"Makkah and Madinah News and Updates"

[Solomon2]

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افيخاي أدرعي- Avichay Adraee
September 10 at 1:48am ·
ما اروع ان تتلقى هدية من الديار المقدسة...
مع عودة حجاج بيت الله الحرام إلى بيوتهم وعائلاتهم، #الحجاج يكرمون ذويهم وأصدقائهم بهدايا #الحج.
انا ايضا وصلتني هدية من صديق مقرب قد عاد من الحج في الأسبوع الماضي...
استراحة قصيرة من التمرين الكبير. حجًا مبرورًا وسعيًا مشكورًا وذنبًا مغفورًا

"How wonderful to receive a gift from the holy hom!
With the return of the pilgrims of the house of God to their homes and families, the pilgrims honor their relatives and friends with gifts.
I also received a gift from a close friend who returned from the pilgrimage last week..."

 

[Saif al-Arab]

 

[Saif al-Arab]

This is a incredibly welcome move. Combined with the ongoing and future projects in both Makkah and Madinah, it bonds very well for those two holy cities. Nothing less should be expected.

As for the future numbers of pilgrims visiting each year during Hajj and Umrah, they are hard to comprehend. 30 million (for a sole city like Makkah) each year by 2030 is a HUGE number. Not only that I only expect those numbers to keep growing. So obviously such projects must be welcomed.

Capacity of 2 Harams to expand manifold​

Tuesday October 3, 2017 / 13 Muharram 1439

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is establishing two new companies to increase the number of pilgrims that the Kingdom can host at Two Holy Mosques.

The Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund said the companies — Rou’a Al-Haram and Rou’a Al-Madinah — will develop residential and commercial areas around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The fund said on Monday that the new companies will help the Kingdom accommodate more than 30 million people expected to visit Makkah every year and 23 million visitors a year to Madina by 2030.

The companies will develop 150,000 hotel rooms in both cities near the holy sites.

In Makkah, the first phase of the company’s projects will cover an area of 854,000 square meters, delivering 115 buildings of various architectural designs. It will have 70,000 new hotel rooms, accommodating 310,000 visitors per day, as well as develop around 9,000 residential units, 360,000 square meters of commercial space and prayer areas designated for more than 400,000 worshipers.

The Rou’a Al-Madinah project will develop an area of 1.3 million square meters, adding 80,000 new hotel rooms with 500 residential units and prayer areas to accommodate 200,000 worshippers per day.

The company’s activities will include the development of hotel, commercial and residential projects, as well as the development of cultural centers and museums to enrich Madinah’s religious, cultural and historical offerings.

The company will broaden opportunities for investment and private sector participation through the development of strategic partnerships.

The project will also take into consideration the sacred nature of the Prophet’s Mosque, and create a comprehensive system for pedestrian passages separated from the movement of vehicles.

The projects will create around 200,000 job opportunities, with an estimated annual contribution to GDP of SR7 billion.

Initial preparation work is currently underway, with construction due to start in 2018. The first phase of the project is anticipated to be launched in 2023.

The Rou’a Al-Haram project construction will start in 2018 and by 2024 the project will be operational.

It will create 160,000 job opportunities and contribute SR8 billion annually to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2030.

Both projects will raise the level of development in the areas surrounding the Two Holy Mosques, create around 360,000 job opportunities, and contribute SR15 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP), as part of a wider plan to diversify the national economy of Saudi Arabia.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/5...-ARABIA/Makkah

Makkah

http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?...newsid=1672903

Madinah

http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?...newsid=1672907

Ongoing Mataf expansion:

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Special treatment for pilgrims to Islam's holiest city

Friday 5 January 2018

MAKKAH: More than 100 Muslim men and women pilgrims and visitors from Germany, Turkey and Europe yesterday stood in the Makkah Museum for Antiquities and Heritage to watch and listen to the story of this museum.

They were just a small portion of the millions of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world eager to discover the rich heritage of the Kingdom and learn the story of Makkah, Islam’s holiest city, and its most sacred shrine, the Kaaba.

Visitors to Makkah are specially treated under the umbrella of the government, which has exerted all possible efforts to serve the city of Madinah and all its visitors, especially pilgrims.

They can learn how it was built under directions from the late establishing King Abdul Aziz to serve as a palace for the king’s guests; how it was later turned into a museum that preserved Makkah’s heritage; how the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came into life in Makkah to unite the word of Allah; and how the Islamic states (in the past) and Saudi state (until the present) have devoted themselves to serve the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.

