Makkah News and Updates

2 June 2014

Zahid Tractor’s Rental Division has partnered with HUTA Foundation Works Co. to support the Madinah Holy Mosque expansion project by supplying the company with best-in-class BAUER drilling rigs, including the BG28, BG36, BG39 and BG40 models. With a highly trained service team onsite, Zahid Tractor will provide continuous support and the necessary tools to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted operation.

The Madinah Holy Mosque is currently undergoing the largest expansion in its history to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims visiting each year. Upon completion, the Mosque is expected to have a total area of 1.1 million square meters with a capacity to accommodate more than 1.6 million visitors.

In 2010, Zahid Tractor became the exclusive dealer for BAUER drilling rigs, tools and accessories in Saudi Arabia and since then, the Rental Division has worked to provide complete solutions and services to its customers.

http://www.zahid.com/en/pressrelease...expansion.html

Zahid Tractor’s Rental Division has sold the first BAUER BG39 drilling rig in the Middle East to HUTA Foundation Works Co. to be used for the Madinah Holy Mosque expansion. As a result, the BAUER Group has presented the Rental Division with the Sales Appreciation Award 2013 for outstanding sales and achievement.

http://www.zahid.com/en/pressrelease...ddle-east.html

4 June 2014

Premier Composite Technologies

The Haramain High Speed Railway project links the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City. The work was planned in phases and includes the construction of four passenger stations. The project is driven by the Saudi Railway Organization involving a 450km rail link between Mecca and Madinah.

All stations have a common planning strategy but each has its own distinctive design and building envelope to represent the cities that they serve.

PCT was awarded the contract to build the Concourse Roof at the Madinah station in February 2012. The scope of work for PCT included all elements of design engineering, manufacturing, delivery and installation of the advanced composite cladding for the concourse roof at the Haramain railway station at Madinah.

With a built up area of 172,000sq.m, the Madinah station contains facilities and services for passengers designed in accordance with the best international standards of high speed train stations. The station's facilities include a main building of the station which houses the arrival and departure concourses, a mosque with a capacity of 600 worshipers, a center for civil defense, helipad, (6) pavements for trains, car parking with a capacity of 1,000 parking spaces which are divided into short and long-term parking and VIP lounges. The station has also been linked with the Public Transportation System through the provision of appropriate parking area for buses, and linking the station via pedestrian pathway with the Light Train Station which is planned to be implemented on King Abdul-Aziz Road.

Designed in a JV between Foster+Partner and Buro Happold, the Madinah Station is built in a unique design of umbrellas with green tiling giving it a remarkable and eye-catching appearance. The concourse roof design consists of a highly repetitive pattern that is made up of 41 panels that fit together to make one large square module 27 x 27 meter. Each panel is required to be structurally lightweight, fire resistant, immune to extreme temperatures and weather conditions, and easy to install.

Working alongside Foster + Partners and Buro Happold, PCT developed an advanced composite solution that would meet all requirements.

The roof is structurally built using a fire resistant composite of glass fibre and epoxy resin combined with lightweight foam core and is finished with glass mosaic coloured tiles. PCT produced 1,312 of these panels to complete the 26,400m2 surface area of the Madinah station roof.

The structure has been designed to use as much natural light as possible. For this purpose the roof panels have unique diamond shaped skylights incorporated into the design. The composite roof has a suspended inner ceiling made of green anodized aluminium segments with a special embossed perforated pattern and fixed anti-glare lamellas to help achieve high reflectivity (a minimum of 95%). The glass skylights are dropped into the moulded recess after the roof is assembled and are equipped with anti-glare system to enhance the light distribution inside the station.

Installation started in October 2013. PCT is the first contractor to successfully complete the installation of all roof panels at the Haramain Rail Madinah station.

A modular approach to the design with a high degree of prefabrication meant that all FRP parts were produced at the PCT facilities in Dubai Investment Park. Installation and final sealing operations were done on site.

On the ground, four panels were pre-assembled to form a segment of approx. 100sq.m weighing almost four tonnes. Adjustable footing in three directions allows for easy on-site installation and fixation to the main steel structure. With no secondary structure in place, the largest span is 13.5m.

Each module is able to move independently with movement joints sealing the gaps between the modules. The movement joints are covered using FRP SS clad capping which also serves as maintenance walkways.

The entire operation has been carried out at expedient levels whilst maintaining focus and due consideration to health and safety procedures.

http://www.pct.ae/composite_news_story.php?s=79&np=1

Wednesday 11 June 2014

There is a 10 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims this year, compared to 2013, despite the fears caused by the MERS coronavirus, said Osama Felali, chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee.

