Gulf Construction Online - Growth driven by the faithful<!--lead2--><!--top2--> Makkah and Madinah Growth driven by the faithful Makkah and Madinah face a daunting task in accommodating the soaring number of pilgrims to these holy cities. However, a large number of new and expansion projects are being implemented to meet this challenge, says a Jones Lang LaSalle report. December 2010 MAKKAH and Madinah are on a path of complete transformation as construction takes place on an awe-inspiring scale to accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims to these most sacred sites of Islam. Located approximately 425 km apart, these cities are relatively small by global standards, but their importance far outweighs their size on account of their position as the two holiest cities of Islam. The opportunity to visit Makkah and Madinah for either Hajj or Umrah is a highlight for the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Umrah attracts the most visitors (around 5.3 million in 2008).

The global growth in the Muslim population and the declining cost of international travel have been the main drivers for the increased number of religious tourists (pilgrims) performing Hajj and Umrah in recent years. The growth in Hajj and Umrah visitors is currently constrained by a number of infrastructure issues, including lodging capacity in Makkah and Madinah, transportation bottlenecks and government regulations regarding visas. However, a number of major initiatives are under way to alleviate the current infrastructure constraints and allow the holy cities to efficiently accommodate a larger number of pilgrims. Among such efforts that have borne fruit is the launch of the railway between Makkah and Madinah. The Mashair Railway, as it is also called, rolled out last month (on November 14), a day before Hajj, to serve pilgrims (see separate article). These holy cities are unique real estate markets in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in that they are constrained more by supply and capacity and not demand, which is effectively unlimited, according to a report by Jones Lang LaSalle, a renowned global real estate investment and advisory firm and the largest in the Middle East.

The report – the first of its kind on the real estate sector of Makkah and Madinah – sheds light on the potential these two cities have in the religious tourism industry, especially in the hospitality sector. Chiheb Ben-Mahmoud, senior vice-president at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, comments: “We have seen regionally that, attention is being directed towards the holy cities and it has become essential to report on the major development plans being undertaken there. The Saudi government in particular has taken great strides to capitalise on the real estate in the both cities to be better able to accommodate a larger volume of pilgrims.” The report states that given the significant movement associated with the Hajj, the prime constraint is imposed by the ground transport system rather than broader airport/seaport capacities or the ability to provide sufficient lodging capacity. The total visitors (Hajj plus Umrah) have increased from 5.3 million to 7.7 million over the past five years. These numbers are expected to further swell to 13.75 million by 2019, according to the analysis.

“The increased number of pilgrims will provide significant opportunities for additional hotel rooms (a total of 82,000) in both Makkah and Madinah,” says Ben-Mahmoud. According to him, infrastructure is the key to increasing religious tourism in these cities. Although land ownership in the holy cities is limited to Saudi entities, there has been significant GCC and other foreign investment attracted to these markets in the form of joint venture agreements with Saudi entities. A large number of initiatives are under way to alleviate the current infrastructure constraints to efficiently accommodate a larger number of pilgrims. These include: King Abdulaziz International Airport: Improvements are also being made to the existing Hajj terminal at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, to improve passenger processing and increase efficiency. The Hajj terminal, which handles international pilgrims headed for Makkah, currently accounts for nearly one-third of the airport’s total traffic. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) forecasts that traffic through the terminal will increase from 4.5 million passengers in 2004 to 9.2 million by 2025. The project is part of the kingdom’s plans to revitalise and modernise its airports.

The airport is undergoing substantial expansion and upgrading, which will allow it to handle up to 80 million passengers per annum. The first phase of this work entails the construction of a new passenger terminal (replacing the existing outmoded Saudi and International terminals), boosting capacity from the present 15 million passengers to 30 million. The crescent-shaped new terminal designed by Aeroport de Paris International is expected to be completed in 2014. The Hajj terminal expansion will be matched by plans to greatly improve ground transportation, with new road networks and interchanges, a light rail system linking the airport with central Jeddah and a proposed station on the high-speed Al Haramain Rail Link, connecting the airport directly with Makkah and Madinah. In addition, the airport has invited developers to create an airport city on approximately 100 hectares of land adjacent to the airport. Madinah Airport: Gaca also has plans to upgrade the existing terminals and develop new facilities at the airport in Madinah. This expansion is designed to stimulate domestic tourism and increase the ability to deliver pilgrims to the holy cities.

The proposed expansion of the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will be financed through a public private partnership (PPP) structure. About 49 bidders have expressed interest during the pre-qualification stage. The project is designed to increase annual passenger traffic from four million passengers in 2009 to 14 million by 2030. The airport sits within easy transfer distance to the new Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and the terminus of the proposed high-speed railway. KAEC Seaport: There are also plans to develop a new seaport within the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) north of Jeddah. This terminal is being designed to handle up to 500,000 pilgrims during the Hajj season. It is proposed that pilgrims will be able to transfer onto the Makkah-Madinah Railway at the KAEC station and reach either of the holy cities in less than 90 minutes. Saudi Binladin Group is the investment partner for the new port. The port will be operated by a new unit within Emaar Economic City.

Haramain High-Speed Railway: Work is under way on the Haramain High-Speed Railway between Makkah and Madinah, with civil works being undertaken by a consortium led by Al Rajhi. The 450-km line will be fully electric, with train speeds of up to 320 km per hour being achieved (see also Regional News). It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of pilgrims will use the proposed new train, with a significant number of these travelling directly from the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The route will be exclusively for passenger traffic and will not carry any freight. Stations will be built at Makkah Central, Jeddah Central, Jeddah Airport, King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, and Knowledge Economic City, Madinah. Madinah Station: The Madinah Railway Station will be a terminus station for the Haramain High Speed Railway. Current projections suggest that the station will handle 6.2 million passengers per annum by 2015. The SRO will build the station while developers of Knowledge Economic City, which is currently being built, are developing the surrounding land parcels.

Foster + Partners has been appointed for the architectural design of the developments. The station is planned to create a modern, multi-modal transportation centre, surrounded by a high-density, mixed-use development. Makkah Metro: The Mashair Railway, as it is also called, rolled out on November 14, a day before Hajj, to serve pilgrims. The dual-track light railway, with its initial number of nine elevated stations, connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat — areas that see massive congestion during the five-day pilgrimage. It will replace 4,000 buses previously used (see separate article). The Chinese-built railway, only used for five days a year now, will only operate at 35 per cent of its full final capacity in the first phase. It will be open only to Saudi and Gulf pilgrims. The entire project of $1.73 billion is set for completion in 2011. Expansion of the Grand Mosque: One of the key capacity constraints relates to the Grand Mosque itself.

