Government | Saturday 15 August, 2015 4:47 am

Local Haj likely to get 40% cheaper

Prices for local Haj packages are expected to drop between 30 and 40 percent this year, according to an official at the Ministry of Haj. Most local Haj operators have begun to change their packages after the ministry announced the launch of the online portal for local pilgrims. According to the ...

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Government | Wednesday 12 August, 2015 5:28 am

300,000 e-visas issued to foreign Haj pilgrims

The Haj Ministry, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, has issued more than 300,000 Haj visas electronically to Haj pilgrims from abroad, local media said on Tuesday.  Issa Rowaas, Haj Ministry director-general and supervisor of the electronic portal, was quoted as saying that the...

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Government | Wednesday 12 August, 2015 5:23 am

Surveillance cameras to monitor new mosques

All new and larger mosques in Jeddah must install internal and external surveillance cameras under new directives announced by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. These measures will allow the ministry to monitor all activities and ensure no extremist speeches and sermons are being delivered,...

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Government | Tuesday 11 August, 2015 7:29 am

Panel rejects ministry’s Haj cost package

The National Committee for Haj and Umrah has expressed reservations over Haj rates announced by the Haj Ministry, saying that the pricing should be jacked up. The committee, which ostensibly protects the interests of Haj operators, feels that the pricing will lead to heavy losses for the...

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Government | Sunday 9 August, 2015 4:49 am

Ministry takes precautionary measures against new virus

The Ministry of Health has put in place its precautionary plan and procedures aimed at preventing the entry of the Zika virus during the Haj season this year. This involves examining those arriving from countries affected by the virus, isolating infected individuals and providing treatment at...

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Government | Thursday 6 August, 2015 7:19 am

Government offices start moving out of holy sites

A number of government ministries and departments have vacated their offices in the holy sites and moved to the newly built Haj City in a move to create more space for accommodating pilgrims. Quoting an informed source, the Makkah daily said on Wednesday 49 out of 418 sites in the complex have...

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Government | Thursday 6 August, 2015 6:47 am

Chance to log in for .Gov awards

The government has for the first time instituted .Gov awards in the Kingdom, which will be presented at a grand ceremony in Riyadh on Sept. 14, and nominations for which are now open. The move is to recognize best practices in the government’s management with the use of Information and...

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Government | Tuesday 4 August, 2015 5:10 am

Indonesia upbeat on early release of pilgrims

The Indonesian mission is hopeful detained Indonesian pilgrims will be free “very soon.” The mission is trying to persuade Saudi authorities of their nationals’ innocence. Eleven Indonesian pilgrims, who arrived in the holy city of Makkah to perform Umrah, were detained on...

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Government | Sunday 2 August, 2015 7:19 am

Dubai Islamic Development Center Spotlights Modest Fashion at Global Islamic Economy Summit Roundtable Series in Italy

    Organized in partnership with Dubai Chamber and Thomson Reuters Event forecasts modest fashion labels to become an important part of global Islamic economy The Italian city of Turin hosted leading Islamic and modest fashion brands at a one-day roundtable that addressed ...

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Government | Saturday 1 August, 2015 4:01 am

Governor reviews Haj 1436 readiness

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal met with leaders of security forces in the region on Thursday to discuss future plans and mechanisms to limit infiltrators from entering the holy sites via land passageways during Haj. During the meeting, heads of security forces presented their respective...

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