Muslims start Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah

Muslims start Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah
Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah on June 13, 2024, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AFP)
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Updated 14 June 2024
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Muslims start Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah

Muslims start Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah
  • 1,000 families of Palestinians killed or wounded in Gaza war also arrived to perform Hajj at the invitation of Saudi King Salman
  • This year’s Hajj saw Syrian pilgrims traveling to Makkah on direct flights from Damascus for the first time in more than a decade

JEDDAH: In sweltering temperatures, Muslim pilgrims in Makkah converged on a vast tent camp in the desert on Friday, officially opening the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Ahead of their trip, they circled the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site.
More than 1.5 million pilgrims from around the world have already amassed in and around Makkah for the Hajj, and the number was still growing as more pilgrims from inside Saudi Arabia joined.  
Saudi authorities expected the number to exceed 2 million this year.
This year’s Hajj came against the backdrop of the raging war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian militants, which pushed the Middle East to the brink of a regional war between Israel and its allies on one side and Iran-backed militant groups on the other.
Palestinians in the coastal enclave of Gaza were not able to travel to Makkah for Hajj this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May when Israel extended its ground offensive to the strip’s southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
“We pray for the Muslims, for our country and people, for all the Muslim world, especially for the Palestinian people,” Mohammed Rafeeq, an Indian pilgrim, said as he headed to the tent camp in Mina.




Pilgrims started Hajj by praying Fajr in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)

Palestinian authorities said 4,200 pilgrims from the occupied West Bank arrived in Makkah for Hajj. Saudi authorities said 1,000 more from the families of Palestinians killed or wounded in the war in Gaza also arrived to perform Hajj at the invitation of King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The 1,000 invitees were already outside Gaza — mostly in Egypt — before the closure of the Rafah crossing.
“We are deprived of (performing) Hajj because the crossing is closed, and because of the raging wars and destruction,” said Amna Abu Mutlaq, a 75-year-old Palestinian woman in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis who had planned to perform Hajj this year but was unable to. “They (Israel) deprived us from everything.”
This year's Hajj also saw Syrian pilgrims traveling to Makkah on direct flights from Damascus for the first time in more than a decade. Syrians in rebel-held areas used to cross the border into neighboring Turkey in their trip to Makkah for Hajj.
“This is the natural thing: Pilgrims go to Hajj directly from their home countries,” said Abdel-Aziz al-Ashqar, a Syrian coordinator of the group of pilgrims who left Damascus this year for Hajj.




Pilgrims started Hajj by praying Fajr in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)

The pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to make the five-day Hajj at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.
It is a moving spiritual experience for pilgrims who believe it absolves sins and brings them closer to God, while uniting the world’s more than 2 billion Muslims.  
For many Muslims, the Hajj is the only major journey that they make in their lives. Some spend years saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the journey in their 50s and 60s after raising their children.
The rituals during the Hajj largely commemorate the Quran’s accounts of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ismail and Ismail’s mother Hajar — or Abraham and Ismael as they are named in the Bible.
Male pilgrims wear an ihram, two unstitched sheets of white cloth that resemble a shroud, while women dress in conservative, loose-fitting clothing with headscarves and forgo makeup and perfume. They have been making the ritual circuit around the Kaaba in the seven-minaret Grand Mosque since arriving in Makkah over recent days.
Saudi authorities have adopted security restrictions in and around Makkah, with checkpoints set up on roads leading to the city to prevent those who don’t have Hajj permits from reaching the holy sites.
Security authorities arrested many people who attempted to take pilgrims to Makkah who didn’t have Hajj permits, said Lt. Gen. Muhammad al-Bassami, head of the Hajj Security Committee. Most were expelled from the country, while travel agents faced jail for up to six months, according to the Interior Ministry.