The mosque has been expanded several times through history across its three components, which are related to the main Hajj and Umrah rituals, namely the praying, Tawaf and Sa’ee areas. The extensions initiated in 1985, have effectively doubled its capacity to allow up to 1.5 million worshippers to pray at the mosque at any one time. The recent expansion has included an increase in the size of the mosque itself and the establishment of prayer sites on the roof of the facility. To protect worshippers from the heat, the largest air-conditioning plant in the world has been established at the mosque and special tiles that dissipate heat have been used to cover the prayer grounds in the open areas. The Grand Mosque was recently expanded significantly with the completion of the Masa’a (Sa’ee area) project, which involved the Masa’a area being expanded from 29,400 to 87,000 sq m. Other projects have also been completed which provide space to accommodate 500,000 pilgrims at any point of time. A further major expansion is currently taking place to expand the northern plazas of the mosque towards the Shamiya area to provide additional praying space.

Because of its configuration, it is difficult to expand the mosque further in a conventional manner. As an alternative approach, multi-storeyed praying halls are, therefore, being included in many of the major development projects being built close to it, as a form of remote extension. Hotels expansion Makkah currently provides approximately 50,000 hotel rooms, representing nearly 40 per cent of the total hotel room stock in the kingdom. Around 9,000 rooms in Makkah and 4,800 rooms in Madinah are classified as ‘excellent’ quality by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). The supply of truly international standard/upscale hotels is, however, more limited and estimated to be in the order of 5,300 rooms in Makkah. The stock of hotel rooms in Makkah could double over the next 10 years, with as many as 50,000 additional rooms proposed within the major new redevelopment areas, such as Al Shamiyah, Jabal Omar, Jabal Al Khandamah and Waqf Two.

These projects include the proposed Fairmont, Raffles and Movenpick hotels within the Abraj Al Beit (clock tower) project. Phase one of Jabal Al Ka’aba, located in the holy mosque vicinity, will deliver some 2,000 new hotel rooms by the year-end, with an additional 5,000 rooms proposed to follow in the coming three years. Compared to Makkah, Madinah has a smaller stock of hotel rooms, around 20,000 (19 per cent of the national total). There have been far fewer new hotels announced in Madinah, with less than 3,000 additional rooms in projects close to the Prophet’s mosque expected to be delivered over the next three years. Most of the new supply is in the area to the south of the mosque as this area is currently less developed than the area to the north. Outside the central area, the greatest addition to rooms in Madinah will be within Knowledge Economic City. This major new development, located on the western outskirts of Madinah, has the potential to deliver between 2,500 and 3,000 rooms over the next 10 years.

Makkah masterplans More than 20 masterplans have been submitted for individual large-scale real estate developments in central Makkah in recent years. Several of these have now been approved with the projects progressing to the implementation phase. Providing additional quality space for visitors has highlighted the needs of the permanent residents of the holy cities and prompted the authorities to introduce a social sustainability dimension in the approval process. Among the major projects for which masterplans have been approved are: Jabal Omar: It is one of the largest of the mega developments. Construction on this project, located on the western side of the Grand Mosque is in progress. The project company, Jabal Omar Development Company, was formed as a joint stock company of 5,000 owners of 1,200 real estate parcels covering an area of 232,000 sq m. The project is expected to deliver over 10,000 hotel rooms as part of the total built-up area of around 1.8 million sq m. The masterplan for this project has been amended more than once given the sensitive nature of the location close to the mosque.

Jabal Khandamah: This project covers 600,000 sq m of land to the east of the Grand Mosque. The development aims to replace the old buildings, streets and narrow alleys with new, high-quality buildings. The Khandamah project aims to become a pedestrian-friendly city, with the total separation of pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The development includes a total of 2.5 million sq m of built-up area of various hotel classes, retail facilities and residential units for up to 90,000 residents. King Abdul Aziz Road: This is a 3.5-sq-km development site that starts at the west entrance of Makkah on the intersection of the Jeddah-Makkah Highway and the third ring road and ends at the east entrance of the Jabal Omar development. The plan is to redevelop one of the most densely-populated areas in Makkah, to provide a mix of high-quality hospitality, residential and commercial real estate to serve the local population as well as Hajj and Umrah visitors.

Madinah masterplans With a population of approximately 1.1 million (growing at over more than two per cent per annum) and a major increase in the expected number of religious visitors, Madinah’s growth also requires strategic real estate planning. The urban framework of the city spreads within four ring roads, although the construction of the third and the fourth ring roads is not complete. Most of the projects in the central area are complete. The city is now planning to develop the area between the second and third ring roads and facilitate the development of areas beyond the third ring road. Several commercial and residential projects are expected to be developed in Madinah over the medium-to-long term, the most prominent being the KEC. KEC, located approximately 5 km east of the holy mosque, is a 480-hectare development with a projected built-up area of 8 million sq m and a projected population of 150,000.

The $8-billion project will include a technology office park, centre for Islamic studies and research, educational/entertainment park, medical and polyclinic centre, multimodal transportation centre, world-class business district, major retail hub, residential units, a 10,000-capacity mosque, a convention centre and a hospitality complex. HOK has completed the masterplan of the development. KEC has been conceived as one of Saudi Arabia’s key economic cities, designed to uplift the quality of living to international standards and will deliver a critical mass to the city. Currently, the master developer is constructing Phase One, a villa development in the northwest sector of the project. The villas are anticipated to be handed over next year. KEC also has the potential to accommodate a sizeable share of religious pilgrims as it is strategically located equidistant from the holy mosque and the airport, and will be served by the train station. Conclusion These infrastructure improvements are likely to result in a major increase in visitor arrivals to the holy cities over the next 10 years. The increased number of pilgrims and changes in their lodging requirements will provide opportunities for a major expansion of the hospitality market within these cities.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s analysis of potential visitor arrivals, there could be demand for around 82,000 hotel rooms in the holy cities by 2019. The major implications of this increased demand include leading international operators competing to deploy their most prestigious upscale brands within future hospitality projects in the cities. More Stories Mecca & Pilgrimage l مكة والحج - Page 142 - SkyscraperCity Mecca & Pilgrimage l مكة والحج User Name Makkah in Hajj Season 2012 _________________________ 8 Dhu-AlHijjah 1433 - 24 October, 2012 __________________ Pilgrims go to Mina to spend the day of Tarwiyah Mina, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1433, Oct 24, 2012, SPA Pilgrims began arriving in Mina this morning to spend the day of Tarwiyah there following the example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Saudi Press Agency's mission in the holy sites watched the Hajj journey of pilgrims in its first phase from Makkah to Mina, which was characterized by ease despite the heavy traffic. Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, followed up the movement of pilgrims to Mina. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region and Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, and all officials concerned with serving the pilgrims also followed up the process. More Than 1.7 Million Pilgrims Come From Abroad Mina, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1433, Oct 24, 2012, SPA Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of Hajj Supreme Committee, has sent a cable to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in which he congratulated the King on the complete arrival of pilgrims coming from abroad to perform this year's Hajj rituals.