Faisal Al-Sharif, director general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in Makkah, stressed that under instructions from the president of the SCTH, Prince Sultan bin Salman, public and private touristic museums will open their doors to the capital’s visitors in coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, through Umrah companies and organizers of tourist trips.

He added: “The Makkah museum opens its doors to visitors and pilgrims in the morning and at night. Specialists from the SCTH and tourist guides licensed by the SCTH handle the explanations about everything in the museum.”

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1219981/saudi-arabia

Private museums open in Madinah to promote Islamic heritage

Friday 5 January 2018

MADINAH: Since the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) began issuing licenses to private museums, several have opened in Madinah.

In Dar Al-Madinah Museum, visitors and researchers can learn about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic civilization and Madinah’s urban culture.

It is “the first and largest specialized museum of the history and cultural heritage of Madinah and the landmarks of the prophet’s life,” Hassan Taher, executive director, told Arab News.

The museum, which has four main halls, publishes specialized periodicals on Madinah’s history and landmarks, and holds seminars and forums in this field.

The hall on the prophet’s life includes a collection of rare paintings and images of Madinah, and unique collections from Islamic history.

Another hall contains an open courtyard where visitors can enjoy nature and Madinah’s ancient architecture.

The museum has “a highly skilled, informed cadre capable of communicating with the public based on documented sources and real scientific references,” Taher said.

The team includes speakers of seven languages, including Arabic, English, Turkish and Urdu, he added.

Visitors include Madinah residents, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims, official delegations, families, university students and schools from outside and inside the city, he said.

The museum is located on King Abdul Aziz Road in Madinah Knowledge Economic City. It is open Saturday to Thursday from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. The entry fee is SR25 ($6.70).

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1219401/saudi-arabia

Instructions to complete the expansion of the Prophet's Mosque in 3 stages

Construction to resume in coming months

*Construction will be done in 3 stages, first phase includes Eastern/Western Expansion,

second phase will see the doubling of floor of old Haram and last stage caters Northern Expansion.

http://www.al-madina.com/article/555550

Interior designs for the new Prophet's Mosque expansion project

New post-Umrah tourist visas to be issued this quarter

Sunday 7 January 2018

JEDDAH: The director of the Tourism and Heritage Authority in the Makkah region, Mohammed Al-Omari, told Arab News on Saturday that, “citizens from all the countries who have access to the Kingdom can obtain tourist visas.”

Al-Omari continued: “All Muslims from countries around the world can obtain a post-Umrah tourist visa, so when Umrah is finished they can become a tourist.” This is called the extended Umrah visa for post-Umrah tourism.

“Everyone will benefit from these visas as long as the conditions apply to them,” he added.

Umrah is a shorter version of Hajj and can be performed all year round.

The maximum period of visa validity is 30 days.

Asked when these tourism visas would be issued, Al-Omari answered: “Prince Sultan bin Salman, the chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) said that the start of tourism visa issuance will be announced during the first quarter of 2018.”

Sixty-five countries will be allowed tourism visas in the first phase of the project, and the number will increase in the second phase.

Saudi Arabia is aiming to solidify its place as a tourist destination with mega projects such as the Red Sea island resorts and the Neom project on the Gulf of Aqaba.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1220456/saudi-arabia

Over 2.4m pilgrims passed through Jeddah airport since November

A total of 1.23 million pilgrims arrived and 1.21 million of them departed through King Abdulaziz
International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah since November when the Umrah season started.

Sunday January 14, 2018 / 27 Rabi' ath-thani 1439

JEDDAH — More than 2.4 million pilgrims passed through King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah since the beginning of the Umrah season, which started in November and will continue until July.

A total of 1.23 million pilgrims arrived and 1.21 million of them departed through the airport, Director General of King Abdulaziz International Airport Abdullah Al-Rimi said.

“The Umrah season for this year kicked off with big number of pilgrims. We are expecting an increase in the coming months, especially during Ramadan,” he said.

“The Saudi leadership always ensures that pilgrims receive the best of services. All government services working at the airport are operating around the clock to serve the pilgrims,” said Al-Rimi.

The airport is expected to receive 10 million pilgrims this season.

There are over 27 government and private services at the airport. There are also seven arrival and seven departure terminals for pilgrims, said Al-Rimi.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) has planned for months in advance and has the capability to manage the large number of pilgrims, he said, adding that the airport operates at three times its regular capacity during the Umrah season.

“The airport normally receives no more than 9 million travelers a year. Earlier, 60 companies were operating at the airport, but now there are 83 companies. The number of companies increases to 98 during the Umrah season,” said Al-Rimi.

