Government | Monday 12 September, 2016 3:47 am

Grand Mosque has a capacity of 1.8m pilgrims after expansion

The Grand Mosque in Makkah has the capacity to accommodate around 1.8 million pilgrims, following its expansion, reflecting the keenness of the Kingdom to care for Haj and Umrah pilgrims. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman launched five major projects last year, including the main...

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Government | Monday 12 September, 2016 2:49 am

Kaaba gets a new Kiswa

The Kaaba, House of Allah, was dressed in its new Kiswa (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) after Fajr prayer on Sunday by as many as 86 technicians and weavers. The Kaaba is dressed in its new Kiswa on Dhul Hijjah 9, the Day of Arafat, every year. On this day the Grand Mosque is usually empty...

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Government | Monday 12 September, 2016 2:44 am

Nearly 2 million pilgrims seek forgiveness at Arafat

Nearly two million pilgrims, from all corners of the world, converged on the plains of Arafat, 15 km from the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday to perform the most important ritual of Haj — Wuqoof-e-Arafat. A white sea of the faithful surged from Mina to Arafat as dawn broke on the second day...

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Government | Monday 12 September, 2016 2:30 am

King Salman oversees services to pilgrims

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman arrived in Mina on Sunday to oversee the services being provided to pilgrims at the holy sites. Pilgrims having completed their stand at Arafat will sleep tonight in Muzdalifah before they return to Mina. Before the start of Haj, King Salman...

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Government | Monday 12 September, 2016 2:15 am

KSA strives to serve pilgrims

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said Saudi Arabia strives to make Haj a success, and it works quietly to serve the guests of God. These comments came during a press conference held on Saturday at the headquarters of Makkah Governorate in...

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Government | Sunday 11 September, 2016 12:30 pm

Pilgrims gather in Arafat for climax of Haj

Around two million pilgrims are spending the day in Arafat at the climax of Haj. The pilgrims chanting “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (Here I am, O Allah, answering Your call) made the trip on Sunday morning from their solidly built white tents in Mina to the plain of Arafat. In Arafat,...

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Government | Sunday 11 September, 2016 9:51 am

After 35 years; Mufti steps down from delivering sermon in Namirah Mosque

After 35 years of delivering sermons and leading prayers in Namirah Mosque, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh, chairman of the Senior Scholars’ Commission and Ifta Council, has apologized from taking the job this year for health reasons. Al-Asheikh used to deliver the...

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Government | Saturday 10 September, 2016 11:48 am

SRCA taps 1,400 volunteers

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) has enlisted the services of 1,400 volunteers to help pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah and other holy sites during Haj this year. Mohammed Al-Qasim, acting chairman of the authority, said the SRCA has adopted a mechanism for the volunteers. “The...

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Government | Saturday 10 September, 2016 11:42 am

Pilgrims in Mina for the start of Haj

Pilgrims, both domestic and foreign, have gathered in the tent city of Mina on Saturday as this year’s Haj begins. With prayers on their lips, beads clutched in their fingers, water bottles in their hands, e-bracelets on their wrists and bags on their backs, they began the first leg of the...

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Government | Friday 9 September, 2016 12:09 pm

26,000 health officials deployed to serve Hajis

The Ministry of Health has fielded 26,000 of its officials to serve the guests of Allah during Haj, a senior official from the ministry said here Thursday. “The officials include medical, administrative and technical teams from different regions of the Kingdom, and they have already occupied ...

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