"The number of pilgrims coming from abroad reached 1,752,932; of which 951,806 are male pilgrims and 801,126 are female pilgrims," Prince Ahmed said. He also pointed out that they arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by air (1,621,982); by land (113,020) and by sea (17,930). He also said that the pilgrims represent 189 nationalities from all over the world. Holy Mosque - Haj season 2012 Last edited by Roukaya19; October 24th, 2012 at 06:23 PM. Whats the total count of pilgrims this year?? 2.5 million?? __________________ EVIL KILLER To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Originally Posted by Ahmad Rashid Ahmad Whats the total count of pilgrims this year?? 2.5 million?? about 2,7 million Pilgrims settle in Mina Mina, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1433, Oct 24, 2012, SPA -- Pilgrims completed arriving today in Mina where they will spend the Tarwiyah Day (the eighth day of Dhu-AlHijjah) following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him.) Saudi Press Agency's mission in the holy sites followed the Hajj journey of pilgrims in its first phase from Makkah to Mina, which was characterized by ease despite the heavy traffic. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, followed-up the movement of pilgrims to Mina. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region and Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee, and all officials concerned with serving the pilgrims also followed-up the process.

are Heading to the Holy Sites Beirut, Dhu-AlHijjah 8, 1433, Oct 24, 2012, SPA -- As many as 450 Syrian pilgrims, boarding a Saudi Airlines plane, left here today, heading to the holy sites to perform Hajj. At Rafiq Hariri International Airport, the pilgrims were seen off by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali bin Saeed Awadh Assiri. Last edited by Roukaya19; October 24th, 2012 at 07:37 PM. the basement of al-Jamarat Bridge The basement houses automated collection and sorting machines for the pebbles used in the stoning ritual 24 October 2012 The basement of al-Jamarat Bridge lies 15 meters underground, and Al Arabiya got the opportunity to see the automated method of gathering, storing and sorting the pebbles used by pilgrims in the stoning ritual that takes place above the three basins. “This system works according to electric gates.

It removes all the pebbles that have been gathered in al-Jamarat’s basin.” Each of the basins of al-Jamarat has two machine systems that transfer the pebbles from the bottom of the bridge at different speeds. This system has gates that are electronically controlled to manage the pebbles course, quantity and destination. It also features sorting censors that filter and isolate everything that is thrown into the pit. “The quantities of pebbles, when reached 1000 tons, are relocated after the Hajj period and after the pilgrims have departed from Mashaal. These quantities are sent to special locations.” The remainders at al-Jamarat Bridge reach 300 tones according to official statistics that have been recorded from previous years’ experiences. The electronic system, which works through electronic gates located in each floor of al-Jamarat Bridge, simplified the process of redirecting the pebbles towards compressors at the bottom of the bridge. Each corner of the facility shows the quick development that occurred from the top to the bottom of the bridge. The basement houses meticulous organization of surveillance cameras and general safety measures. The routes of the bridge’s vehicles also demonstrate the modernization of al-Jamarat Bridge.

The East Arafat Hospital is one of four in the region 24 October 2012 The East Arafat Hospital, which spans thirty thousand square meters in al-Mashaer region, has been recently opened and on high alert in catering to potential emergencies, and offering its services to pilgrims during the Hajj season. Medical staff, exceeding 438 qualified consultants, specialists, nurses and others, has been supplied with the latest medical equipment across all departments in the hospital. This year, the Ministry of Health is participating with a large workforce; some twenty thousand highly experienced teams dispatched in Mecca, Medina, and al-Mashaer. The East Arafat Hospital is set to extend its operation hours past Arafat day, after the pilgrims depart from Mecca. Prior to the commencement of Hajj, initial reports indicated that the region is clear of infectious diseases, but the Saudi Health Ministry said it will remain on alert until the end of the Hajj season. Millions of pilgrims head to Mina as hajj 2012 officially kicks off Muslim pilgrims circle the Holy Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque during the annual Hajj in the holy city of Mecca.

(Info-graphic design by Farwa Rizwan) Wednesday, 24 October 2012 Millions of pilgrims arrived this week in Mecca for Islam’s annual Hajj (pilgrimage), which officially starts on Wednesday. Around four million pilgrims were heading to Mina, where they will spend their night before heading to the Mount of Arafat in the early hours of Thursday. Many pilgrims began leaving for Mina on Tuesday night after circumambulating the Holy Kaaba, the first house of worship on Earth, built by Adam. Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail rebuilt it some 5,000 years ago. Most Hajj rituals are related to Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hager and his son Prophet Ismail, and thus reflect the unity of humanity. The Saudi government has given top priority to the security and safety of pilgrims and has deployed thousands of security forces in Mecca, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all cities within a radius of 10 kilometers, to ensure a safe and secure Hajj. A statement by the Saudi Interior Ministry on Tuesday said that pilgrims were being transported to Mina smoothly without any obstacles, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Grand Mosque, the focal point of the Islamic faith, was already teeming with joyful pilgrims at dawn on Monday, wearing the simple white folds of cloth prescribed for Hajj, many of them having slept on the white marble paving outside. “I feel proud to be here because it’s a visual message that Muslims are united. People speaking in all kind of languages pray to the one God,” said Fahmi Mohammed al-Nemr, 52, from Egypt. Hajj must be performed at least once in their lifetime by all Muslims capable of making the expensive, difficult journey, a duty that applies equally to Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Saudi leaders have emphasized it is a strictly religious occasion and they are prepared to deal with any troublemaking. Last year nearly 3 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, with roughly a third from inside the conservative kingdom. The Saudi authorities said there have so far been 1.7 million arrivals from abroad and about 200,000 from inside Saudi Arabia.

