Holy Mosques install lockers for worshippers seeking Itikaf during Ramadan
3 June 2018

Holy Mosques install lockers for worshippers seeking Itikaf during Ramadan

JEDDAH: The Two Holy Mosques directorate for Itikaf services has prepared 500 lockers with digital locks to hold the personal belongings of worshippers. Itikaf is an Islamic practice that consists of spending a number of days in a mosque, devoting oneself to worship. It is very common during the last ten days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The lockers at the Masjid

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‘Masjid Qiblatain’: The mosque where Muslim prayer direction changed from Jerusalem to Makkah
3 June 2018

‘Masjid Qiblatain’: The mosque where Muslim prayer direction changed from Jerusalem to Makkah

JEDDAH: Al-Madinah is rich with historic Islamic sites that are frequented by visitors to the Saudi Arabian city. The city reminds them of the prophet’s teachings and the spreading of Islam to all parts of the world. Among Madinah’s landmark sites is Masjid Al-Qiblatain or the Mosque of the Two Qiblas. Built by Sawad bin Ghanam bin Kaab during the second year of Hijra, it is

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KSA’s Haramain train makes pilot trip with 200 citizens
2 June 2018

KSA’s Haramain train makes pilot trip with 200 citizens

JEDDAH: The Haramain high-speed train service offered first free trip to citizens on Friday. More than 200 citizens traveled from Madinah to Makkah on the Haramain Express’ test journey. Nabil Al-Amoudi, transport minister and the chairman of the General Transport Authority, accompanied the citizens on the historic train journey.

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Leadership’s attention to Makkah, Holy Sites
2 June 2018

Leadership’s attention to Makkah, Holy Sites

Last year Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah who is president of the Makkah Development Authority, signed a contract worth SR3.2 billion for Makkah public transport system.

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Survey: 82% Saudis prefer to perform Umrah in Ramadan
2 June 2018

Survey: 82% Saudis prefer to perform Umrah in Ramadan

About 1.9 million people from Riyadh, 52 percent of them Saudis, performed Umrah. The number of Umrah pilgrims from the Northern Border Province was 34,000 and about 66 percent were Saudis.

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Imam of Prophet's Holy Mosque named Islamic Personality of the Year
2 June 2018

Imam of Prophet's Holy Mosque named Islamic Personality of the Year

Al Huzaifi has been leading Muslims in prayers and teaching them Islam in one of the most sacred spots on earth.

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Makkah hotels post multi-year April lows for occupancy, room rates
2 June 2018

Makkah hotels post multi-year April lows for occupancy, room rates

STR says occupancy was the lowest for an April since 2010, while absolute average daily rate was the lowest for the month since 2007

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Saudi authorities provide 12,000 electric cars, wheelchairs for pilgrims at holy mosques
1 June 2018

Saudi authorities provide 12,000 electric cars, wheelchairs for pilgrims at holy mosques

About 12,000 electric cars and wheelchairs will be provided for free to elderly, sick and special-needs pilgrims so they can perform their rituals in ease and comfort at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, said the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques. The presidency will also supervise wheelchair pushers so as to avoid exploitation, manipulation and

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ThePlace: Grand Mosque in Makkah
1 June 2018

ThePlace: Grand Mosque in Makkah

Hundreds of thousands of worshippers performed the third Friday prayer at the Grand Mosque during this holy month of Ramadan. For the first time, the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques this year launched a transfer service for elderly, sick and special-needs pilgrims, with drivers transporting families and individuals to perform their rituals.

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Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage registers 32 archaeological, historial sites
31 May 2018

Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage registers 32 archaeological, historial sites

JEDDAH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) registered 32 archaeological and historical sites in the National Antiquities Register in the first quarter of 2018, bringing the total number of registered sites to 8,225, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The SCTH registered seven archaeological sites: Three in the Tabuk region, two in the Asir

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Saudi warns Umrah visa violators face $13,000 fine, jail
31 May 2018

Saudi warns Umrah visa violators face $13,000 fine, jail

The kingdom is in the middle of a crackdown on labour and residency law violators

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Interpreters in 10 languages translate for Umrah pilgrims
30 May 2018

Interpreters in 10 languages translate for Umrah pilgrims

Hijazi says his interpreters translate to and from 10 languages including English, French, Urdu, Malay, Persian, Turkish, Russian, Hawsa, Chinese and Bengali.

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