Pilgrims head to Mina to spend the first day of Hajj. (SPA)

Many pilgrims whose documentations were not complete paid fines to be allowed into Makkah.  
On Friday, the pilgrims made their way to Mina, officially opening the Hajj. They then will move for a daylong vigil Saturday on Mount Arafat, a desert hill where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his final speech, known as the Farewell Sermon. Healthy pilgrims make the trip on foot, others use a bus or train.
The time of year when the Hajj takes place varies, given that it is set for five days in the second week of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Most of the Hajj rituals are held outdoors with little if any shade. When it falls in the summer months, temperatures can soar to over 40 Celsius. The Health Ministry has cautioned that temperatures at the holy sites could reach 48 Celsius.




Pilgrims head to Mina to spend the first day of Hajj. (SPA)

Many pilgrims carried umbrellas to use under the burning sun, and in Mina charities distributed cold water and cooling stations sprayed pilgrims with water to cool them down. The faithful set up in their tents, resting in the rows of cubicles and praying together to prepare for the coming rituals.
After Saturday’s warship in Arafat, pilgrims will travel a few kilometers to a site known as Muzdalifa to collect pebbles that they will use in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.
Pilgrims then return to Mina for three days, coinciding with the festive Eid al-Adha holiday, when financially able Muslims around the world slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to poor people. Afterward, they return to Makkah for a final circumambulation, known as Farewell Tawaf.
In recent years, the annual pilgrimage has returned to its monumental scale after three years of heavy restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2023, more than 1.8 million pilgrims performed Hajj, approaching the level in 2019, when more than 2.4 million participated.


Global Harmony event concludes with celebration of Egyptian culture in Riyadh

Global Harmony event concludes with celebration of Egyptian culture in Riyadh
Updated 20 sec ago
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Global Harmony event concludes with celebration of Egyptian culture in Riyadh

Global Harmony event concludes with celebration of Egyptian culture in Riyadh
  • Saudi Arabia and Egypt continue to strengthen their political relationship through agreements in trade, tourism, energy and culture

RIYADH: The Global Harmony initiative concludes its third edition with a week-long celebration of Egyptian music, art and tradition in Suwaidi Park as part of Riyadh Season.

Running from Nov. 24-30 and organized by the Ministry of Media, the event invites visitors to experience Egypt’s rich heritage through a range of cultural activities.

Speaking to Arab News, Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Tarek El-Meligy highlighted the deep-rooted connection between the two nations. “The Egyptian community is the most harmonious, coexistent and understanding in a positive way within Saudi society,” he said.

“If you ask any Egyptian which country they would like to live in after Egypt, they will say Saudi Arabia.”

The Egyptian ambassador to Saudi Arabia visits the Egyptian festival at Riyadh’s Suwaidi Park, held as part of the Global Harmony initiative on Nov. 24, 2024. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Sarry Shaaban, an executive and consultant at the General Entertainment Authority, said: “We are talking about millions of visitors, both residents and Saudis, entering the park. Whether I’m a resident, a Saudi or from a country hosting the event, it provides an opportunity for residents to learn about your culture, colors, explore its arts, food, crafts, and traditional industries.”

Live music and dance performances displaying Egypt’s cultural traditions, with the rhythm of drums and flutes and performers in traditional costumes, have brought the life and spirit of Cairo’s streets to Riyadh.

A separate bazaar area has been set up featuring Egyptian cuisine, traditional clothing and handcrafted items.

Performers showcase traditional Egyptian folk costumes and dances during celebrations at Riyadh’s Suwaidi Park, part of the Global Harmony Initiative, on Nov. 24, 2024. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

“An event like this carries positive messages and highlights something we strive to emphasize every day, that we are one people, united by love and affection,” said El-Meligy.

Egyptian Sameh Nabil emphasized the feel of unity: “This initiative brought us closer together as Egyptians, and with Saudis here, I feel like we are brothers. I always feel like we are not expatriates.”

And visitor Khaled Zahir said: “This event reflects the love, connection and affection between Egyptians living in the Kingdom and Saudis.”

Performers in Egyptian attire take part in a parade at Riyadh’s Suwaidi Park, celebrating Egyptian culture as part of the Global Harmony initiative on Nov. 24, 2024. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Egyptians make up 11 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population, according to the Saudi Census, meaning such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony.