Mecca’s merchants, famed across the Arab world, are already doing a thriving trade as pilgrims stock up on souvenirs such as prayer beads and mats, Qurans, dates, gold and Zamzam water, pumped from a holy well. “The first time I saw the Kaaba I cried with joy. I prayed for myself and all Muslims,” said Nafisa Rangrez, 36, from Gujarat in India, who had waited five years for a Hajj visa, according to Reuters. All Muslims must face towards the Kaaba, the huge black cube at the center of the Grand Mosque, five times a day for prayer, making a visit to the sanctuary a powerful experience. Pilgrims must circle it seven times when they arrive in Mecca. Wednesday is the first official day of the pilgrimage, with Muslims following a set form of rites laid out by the Prophet Mohammed and culminating on Friday with the Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), a holiday across the Islamic world. “I would love to live here for the rest of my life. There’s no such place in the entire world. This is a blessed country,” said Ziad Adam, 23, a theology student from Kenya.

“It’s my first time in Mecca for pilgrimage. I can’t wait to pray in Arafat,” 32-year-old Koara Abdul Rahman, a businessman from Burkina Faso, told AFP. “Right now, I’ve got all the good feelings you can think of,” said an Iranian pilgrim, her voice quivering and tears welling. Saudi Arabia’s king is formally titled Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the ruling family has long reigned on its guardianship of Islam’s birthplace. Over the past decade it has spent billions of dollars expanding the Grand Mosque and building new infrastructure to avert the stampedes and tent fires that marred past pilgrimages with hundreds of deaths. In 2011, Saudi Arabia began the biggest expansion yet of the Grand Mosque, to increase its capacity to 2 million. A new railway will link the holy sites around Mecca. This year alone, the kingdom spent more than 1.1 billion riyals ($293.3 million) on development projects in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all outside Mecca, according to AFP.

Seeking illumination: Stunning night-time shots of Muslim pilgrims at the top of Noor Mountain The mountain overlooking Mecca is where Muslims believe Mohammed received his first revelations from God The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once in lifetime Thursday marks the most important day, when all pilgrims assemble in the Arafat plain outside Mecca Damascus claims Saudi authorities have barred Syrians from travelling to this year's rituals 22 October 2012 With the holy city of Mecca lit up spectacularly in the background, hundreds of devout Muslim pilgrims make their way up sacred Noor Mountain ahead of the annual Haj rituals which are set begin later this week. The mountain, known in Arabic as Jabal-al-noor or the Mountain of Light is the site of Hira Cave which is where Muslims believe Mohammed received his first revelations from God through the angel Gabriel. Millions of pilgrims are set to descend on Mecca this week to perform the haj, the world's largest annual gathering of any kind which authorities in Saudi Arabia insist will not be affected by instability shaking the region.

Holy site: A devotee sits atop Mount Noor looking over the Hira cave where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran in the city of Mecca A stunning view of the Grand Mosque captured from the top of Noor Mountain. Over two million Muslims are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca this year Beacon: The clock tower of the Grand Mosque looms above above the city of Mecca in this stunning view from the top of Noor Mountain Top of the world: Officials say the main events, which begin on Wednesday, are expected to attract more than two million devotees Walking in groups, mostly led by guides with their countries' flags printed on their garments, faithful men and women have poured into Mecca to perform the minor pilgrimage, or umrah, ahead of the major haj rituals. Officials say the main events, which begin Wednesday, are expected to attract more than two million devotees from across the world. Thursday marks the most important day, when all pilgrims assemble in the Arafat plain outside Mecca. The pilgrimage ends after Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, which will be celebrated on Friday.

The haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once in lifetime. 'It's my first time in Mecca for pilgrimage. I can't wait to pray in Arafat,' said 32-year-old Koara Abdulrahman, a businessman from Burkina Faso. Devout: Muslim pilgrims pray at the top of Mount Noor. Around two million are expected to perform the ritual which every able-bodied Muslim is required to do once in a lifetime Prayer: A Muslim pilgrim gestures at the top of Mount Noor. Saudi Arabian authorities said more than 1.6 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived and the numbers are set to grow Ascent: Muslim pilgrims arrive at the Hira cave near the top of Noor mountain, known in Arabic as Jabal-al-noor Devotion: Muslim pilgrims pray at the top of Noor Mountain, near the entrance to Hira cave on the outskirts of Mecca Authorities said more than 1.6 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived and the numbers are set to grow by Wednesday.

Around 750,000 domestic pilgrims are also expected to take part in the rituals nside the Grand Mosque, scores of pilgrims continually circumambulate the cube-shaped Kaaba -- in which direction Muslims worldwide pray -- with many pushing their way through the crowds to kiss the walls of the structure that was first built by Abraham, according to the Islamic faith. Others pray or recite verses of the holy book Koran, while many sleep in corners. 'Right now, I've got all the good feelings you can think of,' said an Iranian pilgrim, her voice quivering and tears welling up in her eyes. Authorities said more than 1.6 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived and the numbers are set to grow by Wednesday. Around 750,000 domestic pilgrims are also expected to take part in the rituals. Despite several checkpoints on the roads leading to Mecca to prevent illegal pilgrims, huge numbers of unauthorised devotees also join the hajj every year. A bulk of pilgrims are from Asia, mostly from Indonesia which has the highest hajj quota.

It was unclear how many Syrians, whose country is being rocked by a civil war that began with a popular uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime 19 months ago, will make the journey. Damascus claimed in September that Saudi authorities have barred Syrians from travelling to this year's haj after the two sides failed 'to reach consensus.' Women pilgrims pray near Hira cave on Mount Noor where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through the angel Gabriel Scramble: A Muslim pilgrim makes his way out of the Hira cave on Mount Noor. The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once in lifetime Steps: Muslim pilgrims walks down Jabal al-Noor or 'Mountain of Light' (left) while devotees gather at the entrance of Hira Cave near the top of the mountain But on Saturday Saudi Interior Minister Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz insisted that pilgrims from Syria are not being barred, except those who sent in their applications too late. The Saudi envoy to Lebanon said last week that the kingdom will also grant visas to Syrians in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, where thousands of refugees who have fled the violence are being accommodated.

