Makkah News and Updates

26 September 2013

MAKKAH – The Administrative Court in Makkah quashed the decision of the Ministry of Haj to allot residential towers in Mina to new companies.

The court ruled that the ministry’s decision to deny the buildings to the companies that have investments in the project is unjust and hence it is null and void.

The court issued urgent orders to continue allotment of the towers to the old investors until the case is examined and settled after the Haj season.

Sheikh Faisal Al-Osaimi, the judge, took the decision following a petition filed by Abdullah Al-Sufyani, who invested in tower number five. The petitioner complained that the ministry earlier gave his Mina Real Estate Company the go ahead to accommodate pilgrims for the sixth consecutive year. But all of a sudden, the ministry backtracked from its decision and allotted the tower to a new company, he claimed.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Abdullah Al-Sufyani said that he came forward to invest in the tower project after several companies refused to make any investments.

“I have already invested SR50,000 for each room and spent SR14 million for furnishing the tower that can accommodate 2,436 pilgrims. We chose these buildings instead of tents, and we incurred huge losses due to swine flu scare in the first year itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abdurahman Al Nafeei, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said that the ministry earlier notified the investor that he has the license for accommodation of only 1,000 pilgrims and he has no right to use the entire tower.

Meanwhile, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has started carrying out its plan to provide pilgrims with all necessary services.

The objective is also to educate and create awareness among the pilgrims on religious matters.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), General President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Sudais said that copies of the Holy Qur’an and guidance leaflets and booklets are distributed to the pilgrims.

Al-Sudais said that among the most important works that will be carried out this year is to increase the number of sheikhs and Ulema who give lectures and Ifta.

Pilgrims this year will benefit from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expansion of the Grand Mosque that will accommodate 400,000 worshipers.

The Agency for the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque will supervise the services provided to visitors of the mosque around the clock.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130926181666

27 September 2013

Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also chairman of the Madinah Haj Committee, launched the Bunyan 6 Exhibition on Haj services on Wednesday evening.

The event aims to highlight the services offered by the Kingdom to pilgrims visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The event will last until Nov. 3 in building no. 5 at the southern side of the Prophet’s Mosque. More than 40 government departments and private, charity and voluntary agencies will participate in the expo, which gives a clear picture of direct and indirect services offered by government departments to visitors and pilgrims to Madinah.

The prince registered as a subscriber to the Absher program on the Interior Ministry’s website during his visit to the passport department pavilion. The prince also viewed replicas of the housing facility for the National Guards in Madinah and Yanbu.

Attendees of the opening function included Haj Minister Bandar Hajar, Ali Al-Obaid, undersecretary for the President of the Prophet’s Mosque Affairs, Madinah Mayor Khaled Taher, and Maj. Gen. Saud Al-Ahmedi, director of Madinah Police.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465982

27 September 2013 - 22 Thul-Qedah 1434 H

MADINAH — More than 300 well-trained boy scouts will be taking care of visitors to Madinah and provide them with guidance.

They will direct visitors who get lost and give them any other help they may need.

The scouts are stationed in a special camp from where they will be deployed to various areas in Madinah to serve visitors and pilgrims.

Before they joined the camp, the scouts were trained on how to deal with others, provide first-aid services and guide lost people.

Commander of the camp Saleh Mohammed Saleh said the scouts will be serving at various locations in the central area around the Prophet's Mosque, the Miqat mosque and nearby health centers.

He said before they joined the camp, the scouts had been rigorously trained on survey and guidance, Civil Defense activities, first aid, etiquette and other duties.

He said the scouts will help the visitors cross the streets, guide lost people to reach their homes and push the wheelchairs of old and disabled pilgrims.

Saleh said the scouts would be at the Miqat mosque starting from Saturday to help group pilgrims going to Makkah.

"The scouts will also help sick visitors locate the health centers nearest to them," he said.

With the help of the Haj Ministry, the scouts will distribute guidance pamphlets prepared by the ministry among the visitors, Saleh said.

He said the scouts would help charity organization The Welfare Store distribute food among the visitors.

"The scouts will also help the Commerce Ministry to monitor prices and prevent fraud," he said

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130927181744

27 September 2013

MADINAH — Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah has witnessed an increase in passenger numbers despite the ongoing construction work, Al-Madinah newspaper reported Thursday.

