلت بجوار مسجد قباء شهرين
إزالـة خيمـة منـاسـبة عاصمة الثقافة الإسلامية


18 May 2013

أزالت الأمانة العامة للاحتفاء بمناسبة اختيار المدينة عاصمة للثقافة الإسلامية، الخيمة الرئيسية للمناسبة المقامة بجوار مسجد قباء بعد أن ظلت في موقعها لأكثر من شهرين دون استخدام.

وأشار عدد من المصلين الى أن وجود الخيمة بعد انتهاء المناسبة كان يضيق عليهم، وبإزالتها ستعود الأمور لوضعها الطبيعي ويستفيد المصلون من مكانها في أداء صلواتهم بأريحية تامة، خاصة انه يقام فيها مشروع إفطار الصائمين في شهر رمضان المبارك.

كما أنشأت الأمانة العامة للمناسبة خيمة العقيق التي خصصت لاحتضان باقي الفعاليات.

http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20...0518601775.htm

Google translation: Removed the Secretariat to mark the occasion of choosing the city as the capital of Islamic culture, the main tent for the occasion, built next to the mosque of Quba after that has been in place for more than two months without use.

A number of worshipers to the presence of Al Khaimah after the end of the occasion was narrowing them, and remove things will return to normal worshipers and benefit from its place in the performance of their prayers comfortably full, especially as the draft is held breakfast fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

As established by the Secretariat of the suitable tent garnet that allocated to embrace the rest of the events.

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#2243 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2013 21:23
 
Run 3 floors of "Mataf Expansion"
 
project in Ramadan

8 000 workers continue to the completion
of the first phase day and night


تشغيل 3 طوابق بمشروع "توسعة المطاف" في رمضان
8 آلاف عامل يواصلون إنجاز المرحلة الأولى ليل نهار


عمال يواصلون عملهم في مشروع توسعة المطاف
Workers continue to work in the Mataf expansion project

2013-05-21

كشف الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي الشيخ الدكتور عبد الرحمن بن عبد العزيز السديس عن أن المرحلة الأولى من مشروع خادم الحرمين الشريفين لتوسعة المطاف، ستشهد الاستفادة من 3 طوابق، هي القبو والأرضي والأول، خلال شهر رمضان المقبل، وذلك لاستيعاب أكبر عدد ممكن من الطائفين. وأوضح أن نحو 8 آلاف عامل يواصلون العمل ليل نهار لإنجاز المرحلة الأولى، لافتا إلى أن الطاقة الاستيعابية ستصل إلى 150 ألف طائف في الساعة في حال اكتمال المشروع. وألمح الى أن المشروع يمر بثلاث مراحل، حيث سيتم الانتهاء في كل عام من مرحلة منها، مبينا أن المشروع يشتمل على إنشاء مستويات فوق التوسعة السعودية الأولى، وإنزال مستوى الأروقة إلى مستوى صحن المطاف حاليا، وإيجاد مساحات خالية من العوائق داخل الأروقة.

وأفاد الشيخ السديس بأن المشروع يشتمل كذلك على منظومة متكاملة لطواف وسعي ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة، إضافة الى منظومة شبكة جسور المشاة الخارجية، التي ستسهم في تنظيم حركة الحشود داخل المسجد الحرام. وأضاف أن المشروع سيتضمن العديد من الأنظمة الأساسية والتكميلية، التي ستحدث نقلة نوعية كبرى في منظومة الخدمات التي سيستفيد منها كل قاصد للمسجد الحرام.

من جهتها، دعت الشركة المنفذة للمشروع المصلين إلى الابتعاد عن أماكن العمل، وتخفيف التردد على المسجد الحرام حتى يكتمل هذا المشروع المبارك.