The airport’s terminals have an area of 510,000 sq. meters. The eastern pilgrims’ terminal has an area of 90,000 sq. meters. The plaza area is 160,000 sq. meters. There are 26 parking spaces at the airport which contain 10 moving bridges and two operational centers. There is also a navigation tower, 18 travel gates, 14 terminals for pilgrims, 143 immigration counters, 120 counters for the Ministry of Haj, and 254 travel counters.

The baggage claim conveyer belt is 1.180 meters long.

There are two terminals for first class travelers and the elderly. There is also a 123-room hotel. There is a food court and commercial services arena with an area of 9.418 sq. meters. There are 20 waiting lounges in the airport, 40 praying areas and 32 restrooms.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/5...since-November

http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?...newsid=1708162

Imam's prayer will be in the mihrab of the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque

قالت: لجميع الفروض والجُمع ابتداء من صلاة ظهر يوم غد الأحد
رئاسة الحرمين: صلاة الإمام ستكون في محراب الروضة بالمسجد النبوي

6 January 2018

قررت الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي أن تكون صلاة الإمام في محراب الروضة الشريفة بالمسجد النبوي لجميع الفروض والجُمع، من صلاة ظهر يوم غد الأحد .

تفصيلا قال الرئاسة عبر "تويتر" اليوم : نظراً لما تحقق ولله الحمد من خلال تجربة تطبيق نقل صلاة الإمام إلى المِحْراب النبوي في الروضة الشريفة وإفساح المجال بعد صلاة الفريضة للراغبين بالسلام على رسول الله ﷺ وصاحبيه رضي الله عنهما بالدخول من باب السلام مرورا بالمواجهة الشريفة وأداء السلام ثم الخروج من باب البقيع، ولما في ذلك من تيسير وتسهيل سُرّ به مرتادو مقدمة المسجد النبوي، فإنه تقرر صلاة الإمام في محراب الروضة لجميع الفروض والجمع من صلاة ظهر يوم الأحد الموافق ١٤٣٩/٤/٢٠.

https://sabq.org/f9Bm2c

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Makkah and Madinah are two holy cities in constant change.

10-20 years from now on more expansion projects will be necessary.

At Quba Mosque

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Newly printed Qur’anic edition of King Fahd press

The renowned calligrapher Uthman Taha
Sunday 17 December 2017

MADINAH: The changes made to the latest Hafs Qur’anic edition did not include using a different script variant (handwriting), but a new theme and new motifs as well as printing it in different sizes, said Uthman Taha, the calligrapher who has written the new edition of the Hafs Mus’haf.

The renowned calligrapher, Uthman Taha, was born in a small village close to the Turkish border in northern Syria to a simple family of farmers, and his father was the village’s imam.

“I developed a passion for calligraphy when, at the age of six, I started to look through my father’s books and see how beautifully their titles were written,” Taha said. “I asked my father about the types of scripts used, but he said it was not his specialty but that of calligraphers in the city.”

“When I became older, my father sent me to Aleppo to complete my education,” he continued, “There, I met some of Aleppo’s famous calligraphers, watched them work, and learned about the tools they used, the way they held their pens, and how they created beautiful alphabets.”

“I then moved to Damascus and met the chief calligrapher in Syria, Muhammad Badawi Al-Diyrani, and the Iraqi calligrapher, Hashim Al-Baghdadi. In Istanbul, I met Hamid Al-Amidi, the master of calligraphers in the Islamic world, who gave me a certificate in calligraphy.”

While Taha studied at the University of Damascus, he was approached by the King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Qur’an two years after its establishment. “I was appointed as a calligrapher to write different editions of the Mus’haf for several countries across the Islamic world,” he said.

“Today, five types of scripts are being used — Thuluth, the basic, large script known as the king of scripts, followed by Naskh,” he added.

“I was assigned writing the Mus’haf in different textual variants under the supervision of a specialized committee. It takes almost three years to finish writing one Mus’haf.”

Taha explained that the person who writes the Mus’haf must have memorized the Holy Qur’an and should understand its verses well.

The renowned calligrapher Uthman Taha

“The first Mus’haf I wrote at the King Fahd Complex 32 years ago was a Warsh edition for Arab countries of the Maghreb,” Taha said, “Of course, we have a revision committee at the complex, led by the imam of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Ali Al-Hudhaifi, to reread what I write.”

“The Warsh Mus’haf, which I completed in 3 years, is among the rarest editions of the Qur’an in the Islamic world,” he continued. “I have also written six Mus’hafs in different textual variants, which were distributed across the Islamic world. I first wrote the Warsh, then Hafs, and then Duri for Africa and Sudan, and I wrote the Qalun for Libya.”

