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#4396 [Permalink] Posted on 7th August 2014 19:12

Saudi Arabia

30,000 imams, muezzins required

Shortage of about 6,000 imams and
muezzins in the main cities

Masjid Al-Harthy, Jeddah - مسجد الحارثي، جدة

Thursday, 07 August 2014

RIYADH — The assistant deputy minister of Islamic affairs said there is a huge shortage of imams and muezzins (callers to prayer) throughout the Kingdom.

Abdulmuhsen Al-Asheikh said this shortage in particularly affecting larger cities and mosques holding Friday prayers and that the government department is currently discussing the problem with the Ministry of Finance.

He explained there is a shortage of about 6,000 imams and muezzins in the main cities, rising to 30,000 when all mosques in the country are taken into account.

He said: “There are around 90,000 mosques all around the country and each one of them would normally require an imam and a muezzin.

“The ministry is currently trying to sort out the shortages in the main cities first, and then look at the other mosques where the imam can possibly perform the muezzin's duties as well.”

Al-Asheikh said the employment of imams and muezzins is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Labor, because imams and muezzins are not employed on monthly wage basis.

The Finance Ministry instead pays a monthly bonus to them.

He noted the ministry monitors imams and those who deviate from correct religious teachings are questioned by a consultancy committee and sanctioned accordingly.

Al-Asheikh said the minister of interior’s recent directives to conduct security checks on imams and muezzins before they are employed is a positive step and ensures only qualified personnel are employed.

He pointed out the Ministry of Islamic Affairs provides training courses for imams and muezzins in all parts of the Kingdom and has an agreement with the Islamic Open Academy to conduct online courses for imams and muezzins in other parts of the world.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140807213904

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#4397 [Permalink] Posted on 7th August 2014 19:13

Madinah

Pilgrims city gets a facelift

The refurbished pilgrims' city in Madinah

Thursday, 07 August 2014 - 11 Shawwal 1435

MADINAH — The head of the Ministry of Haj’s Madinah branch said major improvement work in the pilgrims’ city here has been completed at a cost of SR5 million.

Mohammad Al-Bijawi said extra work in the city, located in north Madinah, would be completed during the next few days.

He explained that the city covers 2,549 square meters and can receive 100,000 pilgrims a year.

The ministry aims to complete all preparations before next month, he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140807213906

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#4398 [Permalink] Posted on 7th August 2014 19:15

New Ottoman Porticos under construction

6 August 2014

___________________________________

According to one source, Turkish engineers have received the porches and ready to be installed.

But I can't confirm if some old parts will be back.

Repairing Ottoman porticos
(Osmanlı revakları onarılıyor):

Video inside:http://www.haber5.com/video/osmanli-...ari-onariliyor

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#4399 [Permalink] Posted on 8th August 2014 16:20

Restoring Old Ottoman Porticos

Building Old Ottoman Porticos

Building New Ottoman Porticos

8 August 2014

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#4400 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 03:44

Islamic Affairs Ministry distributes
more than 1.6 million copies of religious
publications during Umrah season

Riyadh, Shawwal 11, 1435, August 07, 2014, SPA

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, represented by its Agency for Publications and Scholarly Research, has successfully ended its program for the distribution of religious publications to Umrah performers during Umrah season for this year 1435H, which started from 1 Rabie I until the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Ministry's Undersecretary for Publications and Scholarly Research Dr. Musaed Al-Hudaithi said that more than 1.6 million copies of religious publications in more than 14 languages were distributed to Umrah performers during the past seven months.

http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1260699

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#4401 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 03:49

SR180m spent on Haj field offices

to improve services

Friday 8 August 2014

Haj establishments (known as “tawafa”) have spent SR180 million on 600 field offices to improve services to the more than 1.4 million pilgrims slated to perform the pilgrimage this year.

Mustafa Alem, a “mutawwif” (Arabic for an official who helps pilgrims perform their religious rites), has spent more than 45 years on the field, serving pilgrims and heading several Haj offices.

“Field offices are the executive tools of Haj establishments,” he said. “This body is directly in charge of providing services to pilgrims under the supervision of its board of directors and Haj mission coordinators.”

Service offices include a head, a deputy and seven members, all of whom are “mutawifeen” or sons of these Haj assistants.

There are seasonal employees and workers in addition to the crew.

Field inspectors have already assessed pilgrim accommodation ahead of this year’s Haj season.

“We spent SR300,000 to SR400,000 equipping a single field office that provides VIP services,” said Alem.

“Payrolls consume the lion’s share of the office budget,” he said.

“Office heads earn SR25,000, deputies SR23,000 and field members SR12,000 each monthly, while several offices have up to 12 ‘mutawifeen’ at a time depending on the number of pilgrims.”