يشار إلى أن المرحلة الأولى للمشروع، والتي جاءت من الناحية الشرقية، تمثل عنق زجاجة الطواف، حيث تحاذي المسعى، وتشمل النصف الشمالي الشرقي من المسجد الحرام، وتنتهي في الناحية الجنوبية مقابل باب وسلالم الصفا الكهربائية. وسيكون المطاف خاليا من العوائق والمخاطر، إلى جانب رفع مستوى الخدمات باستخدام أحدث الأنظمة والتقنيات للارتقاء بالخدمة المقدمة لقاصدي المسجد الحرام. وتشمل الخدمات أنظمة الصوت والإضاءة والتكييف. وروعي في كافة أجزاء المطاف أعلى معايير الجودة والسلامة لقاصدي المسجد الحرام. وسيبقي المشروع على واجهة الحرم القديم المطل على صحن الطواف، فيما تقتصر الإزالة على التوسعة السعودية الأولى باستثناء البوابات الرئيسية والمنائر، ومع المحافظة على الحرم القديم سيتم تخفيض منسوبه ليحاذي منسوب صحن الطواف ويرتبط بدور القبو. وسيؤمن المشروع ارتباطاً فعالاً ومباشراً بين الساحات الخارجية وصحن الطواف من دون تداخل في الحركة مع مستخدمي الدور الأرضي. وسيستثنى من واجهة الحرم القديم الواجهة الشرقية، وهي واجهة خرسانية جرى إعادة إنشائها أكثر من مرة في السنوات العشر الأخيرة لتوسعة الممر المحاذي للمسعى الذي يشكل عنق الزجاجة في المطاف في أروقة الدور الأول والسطح، وتمت تكسيتها بحجر الشميسي القديم. وسيتم تدعيم وتقوية الحرم القديم بطرق هندسية غير مسبوقة للإبقاء على كافة عناصره أثناء أعمال تخفيض المنسوب. كما سيخفف المشروع من تعارض الحركة والاختناقات القائمة بسبب التزايد المستمر في أعداد قاصدي المسجد الحرام، وسيرفع من مستوى وجودة وتنوع الخدمات التي سيحظى بها الحجاج والمعتمرون والزوار.

http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Local/News...8&CategoryID=5

Google translation: 2013-05-21

Detection President General for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al Sudais that the first phase of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the Mataf expansion, will take advantage of the 3 floors, is the basement and the ground and first, during the holy month of Ramadan, so as to accommodate the largest possible number of الطائفين. He pointed out that about 8 thousand workers continue to work day and night to complete the first phase, pointing out that the capacity will reach 150 thousand Careers in time if the project is completed. He hinted that the project passes through three stages, which will be completed in each stage of them, noting that the project includes the establishment of levels above the first Saudi extension, and take down the hallway level to dish up now, finding a barrier-free spaces inside the hallway.

Sheikh Sudais reported that the project also includes an integrated system to Cruising and seek with special needs, in addition to the system of external pedestrian bridges network, which will contribute to regulate the movement of the crowd inside the Grand Mosque. He said the project will include many of the basic and supplementary regulations, which will take place a major qualitative leap in the system services, which will benefit all Qassed of the Grand Mosque.

For its part, called on the company executing the project worshipers to stay away from the workplace, and reduce the frequency of the Grand Mosque to complete this blessed project.

It is noteworthy that the first phase of the project, which came from the eastern side, represents the bottleneck of wandering, where bordering the endeavor, including the north-eastern half of the Sacred Mosque, and ends in the south against the gate and electric ladders Safa. It will be finally free of obstacles and risks, as well as raise the level of services using the latest systems and techniques to improve the service provided to قاصدي the Grand Mosque. Services include sound and lighting systems and air conditioning. And taken into account in all parts of the day the highest standards of quality and safety to قاصدي the Grand Mosque. It will keep the project on the front of the old campus overlooking the courtyard of wandering, while the removal is limited to the first Saudi extension except the main gates and lighthouses, while maintaining the old campus will be reduced in proportion to align the the circumambulation dish and level associated with the role of the cellar. The project will provide a link directly effective and between squares of Foreign Affairs and wandering dish without overlapping in motion with users of the ground floor. And سيستثنى of Old Campus interface eastern façade, a concrete interface was rebuilt more than once in the last ten years for the expansion of the corridor adjacent to the effort, which is the bottleneck in the day in the corridors of the first floor and the roof, and has تكسيتها with Shemaysi stone old. Will be to consolidate and strengthen the old campus geometric unprecedented ways to keep all the elements during the acts attributed to reduction. The project also will ease of movement and opposes existing bottlenecks due to the continued increase in the number of قاصدي the Sacred Mosque, and will raise the level of quality and diversity of services that you will receive the pilgrims and Umrah and visitors.

