JEDDHA – The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah declared on Sunday the success of the first day of the Umrah pilgrimage, which was resumed some seven months after it was suspended due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
No infections or health violations were reported on the first day of the resumption of the pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. Saudi Arabia has allowed citizens and residents to start performing Umrah as of Saudi at 30 percent capacity, or 6,000 pilgrims a day. It will open for Muslim from abroad starting Nov.1.
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Dr. Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat in organizing the Umrah have succeeded in implementing the plans that were introduced amid the extraordinary circumstance imposed by the pandemic.
Zero infections being reported is credited to the success of these efforts and the strict health measures that have been adopted from the very moment the pilgrims arrived at the five gathering centers, he added.
It is this organization that allowed the first day of the Umrah to pass smoothly and calmly, he continued.
Organizing the pilgrims at gathering centers allows organizers to accurately very their permits and keep track of them throughout their stay in Makkah. After a health check at the center, the pilgrims are guided towards the Grand Mosque, accompanied with a health guide.
Mashat said over 200,000 Umrah permits have been processed and issued. The authorities will not stop issuing them until the allowed number of pilgrims is reached. The Umrah is set to resume to full operational capacity in three phases.
The official said the first phase will witness 1,000 pilgrims and will extend to 14 days. After that, 15,000 pilgrims will be accommodated on a daily basis for another two weeks. Operation capacity will be restored in full after four weeks. This all depends on the pandemic.
Official spokesman for the Makkah health authority Hamad al-Otaibi told reporters that should a suspected infection be detected, then a pilgrim will be referred to the closest health center where he will be tested.
The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has taken all necessary preventive measures to safeguard the pilgrims. It has deployed 400 workers, who disinfect the Grand Mosque 15 minutes after each batch of pilgrims exits the premises, meaning that they will be cleaning the area ten times per day.
Nine hundred liters of hand sanitizers and 1,000 liters of carpet and 25,000 liters of surface disinfectants will be used on a daily basis during the first of the pilgrimage.
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call From French President Macron
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron in which they discussed bilateral relations. ‘During the call, they reviewed relations between the two countries and opportunities for joint cooperation. Regional and international developments were discussed, and a number of issues of common interest … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Receives Phone Call From French President Macron
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi To Reopen Qatar Embassy In Coming Days – Saudi Minister
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia expects to re-open its embassy in Qatar in the coming days, Saudi’s foreign minister said on Saturday, following a U.S.-backed détente last week in a three – year-old dispute between Arab states. It is just a matter a logistics, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told journalists in Riyadh … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi To Reopen Qatar Embassy In Coming Days – Saudi Minister
SPORTS | Formula One Season Set To Start In Bahrain After Australian Grand Prix Postponement
MILAN – – The start of the Formula One season has been delayed after the Australian Grand Prix was postponed from March to November because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Australian race in Melbourne has been rescheduled from March 21 to November 21. The Chinese GP has also been delayed but no new date has been … Continue reading SPORTS | Formula One Season Set To Start In Bahrain After Australian Grand Prix Postponement
BREAKING NEWS | Investments In Saudi Arabia’s Economy Will Reach Six Trillion Dollars: Crown Prince
AL ULA – – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says major investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia will amount to six trillion dollars over the next ten years, including 3 trillion dollars in investments in new projects, within the framework of the opportunities provided by Vision 2030, reported Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia’s Crown … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Investments In Saudi Arabia’s Economy Will Reach Six Trillion Dollars: Crown Prince
TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia Warns Citizens Against Travel To 12 Countries Without Approval Over Virus Fears
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia warned on Wednesday its citizens against travel without prior approval to 12 countries where the coronavirus pandemic is still not under control.The Interior Ministry said the countries were Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Somalia, Armenia, Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Belarus.It added that the same permission applies to other countries … Continue reading TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia Warns Citizens Against Travel To 12 Countries Without Approval Over Virus Fears
ROYALS | Oman Sultan’s Eldest Son Dhi Yazan To Succeed Him, Becoming First Crown Prince
