Middle East

Jeddah, Oct 2: More than two million pilgrims have begun marching to Mina on the first leg of their journey of a lifetime. The government’s agencies have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims from Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Taif and Dammam into the tent city. The pilgrims will spend the day and night in prayers and then head to the plains of Arafat on Friday

Jeddah, Oct 1: The newly expanded Jamrat bridge in Mina can accommodate 500,000 pilgrims per hour during the Haj season, said Prince Mansour bin Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs. “The streets leading to Jamrat, however, cannot hold these many pilgrims. As a result, only 300,000 pilgrims can use the bridge per hour now,” he said, while stressing his ministry’s plan to expand Mina’s

Jeddah, Sep 30: Security forces have barred 98,000 people from entering Makkah because they did not have Haj permits, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The authorities did not allow 25,216 vehicles to enter the holy sites because they were not licensed to carry pilgrims. Police seized 85 vehicles for violating other Haj-related regulations. Drivers of utility vehicles carrying

Jeddah, Sep 29: The glittering Islamic culture and civilization is a unifying force for millions of Muslims all over the world, said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, urging Muslims to stand united in upholding the teachings of Islam. In his keynote speech at the annual conference of the Muslim World League (MWL) in Makkah, King Abdullah also called upon Muslims to embrace modernity

Madinah, Sep 28: Haj convoys left Madinah for Makkah under the supervision of Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman after Friday prayers. Government agencies have stepped up efforts to ensure efficient completion of procedures at arrival and departure points and to ensure that pilgrims are provided with comprehensive services. More than 700,000 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah, including around

Riyadh, Sep 27: Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has advised pilgrims to avoid politicizing the Haj. Speaking during his Friday sermon at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, he said the main aim of the Haj should be remembering Allah while performing the rituals. He said pilgrims must be wary of their Haj being dominated by “evil and wrong thoughts, deviant ideologies or abhorrent

Jeddah, Sep 26: More than 2 million pilgrims, who are to perform Haj this year, can use the newly expanded areas of the Grand Mosque in Makkah for prayers, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered. In accordance with the royal directives, pilgrims will be able to perform prayers inside the expanded mosque and courtyards on the northern, western, southern and eastern parts of the

Jeddah, SEP 25: The Traffic Department has sought the assistance of Tawafa organizations for the success of its plan for the Haj season this year. “Tawafa organizations are an important partner for the success of the Haj traffic plan,” said Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil, director of traffic police and assistant commander of Haj security forces. Addressing a meeting organized by the Tawafa

Al-Aqsa, Sep 24: According to reports on Wednesday, clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israelis after Israeli forces stormed the holy site. At least 20 Palestinians were reportedly injured in the clashes. Israeli troops have escalated their raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in recent months. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for world Muslims. Almost on a daily basis, Israeli troops

Jeddah, Sep 24: Saudi Arabia's air force participated in US-led bombing strikes against the so-called Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria on Tuesday as part of global efforts to eliminate terrorism, an official source said. “The Saudi Royal Air Force participated in the military operations against IS in Syria, in support of the moderate Syrian opposition, and as part of the international