He said Saudi Arabia had not restricted Umrah pilgrims arriving from different countries because of MERS, which has killed nearly 300 people in the Kingdom alone. “We have not heard reports of new MERS cases among the pilgrims,” he pointed out.

More and more pilgrims are arriving from around the world, he said, adding that their numbers would increase during Ramadan when more than three million foreign pilgrims are expected.

Mahmoud Shaukat, a Turkish pilgrim who came for Umrah for the first time, said he was extremely happy to visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah. “I have been dreaming about this moment for several years,” he said adding, “I was not afraid of MERS and it did not stop me from coming to Makkah.”

Khalil Abdul Rahim from Tunisia said he was not worried about being hit by the deadly virus.

“It is not easy to reach the holy places in Makkah because it involves many things including meeting the expenses but I never thought of postponing this Umrah trip due to the MERS scare,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said MERS was under control and no new cases have been reported during the past 24 hours.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/585001

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Algeria - Direction of CHU Damerdji Tijani has just declared that the first case infected of coronavirus died in the night of Monday to Tuesday, after 11 days of hospitalization in the infectious diseases.

Benamar Benmohamed, aged 59 and father of five children, was hospitalized a week after his return from Saudi Arabia where he performed Umrah with his mother 82 years.

The victim left show the first clinical signs coronavirus, namely loss of appetite, fever, rapid breathing, cough, diarrhea, gooseflesh, stooped posture.

At Sebra (30 km from the capital of wilaya) city of residence of the victim, the news of the death shocked the population.

French: http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/cor...260658_109.php

 

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

MAKKAH – Makkah Traffic Department has worked out a comprehensive plan to ease traffic and flow of pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to the plan, there will be several parking areas at the entry points of the holy city and buses will ply between the central area and various bus stations and parking areas round-the-clock.

Col. Salman Al-Jomaie, director of Makkah Traffic Department, said all arrangements are in place to facilitate smooth flow of the unprecedented number of pilgrims who are expected to flock to the city from all over the world during the holy month, which coincides with the annual summer vacation.

He also noted that elaborate traffic arrangements have been made to enable the pilgrims and visitors to have easy access to the Grand Mosque keeping in view the ongoing massive construction in and around the Holy Haram.

Al-Jomaie said parking areas around the holy city have been classified into internal and external ones. The internal ones include those in Kuday, Rusaifah, Aziziyah, Jarwal, Al-Zahir and Al-Maskhouta while the external ones are located in Al-Sharaie, Al-Hada Road, Al-Nawariyah, Al-Umrah, Allaith Road and Shumaisy.

SR2.5b contracts inked

Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour Bin Miteb on Tuesday signed contracts worth over SR2.5 billion with a number of companies to carry out cleaning projects in Makkah, and the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Mina. The minister said more than 13,700 cleaning workers with over 86,000 equipment will be engaged in cleaning Makkah and the holy sites.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140611208155

Thursday, 12 June 2014

MADINAH — Government and private sectors in Madinah involved in the provision of pilgrimage services have started to implement their plans for the fasting month of Ramadan that aims to provide pilgrims and visitors with consummate facilities and services.

Every Ramadan the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is crowded with people from inside and outside of the Kingdom wishing to spend the holy month in or near the Prophet’s Mosque.

Madinah Emir Prince Faisal Bin Salman, also the chairman of the local Haj committee, is personally following up all preparations being implemented for the holy month.

The security forces, health sectors and traffic police have prepared detailed plans to ensure a suitable atmosphere for pilgrims and visitors and to facilitate their movements to and from the Prophet’s Mosque.

Director of Civil Defense in Madinah Maj. Gen. Zuhair Sabieh said his department has mobilized enough manpower and equipment to ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors.

He said about 27 Civil Defense centers have been established in Madinah in addition to a number of mobile units to ensure people are safeguarded against any hazards including fires and other emergencies.

Sabieh said intensive awareness campaigns would be organized to warn pilgrims, visitors and residents against any possible risks.

Director of the road safety police Brig. Khaled Bin Saleh Al-Ghamdi said 29 officers and 900 traffic policemen will secure the roads in Madinah and surrounding areas during Ramadan.

He said more than 20 security patrols will be patrolling the Makkah-Madinah Expressway to follow up the movement of buses and cars carrying pilgrims and to provide the necessary traffic and security services around the clock.