RIYADH – – Oman’s Sultan Haitham will be succeeded by his eldest son Dhi Yazan, according to a new basic law published on Tuesday that creates a new position of crown prince and established succession from ruler to the eldest son. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said has announced plans for the constitutional change on Monday, … Continue reading ROYALS | Oman Sultan’s Eldest Son Dhi Yazan To Succeed Him, Becoming First Crown Prince
SOCIAL MEDIA | YouTube Suspends Trump’s Channel After Violating Policy On Inciting Violence
Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has suspended Donald Trump’s channel as it violated policies for inciting violence after last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol by the president’s supporters. Online platforms and social media companies are distancing themselves from, and taking action against, those that encouraged or engaged in the violence in Washington, … Continue reading SOCIAL MEDIA | YouTube Suspends Trump’s Channel After Violating Policy On Inciting Violence
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Congratulates Romanian PM, On Winning President, Parliament Confidence
RIYADH – – HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has sent a cable of congratulations to Prime Minister of Romanian Florin Citu on obtaining the confidence of the Romanian President as well as the parliament for the office of the prime minister. HRH … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Congratulates Romanian PM, On Winning President, Parliament Confidence
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi King Congratulates Romanian PM, on Winning President, Parliament Confidence
RIYADH — The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable of congratulations to the Romanian Prime Minister Florin Citu, on obtaining the confidence of His Excellency Romanian President as well as the parliament for the office of the Prime Minister. In his cable, the King expressed sincere … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi King Congratulates Romanian PM, on Winning President, Parliament Confidence
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Arabia Welcomes Washington’s Designation Of Houthis As Terrorist
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia welcomed on Monday the American admiration’s decision to designate the Iran – backed Houthi militias and their leaders as terrorist. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the move is in line with the ‘demands of the legitimate Yemeni government to rein in the Houthis over their violations that have … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Arabia Welcomes Washington’s Designation Of Houthis As Terrorist
NEWS ALERT | Oman To Get Its First Crown Prince In Constitutional Overhaul
MILAN – – Oman’s sultan announced on Monday a constitutional shakeup that includes the appointment of crown price for the first time and new rules on how parliament will work, state media said. A new basic law issued by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq al – Said also emphasizes the role of the state in guaranteeing … Continue reading NEWS ALERT | Oman To Get Its First Crown Prince In Constitutional Overhaul
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Receives Italian FM in AlUla
AL ULA – – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, received in AlUla on Sunday Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Talks focused on bilateral relations and the promising opportunities to develop them in all fields. They also tackled regional and international dedvelopments. The meeting was attended by Saudi … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Crown Prince Receives Italian FM in AlUla
BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Reveals Project ‘The Line’ In Futuristic City Of NEOM
RIYADH – – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NEOM, announce the launch of ‘THE LINE’ in the city of NEOM, which is a model for what urban societies can be like in the future, and a scheme that ensure a balance to live with nature. … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Reveals Project ‘The Line’ In Futuristic City Of NEOM
TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia To Resume International Travel, Lift Restrictions On March 31
Saudi Arabia will lift travel restrictions and resume international flights starting on March 31 following the suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. All land and sea ports will also reopen allowing for the entry and exit of all nationals and residents, according to a statement from the … Continue reading TRAVEL | Saudi Arabia To Resume International Travel, Lift Restrictions On March 31
BREAKING NEWS | King Salman Receives The First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz received on Friday the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Health Minister Dr.Tawfiq Al-Rabiah thanked King Salman for providing all the support to meeting the needs and interests of Saudi citizens and residents since the beginning of the outbreak. He added that King Salman received … Continue reading BREAKING NEWS | King Salman Receives The First Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine
SPORTS | FIFA President Meets Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
RIYADH – – Against the backdrop of a historic Gulf Cooperation Council summit that paved the way for regional reconciliation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the important role that football can play as a uniting factor … Continue reading SPORTS | FIFA President Meets Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