He also pointed out that many Saudi calligraphers visit him at his house. They come from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Qassim to show him what they’d written. “I try my best to coach them, but I don’t have enough time as I spend most of my day working at the King Fahd Complex,” he said.

“Writing a Mus’haf requires readiness and desire, as well as good knowledge in Qur’anic teachings,” he added, “A calligrapher who wishes to write a Mus’haf must understand the beauty of its every page.”

He also revealed that he holds a PhD and a degree in drawing, and that his youngest son, Ahmed, has his calligraphy and artistic talent.

Taha is currently working on a project to write the Qur’an on a large 600-page panel kept in drawers made especially for Qur’anic manuscripts inside rooms designed to keep them in excellent condition.

The renowned calligrapher Uthman Taha

He wished the new generation would care more about Arabic calligraphy, and said that the youth in Saudi Arabia were interested in this art. “I wish calligraphy were taught at schools,” he said. “Saudi Arabia takes care of the Holy Qur’an, prints it, and distributes it to all Muslims, so that, today, the King Fahd Complex is considered the best in printing the Holy Qur’an at a global level and has everyone’s respect.”

He also highlighted that, recently, the governor or Madinah, Prince Faisal bin Salman, visited him at his house.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1210751/saudi-arabia

more pics : http://www.masrawy.com/islameyat/kes...B1%D9%8A%D9%81


King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex

http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?...newsid=1695742

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Guests of King Salman from brotherly Morocco;

At the Beautiful Names of Allah Exhibition

Zamzam Well project progress

http://www.okaz.com.sa/article/1596625

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Rare Qur’an editions in Madinah exhibition

Friday 22 December 2017

MADINAH: The Qur’an exhibition held in Madinah, in cooperation with Samaya Holding, aims to introduce the content of the Qur’an accurately according to a system of techniques which follows a museum exhibition style.

The exhibition involves the participation of the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, the General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives, King Abdul Aziz General Library in Madinah, King Saud University, and King Abdul Aziz University.

The sub-goals include the call for learning and teaching Qur’an; highlighting the greatness of the Qur’an; understanding the history of Qur’an, displaying the special technologies of the Qur’an; and demonstrating the efforts of the Kingdom in caring for the Qur’an.

Hamzah Abdul-Karim, the supervisor of the exhibition, told Arab News that the Qur’an exhibition contains many manuscripts and modern technologies which suit the needs of society, including manuscripts written on gazelle’s skin and others written by Hafez Osman, who wrote 106 manuscripts of the Qur’an and passed away while writing the 107th.

Another unique manuscript was written by Ghulam Mohiuddin about 200 years ago, which was carried on four camels from Afghanistan to Madinah due to its heavy weight. The manuscript is one-and-a-half meters long and one meter wide, and weighs 154 kilograms. There is a translation in Persian at the bottom of each page.

Abdul-Karim added that the exhibition is held in 12 halls, and there are interpreters to many languages including English, French, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian, Pashtu and Malawian. He also noted that a large number of pilgrims visit the exhibition during Umrah and Hajj seasons, with the number of visitors reaching 10.000 daily during Hajj season. Moreover, people from around 150 nations visited the exhibition.

Visitors to the Qur’an exhibition in Madinah have been amazed at the talents of the Egyptian Qur’an calligrapher Hani Al-Tawil who displays his skills to visitors. Tawil told Arab News that he masters the Naskh and Diwani styles of the Arabic alphabet, as well as six other types of calligraphy.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1212796/saudi-arabia

[youtube]tOLkVJUBOI4[/youtube]

https://twitter.com/HolyQuranExb2​

360˚ virtual reality movie around the Haram of Makkah​

PROMO

ENGLISH DOCUMENTARY

WAHI : To get the full effect of VR we recommend watching on VR glasses.
You can still watch this content as a 360 video on your mobile device
YouTube App or desktop in Chrome, Opera, or Firefox.


ARABIC 1

ARABIC 2

https://www.wahi360.com

https://twitter.com/NMCksa

 

[Saif al-Arab]

https://twitter.com/x/status/959897481357217801

https://twitter.com/x/status/961955490757529602

 

[Saif al-Arab]

First batch of Iranian Hajj pilgrims (almost 85.000 in total) arrives in Madinah

File photo of an Iranian pilgrim taking part in Hajj in Medina in Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Thursday, 19 July 2018

The first batch of the Iranian pilgrims for this year’s Hajj (pilgrimage) arrived in Medina in the Saudi Kingdom on Thursday, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Upon arrival at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz international airport, they were transported by buses to their temporary camp where an integrated system of high-quality services provided by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Medina branch, and the National Foundation for Pilgrims Guides was awaiting them.