Prince Ahmad also warned that Riyadh will not allow the haj to be 'politicised' and told reporters the kingdom was not worried that trouble in Syria and other Arab countries could affect the hajj or that pilgrims from its regional arch-foe Iran would cause any disturbance. 'I don't expect pilgrims or the pilgrimage to be affected by what is taking place elsewhere, whether Syria or any other place,' he said. 'We don't expect any' unrest to be caused by Iranians, he added. Iranian pilgrims annually stage a 'repudiation of polytheists' rally -- a ritual promoted by the late Islamic republic's revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to denounce the West and Israel. In 1987, police attempts to stifle the anti-US and anti-Israeli demonstration sparked clashes in which 402 people died, including 275 Iranians.

Iranian pilgrims have since held their rallies in tents without provoking clashes with security forces in the Sunni-dominated kingdom Trek: A devout Muslim pilgrim makes his way along the rocky path close to the top of Noor Mountain in Saudi Arabia Journey of a lifetime: The bulk of the pilgrims are from Asia, with the highest quota coming from Indonesia A Muslim pilgrim prays near rocks at the top of Noor Mountain, close to the entrance of Hira cave A woman offer her prayers with the Grand Mosque in the background. Huge numbers of unauthorised devotees also join the haj every year Morning worship: Pilgrims climb the steps up Mount Noor or the 'Mountain of Light' days before the start of Haj Faithful: Over two million Muslims from around the world are expected to perform the upcoming Haj or pilgrimage this year 'The Iranians have assured us that they are as concerned about the comfort of pilgrims as we are," Prince Ahmad told a news conference that followed a military parade by security forces and civil defence. Despite marred by deadly incidents in the past such as floodings, stampedes, and fires, hajj has become nearly incident-free over the past few years -- thanks to the multi-billion projects being implemented every year.

This year alone, the kingdom spent more than 1.1 billion riyals ($293.3 million) on development projects in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, all outside Mecca. Saudi authorities have also taken measures to deal with any epidemics that may break out during the hajj, and have downplayed fears over the spread of a mystery illness from the same family as the deadly SARS virus. historical aspects of Two Holy Mosques Wednesday 24 October 2012 The ongoing Two Holy Mosques Exhibition is quite unique, showcasing architectural and historical features of the Two Holy Mosques of the ancient days. The exhibition, covering an area of 1,200 sq m in a building close to the Kiswah Factory at Umm Joud in Makkah, is designed to suit visitors who are curious to learn about the chronological developments in the history of the Two Holy Mosques. The exhibition, which opened in 1999, is divided into seven halls. The reception hall, where visitors first enter, is decorated with a replica of the Grand Mosque accompanied by both old and recent photos.

The Grand Mosque hall showcases a Kaaba ladder dating back to 1824. The Kaaba hall showcases models of its kiswah wrapping of the ancient days in addition to its old doors and a pillar, which is believed to have been removed around the 65th year of Hijra. Another hall houses rare photos including the photos of Makkah and Madinah donated by the late Prince Sultan, former crown prince. The photos were taken in 1879 and 1890 by Egyptian photographer Sadeq Bek. Another fascinating section of the exhibition is the Manuscripts hall, which showcases a copy of the Othmani Mushaf, which was prepared during the time of the third Caliph Uthman bin Affan, (peace be upon him). The hall also houses some other rare manuscripts of the Holy Qurï¿½an, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The attractions at the Prophetï¿½s Mosques hall includes a door of the Othmani pulpit dating back to 1589, and other interesting pieces of furniture. The Zamzam hall contains parts of an old top of the Zamzam well, replicas of the well and supplies details about the well.

Another attraction in this hall is a sun dial from 1614, and the first clock installed in the Grand Mosque during the reign of King Abdul Aziz in 1933. Visitors can view the exhibition in both morning and evening sessions. Mina valley reverberates with talbiyah Thursday 25 October 2012 The valley of Mina yesterday reverberated with the chants of ï¿½Labaik Allahuma Labaik ï¿½ Here I am at Thy service O God,ï¿½ as more than three million pilgrims from around the world converged on the tent city on their first stop to the plains of Arafat. Once in the city and in their fire-proof tents, the pilgrims busied themselves in reciting the awe-inspiring talbiyah or the verses from the Holy Qurï¿½an or trying to locate their near and dear ones. Many were seen trying to catch some sleep after an energy-sapping journey from Jeddah and Makkah. The flow of pilgrims from Makkah to Mina and Jeddah to Mina was smooth and without any major hiccups.

Foreign diplomats heaped fulsome praise on the Saudi authorities for excellent arrangements. ï¿½Most of our pilgrims reached Mina in time and there were no major hassles,ï¿½ said Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. ï¿½The arrangements are exceptionally good this year and the Saudi authorities deserve our praise,ï¿½ he told Arab News from his camp in Mina. Security forces in helicopters kept a close eye on possible bottlenecks on the Makkah-Mina artery and constantly relayed the situation to their men on ground. The pilgrims could barely control their excitement on reaching Mina. ï¿½I have been dreaming of performing Haj all my life,ï¿½ said a teary-eyed Ibrahim Abdu Rabbo, a 65-year-old pilgrim from Java, Indonesia. ï¿½I have always been praying and beseeching Allah to grant my wish to come to this cradle of Islam and do what our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) have instructed us to do.ï¿½ He refused to take the bus to Mina from Makkah and instead walked all the way into the tent city.

ï¿½My legs may be weak, but my spirit is unshakable and unwavering ï¿½ I walked this distance because I wanted to follow into the footsteps of our Prophet. Just by being in this place has sent my morale soaring,ï¿½ he told Arab News. Sikandar Hayat, a 40-year-old Pathan from Mardan, Pakistan, was similarly excited. ï¿½I am overwhelmed by this sea of white tents. My relatives did give me an idea about what to expect but then the picture in my mindï¿½s eye was nowhere near what I am experiencing here today,ï¿½ he said. Syrian pilgrims who were once very shy of speaking out were this time very outspoken. ï¿½We suffered a lot under Bashar Assad and we were afraid of saying anything which was not politically correct,ï¿½ said 51-year-old Mohammed Rajab. ï¿½Things have gone for the worse for average Syrians in last 14 months. At Arafat, we will beseech God to protect our brethren who are being killed without mercy,ï¿½ he said and wiped his tears.

