JEDDAH: The historic Al-Hudaibiya mosque will be demolished and rebuilt by the Islamic Affairs Ministry and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) to reflect its significance in Islam.
The mosque was built on the site where the Prophet (peace be upon him) signed a peace agreement in 628 CE with the pagans of Makkah, which was called the Treaty of Hudaibiya. The area is on the western side of Makkah.
Mohammad Al-Reemi, supervisor at the ministry’s branch in Makkah, told the newspaper that there was an agreement with the SCTNH to preserve all ancient mosques and buildings in Makkah and Madinah. A study on the reconstruction has been completed, he was quoted as saying by an online publication recently.
Faisal Al-Shareef, director general of the SCTNH in Makkah, said an experienced engineering firm would be brought in to oversee the project using the latest scientific techniques and materials.
The SCTNH and the Al-Turath Heritage Foundation has completed the restoration of 21 mosques around the country. The SCTNH, at its 39th meeting recently, has also set up a project to restore other mosques in cooperation with the Islamic Affairs Ministry, to highlight their religious importance.
A study to revamp eight mosques has been completed. They are the Al-Baiah mosque in Makkah, and five mosques in the Sabaa Masajid area, which would be completed by the secretariat of Madinah. The Al-Memar and Al-Hanafi mosques in the old part of Jeddah would be restored with support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.
Eighty-seven historic mosques in the Kingdom have been identified for restoration including four in Makkah, eight in Madinah, 14 in Riyadh, five in Qassim, 36 in Asir, six in Tabuk, six in Jazan, four in Najran and four in Baha.
Construction of high-rise buildings on mountains would help increase Mina’s capacity from two million to three million pilgrims.
Nov 11, 2015
MAKKAH — The Shuaibain region of Mina has been selected to construct, on an experimental basis, multistory buildings to accommodate more pilgrims in the tent valley, where they stay at least four days during the peak Haj season, said Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar.
“The authority for the development of Makkah and the holy sites is deeply concerned with Mina expansion and there is a plan to construct more multistory buildings in the eastern and western parts of the Shuaibain region,” Al-Bar told Makkah newspaper.
He said proposals have been made by the authority and the Ministry of Interior on Mina expansion but none of them has been finalized.
“A team of experts will study the proposals and approve the best one to increase Mina’s capacity to hold more Hajis,” he added.
According to a previous statement made by Dr. Habeeb Zainul Al-Abideen, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs and supervisor of development projects in the holy sites, a detailed study on Mina expansion has been presented to higher authorities for approval.
He stressed the need to construct more multistory buildings in the Mina valley, which is surrounded by mountains with a height of 2,578 meters in the north and 2,850 meters in the south.
He said construction of high-rise buildings on mountains would help increase Mina’s capacity from two million to three million pilgrims.
The government has already constructed six buildings, each with 15 floors on an experimental basis.
The buildings are constructed on pillars to meet Shariah conditions, and are provided with restaurants and prayer places. They are linked with the Jamrat Bridge and with Arafat through King Fahd Road.
“The tower building project was a big success as it helped accommodate a large number of pilgrims during the past Haj seasons,” Zainul Al-Abideen said.
The Haj Research Institute at Umm Al-Qura University, in coordination with the authority for development of Makkah and holy sites, conducted an assessment and found that most pilgrims have supported the idea of constructing multistory buildings on mountains in Mina.
Twelve killed as flash floods hit Saudi Arabia At least 12 killed as thunderstorms sweep through northern and western Saudi Arabia, bringing floods to many cities.
Schools and universities suspended classes in both Jeddah and Mecca, the civil defence said [AFP]
At least 12 people have been killed, many swept away, after heavy rains lashed western and central Saudi Arabia.
The country's emergency response crews advised residents to stay indoors as heavy rains pounded areas along the Kingdom's Red Sea coastline.