 

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#2244 [Permalink] Posted on 24th May 2013 11:40
 
Vertical expansion proposed to solve
 
Madinah housing crunch

24 May 2013 - 14 Rajab 1434 H

MADINAH — Realtors and specialists called for allowing multiple-floor residential buildings in the neighborhoods between Madinah’s second and third ring roads.

Only two-floor buildings are allowed in these neighborhoods, and allowing for more floors will help in combating the accommodation problem in the holy city.

Dr. Bakr Harras, assistant professor of architecture at Taibah University, said Madinah should be a special case city with regard to building regulations.

Madinah is linked to the growth of the Islamic world and as the Islamic world grows, so will visitors to Madinah, he said.

As such, expansion in residential buildings should be continual to cater for the increase in demand.

He said the areas adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque should belong to the mosque’s authorities and should be separated from the residential areas. He said residential expansion in Madinah should be horizontal and restricted to three-story buildings.

At the same time, there should be measures to allow expansion for the sake of future generations, he said.

Hotels, however, should expand vertically and allowed more floors than currently allowed, he claimed.

Realtor Ayedh Al-Senani said residents have for years been calling for allowing at least three floors in buildings within the third ring road area.

He added that no doubt a horizontal expansion is best suited for Madinah if all necessary services and infrastructure are available.

Real estate investor Abdulrahman Al-Selaimi said the effects of banning multi-story buildings include traffic congestion, crowds of shoppers and high rent.

Madinah is in dire need of suburban land schemes with necessary services, he said.

However, the head of the real estate committee at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghazi Qutub, said the neighborhoods between the second and third ring roads were designed to be low-density areas.

Allowing more floors in these neighborhoods would increase pressure on available services and require additional unplanned services.

He believes the solution is to start new land development schemes and provide the necessary services to make them suitable for living.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130524167058
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#2245 [Permalink] Posted on 24th May 2013 11:41
Makarim strengthens hotel
 
presence in Makkah

May 22, 2013

Makarim Hospitality Group, the hotel and resorts arm of Saudi Hotels & Resort Company (Sharaco) has signed an operation and management contract with Shorofat Alsafwa Company for a property in Makkah, anticipated to open Q3 2013.

The four-star 104-key room Makarim Shorofat Hotel brings Makarim Hospitality Group’s tally in the Holy City to over 1400 rooms across five hotels – the brand boasts more than 2000 hotel rooms overall in the KSA.

The contract was signed in April by Dr. Badr bin Hamoud AlBadr, CEO, Sharaco and Mr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Maagel on behalf of Shorofat Alsafwa Company in the presence of Mr. Sultan bin Badr AlOtaibi, GM, Makarim Hospitality Group.

Commenting on the deal Dr. Badr said: "The number of clients served in Makarim Hotels has exceeded 2 million, and the growth in occupancy in 2012 reached 12%. This comes in line with the new strategy of the reorganisation of the company, which focuses on expansion in the field of management and operation.”

Dr Badr also confirmed that a strong hotel presence in Makkah resulted in a growth of revenue for Makarim Hospitality Group of 20% in 2012.

http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/17.../#.UZ6_oUpEpTU
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#2246 [Permalink] Posted on 24th May 2013 11:44
 
Photography competition, entitled

'Inspiring Makkah'

__________________

Raffles Makkah Palace launches
 
photography competition


Friday, 24 May 2013 - 14 Rajab 1434 H

JEDDAH — In an innovative move that aims to highlight the diversity of the Holy City while supporting emerging artists, the renowned Raffles Makkah Palace has teamed up with the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts to announce its first annual photography competition in the Kingdom.