Mamdouh Tarabeshi, executive manager of Taibah Airports Development Company, said operations and maintenance work have begun at the city's new airport.

He said the airport received 3.5 million passengers until Aug. 31, 2012, and that 75 percent of the passengers were satisfied with the services provided.

He said pending projects have been completed to accommodate the increase in flights and passenger numbers.

These projects included the construction of Terminal 7, which is fully equipped to handle three 747 jumbo planes an hour.

Two large tents have been built to accommodate arriving and departing pilgrims. These tents are air-conditioned, furnished with carpets and chairs and have a sufficient number of toilets.

Another tent is used for the luggage area where pilgrims can identify their luggage.

Golf carts are available to transport the elderly and special needs pilgrims between the tents and the buses.

The number of bus stops have been increased and a 5,000 square meter area is set aside for luggage carts.

The joint operations room is equipped with computers, a wireless network and telephone and fax services for the convenience of the employees.

A manager of Taibah Airports Operations Company said the company has employed 50 Saudis and 70 additional workers to carry out maintenance and cleaning works during the Haj season.

The employees will assist pilgrims and give them necessary guidance. In addition, 184 Civil Aviation employees were temporarily assigned to the company to assist in operations.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130927181738

Friday 27 September 2013

Plans are in place at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah to provide services for millions of pilgrims during this year’s Haj.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, said recently that the services include education and counseling for pilgrims.

Al-Sudais said the Prophet’s Mosque and surrounding squares are currently furnished with 10,000 carpets, covering an area of 265,000 square meters. They also include 10,000 spotlights spread over three floors in all directions.
Al-Sudais said 5,300 men and women seasonal workers were hired this year to provide support at the Prophet's Mosque. There would be shifts 24 hours a day.

He said he has appointed a separate department to ensure completion of the work and attention to any issues that may arise, in coordination with various government departments. Reports would be prepared periodically about the activities and performance of the department.

Al-Sudais said several sheikhs, scholars and teachers would help pilgrims with their rituals. The authorities would distribute Qur’ans, pamphlets and manuals, overseen by various government agencies including the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. He said girl scouts would also be deployed to help pilgrims.

Zamzam distributions points have been established inside and outside the Grand Mosque, he said.

Al-Sudais said vehicles would be available to help persons with special needs. And officers would monitor the entrances of the two mosques to ensure that food is kept out and hygiene standards maintained.

Al-Sudais said government departments providing services include the General Administration of Projects and Studies, the public administration services, and the respective maintenance and operational management teams.

A specific department would focus on maintaining air-conditioning, audio systems, control systems, communication devices and escalators, he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/465980 27 September 2013

MAKKAH — As many as 23,050 personnel will be implementing the Makkah municipality's Haj plan, according to Mayor Osama Al-Bar.

"The municipality has finalized its operational plan and programs for this year's Haj, avoiding any loopholes or mistakes that may have occurred in last year's plan," he said.

Al-Bar said the plan is characterized by flexibility and quick service and added that the municipality has mobilized all its human resources and material potential for the ideal execution of the plan.

"We also have supporting teams from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, other municipalities, the Department of Public Security, and the Boy Scouts," he said in statements published on Wednesday. The mayor said a number of students from the universities and health colleges will be appointed as temporary health observers.

Al-Bar said there will be more than 10,900 cleaners in Makkah equipped with 670 cleaning devices to collect garbage in more than 170 electrically pressurized boxes. "The cleaners will be covering 24 hours a day in shifts.

There will also be central teams to deal with emergency situations resulting from rain or fires," he said.

The mayor said there will be more than 7,800 cleaners in the holy sites equipped with more than 360 cleaning devices and automatic sweepers.

"The municipality has prepared 1,025 electrically pressurized boxes and 131 stores to keep more than 14,000 tons of garbage," he said.

He said the plan also consists of closely monitoring the markets, shops and eateries.

"There are about 33,000 permanent shops and eateries in Makkah in addition to 2,229 seasonal grocers. The holy sites have 643 temporary shops, kiosks and bakeries in addition to a number of barber shops consisting of 1,100 chairs," he said.

