Pakistan awaits Saudi response for waiver of Umrah tax
Prime Minister Imran Khan during his first visit to Saudi Arabia in September 2018 discussed the issue with the Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud for waiver of 2,000 Saudi Riyal as Umrah tax on Pakistanis.
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Experts to study sudden appearance of grasshoppers in Makkah mosque
The presidency has a new piece of equipment named “Caesar Mob” to prevent the spreading of the insects inside the Grand Mosque. It attracts the insects to one spot where they will be sprayed with insecticides.
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Saudi Arabia issues 2.78 million Umrah visas so far
JEDDAH: The number of Umrah visas issued this year has reached 2,785,790, of which 2,346,429 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, according to data provided by the Hajj and Umrah Ministry. There are 345,114 pilgrims still in the Kingdom, with 233,910 in Makkah and 111,204 in Madinah. Most pilgrims — 2,122,424 — came to the Kingdom by air, while 213,121 entered by land and
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Pangarungan named head of PH Hajj 2019 delegation
As Amirul Hajj, or head of Filipino pilgrims to Mecca, Pangarungan is expected to 'ensure an issue-free hajj for the 2019 Muslim Filipino intending pilgrims'
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No Country For Bearded Young Men: Only 'Well-Groomed' Tajiks Getting Passports
Tajik men say they can't get a passport in a beard, seemingly a result of Tajik government efforts attributed to the fights for secularism and against extremism.
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Mecca’s Grand Mosque plagued by swarm of locusts
A massive swarm of locusts plagued Mecca, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week, prompting authorities at Islam’s holiest site to launch a cleaning operation to remove them.
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ThePlace: Masjid Al-Rahma, Jeddah’s floating mosque
Al-Rahma Mosque was built in 1985 on the edge of Jeddah’s Corniche in Saudi Arabia. It is also called Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque, and is one of the most visited mosques in Jeddah, especially by Muslims from East Asia. Covering an area of 2,400 square meters, it receives Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from around the world. The mosque is a combination of modern and old architecture and
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Grand Mosque in Makkah swarmed by thousands of black crickets
In an unusual and never-before-seen phenomenon, thousands of black crickets on Monday swarmed the Holy Mosque in Makkah and a major parts of the city, forcing some schools to shut down.
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Kerala firm in talks to expand hotel brand in Saudi, Oman
The plans for a hotel acquisition in Oman and a management contract for a hotel in Makkah-Madina is part of a major expansion programme planned by the Samana group for its hospitality business.
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Haj Ministry, Saudia to build digital platform for Umrah
One of the important objectives of the Kingdoms Vision 2030 is to increase the number of Umrah visitors to 30 million annually.
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Omani official lauds Saudi efforts to serve pilgrims
JEDDAH: Sheikh Sultan bin Said Al-Hinai, head of the preaching and guidance department of Oman, on Wednesday praised Saudi Arabia for providing best services to pilgrims. He called on Abbas bin Abdul Ghani Qattan, chairman of board of directors of the National Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims of Arab Countries, and discussed matters related to pilgrims from Oman. The
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30 million pilgrims ‘will visit Saudi Arabia by 2030’
JEDDAH: Officials from Saudi Arabian Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Hajj Ministry on Tuesday to increase tourist packages for pilgrims across the globe. The MoU was signed by Hajj Minister Mohammed Saleh Bentin and Nasser Al-Jasser, director-general of Saudi Arabian Airlines. Under the agreement, Flynas, the country’s budget airlines, will be able
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