Titled “Inspiring Makkah,” the goal of the competition is to celebrate the dynamic and unique culture of Makkah.

This is the first time that a global photography competition of this kind has taken place in the Kingdom; and the first to specifically focus on the holiest city on Earth for more than 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide.

The competition supports emerging and professional photographers by providing a platform to showcase their amazing talent, promoting their work, providing financial awards, and creating networking opportunities with distinguished photographers from Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world.

“Raffles Hotels and Resorts have a long tradition of supporting local arts and heritage. The competition is also a valuable opportunity to reflect the vitality and dynamism of the Holy City to the whole world,” said Khaled Yamak, director of communications and business development of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Makkah.

Expectations are high that creative photographers from across the globe will strive to capture the beauty, the essence, and the spirit of the place that Muslims hold dearest to their hearts.

The submission opened from May 10 and will continue until June 10. All entries will be judged by a panel of well known, professional photographers and experts in the field.

The 2013 panelists are: photography professor at the Institute of Technical and Vocational Training Mohammed Al-Malki, photographers Suzan Iskander, Issam Knafani, Lamia Al Rumaih and Mariam Beydoun. Criteria for evaluation include technique, creativity, composition and innovation.

“We really hope to see a very broad range of entries that reflect the city’s diversity. Makkah is the center of the Muslim world, and we are looking for participants to capture the passion and intensity of the city and people’s relationship with this amazing sacred place,” said Al-Malki, whose award winning portfolio includes aerial photography of Masjid Al Haram and Makkah. Winners of the competition will be announced on June 30.

The winner of the competition will be awarded a cash prize of SR 10,000 as well as a complimentary ticket and two night stay at Raffles Makkah Palace. As for the second and third place winners they will be awarded SR 5,000 and SR 2,500 respectively. An additional category has also been opened: a special “people’s choice” award of SR 2,500 will be given to the image that receives the most votes on Facebook.

There will also be at least 24 selected works that will be featured at a coffee table book and an exhibition to be held in Raffles Makkah Palace at a later date.

The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers eighteen years or above. All photos must be submitted to https://www.facebook.com/RafflesMakkahPalace and [email protected].

Each entrant can submit up to three images for consideration by the judges and the deadline for submissions is June 10.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130524167060
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#2247 [Permalink] Posted on 24th May 2013 12:33
 
Walls to be built around
 
rail tracks at holy sites


The government is planning to build a 20-km long wall to encircle rail tracks at the holy sites.
Friday 24 May 2013

Work is now under way to build a wall encircling the train tracks connecting the holy sites at Makkah, an official of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has said.

Deputy Minister Habeeb Zayn Al-Abideen said the ministry called for bids from companies for the maintenance and operation of the train.

“The wall will be 20-km long and will cost SR 14.5 million,” he told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News.

“It is being built to stop violators from boarding the train. Last year, around 200,000 people used the train from Muzdalifah to Mina without having tickets.
“Bid envelops will be opened on Saturday. The company that is awarded the contract will have to allocate 30 percent of its workforce to Saudis during its first year. This percentage must be gradually increased until it reaches 80 percent in the fifth year,” he said.

The Ministry has asked the Chinese company that is currently operating the train to keep doing so during the next Haj season.

“We will not raise ticket prices, which currently stands at SR 250 for the entire trip during Haj. We will expand the current station at Muzdalifah to accommodate as many passengers as possible,” he said.

During last year’s Haj season, the train transported more than 90,000 pilgrims per hour using 20 modern cars. The longest trip, which is between Mina and Arafat, takes about 14 minutes. During the first three days of Haj, the train transported more than a million pilgrims.

The train began operations three years ago to help alleviate congestion at the holy sites. The use of trains has eliminated 70,000 buses, which were the only means of transportion in the past. The former bus area can now accommodate around 450,000 pilgrims.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/452737
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#2248 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2013 14:55
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#2249 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2013 15:04
 
Coronavirus News

_______________________

A Tunisian man died of SARS-like virus
after Mecca pilgrimage


GENEVA, Switzerland, May 21 2013

A Tunisian man died after a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and two adults children tested positive for SARS-like virus, health officials say.