The mayor said the toilets, tunnels, flyovers and the networks to drain rain and flood water will be closely watched to immediately address any issues.

He said the municipality has established 57 control centers in various places in the holy sites to observe the entry of animals to the slaughterhouses. “There will be a veterinarian check for the animals to make sure that the meat provided to the pilgrims is suitable for human use," he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130927181739

28 September 2013

MAKKAH — Zamzam water sold by expatriate peddlers outside the Kuday water factory is not hygienic and may damage the health of those who consume it, a local newspaper warned Thursday quoting factory sources.

The sources told Al-Madinah that the gallons containing the holy water might have been exposed to the sun for many hours, making the water unsafe.

They said many buyers are too lazy to queue at the factory so they buy it from the peddlers.

The peddlers said they are doing the buyers a favor by sparing them the agony of lining up for long hours to buy the water from the factory.

They said interested buyers usually prefer to obtain the water they need as easily as possible, so they go to peddlers.

Mohammed Kalamiyyah and Abdulrahman Shah, both Pakistanis, said they have been selling Zamzam water outside the factory since it was established last year.
Shah said: “We buy the water from the factory to sell to pilgrims and visitors at a slightly higher price. This business is now flourishing.”
Shah said many pilgrims and visitors prefer to buy from peddlers selling outside the factory, especially during Ramadan and the hot summer season.
He said they have become experts in avoiding police campaigns against illegal expatriates.
“The police campaigns are only intensified during the holy month of Ramadan and these days there are no campaigns,” he said.

Thani Amr and Mohammed Sinda, also Pakistanis, said they do not buy or sell Zamzam containers but carry them to the cars of the buyers and are paid for this work.

“We sometimes stand in the line to buy water for our customers in exchange for a fee,” Sinda said.

Abdo Al-Shabrami and Khaled Qawoud, Yemeni nationals, said they have been pushing trolleys loaded with gallons of Zamzam water to pilgrims and visitors’ cars near the factory for about a year.
“Some people are not able to carry the large quantities of the water they buy so we help them do that for certain fees,” Qawoud said.
He said the police raids against illegal foreigners are only carried out during working hours in the day.
“There are no campaigns in the evenings so we can operate with ease,” he said.

A number of citizens have asked local authorities to end this kind of business, which they said might be hazardous to pilgrims' health.
They blamed the factory for not being able to sell Zamzam water in an organized way.

Mohammed Al-Harbi, a Saudi citizen, said: “There are long lines inside the factory of people wishing to buy Zamzam water. This has led to the practice of water being sold outside the factory.”

The citizens asked the factory to open more selling points in various parts of the holy city to make it easy for people to buy Zamzam water.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammed Fawtawi, director of the department of environmental health at the Makkah municipality, warned that directly exposing containers of Zamzam water to the heat and sunlight might contaminate the water.

He warned pilgrims against buying water from peddlers and asked them to buy it directly from the factory.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130928181842

28 September 2013

JEDDAH — A number of Saudis will be sent on scholarships to Spain to receive training on the operation and maintenance of Al-Haramain Railway. The Saudis will later conduct training courses for other Saudis at an institution that will be built during the second stage of the train project.

Meanwhile, Al-Rajhi consortium, one of the contractors involved in the project, will sublet the second stage construction work to Al-Shu'lah consortium. The second stage will see the construction of a high-speed rail link between King Abdullah Economic City and Madinah. Construction on the line will begin in early 2014.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130928181849

28 September 2013

JEDDAH — With more than 73,000 Indian pilgrims arriving in Makkah and Madinah by early Friday, the country’s Haj Mission has swung into action in serving the pilgrims round the clock.

Saudi Gazette recently visited the Haj Mission office located opposite Qishla Park in Jarwal near the Haram, toured the facilities and met with its senior officials.

Indian Haj Consul Sheikh Muhammad Noor Rahman is in charge of all affairs of the pilgrims.

He said as of midnight Thursday, 72,850 pilgrims — 62,176 in Madinah and 10,674 in Jeddah — arrived on board 244 flights.

So far, 49,608 pilgrims arrived in Makkah, including those who moved to the holy city after visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

A total of 136,020 Indian pilgrims are performing Haj this year, including 121,420 traveling under the country’s national Haj committee and 14,600 under private groups.