Flash floods rushed through the second city of Jeddah after a line of thunderstorms turned wadis into rivers and alleyways into raging torrents. The skies remained full of dark, billowing cloud, throwing lightning forks, for a good three hours.
Heavy rains also lashed western, northern and central parts of Saudi Arabia, including the cities of Mecca, Medina, Hail and Arar.
Schools and universities suspended classes in both Jeddah and Mecca, the civil defence said, adding that schools would remain closed on Wednesday.
Eight domestic flights at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport were delayed due to the rain, while one international flight was diverted to Medina.
The city of Tabuk near the border with Jordan witnessed a heavy downpour on Monday. This happened as the line of storms entered Saudi Arabia from the north, bringing at least 38 millimetres of rain with an accompanying drop in temperature. Tabuk hit 30C on Sunday but is now struggling to make 20C.
Khaybar, Taif, Jeddah and Mecca all felt a drop of 10C as the trough of weather crossed. Although the sun is out again, the cool wind persists.
Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa in the Prophet’s Mosque being washed with rose water. The process is part of the efforts of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims and visitors. Spokesman of the presidency, Abdul Wahid Al-Hattab, said that the mosque is cleaned every day to make it ready to receive the visitors of the holy city. The Rawdah has an area of 230 sq. meters. With a length of 22 meters and width 15 meters, the Rawdah is situated between the Prophet’s house (the chamber of Sayyida Aisha — may Allah be pleased with her) and the pulpit from where the imam leads the prayers and delivers sermons. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said that between the pulpit and his house is a rawadah (garden) from heavens.
Temporary Mataf Removal After 3 Months Contractor expansion of the campus - Bin Laden vows to end the expansion of the Grand Mosque of 15 Sha'ban 1437
And begin to remove the temporary Mataf after 3 months, where the Mataf of the day will show the new shape after completion of the project for the first time and will be ready in the month of Ramadan next blessed; to widen to 105 thousand visitation per hour instead of 48 thousand visitation in time before the start of the expansion,
The authorities are building 12 tunnels through Makkah’s Mount Khandamah connecting the southeast front of the Grand Mosque. The new tunnels will go a long way in easing traffic congestion in the central region of the holy city.
Makkah Emir: New Jeddah airport will start operation by end of 2017
Dec 1, 2015
JEDDAH — The new upgraded King Abdulaziz International Airport will start experimental operation in the last quarter of 2017, according to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and advisor of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
The giant project, which will have world-class facilities, will be a major architectural and cultural landmark of Jeddah for all pilgrims and visitors arriving at the gateway of the two holy mosques, the emir said while making an inspection tour of the airport project site on Monday.
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed, several senior officials of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and the project contractor also accompanied him, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Khaled said the first phase of the project will be completed by the end of 2016 and will start receiving flights in the last quarter of 2017.
“The airport will take us from the third world to the first world in terms of the high tech facilities and services. The new airport will be a matter of pride for the people of Saudi Arabia in general and the people of Jeddah and the new generations in particular,” Prince Khaled said, adding, around 86 percent of basic infrastructure works for the passengers’ terminal, support facilities, roads and bridges have been completed.
Meanwhile, GACA has invited bids from specialized international companies for the new airport’s operation. The procedures for awarding the project will be completed by the middle of 2016, GACA sources said. More than 26,000 engineers and workers belonging to 110 companies, with around 2,600 pieces of equipment, are racing against time to complete the first phase of the project.
With the completion of the first phase, the airport has the capacity to handle 30 million passengers. The first phase facilities include a terminal complex over 720,000 square meters, allowing all airlines to operate under one roof; 46 gates for international and domestic flights; and 94 air bridges to serve aircraft of different sizes.
Renewal of the marble of the lower wall of the Kaaba
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has given his royal consent for the renewal of the marble of the lower wall of the Kaaba and the wall of the Black Stone. The lower wall is used for the tying of the Kiswa over the Kaaba.
