Day: June 14, 2024

Switzerland announced today, Friday, a contribution of 10 million Swiss francs ($11.2 million) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Foreign Policy Committee of the Swiss House of Representatives said that this financial payment came in response to UNRWA’s appeal for humanitarian aid, and aims exclusively to cover the organization’s most urgent needs in Gaza in the period until next December, as those needs include food, water, shelter, and health care. Primary and logistics services

Source: Maan News Agency

Mina: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Undersecretary for Hajj Affairs Dr. Ayed Al-Ghuwaynem, inaugurated today the 1st edition of “Mutahed” Award for Excellence for Domestic Pilgrims Facilities during this year’s Hajj season, organized by the “Mutahed” Coordinating Council.

The award aims to encourage enterprises, highlight their achievements and stimulate optimal administrative and operational performance to achieve superior and sustainable results in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coordinating Council “Mutahed”, Dr. Saed Al-Juhani, said that the award aims to promote the culture of excellence, creativity and innovation among the facilities serving domestic pilgrims while highlighting the role of distinguished establishments in serving and honouring them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program, has warmly received the families of the martyrs and wounded from the Gaza Strip. This initiative, in line with the royal directives, has invited 1,000 pilgrims to perform Hajj this season. The wise leadership’s unwavering commitment to host them under the “Hosting Pilgrims from the Families of Martyrs and Injured People from the Gaza Strip Initiative” is a testament to Saudi leadership’s profound respect and value for these pilgrims.

In its supervisory role, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has meticulously prepared for the arrival of the guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visits from Palestine.

By harnessing all capabilities through a number of committees, the Ministry has ensured that the best and finest services are provided to the guests. This meticulous attention to detail underscores the high level of care and attention given to the pilgrims, in
stilling a sense of reassurance and confidence in their minds.

Several pilgrims, deeply moved by the opportunity to perform the Hajj rituals as part of the guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Hajj program for this year, expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the Saudi leadership.

They lauded the Kingdom’s role in serving the pilgrims and the top-notch facilities they encountered. They prayed to Allah Almighty to protect the Kingdom, its leadership, and its people from all evil and harm and to reward them for their service to Islam and Muslims.

The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Alsheikh, confirmed that all the services and facilities provided to the guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques within his generous initiative to host 1,000 pilgrims from the families of the wounded and injured from the Gaza Strip are not just satisfactory, but exceptional.

He added that these services and facilities, which include medical
care, comfortable accommodation, and efficient transportation, come from the standpoint of the Kingdom’s care for the Palestinian people and its permanent support. He noted that the leadership is keen to facilitate all procedures so pilgrims can perform their rituals with complete ease and comfort.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: A comprehensive medical team at King Abdullah Medical City, a member of the Makkah Health Cluster, successfully saved the life of a Nigerian pilgrim in her seventies after she suffered a severe brain hemorrhage under the arachnoid membrane, which led to hydrocephalus and loss of consciousness.

The Makkah Health Cluster noted that the critical condition necessitated urgent intervention by neurosurgeons, who placed an external tube to drain cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to relieve the pressure. This procedure was followed by an interventional brain catheterization, which revealed a ruptured aneurysm, the primary cause of the bleeding.

The cluster noted that the neuro-interventional radiology teams efficiently sealed the aneurysm causing the bleeding, which contributed to the patient’s gradual recovery of consciousness. Subsequently, she was weaned off the ventilator, and her health condition began to improve significantly. She is currently in the intensive care unit and will be able to complete h
er Hajj rituals by being transported with the health cluster convoy to Arafat.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading multi-asset class real estate developer and PIF-owned giga-project, held its first Commercial Bootcamp to empower general contractors, subcontractors, and project managers from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with more upskilling opportunities in the industry. The event, attended by local companies, underlined ROSHN’s approach to growing the number and capability of local contractors for the Kingdom’s construction industry and diversifying the local economy.

The bootcamp is designed to help equip contractors with vital construction cost management skills, improving their competitiveness and supporting them in making informed financial decisions. In this first edition, participants learned how to develop accurate cost estimates using effective methods and software tools, strategies to control costs during a project, mitigating cost risks and navigating change, and maximizing profitability through optimized financial management, cash flow forecasting, and value e
ngineering.

Iain McBride, Executive Director of Commercial at ROSHN Group, said: ‘At ROSHN, we are proud to serve as a national champion of the real estate sector to uplift, enhance, and empower Saudi businesses while also strengthening our supply chains through localization and diversification. Our Commercial Bootcamp reflects our values-led commitment to empowerment, opportunity, and responsibility. We seek to raise standards and establish Saudi Arabia as a centre of excellence, where local contractors are recognized as globally trusted partners of choice, having showcased their skills and abilities as part of giga-projects built to international standards.’

The event featured a series of interactive sessions led by world-class speakers offering global perspectives, diverse experiences, and cutting-edge insight. Alongside senior leaders from ROSHN’s commercial and procurement departments, speakers included Dean Furey, a chartered Director and Head of Real Estate for Turner and Townsend; Charlie Shepherd,
a Director of Cost Consultancy with 17 years of experience within the UK and KSA construction industries; Malungelo Msomi, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS) renowned for his expertise and proficiency in the construction industry and real estate sector; and Uwais Haroon, an Associate Director with over 12 years of experience spearheading extensive refurbishment, fit out, and new build projects across the UK and Middle East.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser launched the advanced version of the “Insiyab” initiative.

This initiative aims to measure the smooth flow of transporting pilgrims by bus to the holy sites by measuring real-time movement through drones relying on artificial intelligence (AI).