Mohammad Abdul Wajed, from Moradabad, India, did not how to react. ï¿½It is a great feeling to be a part of such a big community ï¿½ Now I know I am not alone ï¿½ All these people in ihram are my community and it gives me a great sense of relief,ï¿½ he said in a voice choked with emotions. ï¿½We are more than one billion, we are not a minority.ï¿½ Forty-one-year-old Haruna Sayibu from Tamahel, Ghana, was overwhelmed by his emotions. ï¿½I canï¿½t believe that I am here in Mina. There are thousands and thousands of Muslims who yearn to come here and perform Haj but only the lucky ones manage to come here,ï¿½ he told Arab News. ï¿½I really donï¿½t know what to pray for. All these while I would pray for coming here, and now that I donï¿½t know what more to ask for.

Allah has been very kind to me.ï¿½ Today, the pilgrims will move toward Mount Arafat, the plains from where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his last sermon more than 14 centuries ago. The pilgrims will then return to Mina to sacrifice an animal, generally sheep, marking Eid Al-Adha, which starts on Friday to mark the culmination of the pilgrimage. Over 1.75 m foreign pilgrims at Haj Thursday 25 October 2012 Interior Minister Prince Ahmed, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, said 1,752,932 foreign pilgrims have arrived for Haj this year, including 801,126 women (46 percent). He said the number was 4 percent (77,968) less than that of last year. He said the foreign pilgrims came from 189 countries. Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said nearly three million pilgrims had arrived in Mina and the process was completed successfully without any major incidents. ï¿½The health condition of pilgrims is satisfactory,ï¿½ he said.

More than 82,000 security officers have been deployed to ensure smooth Haj operation. Asked about the number of domestic pilgrims, Prince Khaled said: ï¿½I cannot give you an exact number because unfortunately a large number of people enter the holy sites without Haj permits.ï¿½ All measures have been taken for the smooth flow of pilgrims to Arafat today in the climax of Haj, he said. Commerce and Industry Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said a large number of cold-storage trucks carrying foodstuffs, juices, beverages and water have been sent to the holy sites to ensure enough supply of foodstuffs for pilgrims. The ministry has confiscated and destroyed about 7,500 fast-food meals and dairy products for violating health regulations. Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khaled Mirghalani said no cases of contagious diseases among pilgrims have been reported so far. Civil defense officials said they had taken precautionary measures to assist pilgrims in case of rains in Arafat. Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said new projects implemented by the government would facilitate the movement of pilgrims to the Jamrat for the stoning ritual.

Extra precautions taken to deal with floods during Haj Thursday 25 October 2012 The Civil Defense has taken extra precautionary measures to save pilgrims from possible flash floods during this Haj season, following heavy rains in Makkah and the surrounding holy sites in the past few days. ï¿½We have studied potential dangers during the Haj season in the light of previous pilgrimages and taken adequate measures to deal with them by deploying trained staff,ï¿½ said Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri, head of civil defense. The department has mobilized about 26,000 men with 6,900 advanced equipment and devices to protect pilgrims from accidents, floods, fires, stampedes and other dangers. The department has appointed 300 firefighters who can move on motorbikes to extinguish fire in difficult locations. ï¿½We make use of modern communication technology to locate accident spots quickly,ï¿½ Al-Tuwaijri said. Maj. Gen.

Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, said 13,000 security training students have been deployed to prevent squatting in the streets and public places in Makkah and other holy sites. ï¿½We have taken all measures to reduce squatting in Mina and other holy sites by some groups of pilgrims. Weï¿½ll not allow anybody to sit in the way to the Jamrat,ï¿½ he added. Al-Turki said he had not received any reports regarding pilgrims shouting slogans during this Haj season. ï¿½This shows that pilgrims are well aware of Haj regulations.ï¿½ Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Ghasham, director of civil protection, said his department has readied four camps with a total capacity of 60,000 people to accommodate pilgrims during emergency situations. He said all the four camps are provided with healthcare and food facilities. ï¿½We have also identified a number of government buildings to accommodate pilgrims,ï¿½ he pointed out.

There is a camp in Muaisem with a capacity of 10,000 pilgrims, two camps in Arafat with a total capacity of 20,000 pilgrims, and a model camp in Muzdalifa that can house more than 30,000 pilgrims. A number of government schools as well as buildings of Um Al-Qura University and private hotels and furnished apartments would be used to accommodate pilgrims during emergency situations, he added. ï¿½We have also arranged 200 buses to transport pilgrims in such situations,ï¿½ he added. Unfazed illegal Hajis persist on the way to pilgrimage Thursday 25 October 2012 Amid tightened security at all entry points of the holy city of Makkah, the Haj pilgrimage and the preventive measures to curb entry of illegal pilgrims is the talk of the day among many expatriates in Jeddah. Mohammed Qurshid, however, hardly is concerned about it. His sole goal is to reach Mina irrespective of method.

The 94-year-old man, who is hailing from Uttar Pradesh in India, is not in possession of any valid documents nor a Haj permit, but he is unfazed and confident that he will make his journey to Haj. Qurshid arrived in Jeddah a few months ago on an Umrah visa of 15 days validity with support of his two sons, who are working in Jeddah as embroidery tailors for abayas. He also has six grandchildren working in the city. He says that although he came to perform Umrah in the holy month of Ramadan, his aim is to perform Haj. Therefore, he didnï¿½t return home after his visa expired, but, instead, opted to stay in the Kingdom. He performed Haj 30 years ago, but he is very enthusiastic to do it again, despite having to violate the rules. The Passports Department said this week that it turned away 26,000 undocumented pilgrims and advises that pilgrims without permits should not enter Makkah. Qurshidï¿½s sons found some agents who quoted a price of SR 4,500 to SR 5,000.

One of his grandsons contacted a middleman who demanded SR 3,000, but even that amount was too high for his children. Finally, they agreed on the price of SR 2,000 for Haj with an unknown operator. Tuesday night, Qurshid left Jeddah to an assembly point on the old Makkah Road along with his son, from where he was promised to be picked up by the agent who would smuggle him into Makkah and make his dream to perform Haj one more time come true. Qurshid is only an example of a phenomenon that prevails among the working expatriate community in Jeddah. He is just the tip of the iceberg. Bangladeshi Iman Hussain, 39 years, is neither in possession of a Haj permit nor does he intend to apply for one, given the hefty fee. He has been watching developments of Haj for quite some time. Last week, he approached a middleman in Al-Nuzlah district, who promised to take him to Haj for just SR 1,700, telling him to go to a gathering point, from where he would board a bus to Makkah.

Abdul Hakeem, hailing from Bangladesh, and Yemeni Alwan Hussain Sham feel that spending money on a Haj operator makes no sense. For them, Haj is merely a matter of paying SR 200 to get them into the holy city. They are hopeful that they will find arrangements in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. They keep silent on the animal sacrifice ritual, unable to answer how and when they will do it. A significant number of Hajis fall in this last category, which consists mainly of expatriates. Law authorities say that illegal pilgrims are posing real problems for the lawful pilgrims. Most of such illegal pilgrims proceeded to Makkah on Tuesday night, and the remaining number has left Wednesday morning from Jeddah. It is uncertain whether these people have been able to make it into the holy city or not. Many feel that these pilgrims are probably dropped ahead of the checkpoints near Makkah. Of proud mothers and proud sons at Haj Thursday 25 October 2012 Mahe Zarina, Khairunnisa Azimi and Umme Faisal -ï¿½ all from Pakistan -ï¿½ are not related to each other.

But they count themselves among those lucky women whose sons have facilitated their pilgrimage to the holy land. And the sons consider themselves equally lucky to have been instrumental in getting their mothers to perform Haj. The deep lines etched on Mahe Zarinaï¿½s radiant face speaks volumes about her life of eight summers. But being 81 has not dimmed her passion for performing the pilgrimage. Flanked by her 40-year-old son, Sikandar Hayat, and two grandsons, she is happy at having arrived in Mina for a journey about which she dreamed all her life. ï¿½It is thanks to Allah and my son that I finally managed to come here,ï¿½ she told Arab News. ï¿½I am very happy. Who wouldnï¿½t be?ï¿½ As she spoke excitedly about the pilgrimage, her son felt a lump in his throat. ï¿½I consider myself to be the most fortunate son. She is everything to me. And I always wanted to bring her here and perform the pilgrimage with her. Allah has answered my prayers. There is no shade better than the shade of a mother,ï¿½ said Hayat, a Pathan from Mardan in Pakistan.

Umme Faisalï¿½s excitement was writ large on her cheerful face. Her son, Faisal Shabbir, from Karachi, Pakistan, did not interrupt her as she spoke of her experience in Makkah. ï¿½The first time I cast my eye on the Holy Kaaba, I nearly fainted. All your life you dream about something, and when it suddenly manifests itself right before your eyes, you donï¿½t know how to respond. You canï¿½t calibrate your response at such moments. That is exactly what happened to me,ï¿½ she said. Umme Faisal is thankful to Allah and her son for making her dream come true. ï¿½Of course, my son and my children are in my prayers here. Then I am praying for Pakistanï¿½s well being. Our enemies have grown in number and they seem hell-bent on destroying our country. Our prayers will defeat the plans of our enemies,ï¿½ she said. Such is the impact of the pilgrimage that Umme Faisal says she forgets what exactly to pray for. ï¿½It becomes difficult to remember everything. I am just enjoying my presence here.

Let us hope we are able to perform all the rituals the way our Prophet (peace be upon him) has instructed us to perform,ï¿½ she said. The women at Haj are adept at striking up spontaneous conversations with their co-religionists from other countries. At times, in the absence of a common language, they communicate through gestures. They laugh and cry and sympathize and hug each other. They spread cheer and are clearly overwhelmed by the extent of the event. ï¿½We heard that there are more than a billion followers of our religion, but we never realized that they came from so many countries and so many cultures,ï¿½ said Khairunnisa Azimi from Karachi in Pakistan. ï¿½I am simply amazed and a.m. very happy that I belong to a religion which has worldwide acceptance.ï¿½ Her young son, Imran Khan, nodded his in agreement with his mother. Azimi felt confident in her sonï¿½s presence. ï¿½This pilgrimage is not easy. But if your young and able son is by your side, then everything seems doable and easy. That is exactly how I feel,ï¿½ she added.

Haj Diary: As far as your eye can see, tents cover every open space in Mina Thursday 25 October 2012 Mina, Oct. 25 The drive from Jeddah to Mina on Tuesday evening was easier than any of us anticipated. Along the way we passed busloads of pilgrims. The three checkpoints were a breeze and we glided right through, without any major delays or incidents, arriving at Mina by dusk. We left our car at the outskirts of Mina, as only 4x4 vehicles are permitted into the city. Mina was a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of Makkah. However, the stillness didnï¿½t last long. By midnight, the trickle of incoming pilgrims had turned into a surge. Some pilgrims wore an expression of confused bewilderment, as they were unable to locate their camps, amid the sea of white tents. *** For those who are unaware of the topography of the holy sites, Mina is about 5 km from the Grand Mosque in Makkah. It is a small valley and during Haj season tents occupy the entire landscape as far as the eye can see.

The entrances to many of the tents, especially the ones for Pakistanis, Indians and Africans, are decorated with banners and festoons. These decorations help the pilgrims identify their temporary residences, from among the sea of white tents enveloping them. Huge balloons also hung in the sky in certain locations, to help pilgrims find their tents. Security officers could also be seen everywhere. *** Most of the pilgrims carry cell phones and smart phones, but these devices provide them with a false sense of security. When a pilgrim is lost he/she has a tendency to telephone his group leader for instructions. Unfortunately, since most pilgrims have absolutely no idea of the geography of Mina they can neither give a clear description of their location, nor are they able to follow directions to their camps. The only usefulness achieved from contacting the group leader, is notifying someone that you are lost. *** The pilgrims arrive in Mina with mixed feelings of trepidation, joy and introspection. Pilgrims undergo a natural phase of contemplation throughout their Haj journey, as they reflect upon deeds committed, and pray for forgiveness and inspiration. On the 9th of Dul Hijjah, which this year falls on Thursday, Oct.

25, pilgrims will bare their hearts before Almighty Allah on the plains of Arafat and beseech Him to forgive them and bless them with their greatest desires. What tops the list of their prayers is often secret, perhaps something that they would admit to no one but God. However, most prayers are for the general good of humanity, especially a prayer for peace in countries like Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, Myanmar and Libya. *** All the pilgrims who performed Haj during previous years, expressed to Arab News reporters their awe at the changes that have taken place over the last two decades in the two holy cities. The great changes in the infrastructure and roads, as well as the rail network, are all remarkable developments. Moreover, managing over three million people year after year is a huge logistical challenge. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not only measured up to this challenge, but has also done an excellent job. In the past, the journey to the two holy cities was full of adventure, perils and danger. Traveling the long distance to the holy cities usually meant being part of a caravan, as there were no airplanes to transfer eager pilgrims to the holy sites.