“Add to that SR10,000 to SR12,000 monthly for admin, rent and IT work, not to mention technical equipment, which can cost SR30,000 in one go, and SR15,000 for cleaning and other maintenance services.”

Offices operate for 100 days a year between the Islamic month of Shawwal and Muharram.

Offices work around the clock during Haj, he said. “Offices are already offering competitive services to ensure sound evaluation on quality and services."

“Haj offices come up with innovative ways of making their pilgrims feel welcome every year. This includes giving them souvenirs that might prove useful during their rituals.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/613246

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#4402 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 03:52

Pilgrims City Project in Madinah

Dar Al Hijra

July 2014

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#4403 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 03:54

Occupancy rate of Makkah hotels plummets

Saturday 9 August 2014

Occupancy rates at a number of hotels in Makkah, especially those located near the city center, declined by 70 percent in the days after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Many hotels in the city center, including those in Al-Aziziya and other neighborhoods close to the Grand Mosque had reached full capacity during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

The head of the reservations department at one of the hotels overlooking the Grand Mosque confirmed to Arab News that all rooms in the hotel were booked during Ramadan. He said that the price of one room during the last 10 days of Ramadan reached around SR40,000.

He also added that most of the hotel bookings were for officials and businessmen from within the Kingdom and other Gulf countries.

A reservation desk clerk at another hotel said the price of one room at the hotel reached SR70,000 due to its close proximity and view of the Grand Mosque.

According to market statistics, revenues from hotels amounted to around SR2 billion in the last 10 days of the holy month. High occupancy rates were not limited to three, four and five-star hotels, but also included high-end furnished apartments and condominiums due to the increased demand from pilgrims and visitors.

Sources confirmed that the service programs offered by Haj and Umrah service companies played a vital role in hotel bookings, indicating that occupancy rates will increase in residential units in the upcoming days with the influx of Haj pilgrims.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/613726

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#4404 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 03:56

Masjid al Haram under construction

استمرار أعمال التوسعات في الحرم المكي

7 August 2014

video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLcXVf73ous

Mataf expansion progress - Phase 2

Work on Roof floor begins

inshallah it will be ready for Hajj Season

8 August 2014

New 420m Minaret fondation

August 2014 - West Minaret/King Abdullah expansion

full screen: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uu7VC3O8NT...8%D8%A9+04.jpg

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#4405 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 04:03

Umrah pilgrims must leave by Monday

Sunday 10 August 2014

The Haj Ministry has set Monday as the deadline for Umrah pilgrims to leave the Kingdom.

Hatem Al-Qadi, Haj Ministry spokesman, told Arab News that 80 percent of pilgrims have already left the Kingdom after completing their religious rituals in Makkah.

The Kingdom’s different institutions, meanwhile, are gearing up to receive the first of the Haj delegations arriving in Jeddah.

A group of fifty pilgrims are scheduled to arrive into the Kingdom from South Africa next Saturday.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/614121

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#4406 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 04:04

Caterers to be held responsible
for poisoning in Haj contract

Hajj scene

Sunday 10 August 2014

Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar has approved a unified contract between food catering firms and domestic Haj service providers which places full financial and medical liability on caterers in cases of food poisoning.

The ministry emphasized that it “would not accept any other type of contract,” under which both Haj establishments and caterers will be bound by certain obligations and restrictions.

Catering companies will also be responsible for ensuring hygiene in areas where they distribute food both during and after the meals are handed out.

Haj service providers, meanwhile, will now pay caterers in three installments under the new contract.

Providers will pay 50 percent of the total food costs on signing the contract, 30 percent on receipt of meals on Haj premises and the remaining 20 percent at the end of the contractual period.

The introduction of the new contract will nullify the need for financial guarantees paid by catering firms, but would oblige caterers to secure 20 percent of the value of the contract through local Saudi bank guarantees to the Haj Ministry.

Haj service providers will be allowed to contract other catering firms in the event contracted caterers do no adhere to any part of the new contract.
Camp rent is due a month ahead of Haj. The ministry began distributing seasonal licenses to Haj firms who paid their dues from Sunday.

The ministry has slashed the number of domestic pilgrims by 50 percent this year to make way for expansion projects, slated to increase pilgrim capacity at the Grand Mosque to 4 million by 2040.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/614136

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#4407 [Permalink] Posted on 10th August 2014 04:07

The Makkah Clock

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#4408 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:10

Ottoman Porticos

by Gursoy Grup
______________________

Ottoman Porticos Restoration and Reconstruction

Text google translated from Turkish

Makkah - the Kaaba Renewal and Tawaf Area expansion Ottoman porticos Restoration and Reconstruction Project 2012 year in November, which started the project, Makkah Al-Mukarramah in the Holy Haram Mosque complex in the historic Ottoman portico of the dismantling, maintenance - repair and circumambulate in the area designated places repositioning covers .

