ThePlace: Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical heart
Al-Balad, otherwise known as Historical Old Jeddah, downtown Jeddah and the Gate to Makkah, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Locals and non-locals enjoy walking down the old alleys and admiring the remnants of old Hejaz, making it a favorite tourist attraction in the city. The houses are made of recti ed stones, mined from Arabia Lake, positioned in place by size
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Worshippers, throng the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the last Friday prayer of Ramadan
MAKKAH: Masses of worshippers descended on the Grand Mosque of Makkah to perform Friday prayer. Crowds made up of Saudis, residents as well as foreign visitors, performing Umrah, filled all corners of the Grand Mosque, as captured by a Saudi Press Agency photographer. Muslims everywhere tend to visit mosques more often during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan to
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Saudi IHCC to build 300-bed hospital in Makkah
Saudi-based International Hospital Construction Company (IHCC) has won SR600-million ($82 million) contracts from Middle East Healthcare Company for the design and construction of a 300-bed hospital in Makkah and staff housing units in Dammam.
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Makkah Hotels Charge up to SR36,000 for the Last 10 Days of Ramadan
Hotels in the central area of Makkah have witnessed record occupancy rates in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan when a large number of pilgrims and worshippers converge on the Grand
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Saudi hurdles for Hajj, Umrah still remain in place for us: Qatar ministry
Qatar rubbishes Saudi statement that it did not enable its citizens, residents to perform Hajj and Umrah
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Over 10,000 staff in service as faithful flock to Makkah
Thousands of cleaning workers are deployed at the basement, ground and first floors of the Grand Mosque as well as its roof, courtyards, mataf, mas’a and the King Abdullah Expansion Area.
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Makkah hotels charge SR36,000 for the last 10 days of Ramadan
Mashhour Al-Omairi, an investor in hotel reservation and tourism, said most hotels that are located adjacent to the Grand Mosque charge the same prices. The price for a suite overlooking the Grand Mosque is SR70,000 while it is SR44,000 for a triple-bed room and SR37,000 for a double bed.
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Saudi scouts help monitor prices near Grand Mosque in Makkah
MAKKAH: Saudi scouts help monitor prices near Grand Mosque in Makkah Members of the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association, serving Umrah pilgrims at the Grand Mosque, have been in joint efforts with staff at the Ministry of Trade and Investment to monitor commodity prices in Makkah. The scouts are ensuring that sellers are adhering to price tags on items and are keeping an eye on
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Somaliland:Livestock Exports to Saudi Arabia to Resume
Somaliland will soon resume livestock exports to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj in the coming few days, Somaliland minister of livestock and fisheries and marine resources has revealed.
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Electric scooters for elderly, disabled pilgrims in Haram
“The rate of accidents caused by the electric scooters is hardly mentionable. Children are never allowed to use them. All scooters are given and operated under our supervision. We have a team of 168 supervisors and technicians in the mosque. We organize the movement of 700 scooters,” said Howsawi.
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Saudi Cabinet praises recent royal orders
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman wished good luck to officials recently named to new positions in royal decrees issued early Saturday. At the government session in Makkah, the king also thanked former officials for their efforts. The Cabinet welcomed the royal orders and thanked the king for continuing to push forward the process of development in Saudi Arabia.
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Indonesia shines a light on dishonest Umrah operators
JAKARTA:Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has revamped its supervision of Umrah tour operators and imposed a moratorium on issuing licenses to new ones as of last month. The moratorium was imposed as a major Umrah scam case, which cost 58,682 aspiring Umrah pilgrims a combined loss of 848.70 billion rupiah ($60 million), was being heard at a court near Jakarta.
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