Transporters of pilgrims without permits face punishment
29 July 2018

Transporters of pilgrims without permits face punishment

JEDDAH: The General Directorate of Passports announced the formation of committees to implement punishments and issue administrative decisions against transporters of pilgrims who do not have a Hajj permit. The committees will work around the clock and issue instant sanctions, the directorate said. First-time violators will face 15 days in jail, a fine of SR10,000 ($2,665) for

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Hajj security forces oversee preparations for upcoming pilgrimage season
29 July 2018

Hajj security forces oversee preparations for upcoming pilgrimage season

MINA: Hajj security forces held a meeting on Sunday at their headquarters in Mina to discuss operations and preparations for the coming up pilgrimage season, set to commence in August.Commander of Hajj security forces, Major General Khaled Al-Harbi, headed the meeting which oversaw the various security tasks to be carried out in Makkah as well as other sacred pilgrimage

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KAIA receives first Malaysian pilgrims via 'Makkah Road'
29 July 2018

KAIA receives first Malaysian pilgrims via 'Makkah Road'

The Makkah Road Initiative was meant to fast-track travel procedures for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through unified electronic gateways. The services provided under the initiative include issuing visas, customs and passport procedures, facilitating health requirements, baggage management, and housing arrangements in Makkah.

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Biman Bangladesh cancels two hajj flights for shortage of pilgrims - bdnews24.com
29 July 2018

Biman Bangladesh cancels two hajj flights for shortage of pilgrims - bdnews24.com

Biman Bangladesh cancels two hajj flights for shortage of pilgrims

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Pilgrims greeted with flowers, sweets — and health advice
28 July 2018

Pilgrims greeted with flowers, sweets — and health advice

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia welcomed the first of this year’s international Hajj pilgrims by air and sea on Friday. A flight carrying pilgrims from the UK city of Manchester arrived at Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport — the Kingdom’s main gateway for worshippers arriving by air — while two ships carrying pilgrims from Sudan docked at Jeddah Islamic Port. The airport

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Northern Saudi city of Abu Ajram ready to receive Hajj pilgrims
28 July 2018

Northern Saudi city of Abu Ajram ready to receive Hajj pilgrims

JEDDAH: The Pilgrims’ City at Abu Ajram has completed preparations to receive and serve Hajj pilgrims, under the guidance and directives of Al-Jouf Gov. Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, with the participation of a number of government entities. The city has installed tents, lighting poles and spray pumps, and has carried out asphalt work, as well as cleaning and

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Saudi scouts: Serving Hajj pilgrims since 1961
28 July 2018

Saudi scouts: Serving Hajj pilgrims since 1961

JORDAN: The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association has been helping Hajj pilgrims for 47 years, adapting along the way to keep up with changing times and making use of new technologies. In the past 15 years, the association has worked to develop its camps and the training and qualifications of its members by providing them with expert knowledge and important skills which, along with

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Smart Haj initiative launched
28 July 2018

Smart Haj initiative launched

Assist Me: Launched by the Saudi Red Crescent Society to help pilgrims in case of any medical emergency. Pilgrims will be able to alert the Red Crescent through the SMS service. It supports the deaf and people with disabilities, recording the details of the medical history of the patient to identify the situation as soon as possible. It locates nearby medical facilities and how to reach them, issues lights and warning sounds to alert those around to help.

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Young Saudis take advantage of summer break to serve pilgrims
28 July 2018

Young Saudis take advantage of summer break to serve pilgrims

Other youths who preferred to join an institution to work as “mutawwif” like Allaeldinne Mandili, Abdulrahman Al-Khawtani and Naif Samsari say their work is dedicated completely to receive the pilgrims, organize the pick-up and drop-off and assist the pilgrims with information regarding specific locations and other services.

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Passports Directorate chief briefs Madinah gov on effort to streamline services for foreign visitors
28 July 2018

Passports Directorate chief briefs Madinah gov on effort to streamline services for foreign visitors

JEDDAH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman on Saturday met with the director general of passports, Maj. Gen. Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Yahya, and his accompanying delegation. Al-Yahya explained in detail the passport department’s procedures, and the services it offers to visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque to help them enter and leave the city easily and without delay. Prince

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Website separates wheat from chaff in pilgrimage tours
28 July 2018

Website separates wheat from chaff in pilgrimage tours

As the umrah (minor Islamic pilgrimage) is widely popular in Indonesia, travel agencies that provide umrah travel packages are also on the rise.

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Health Ministry: Vaccination compulsory for people wishing to perform Haj
27 July 2018

Health Ministry: Vaccination compulsory for people wishing to perform Haj

The ministry reaffirmed the importance of complying with the health conditions that ought to be met by those coming to the Kingdom for Umrah or Haj, as per the circulars sent to the Kingdom’s embassies and representation offices abroad, according to which Umrah and Haj visas are granted this year.

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