Dec 9, 2015
MAKKAH — The Grand Mosque will have emergency doors that will be ready around-the-clock for any emergency situation, Makkah daily reported on Tuesday quoting sources of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques
The sources said the presidency has formed a specialized committee to study the project and decide the locations of the doors.
They said the committee, which consists of specialists in a number of fields, will hold its first meeting during the coming weeks to provide the presidency with a clear-cut visualization on the project.
The sources said the committee will discuss the number of doors to be assigned for emergency situations and their distribution in the Haram according to the needs.
They added that the committee will also consider methods of making the emergency doors distinguished from the other normal doors.
According to the sources, the emergency doors will expedite the exiting of worshipers in case of emergency, facilitate fast evacuation, used to take dead bodies into the Grand Mosque for funeral prayers, reduce congestion on Fridays and Eid days and will also be used for the entry of maintenance equipment into the Grand Mosque.
The presidency, on the other hand, announced that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has given his royal consent for the renewal of the marble of the lower wall of the Kaaba and the wall of the Black Stone.
Presidency’s chief Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, said the marble on the lower wall and the Black Stone has decayed, became yellowish and can no longer be cleaned by washing.
Engineers said the lower wall will be temporarily fenced off until the new marble is installed. They said this will not hamper the circumambulation around the House of God which continues for 24 hours a day throughout the year.
Is it time to improve the situation of women visiting the Prophet's Mosque ?!
This is the first time im hearing of this If more could be shared on the project it will be appreciated?
Saudi Society for Science Urbanism in Jeddah province recently held a special workshop for its members to discuss the scientific study co-authored by Dr. Mohammed Idris agent Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research and Umrah to provide engineering alternatives aimed at increasing the capacity in front of the Prophet's facade and Rawdah for visitors to the Prophet's Mosque of men only without women..... read more from the original link....http://almudhwahi.blogspot.co.za/
HE General President for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais an inspection tour of the project to renovate the Marble Hazroan - the bottom wall of the sacred Kaaba - and the wall of the Kaaba stone. And lose Ma'aleh which the functioning of the project in advance thanks and appreciation for the efforts made, urging everyone to redouble their efforts and to ensure - God willing - with the execution speed of delivery accuracy. His Excellency was accompanied during the tour commander of the security force, the Grand Mosque Excellency Brigadier Mohammed bin arrived Ahmadi, HE the Director of Project Management Engineer Sultan al-Qurashi. It is worth mentioning that it has issued the Royal approval stones of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud - may God protect him - on the renewal of Marble Shadharwan - Wall bottom of the sacred Kaaba - and the wall of stone Kaaba in order to Tqadamh and the appearance of rust and yellowing it and because it is a clear process and clean it useless no longer .
Crane crash: 5 engineers, technicians found guilty
In the crane crash incident just before Haj, 111 people were killed and 394 were injured.
Dec 16, 2015
JEDDAH — The Bureau of Investigations and Public Prosecution (BIP) in Jeddah has found five top technical and engineering officials guilty in the crane crash incident at the Grand Mosque on Sept. 11, Arabic daily Al-Watan reported on Tuesday quoting an informed source.
The source did not name the five engineers and technicians, but said the preliminary information indicated that they will be charged.
The engineers and technicians were involved in the supervision of the expansion project of the Grand Mosque. They included government officials.
The source said the BIP started its investigations with the suspects from the Binladen company two months ago and found conclusive evidence of their involvement in the tragic incident.
He said the Jeddah BIP will forward the results of its investigations to the main BIP office in Riyadh to compile the list of charges against them. In the crane crash incident just before Haj, 111 people were killed and 394 were injured.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman sanctioned the Binladin Group over the collapse of the construction crane.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman sanctioned the Binladin Group over the collapse of the construction crane. The firm’s executives have been forbidden from leaving the Kingdom pending the completion of legal action against the company. During the same period, the company will also be excluded from new public projects.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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