World Health Organization officials said Tuesday the 66-year-old Tunisian man was the second pilgrim to the Muslim holy city to be sickened with the SARS-like virus novel coronavirus, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Tunisian man returned from a week's trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar May 6 and died May 10. His 35-year-old daughter, who traveled with him, also became ill but recovered at home and a 34-year-old son didn't fall sick but tested positive for the virus, a Tunisian official said.

The new infections are likely to prompt worries ahead of the peak Islamic pilgrimage periods in Saudi Arabia in summer and autumn.

WHO officials in Geneva, Switzerland, said the virus spreads by animal-to-person and person-to-person, but so far it doesn't appear to spread easily in communities at large. Last week, WHO officials confirmed 40 cases, including 20 deaths worldwide, since the virus was detected last September.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/...3861369171456/



Tunisian dies of coronavirus after KSA, Qatar visit

 
Tuesday 21 May 2013

TUNIS/JEDDAH: A 66-year-old Tunisian man has died from new coronavirus, a strain of a virus that emerged in the Middle East last year, after a visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Tunisian health ministry said on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesman Ibrahim Labassi said the man, a diabetic, died in hospital in the city of Monastir.

“Tests showed that his two children were infected by the same virus and they are under medical observation,” Labassi said.

Tunisia's three cases brings to 44 the total number of confirmed infections worldwide, and the global death toll to 22, since the coronavirus was first discovered by scientists in September 2012, according to official reports received by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Of the 22 deaths, 16 were in Saudi Arabia.

The novel coronavirus, also known by the acronym nCoV and as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, or MERS, belongs to the same family as viruses that cause common colds and the one that caused a deadly outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, killing about 800 people, mostly in Asia.

In addition to Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, nCov or MERS cases have so far been reported in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Britain, Germany and France.

The latest death due to coronavirus in Saudi Arabia was confirmed on Monday by the Ministry of Health. In a statement, the MOH said the fatality was one of the patients being treated at a hospital in Al-Ahsa.

It said the victim was "suffering from chronic heart diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to kidney failure."

Saudi Arabia remains the center for the new respiratory virus as investigators from the World Health Organization (WHO) seek more clues about its origins and how it is spread.

Most of the infections in the kingdom were in Al-Ahsa and a few were reported in Jeddah and Riyadh, said the MOH.

The latest to be diagnosed in the kingdom with nCov was an 81-year-old woman, who taken ill on April 28, 2013 and is currently in critical but stable condition.

A WHO statement, quoting a Saudi MOH report, said the patient has multiple coexisting medical conditions.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/452412



WHO to help KSA probe coronavirus before Haj

 
Saturday 25 May 2013

The World Health Organization said yesterday it would help Saudi Arabia dig deeper into deadly outbreaks of a new SARS-like virus to draw up advice ahead of the annual Haj.

The UN agency, which is not currently recommending any restrictions on travel to the Kingdom or screening of passengers at airports or entry points, will send a second team of experts in the coming weeks, WHO director-general Margaret Chan said.

“Without that proper risk assessment, we cannot have clarity on the incubation period, on the signs and symptoms of the disease, on the proper clinical management and then, last but not least, on travel advice,” Chan said.

The WHO, which sent a first team to Saudi Arabia this month, will provide a fresh risk assessment ahead of this year’s Haj, which takes place in October.
“We need to get the facts clear and get the appropriate advice to all your countries where your pilgrims want to go to Makkah. It is something quite urgent,” Chan said.

Many questions remain about how the new virus spreads and what the vector may be, ranging possibly from animals to surface contamination. Saudi and WHO officials say there has been some contagion between people, but only where contact has been close and prolonged.

Saudi Arabia would send samples taken from animals possibly infected with the deadly virus to the US for testing in a bid to find the source of disease.
Memish said the ministry has collected large samples from bats and other animals, including camels, sheep and cats.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/452858
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#2250 [Permalink] Posted on 27th May 2013 04:25

Holy Mosque expansion progress

25 May 2013





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