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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Tourism & Hospitality | Sunday 11 September, 2016 10:00 am

Journey of atonement begins

The valley of Mina reverberated with Talbiya, an invocation by pilgrims as a conviction that they intend to perform Haj only for the glory of Allah, as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims assembled in the tent city on Saturday. A large number of them opted to walk the distance of about 7 km from...

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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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Business & Money | Saturday 10 September, 2016 11:51 am

Walkways to two Mashaer Train stations fully covered

The Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) has completed the two projects for shading the pedestrian passageways leading to the Mashaer Train stations and renovation of the barriers around the Jamarat Bridge, Saudi Press Agency reported. In a statement, the MRDA said the two projects will...

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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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Tourism & Hospitality | Friday 9 September, 2016 12:12 pm

Over 1.3m arrive for Haj

As many as 1,323,520 pilgrims have arrived from various parts of the world to perform this year’s Haj, which climaxes on Sunday with the Standing on Arafat. According to Director General of the Passports Department (Jawazat) Maj. Gen. Solaiman Al-Yahya, 1,245,203 pilgrims have arrived by...

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