El-Meligy said Saudi Arabia hosted the largest Egyptian expatriate community abroad, with remittances from those in the Kingdom forming a significant part of their home nation’s income.

“In recent months, remittances from Egyptians abroad have increased substantially, thanks to the facilities between the two countries and the confidence in both the Saudi and Egyptian economies,” he added.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt continue to strengthen their political relationship through agreements in trade, tourism, energy and culture. In his October visit to Cairo, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss investment opportunities and the establishment of a supreme coordination council to deepen bilateral relations.

Trade between Saudi Arabia and Egypt saw a 35.16 percent annual increase in the first half of 2024, according to the General Authority of Statistics. The increase was driven by a 73.44 percent surge in Saudi imports from Egypt, totaling $4.18 billion.

Egypt has also shown a growing interest in investing in Saudi Arabia, with a 71 percent rise in licenses granted to Egyptian firms in the second quarter of 2024.

The festival, which began in October, highlights the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents. So far, it has celebrated cultures including Indian heritage and moving through Philippine, Indonesian, Pakistani, Yemeni, Sudanese, Bangladeshi, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian traditions.

 


Riyadh Expo 2030 provides progress update to international exhibitions regulator BIE

Riyadh Expo 2030 provides progress update to international exhibitions regulator BIE
Updated 3 min 29 sec ago
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Riyadh Expo 2030 provides progress update to international exhibitions regulator BIE

Riyadh Expo 2030 provides progress update to international exhibitions regulator BIE
  • Members of Riyadh Expo 2030 update Bureau International des Expositions on progress toward hosting the event

RIYADH: A Saudi delegation representing Riyadh Expo 2030 took part in a Bureau International des Expositions meeting on Tuesday to review the Kingdom’s readiness to host the global event.

In November 2023, Saudi Arabia won the bid to host the 2030 World Expo between October 2030 and March 2031 in the capital, Riyadh.

The Riyadh Expo 2030 delegation took part in the 175th general assembly meeting of the BIE, a Paris-based intergovernmental organization which oversees and regulates World Expos, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They updated senior officials of the BIE about the latest Saudi developments and preparations for hosting the event. They also discussed progress on work to accommodate an expected 246 exhibitors, including countries, organizations and companies, at a site north of Riyadh.

Under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” the event aims to be a unique platform for innovations and modern technologies which aim to find answers to challenges facing the planet in various fields, according to the Expo 2030 website.


Hospitality sector innovations, trends showcased at Riyadh exhibition

Hospitality sector innovations, trends showcased at Riyadh exhibition
Updated 34 min 18 sec ago
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Hospitality sector innovations, trends showcased at Riyadh exhibition

Hospitality sector innovations, trends showcased at Riyadh exhibition
  • Event gathers local and international exhibitors, industry leaders, and visitors to showcase trends, innovations, and business opportunities in the sector
  • Exhibition features an array of engaging activities, including live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, a barista competition, and workshops for aspiring culinary professionals

RIYADH: This year’s HORECA exhibition held in Riyadh is underscoring the Kingdom’s growing influence in the global hospitality market.

Held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the three-day event concludes on Nov. 27 and gathers local and international exhibitors, industry leaders, and visitors to showcase trends, innovations, and business opportunities in the sector.

The event contributes to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering private-sector growth, promoting tourism, and enhancing the country’s food and beverage industries.

The exhibition features an array of engaging activities, including live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, a barista competition, and workshops for aspiring culinary professionals.

Visitors can sample creative dishes, observe new techniques in food and beverage, and explore sustainable packaging solutions, among other highlights.

Prince Waleed bin Nasser, guest of honor and CEO of Mukatafa Co., highlighted the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Speaking at a session on public policies impacting the food and beverage sector, he said: “The vision today aspires for the private sector to play a significant role in the development of the economy. The private sector must take the initiative to have a voice. To achieve this, it needs to be organized and united in presenting a single perspective.”