Hatem bin Jaafar Bali, Chairman of the National Foundation for Pilgrims Guides, said that the Foundation provided all services for the convenience of pilgrims, in the framework of the keenness of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve pilgrims.

Last Update: Friday, 20 July 2018 KSA 01:16 - GMT 22:16

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/New...Iranian-Pilgrims-Arrives-in-Saudi-Medina.html

Iranian pilgrims say they are satisfied

Reuters, Mecca
Saturday, 2 September 2017

Iranian pilgrims returned to haj this year for the first time since a deadly crush in 2015, in what could be an important confidence-building measure for dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

President Hassan Rouhani suggested a trouble-free haj this year could help build confidence in other areas of dispute between Tehran and Riyadh.

So far, Iranian pilgrims say they are satisfied.

This year, Iran issued its nearly 90,000 pilgrims blue electronic bracelets to help organizers trace and identify them.

Iranians clad in traditional white clothes and a distinctive red mark arrived in orange buses at their encampment in Mount Arafat and moved smoothly in all locations.

Pilgrims who spoke with Reuters, many with previous experience at the haj, say their facilities and treatment by the Saudi authorities are good and include air-conditioned tents.

Last Update: Saturday, 2 September 2017 KSA 17:17 - GMT 14:17

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2017/09/02/Iranian-pilgrims-say-they-are-satisfied.html

Iranian pilgrim, 80, survives heart attack in Saudi Arabia

The man praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the pilgrims. (Supplied)

By Staff writer, Al Arabiya Monday, 21 August 2017

A medical team at King Abdullah’s Medical City in Mecca saved the life of an 80-year-old Iranian pilgrim who suffered a heart attack soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

The medical team quoted preliminary medical tests as revealing that the elderly man suffered from a major heart attack while at the Holly Mosque. As soon as the intial medical reports were revealed, he was immediately shifted to the operations room for a cardiac catheterization. The man had suffered the attack within hours of his arrival in the country.

The man underwent an operation in which his left anterior artery blockage was removed. An artery stent was placed during the operation. He was then transferred to the ICU for recovery. The medical team explained that the patient has already recovered and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

The Iranian man expressed his gratitude to the medical team for saving his life and for the treatment he received during his stay at the hospital. He also praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the pilgrims.

Last Update: Monday, 21 August 2017 KSA 20:53 - GMT 17:53

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/va...-saved-after-suffering-from-heart-attack.html

https://twitter.com/x/status/1020077663531266055

https://twitter.com/x/status/1020048045084487680

 

[HAIDER]

All is beautiful , except i hate this tower which shadow holy Kaaba.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

All is beautiful , except i hate this tower which shadow holy Kaaba.

That is your opinion. Life goes on. Not the finished work either. Makkah will look even better in 10-15 years time. Vastly different and for the better mostly.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1020268523946430464

https://twitter.com/x/status/1019568277134237696

https://twitter.com/x/status/1018784336735326208

https://twitter.com/x/status/1018894370957819904

 

[Sugarcane]

My family is departing tomorrow for Hajj, hope there are good arrangement to do Hajj in this much high temperature.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

My family is departing tomorrow for Hajj, hope there are good arrangement to do Hajj in this much high temperature.

Aside from Makkah (especially) and Madinah being giant building sites nowadays and the huge gathering of people (as usual) it should be a unproblematic trip. There is air-condition, watering and shade in most places. Even the most basic tents have all the facilities of the modern world. The temperature in Makkah (hottest city in KSA) is around 38-41 degrees celsius at their highest nowadays. It's in the middle of July so not surprising and there are many hotter areas in the Middle East currently. Could be worse. In any case you can get used to it after a while. However venturing out in the middle of the day and doing physical work is not the best idea for elders to put it mildly. Walking around in Makkah (mountainous and hilly terrain) is not the easiest thing either for most elders.

Anyway I wish them a safe trip.

 

[Sugarcane]

Aside from Makkah (especially) and Madinah being giant building sites nowadays and the huge gathering of people (as usual) it should be a unproblematic trip. There is air-condition, watering and shade in most places. Even the most basic tents have all the facilities of the modern world. The temperature in Makkah (hottest city in KSA) is around 38-41 degrees celsius at their highest. It's in the middle of July so not surprising and there are many hotter areas in the Middle East currently. Could be worse. In any case you can get used to it after a while. However venturing out in the middle of the day and doing physical work is not the best idea for elders to put it mildly.

Is there any arrangement or plans to facilitate elderly people and women to reach Hajar e Aswad? It's mission impossible even for young men.