Muhammad Abdul Salam, the official in charge of the Haj Mission, told Saudi Gazette that there are 277 employees at the mission and its 13 branch offices who are actively involved in serving the pilgrims.

They include seven permanent employees, seasonal workers and 120 staffers deputed from India and deployed at the mission and its branches.

A total of 546 personnel have been deputed from India for this year’s Haj. They include six coordinators, 54 assistant Haj officers, 191 Haj assistants and 295 medical workers.

Abdul Salam, who hails from Samasthipur in Bihar, said the mission functions like a “well-oiled machine” in extending the best possible services to the pilgrims.

A total of 434 buildings have been rented out, including 194 in Makkah and 240 in Aziziyah.

The majority of the pilgrims — 78,799 — are staying in Aziziyah.

The 12-story Haj Mission building consists of 11 offices dealing with pilgrims’ affairs, he said.

As of Thursday, 20 Indian pilgrims died in Makkah and Madinah. Most of them died of natural causes while a pilgrim from Jammu and Kashmir was killed in an accident in Makkah, said Dr. Muhammad Abid Ajmer, the doctor in charge of the India's medical mission for Haj.

He said there is a 50-bed hospital in Makkah and a 30-bed hospital in Aziziyah, in addition to 13 branch dispensaries in Makkah to provide medical services to the pilgrims.

There are five branch dispensaries, including a 10-bed main dispensary in Madinah.

India’s medical mission is comprised of 145 doctors and 150 paramedical staff, including 37 female doctors and 62 women paramedics.

“Consignments containing 400 medicines and weighing 35-40 tons have been brought from India. A major portion of these medicines are meant for treating chronic diseases. Outpatient Departments (OPDs) at the main hospital and branch clinics work on a round-the-clock basis,” he said, adding that pilgrims who came by private groups can also take advantage of the clinics.

As of Thursday, more than 49,000 pilgrims approached these clinics. A number of patients at the 50-bed hospital told Saudi Gazette that they were satisfied with the medical care and treatment received at the hospital.

Dr. Jaafar Ahmed Tadwi, an orthopedic surgeon from Mumbai, is the medical officer in charge of the hospital.

Tadwi said 19 patients were admitted to the hospital. Two serious cases were referred to Al-Noor Specialist Hospital.

The hospital has been equipped with all necessary facilities, including radiology and sonography units and a room for surgical procedures.

There are nine specialist doctors at the hospital, in addition to 24 paramedic staff.

The hospital started functioning on a round-the-clock basis on Sept. 1 and it will continue working until the last pilgrims depart.

Cases from the branch clinics are also referred to the hospital.

Most of the reported cases are diabetic patients because they stopped their regular medication for various reasons.

There are 16 ambulances on the mission. On Arafat Day, all pilgrims admitted to the hospital will be transported to Arafat, Tadwi said.

A.B. Abbas Kasarkode, who has been serving as the official in charge of transport for about nine years at the mission, said there are 23 vehicles, including cars and three buses at the mission, which are engaged in offering various types of transportation services to the pilgrims.

About 30 buses are used in the 24-hour shuttle service between the Haram and Aziziyah. The number of buses will be increased with the arrival of more pilgrims.

There are a total of 70 drivers who have been hired by the mission, Abbas added.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130928181899

28 September 2013

An exclusive division within the Passport Department is being established by the Ministry of Interior to curb infiltration and initiate punitive measures.
Authorities have adopted effective and swift modules to prevent illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah.

Measures include deportation from the Kingdom and being barred from re-entry for 10 years.

The Passport Department has identified a total of eight routes to Makkah that are largely used by pilgrims who do not hold valid permits to perform Haj.

Four mobile biometric recording units have been placed on the field to collect fingerprints and iris images of expatriates attempting to enter Makkah for Haj, said Maj. Gen. Ayad Al-Harbi, director for the Haj pilgrims’ division at the Passport Department. He said mobile units in the form of large-sized trucks would be deployed on the outskirts of Makkah to intercept infiltrators, adding that such a process will expedite punitive measures.

Female personnel have been deployed at entry points for the first time to intercept female infiltrators.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/466084