The Roads General Authority (RGA) Spokesperson Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi indicated that the authority’s “Insiyab” initiative measures the smooth flow of bus transportation to Makkah and the holy sites.

The initiative aims to measure more than 25 indicators, including the average journey time for buses, the average waiting time at stations, the average carbon emissions, the average level of service, and the average traffic density on the roads, the spokesperson said.

He stated that these modern experiments contribute to continuous technical improvement and collaboration with partners, enabling the pilgrims to receive exceptional and seamless services.

He also highlighted the virtual reali
ty glasses technology that assists field inspectors in ensuring the compliance of buses with regulations, such as vehicle cleanliness, operational license cards, and obtaining a bus driver’s card legally.

Moreover, Al-Otaibi pointed out that the authority is committed to this technology to provide innovative modern techniques to serve the pilgrims, facilitate their transportation, and enhance their bus travel experience.

This initiative is part of the authority’s role in providing safe transportation, adopting modern technologies and AI to assess their suitability and contribution to delivering an exceptional travel experience for pilgrims, ensuring they perform their rituals with comfort and peace of mind.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The Minister of the Interior of Côte d’Ivoire, Vagondo Diomande, commended the services provided to pilgrims in general and specifically to the pilgrims of Côte d’Ivoire.

He visited the headquarters of the Ithra Al-Khair Company for Pilgrims of African Countries. He expressed his satisfaction with the services and ongoing support provided to pilgrims from their arrival in the Holy Cities until the completion of the Hajj rituals.

The minister praised the excellent organization that helped to facilitate the pilgrims’ easy performance of their rituals.

He thanked the Kingdom’s government for their efforts in receiving, organizing, and educating pilgrims. He also acknowledged the crucial role played by Ithra Al-Khair in supporting the performance of pilgrims from African countries by providing exceptional services that enhance their religious and cultural experiences.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: Two thousand media professionals from local and international media outlets from 150 countries are covering Hajj season 1445 AH.

They are helped by digital technology and advanced equipment provided by the Hajj Media Hub in Makkah, which will stay open for visitors until the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, which corresponds to June 16, 2024.

The media delegations praised the services provided by the Ministry of Media at the media hub, which give access to details regarding the Hajj season and provided insights into the efforts of the government entities involved in Hajj that ensure a safe and smooth experience for pilgrims.

They also commended the dynamism and spirit of competitivity at the hub, fostered by the presence of so many media outlets covering the Hajj season.

The hub makes use of modern technologies to help journalists perform their tasks.

It includes a major media operations room, a media center, facilities for live television broadcasting, and various multipurpose pavilions.

Media profession
als have thus all they need to highlight the prominent projects and efforts dedicated to serving pilgrims, and future projects at the holy sites.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has announced that the project to install flexible flooring in the holy sites, using the latest technologies, aims to provide a comfortable and safe experience for pilgrims. This initiative reduces the effort required for walking and decreases instances of heat stress.

The commission pointed out that installing flexible flooring using innovative materials, including recycled rubber, enhances pilgrims’ comfort, reduces injuries, improves the visual landscape, and lowers heat emissions.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Sharia and Religious Guidance Unit of the Qatari Hajj Mission held a meeting with the Legal (Sharia) guides accompanying the Qatari Hajj campaigns, to determine their preparations for religious awareness and guidance, and to provide moral and faith support to pilgrims, in the presence of HE Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, head of the Qatari Hajj Mission, Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem, During the meeting, HE the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs and the head of the mission underlined the prominent role of the legal (Sharia) guides in educating the pilgrims and guiding them towards a correct understanding of the rituals and performing them with spirituality and piety, adhering to the principles and morals of Islam and being patient in obedience and crowding in performing this duty, which brings together millions of Muslims from all over the world.

HE the Minister urged them to take advantage of these times in remembrance, supplication, and reading the Quran, and for eve
ry pilgrim to be careful to complete rituals in the correct manner to gain the great reward for the Hajj obligation, and return from it pure as the day his mother gave birth to him.

His Excellency called on all legal (Sharia) guides in the campaigns to fully cooperate with all pilgrims during their performance of rituals and their stay in the camps in the Holy Sites, stressing that the State is making every effort to serve the pilgrims of the State of Qatar and all campaigns and facilitate their affairs, so that the Hajj season to be distinguished and exceptional, by providing distinguished services ensuring satisfaction and safety of all the countrys pilgrims, including preparing all means that would facilitate the performance of the Hajj.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Al Mahmoud, head of the Sharia and Religious Guidance Unit at the Hajj Mission, said: “The legal conditions in the Qatari Hajj campaigns are reassuring and auspicious, and planning for the rituals and the Hajj route is going smoothly,”
affirming the readiness of the pilgrims of the State of Qatar to perform the rituals.

He explained that the Legal (Sharia) guides who were chosen to accompany the Qatari campaigns during this years Hajj season are mostly Qatari preachers qualified to guide and issue fatwas regarding Hajj rituals, and they perform their work of preaching, guiding, issuing fatwas, and explaining the correct Hajj rulings to the pilgrims of Qatar.

He called on the campaigners to cooperate with the Legal (Sharia) guides, stressing that the places and camps in Al Mashaer are fully prepared with all services and facilities to receive pilgrims and perform the Hajj .

The meeting also discussed some of the legal issues that were presented to the members of the Sharia Unit and the guides during the last period, regarding the provisions of Hajj and emerging issues in the jurisprudential aspects of this obligation, and agreement was made on the approved fatwas regarding them, and the recommendations of the Sharia Unit and religious gui
dance in the mission were taken into account.

Source: Qatar News Agency