Al-Ghamdi said the traffic police would be on the alert 24/7 to prevent any traffic bottlenecks.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140612208186

7 June 2014

تم بتوفيق الله إطلاق تجربة الشاشة التوعوية المتنقلة في ساحات المسجد النبوي الشريف ، وسوف تستمر هذه الخدمة لمدة ثلاثة أيام في عدد من المواقع ، وتحمل الشاشات بطاقات توعوية ومناظر من الاستخدامات الموجودة بالمسجد النبوي ، الصور الموجود عليها علامة (√) تدل على الاستخدام الصحيح ، و الصور الموضوع عليها علامة (X) تدل على الاستخدام غير الصحيح ، مثال على ذلك ، الزحام على سلالم الصعود الكهربائية المتحركة ، الصلاة في ممرات الدخول بالمسجد النبوي ، و النوم في الساحات وداخل الحرم النبوي ، هذه موضوع عليها إشارات (X) و الصور الموضوع عليها علامة (√) مثل حمل الزائر لأغراضه الشخصية وعدم نسيانها بأماكن الوضوء و الوقوف أثناء الصلاة على علامات إقامة الصفوف بالسجاد وغيرها من العبارات التي تحث على السلوكيات الصحيحة و تبعد عن السلوكيات الخاطئة ، وتحتوي الشاشات أيضاً أحاديث وعبارات تدل على فضل المسجد النبوي وفضل الصلاة فيه .

http://www.gph.gov.sa/index.cfm?do=c...9&categoryid=2

Google translation: Was the grace of God the launch screen experience awareness mobile yards in the Prophet's Mosque, and will continue this service for three days in a number of locations, and carry screens cards awareness and views of uses in the Prophet's Mosque, the pictures found marked with an asterisk (√) indicate the correct use, and Pictures Thread marked (X) indicates the incorrect use of, for example, the crowds on the stairs going up mobile electric, prayer in the corridors entering the Prophet's Mosque, and sleep in the squares and the campus of the Prophet, the subject of the signals (X) and images subject them mark (√) such as carrying visitor to his own purpose and not to forget about the whereabouts ablution and stand during the prayer marks the establishment of rows with carpets and other phrases that urges the correct behaviors and away from the wrong behaviors, and contain screens also sayings and phrases indicating preferred the Prophet's Mosque and preferred to pray in it.

Thursday, 12 June 2014

JEDDAH — A high-level Indian Central Haj Committee delegation on Tuesday signed agreements with six housing groups for accommodating Haj pilgrims from the country in Madinah.

Starting this Haj, 100,020 pilgrims will be served food at their lodgings in Madinah for the first time, E.T. Muhammad Basheer, member of the committee, told Saudi Gazette.

According to the agreement, 65 percent of pilgrims will be accommodated in the central area. “Each pilgrim has to pay SR500 for accommodation plus breakfast during his 8-day stay in Madinah. In addition to this, the pilgrims need to pay SR120 for lunch and dinner,” he said.

The Indian side was represented by the Central Haj Committee Chairman Qaiser Shamim, Vice Chairman Muhammad Marqub Ahmed, Muhammad Bashir, Ataur Rahman, chief executive officer at the committee, Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak and Haj Consul Sheikh Mohammed Noor Rahman.

The delegation expressed satisfaction over the elaborate arrangements for Haj made by the Haj Mission. Basheer, who is also a member of parliament (Lok Sabha) said the Haj Mission’s arrangements will be reviewed at the Central Haj Committee meeting on June 22, which will be followed by the annual Haj conference in New Delhi on June 23.

Rahman told Saudi Gazette that each housing group, licensed by the Haj Guides Establishment, will accommodate 5,000 to 35,000 pilgrims.

In Makkah, individual owners rent out buildings to pilgrims unlike Madinah where housing groups are involved. “We have plans to sign similar agreements to provide food for pilgrims in Makkah next year,” Rahman said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140612208266

Thursday, 12 June 2014

MAKKAH — The main street of the Al-Misfalah district is lined with high-rise buildings that provide cover for the many violations taking place in the neighborhood's back streets, Makkah daily reported.

In addition to the high-rise buildings, the main street is also lined with restaurants and shops that provide services to Umrah and Haj pilgrims while the back streets lack basic services and witness many violations.

These streets are full of holes and are neglected by cleaning contractors, while stalls that sell fruit and vegetables constantly exposed to sunlight are a common feature.

The neighborhood is also full of houses that were built in breach of municipality regulations.

Citizen Jaber Al-Eyafi said the neighborhood’s streets are completely neglected and the entrances and exits of the streets are crowded with stalls that sell all types of food, used clothing and other items.

He added that municipality monitoring committees find it difficult to enter the neighborhood due the narrow entrances and asked for an urgent solution from concerned bodies.

"Al-Misfalah neighborhood is a vital part of the city due to its close proximity to the Grand Mosque and accommodates a large number of Umrah and Haj pilgrims," he said.