Removal of existing porches total spread over three years of study was performed in three stages. Dismantling historic elements (base, marble columns, headers, belt stones, masonry foot stones, partial dome stones) Arafat Zone in our workshop with the restoration of all steel and wood assistant preparing and then put in place will be carried out.

The project will be carried out reconstruction in two phases will be completed in two rows a total of 123 dome, consisting of the main expansion structures in a parallel way, porches re historical elements with new materials being used in conjunction construction technique will be completed. The number of projects of nearly two hundred Turkish engineers, craftsmen and workers are carried out by.

Project start: November 2012 with the first stage of the dismantling
Project duration: 3 years
Estimated delivery date: June 2016

http://www.gursoygrup.com.tr/index.php?do=mekke_projesi

Plan - Old Ottoman Porticos

Plan - New Ottoman Porticos

Restoration

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#4409 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:11

Pilgrims Transportation

20,000 seasonal jobs, only 114 applicants

which include jobs for drivers and technicians

Monday, 11 August 2014

MAKKAH — The General Syndicate for Cars and Pilgrims and pilgrims transportation companies are still suffering from the reluctance of Saudis to take up the offer of 20,000 seasonal jobs during Haj. They have received only 114 applications for the 20,000 vacancies advertised.

The syndicate had advertised these seasonal jobs two months ago, which include jobs for drivers and technicians, that also allow government employees who are below the fifth step of the employment scale to join these seasonal jobs.

Secretary General of the syndicate and spokesman of the transportation companies, Marwan Zabidi, said that there are many reasons for this problem, such as stopping the issuance of temporary bus driving licenses, and the issuance of permanent heavy duty driving licenses only to government employees who are below the fifth step of employment scale. “In addition, these seasonal jobs are very exhausting, but the syndicate has offered many incentives to encourage the younger generation,” he said.

He asked for setting up of a committee of the traffic police, the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Human Resources Fund under the supervision of the Ministry of Transportation to overcome the current shortage of employees for these jobs. “The committee should also consider the offered salaries and incentives, and training the applicants on the seasonal transportation jobs,” he said.

He explained that pilgrims are transported between Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, airports, and sea ports, and drivers are paid a minimum of SR3,000 a month, in addition to incentives and bonuses.

He pointed out that drivers need to carry heavy duty driving licenses and technicians should carry a degree qualifying them or have enough experience as a tachnician, in addition to a letter for government employees allowing the employe to do seasonal work.

“Furthermore, applicants should pass a medical examination to determine their health and should not be under 21 year or over 60 years old,” he said.

A owner of a pilgrims transportation company, Ziyad Farsi, said that the reluctance of nationals to apply for seasonal drivers and technicians jobs is recurring one all year long, but it specially becomes acute during the Haj season.

“There are 20 pilgrims transportation companies that have thousands of jobs available for the younger generation,” he said.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140811214303

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#4410 [Permalink] Posted on 12th August 2014 15:13

Greater efforts urged for pilgrims at airports

Monday 11 August 2014

Saudi authorities must make greater efforts to organize the arrival and departure of Umrah pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport to avoid unnecessary delays, said an Indian pilgrim from Kerala.

“The Saudi government is doing a wonderful job of enhancing facilities for the guests of God, but the several hours of delay upon both arrival and departure at airports will give a bad impression and authorities should give priority to quickly solve this problem,” said K.P. Hashim, a social worker.

He urged the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to deploy more employees to handle the rush of pilgrims during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.

“Pilgrims have to queue up for hours to complete immigration procedures, causing them much discomfort,” he said.

Hashim, who is director of Abhaya, a center for taking care of cancer patients in Thalassery, said he came to perform Umrah with his wife and her mother in a 30-member group organized by the Kerala Haj Group.

“Members of the group were extremely happy, as the trip spiritually elevated them after having gotten an opportunity to engage in worship and prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the second half of Ramadan,” he said.

He said the group members spent two Fridays at the Grand Mosque and performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque. “All of us were able to spend Eid in Madinah for the first time,” he added.

Hashim said he and his group members were highly impressed by the generosity displayed by Arabs when iftar meals were distributed to the thousands of pilgrims and worshippers at the two holy mosques. “It was great charitable work and I don’t have words to express my feelings toward this noble deed.”

He said he was amazed seeing the marvelous movement of the faithful circumambulating around the House of God. “I used to watch them from the first floor of the mosque. It’s a unique scene that reflects the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/saudi-arabia/614511

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