Secure, serene Hajj: King Salman hails interior minister

Agencies
August 27, 2018

Jeddah, Aug 27: King Salman sent a thank-you note to Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif, interior minister and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, congratulating him for Al-Adha and the success of this year’s Hajj.

The king said that the comprehensive security, regulatory and traffic plans for this year’s Hajj allowed 2.3 million pilgrims “to perform their duties with ease, security and reassurance in a serene environment.”

Significant efforts had been made by government and non-government bodies to serve pilgrims, he said.

The king said he prayed for God’s acceptance of pilgrims’ prayers and their safe return to their homelands, and wished success for Islam and Muslims.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also sent a thank-you note to the prince. “We thank your Highness, provincial governors, members of the Supreme Hajj Committee, all participants in serving pilgrims, security personnel of all military sectors, governmental and non-governmental bodies for your congratulations and for what has been achieved thanks to everyone’s efforts and their readiness to serve pilgrims, under the supervision, follow-up and guidance of King Salman,” he wrote.

Earlier, the prince sent a thank-you note to the crown prince on behalf of princes, the Supreme Hajj Committee, provincial governors, members of the Interior Ministry and their co-workers, congratulating them for Al-Adha and the success of this year’s Hajj.

He said: “On my own behalf and on behalf of princes, members of the Supreme Hajj Committee, security personnel and the people who supported them from governmental and non-governmental bodies participating in this year’s Hajj work, I am honored to send you my most sincere congratulations on the pious occasion of Al-Adha, and may you be blessed with good health and wellness,” he wrote.

“I am also honored to congratulate you for the success of this year’s Hajj season, thanks to God, your Highness and King Salman’s care, support and guidance, which enabled pilgrims to perform Hajj with ease, security and reassurance with the services and facilities provided by Saudi Arabia, through an accurate implementation of Hajj’s security, preventive, regulatory and traffic plans with 2,371,675 pilgrims arriving in Arafat on the most important day of Hajj and standing in that mighty site.

“The traffic plan was implemented with accuracy; the arrival to Arafat was completed in record time, mobilization from Arafat to Muzdalifah then Mina was completed with ease and in accordance with careful organization, and the beginning of throwing pebbles, influx to the Grand Mosque to perform Tawaf Al-Ifada and completion of Hajj rituals following the guidance of the Chosen One were also performed with ease.

“The security situation was stable without the occurrence of any incidents, and was in accordance with strict discipline, immediate and careful surveillance of pilgrims’ conditions and all their movements during the performance of Hajj rituals. Health conditions were reassuring, and thanks to the exerted efforts, there was no emergence of epidemics,” he wrote.

The prince said that the success of this year’s Hajj was thanks to the “royal care and directions of King Salman and the crown prince, as well as the dedication of security personnel, members of civilian and military sectors that supported them in this Hajj season to perform this great duty.”

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Agencies
June 18,2020

Riyadh, Jun 18: Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that Saudi Arabia will resume tourist activities at the end of Shawwal (June 21) after a hiatus of more than three months due to lockdown measures imposed following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

The minister made the remarks during a television interview after chairing the emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism on Wednesday. He said that the current indications are positive and that the Kingdom is ready to launch the summer program, which will be a boost for domestic tourism.

“It was revealed in a research study carried out by the Tourism Authority that 80 percent of Saudi citizens want to take advantage of domestic tourism. We will launch the domestic tourism program for the public after having made necessary coordination with the Ministry of Health and the concerned higher authorities,” he said.

Several Arab tourism ministers and officials of the relevant organizations attended the meeting, which discussed the challenges that the region’s tourism sector is facing due to the pandemic. Al-Khateeb pointed out that the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, headed by Saudi Arabia, held the virtual session in exceptional circumstances to discuss ways to get out of this pandemic and revitalize the tourism sector.

“Saudi Arabia has initiated a package of financial stimulus activities with a total value of more than $61 billion to protect jobs and businesses and reduce the economic burden of the crisis. The domestic tourism sector has benefited from it as one of the important economic sectors, as it covered 60 percent of salaries of Saudi employees in the private sector for a period of three months,” he added.

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News Network
May 6,2020

A massive fire engulfed a residential tower in UAE's Sharjah last night. The building has been identified as one Abbco Tower in Al Nahda.

According to the latest inputs, Sharjah Civil Defence teams rushed to the spot and evacuated all residents. 

Firefighters managed to douse the blaze after several hours. The building in question is reportedly a 48-storey structure. Officials are yet to reveal the cause of the fire.

All residents of the building were evacuated while seven incurred minor injuries during the evacuation and were treated at local hospitals, reported the United Arab Emirates' local media.

More details are awaited as this is a developing story.

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Agencies
April 8,2020

Riyadh, Apr 8: Saudi Arabia's health minister has warned the number of COVID-19 cases in the country could reach 200,000 in coming weeks.

As of Tuesday, the kingdom registered a total of 2,795 coronavirus infections, including 41 deaths.

"Within the next few weeks, studies predict the number of infections will range from a minimum of 10,000 to a maximum of 200,000," health minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah was cited as saying by the official Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia extended the duration of daily curfews in four governorates and five cities to 24 hours.

The kingdom imposed round-the-clock lockdowns in the capital Riyadh, Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran and Hofuf, the interior ministry said on Twitter.

The same measures were also imposed on the governorates of Jeddah, Taif, Qatif and Khobar, the ministry added.

Authorities had already sealed off the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, barring people from entering and exiting as well as prohibiting movement between all provinces.

Last month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round "Umrah" pilgrimage over fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading to Islam's holiest cities.

Authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year's Hajj, scheduled for the end of July. Last week, authorities urged Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage.

Last year, about 2.5 million people travelled to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Hajj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able.

The Arab world's biggest economy has also closed down cinemas, malls and restaurants and halted flights as it steps up efforts to contain the virus.

King Salman has warned of a "more difficult" fight ahead against the virus, as the kingdom faces the economic double blow of virus-led shutdowns and crashing oil prices

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