Govt employees learning foreign languages to perform better
Saudi employees in various government agencies have been learning foreign languages with the aim of serving better by effectively responding to queries they receive from the public, particularly pilgrims and domestic workers in distress.
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Giant plasma screens guide visitors to Prophet’s Mosque
Chairman of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdul Ramhan Al-Sudais has launched the installation of giant plasma screens in the Prophet’s Mosque to teach visitors in various languages of the correct method of paying homage to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his two Companions buried close to the mosque near the Rawdah Al-Shareef, which is the area between the house of the Prophet and his pulpit.
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Pilot opening of Jeddah’s new international airport due in May
JEDDAH: The pilot operation of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport will take place in May, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a presentation held in the presence of the acting governor of Makkah, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar. Six gates will be open for a number of domestic flights, gradually rising until the final operation of domestic and international flights is completed by the end of the year.
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600 volunteers clean up Mount Ghar Thour
The Saudi Commission of Tourism and National Heritage organized a campaign to clean the litter from around Mount Ghar Thour on Saturday, Al-Madina newspaper reported.
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Meet the UK’s oldest Hajj tour agent who helped pave pilgrims’ path to Makkah
LONDON: The maps of Makkah and Mount Arafat are wearing thin at El-Sawy Travel, a Hajj and Umrah tourism agency in St. John’s Wood, northwest London. Faded finger marks show where owner Hamdy El-Sawy has traced the journeys made by hundreds of British Muslims he has taken on the sacred pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia over the past four decades. “I enjoy serving them— they are the
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Umrah Connect Int. unmasked
Following investigations of complaints of mismanagement in the local umrah industry, VOC News was alerted to two families, the Anthony’s and the Patel’s, who were left stranded only days before they were scheduled to perform the spiritual journey.
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Emir of Lafia urges NAHCON to reduce fares
The Emir of Lafia, Dr Isa Mustapha-Agwai, on Tuesday has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to reduce the fares for the 2018 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi developer Jabal Omar to close Umm Al Qura merger deal in 2018
RIYADH: Jabal Omar Development Co. , one of Saudi Arabia’s largest listed property developers, expects to finalize its merger deal with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction in 2018, a senior company executive said. The deal, announced in November, is key to strengthening Jabal Omar’s presence in the real estate market of the Muslim holy city of Makkah beyond its flagship
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Saudi Arabia's African roots traced to annual Hajj pilgrimage and British colonization
JEDDAH: An estimated 10 percent of the Saudi population is of African descent, living mainly in the Western Region, and particularly in Makkah. Their roots lie in the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the British colonization of Africa in the 19th century. For hundreds of years, pilgrims and oppressed Muslims from that continent traveled to Makkah and Madinah, and chose to make those
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Workshop for development of Historic Jeddah launched in Makkah
JEDDAH: Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, deputy emir of Makkah, on Wednesday launched a workshop for the development of the historical area of Jeddah. The workshop took place in cooperation with 21 bodies, including the province’s development agency; Jeddah Municipality; and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH). Its aim was to encourage owners of historic
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SAHUC releases Hajj volunteer applications
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) and the National General Council (NGC) have announced the opening of applications for Hajj and Medical Mission...
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Couple realises Hajj dream
The annual pilgrimage sees thousands of Muslims apply for accreditation each year and they are placed on a lengthy waiting list
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