He also emphasized the need for proactive engagement: “We must work as one, united with a common vision, and present this vision in a professional manner backed by facts, ensuring that the decisions made have a positive impact on the sector and the citizens.”

Culinary competitions are among the highlights celebrating creativity and technical skills at HORECA. Mohammed Naif, a participant representing Saudi Arabia’s Hotel and Tourism Management Institute, told Arab News: “The atmosphere was amazing, and the competition was all about passion and enjoyment. There was a panel of judges and organizers who were very supportive — if you made a mistake, they would help you, and if you had an incomplete idea, they would guide you.

“I encourage anyone with a passion for cooking to join, showcase their creativity, and learn while bringing out their best.”

The exhibition also provided a platform for networking, with exhibitors showcasing local innovations as well as international brands. From cutting-edge hospitality tech to Saudi-inspired culinary creations, the event highlighted the Kingdom’s growing reputation as a global hub for the sector.


MoU signed to strengthen humanitarian ties

MoU signed to strengthen humanitarian ties
Updated 26 November 2024
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MoU signed to strengthen humanitarian ties

MoU signed to strengthen humanitarian ties
  • Memorandum was signed by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the PMFHD, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSrelief
  • Memorandum highlights the Kingdom’s global leadership in relief, humanitarian aid and charity, and expands the scope of operations and the support for missions of both organizations

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Foundation for Humanitarian Development signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh on Tuesday to enhance cooperation in humanitarian fields and establish a strategic partnership for mutual benefit.

The memorandum was signed by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the foundation, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSrelief.

The memorandum highlights the Kingdom’s global leadership in relief, humanitarian aid and charity, and expands the scope of operations and the support for missions of both organizations.

Prince Mohammed praised KSrelief’s exceptional efforts in humanitarian work, saying: “KSrelief’s vast expertise and capabilities qualify it to provide humanitarian services worldwide. Through this collaboration, we aim for the foundation to contribute to global humanitarian efforts alongside KSrelief.”

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership for its continuous support of humanitarian initiatives delivering aid to those in need.

He added: “The foundation has signed numerous MOUs locally and globally, all achieving their goals and benefiting thousands.

“A notable achievement is the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Award for Best Charitable Performance in the Arab World, which has benefited many organizations across the Arab world.”

Issa Al-Ansari, the foundation’s secretary-general, said that the memorandum aimed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as training volunteers, conducting research, and implementing developmental and humanitarian projects.

“The parties have agreed to form a joint team responsible for developing an action plan for implementing the memorandum’s terms, including follow-up mechanisms and regular meetings,” Al-Ansari added.


First group of royal guests performs Umrah

First group of royal guests performs Umrah
Updated 26 November 2024
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First group of royal guests performs Umrah

First group of royal guests performs Umrah
  • Schedule includes visits to the Kiswa Factory of the Holy Kaaba, the Revelation Exhibition, meetings with the imam of the Grand Mosque
  • Group arrived in Madinah where they visited the Prophet’s Mosque and toured other historic sites

RIYADH: The first group to arrive in the Kingdom through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Umrah and Visit has performed Umrah rituals in Makkah.

The program’s organizing committees ensured that the visitors enjoyed excellent services, including upon arrival in Madinah where they were warmly welcomed by officials.

According to participants, the program, which is implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, reflects the Kingdom’s leaders’ dedication to supporting Muslims worldwide.

They expressed gratitude for the opportunity to visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah and perform Umrah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The first group included 250 prominent Islamic figures from 12 countries, part of a total of 1,000 Umrah performers from 66 countries. The guests will visit in four groups as part of the program.

The schedule includes visits to the Kiswa Factory of the Holy Kaaba, the Revelation Exhibition, meetings with the imam of the Grand Mosque, and participation in various scientific and cultural programs.

The group arrived in Madinah where they visited the Prophet’s Mosque and toured other historic sites, including the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex, the Battle of Uhud site, Mount Al-Ramah, the Uhud Martyrs’ Cemetery, and the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization.