Makkah locals welcome blessings of the spiritual season

Residents of Makkah have historically played a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform Hajj. (Supplied)
Residents of Makkah have historically played a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform Hajj. (Supplied)
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Updated 18 June 2024
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Makkah locals welcome blessings of the spiritual season

Makkah locals welcome blessings of the spiritual season
  • Hajj invites millions to the holy city where locals show deep-rooted Saudi hospitality

RIYADH: During the sacred days of Hajj, Makkah witnesses an influx of pilgrims and locals themselves engage more fervently in Islamic practices such as prayer and fasting.

Sami Al-Alwani, a local citizen, enjoys the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage and says the Hajj season is unlike any other month.

“This annual tradition of welcoming, joy and enthusiasm with which we receive the pilgrims of the House of God is passed down from generation to generation,” he told Arab News.




Muttawwif Wejdan Buqas with Malaysian pilgrims after Hajj. (Supplied)

The arrival of pilgrims also means a peak in economic activity and boost for local employment.

Al-Alwani added: “One significant economic aspect we notice is the full occupancy of hotels, leading to a noticeable economic boost in restaurants and services.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Locals of Makkah, including young men and women, volunteer through available programs to assist and guide pilgrims.

• The sacred time of Hajj also brings forth the deep- rooted compassion and friendliness that are hallmarks of the people of Makkah.

“We have numerous job opportunities during Hajj to assist pilgrims and work with them in Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah and the train station. We also serve as their supervisors and assist them in completing their Hajj obligations. Many volunteers, including young men and women from Makkah, participate voluntarily through available programs.”




Residents of Makkah have historically played a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform Hajj. (Supplied)

Al-Alwani added pilgrimage routes and traffic patterns in recent years had had no negative effects for Makkah’s population.

Wejdan Buqas is a female mutawwif — someone who leads pilgrims in the traditional rites and prayers of Hajj and Umrah — who says she used to offer to drive people to Mount Hira and other holy locations.

“Back in the 1980s, we used to greet pilgrims, let them stay in our homes, and transport them to the Al-Tanaim Mosque, Al-Maala Cemeteries, and Hira Mountain. We used to also take them to private, tiny museums that highlighted Makkah inhabitants’ customs, such as telling them about our Eid celebrations,” she said, adding such activities were now streamlined by the government.

Due to the high volume of pilgrims, nearby companies and service providers were set up to meet their needs by providing lodgings, transportation, medical care, and guidance. The sacred time of Hajj also brings forth the deep-rooted compassion and friendliness that are hallmarks of the people of Makkah.

Bakur Hemdi is a Makkah native from a long lineage of muttawifs, including his grandfather and father. He followed in their footsteps and took up the role when he was 21 years old.

“As a mutawwif, my role goes beyond just guiding the pilgrims through the rituals and ceremonies of Hajj and Umrah,” he said.

“I’m a cultural ambassador, helping them navigate the intricacies of Makkah’s landscape and ensuring they can fully immerse themselves in the spiritual journey they’ve come to undertake.”

He added: “Through my interactions with pilgrims from diverse backgrounds, I've gained a deep appreciation for the richness of their traditions and the shared devotion that unites them in their pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. I take great pride in upholding the legacy of my ancestors, while also adapting to the evolving needs of modern-day pilgrims.”   

Hayat Eid, who also comes from a family of mutawwifs, said everyone in Makkah mostly worked during Hajj or, if not, they traveled.

“We make a profit of a whole year during Hajj season, so many people will not miss that opportunity,” she said. “We also remark to each other, ‘Hajj wala dajj?’ which translates to ‘Are you working in Hajj or are you fleeing?’ which is a humorous statement.”  

She added many women participated by preparing treats like maamoul cookies and date cakes to share during Eid.

Every activity contributes to the Hajj season, a time of great spiritual significance and community engagement for the residents of Makkah who play a crucial role in hosting and supporting the millions of Muslims who come to perform this important religious duty.

 


Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals

Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals
Updated 38 sec ago
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Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals

Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals
  • SFDA said that violations pose a great risk to the health and safety of consumers
  • SFDA also requested the public’s cooperation by reporting any observable violations

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has referred the representative of a commercial establishment in Riyadh to the Public Prosecution after he was found to be involved in the sale of a counterfeit pharmaceutical product.

The act is a direct violation of the Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments and Products Law in the Kingdom, which mandates a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of SR10 million ($2.6 million), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The SFDA highlighted the importance of strictly adhering to the laws and regulations put in place to ensure the safety and quality of products circulating in the Saudi market.

The authority said that violations pose a great risk to the health and safety of consumers, warranting the enforcement of legal penalties against offenders.

The SFDA also requested the public’s cooperation by reporting any observable violations in establishments under its supervision to the toll-free line 19999, in an effort to strengthen oversight and safeguard public health.


Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025
Updated 25 min 41 sec ago
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Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025
  • Event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies
  • Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society

RIYADH: Saudi students displayed their robotic inventions at King Abdulaziz University Robocon 2025, which was held at the university’s King Faisal Convention Center from Tuesday to Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Organized by the university’s Deanship of Student Affairs, the event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies.

Saudi student Samar Awad Al-Rabi, from the Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, presented a smart temperature-monitoring device, aimed at protecting sensitive environments from sudden thermal changes.

Rania Al-Mukhtar Al-Sheikh, from Taibah University, presented an innovative treatment for dry macular degeneration, an eye disease that affects vision.

The device treats and repairs damaged cells, reduces inflammation, and improves bloodflow without damaging healthy tissues with the hope of restoring or improving vision.

Exhibition activities included a range of qualitative competitions, including the “Saqr” competition, which is the first engineering competition focused on drone technologies.

In another competition — the Robocup —robots battled it out on a miniature football pitch.

The event also featured the launch of the innovtech Hackathon, a coding challenge that will include four main tracks focusing on technology in education, tourism, manufacturing and the financial sector.

Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society — including one titled Turning Point: Transforming Tech Ideas into Successful Projects, which explored how to market technological inventions.

The exhibition offered a range of interactive experiences, including virtual reality exhibits and practical workshops that contributed to the skill development of participants.

An interactive game invited attendees to collect stamps from different attractions to win a prize, and visitors were served Arabic coffee by robots.

The university said that the event reflects its vision of empowering students and building a generation that will lead the future of robotics and smart technologies.


KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition
Updated 48 min 47 sec ago
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KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition
  • Mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa
  • Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations

RIYADH: Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology joined the Saudi non-profit foundation OceanQuest on its first marine expedition around Africa aboard the research vessel OceanXplorer.

The mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa.

Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations.

A second phase, designed for early-career oceanographers, proceeded north to Walvis Bay in Namibia before concluding scientific operations in Mindelo, Cabo Verde.

The KAUST research team, comprising two PhD candidates from the Marine Microbiome Lab and one from Earth Science and Engineering, conducted research in biodiversity assessment, seamount studies and chemical analysis.

The team compared seamount formation in the Indian Ocean with similar geological phenomena in Saudi waters.


Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s tourism ministry conducted an inspection of Hajj hospitality facilities. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s tourism ministry conducted an inspection of Hajj hospitality facilities. (SPA)
Updated 57 min 6 sec ago
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Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s tourism ministry conducted an inspection of Hajj hospitality facilities. (SPA)
  • Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations

RIYADH: Deputy Minister of Licensing and Classification at the Ministry of Tourism Abdulmuhsen Al-Mazyad has been conducting field tours of hospitality facilities in Makkah to ensure readiness for receiving pilgrims during the Hajj season.

Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations.

The deputy minister is especially concerned about whether these establishments have obtained the proper operational licensing from the Ministry of Tourism.

As part of its efforts to grow sustainable partnerships with the tourism sector, the ministry’s delegation has also sat with hospitality investors and operators at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce.

Enhancing the quality of service in Makkah and the rest of the Kingdom, managing hardships faced by investors and operators, and the ministry’s commitment to combating those hardships, have all been discussed during the meetings.


Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday

Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday
Updated 59 min 42 sec ago
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Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday

Thunderstorms expected across Saudi Arabia until Sunday
  • Makkah province is expected to see moderate to heavy rainfall with potential flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds
  • Riyadh province will also experience light to moderate rainfall, flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds

RIYADH: Thunderstorms are expected across most of Saudi Arabia throughout the weekend until Sunday, according to the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

Makkah province is expected to see moderate to heavy rainfall with potential flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds, affecting areas like Taif, Maysan, Al-Muwayh, Turbah, Al-Khurmah and Ranyah.

Riyadh province will also experience light to moderate rainfall, flash floods, hail, and dust-stirring winds, affecting areas including Afif, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Quwayiyah, and Shaqra.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha, and Madinah regions, with moderate rain in Hail and light to moderate rain in Najran and Qassim.

The directorate advised caution, avoiding flood-prone areas such as valleys, and refraining from swimming in them.

It also encouraged staying informed about the latest weather updates through official media channels and social media platforms.