The head of customers services at Al-Misfalah municipality branch, Waleed Melaibari, said there are a number of stalls in the neighborhood that sell food without any concern for hygiene.

He said citizens and residents should not encourage such stalls and refrain from buying goods from them.

The head of media at Makkah Municipality, Usama Zaytooni, said there should be close cooperation between the municipality and police to combat these stalls.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140612208189

Thursday, 12 June 2014

JEDDAH – Emir of Makkah Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah, who is the chairman of the Authority for Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites, has approved inviting bids for supplying locomotives and coaches from qualified international companies for the Makkah Metro, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.

This was disclosed during a reception for Osama Al-Bar, Makkah mayor of Makkah and secretary-general of the authority.

Prince Mishal stressed the importance of carrying out the public transport project that included the Makkah Metro and a bus network, within the specified time. He said work should be carried according to schedules while guaranteeing safety at the work sites and not hindering traffic flow in the city.

Prince Mishal emphasized the need for compliance by companies with the Saudization of jobs, transfer of technology and training qualified Saudi youth.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140612208255

Friday 13 June 2014

Saudi Arabia has announced a comprehensive security plan to deal with the large influx of pilgrims to Makkah expected during the holy month of Ramadan.
The plan takes into consideration possible stampedes at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and some ongoing expansion projects in the area.

In view of this, the authorities have begun gearing up crowd management and traffic control in the holy city ahead of Ramadan. The police, municipality and the Presidency of the Holy Mosques Affairs are drawing up plans to cope with the expected crowds in the city in the fasting month.

Municipal Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb held a high-level meeting in Makkah on Thursday with top officials of the Makkah Municipality and police officers, according to official sources.

Prince Mansour chaired the meeting in which the Kingdom’s Director General of Public Security Maj. Gen. Osman bin Nasser Al-Mahrraj, Makkah region police chief Maj. Gen. Abdulaziz Al-Souli, Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar and other high-ranking officials participated to draw up a strategy to finalize the arrangements for Ramadan preparations in the holy city, Osama Al Zaitoony of Makkah Municipality said.

He said that the meeting focused on making it easier for the pilgrims to complete their rituals amid the expansion work in the Grand Mosque.

Prince Mansour has directed officials to draw up a plan to enable pilgrims and worshippers to have a smooth Umrah during Ramadan as directed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and which is being followed up by Makkah Gov. Prince Mishal bin Abdullah, he added.

Al-Zaitoony said that the municipality and police officials discussed crowd management amid the ongoing infrastructure projects in the holy city in addition to the Haram expansion and other development works around the Grand Mosque.

He said that the meeting also reviewed the preparations for this year’s Haj.
The Makkah Traffic Department has prepared a comprehensive plan to ease traffic and flow of pilgrims during the holy month.

Col. Ali Zahrani of Makkah Traffic Police told Arab News that elaborate traffic arrangements have been made to enable the pilgrims and visitors to have easy access to the Grand Mosque, keeping in view the ongoing massive construction work in and around the Grand Mosque area.

He said that all arrangements are in place to facilitate the smooth flow of the unprecedented number of pilgrims who are expected to flock to the city from all over the world during the holy month, which coincides with the annual summer vacation.

Maj. Gen. Yahya Al-Zahrani, commander of the Grand Mosque, has advised all security guards inside the Grand Mosque to display their professional skills and humane approach with the increasing number of guests in the holy month.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Grand Mosque, special orientation classes for security guards of the Grand Mosques were conducted Wednesday.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/586021

 

Haj made affordable

10,000 from Kingdom
can perform pilgrimage for SR2,750

Saturday 14 June 2014

Testing of the first line of the multibillion-riyal high-speed Haramain railway system will start in six months, according to local media on Friday.

The testing will take place on the line between Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.

Khalid Al-Suwaiket, president of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO), said: "Work is going according to plan and the SRO has been monitoring progress with regular field trips. Results in the field are good, with fifty percent of the work completed in Makkah, 70 percent in Madinah, 57 percent in Rabigh and 50 percent in Jeddah," he said.

He said each station contains world-class facilities and passenger services such as departure lounges, mosques, helipads, platforms, car parks divided into long and short-term parking, VIP lounges, commercial stores, restaurants and coffee shops. All stations have been connected with the public transport system through parking areas.

Six central stations are under construction, which would have special energy consumption meters. They would also have security measures in place including facilities for communication and long distance control and information transfer.

Al-Suwaiket said the second stage of the project is being undertaken by Al-Shoula Group, which is made up of two Saudi companies and 12 Spanish companies.

The project is aimed at providing safe and comfortable transport at 320 km per hour. Construction started in March 2009. The railway is expected to carry 3 million passengers a year, including many Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/586296