According to one writer, there were three main caravans for pilgrims: The Egyptian caravan originating in Cairo, the Iraqi one from Baghdad and the Syrian one, which, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, originated in Istanbul. ï¿½As the journey took months if all went well,ï¿½ the writer notes, ï¿½the pilgrims carried with them the provisions they needed to sustain them on their trip. The caravans were elaborately supplied with amenities and security, if the people onboard were rich. However, the poor often ran out of provisions and had to interrupt their journey in order to work, save their earnings and then continue their journey. This resulted in long journeys which, in some cases, spanned 10 years or more.ï¿½ *** Many journalists from newspapers, news agencies, and television channels, are covering Haj. Among these journalists is Jamal Elshayyal, a news producer with Al Jazeera English television channel.

In his poignant reflections about Haj, he writes, ï¿½As millions of Muslims circuit the Kaaba, it is impossible to differentiate the rich from the poor, the educated from the illiterate, the prince from the pauper ï¿½ each one of them is wearing the same type of cloth, each has shed their worldly belongings in submission to their Lord. In recognition, that ultimately, when they stand before their Lord, it is not their status in society, nor their bank balance or job title that matters. It is what is in their heart that is infinitely more meaningful.ï¿½ Haj strengthens spirit of unity and brotherhood Thursday 25 October 2012 The Muslim World League has called upon Islamic countries to intensify their efforts to put an end to the bloodbath in Syria and held Bashar Assadï¿½s regime for the countryï¿½s tragedy. In a statement on the eve of the large congregation of pilgrims on the plain of Arafat, near Makkah, MWL Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki also called upon the Palestinians to unify their ranks.

ï¿½We have to embrace the lofty meaning of Haj,ï¿½ he told the millions of pilgrims and urged them to make a self assessment and work together for improving the Ummahï¿½s condition. ï¿½The Haj congregation instills in our minds the spirit of unity and brotherhood,ï¿½ the MWL chief said. ï¿½We can retain our past glory only by returning to Islam,ï¿½ he added. Al-Turki called for bold initiatives to solve the problems facing the Ummah, most importantly the Palestinian issue. ï¿½The continuous Israeli aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic sanctuaries in Jerusalem and violation of human rights in occupied territories demand the unity of Muslims to support their Palestinian brethren,ï¿½ he added. The MWL leader called upon Muslims to follow moderation and shun extremism, following the teachings of the Qurï¿½an. In a similar statement, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, thanked the Saudi government and people for providing all facilities for the millions of pilgrims. He called upon Muslims to strengthen their unity and solidarity, supporting one another and getting rid of conflicts and divisions.

ï¿½Muslim leaders who have understood the danger posed by disunity and responded to the call of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to attend an emergency Islamic solidarity summit in Makkah last Ramadan,ï¿½ he said. It was essential to ward off the problems created by sectarian conflicts, he added. Kiswa: A marvelous artistic work Thursday 25 October 2012 The Holy Kaaba in the heart of the Grand Mosque in Makkah is the center of attraction today when a new Kiswa (cover) is put on the holy structure soon after the Fajr prayer in the presence of top officials and a large number of Muslim faithful. The Kiswa is an auspicious ceremony to reflect the greatness of the Holy Kaaba, to which Muslims all over the world turn in prayer at least five times a day. There are differences of opinion on who put the first Kiswa on the Kaaba after it was built by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail (peace be upon them). Some scholars argue that the first Kiswa was made by the Prophet Ismail, but there is no evidence to support this.

Others affirm that the first Kiswa was made by Adnan bin Ad, a great-great-grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but this claim also lacks authentication. The first historically verifiable record of the draping of the Kaaba attributes the honor to Tabu Karab Aswad, king of Humayyur in Yemen. According to Muhammad Abdullah Bajudah, director general of the Kaaba Kiswa Factory in Umm Al-Joud in Makkah, the Kiswa changing ceremony has been taking place on Dhul Hijjah 9, when the pilgrims assemble in the plain of Arafat at the peak of Haj pilgrimage. ï¿½The ceremony starts after Fajr prayer and will continue until Asr prayer,ï¿½ Bajudah said, adding that the old Kiswa would be kept in the factoryï¿½s warehouse. He estimated the total cost of the Kiswa at more than SR 20 million. More than 240 people work in the factoryï¿½s different departments. It has the largest computerized tailoring machine in the world with a length of 16 m.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered a study to develop the factory. Skilled craftsmen use a combination of the latest technology, ancient looms and artistic calligraphy to produce a work of exotic beauty. Usually, the new cloth is to be ready two months before Haj. A Kiswa consumes about 700 kg of silk and 120 kg of golden and silver threads. It consists of 47 pieces of cloth, and each piece is 14 m long and 101 cm wide. The Kiswa is wrapped around the Kaaba and fixed to the ground with copper rings. Traditionally, the pattern of Kiswa has not changed. The material is made up of silk, and a gold embroidered band is sewn about three fourth the distance from the bottom. The part covering the door, which stands 2.13 m above the ground on the northeast-side wall, is covered separately with richly embroidered Qurï¿½anic verses, leaving an opening for the black stone. In 1926, a factory was set up in Makkah by King Abdul Aziz to make the Kiswa. Initially, all craftsmen were brought from India.

It took more than 100 craftsmen the whole year to weave the cloth on ancient wooden handlooms and to embroider it in magnificent calligraphy. The present factory was opened on March 8, 1977, during the time of King Khaled. Makkah Metro tender to be issued in January Thursday, 25 October 2012 - 09 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H MAKKAH – Saudi Arabia will invite tenders next year for a SR62 billion ($16.53-billion) metro network in Makkah, to ease congestion in the holy city, particularly during the annual Haj pilgrimage, the city’s mayor said Wednesday. Known as the Makkah Metro, the project calls for the construction of a four-line rail network and a call for tenders is due to be launched in January 2013, Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar said. “Studies have been finalized,” he told AFP, adding that the government endorsed the project in August. Makkah received this week around 2.5 million pilgrims for Haj and its resident population is due to rise to three million in 20 years.

During Haj it is almost impossible to move about the city where large crowds choke up the streets leading to the Grand Mosque. Al-Bar said that the metro network will cover 182 km when the four lines are completed in 10 years. The first stage is due to be completed in three years and will cover 122 km, he said. Authorities have invested billions of dollars to upgrade infrastructure and services to cope with the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims who visit Saudi Arabia for Haj and Umrah. This year alone, the Kingdom spent more than SR1.1 billion ($293.3 million) on development projects in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. In 2010, the Kingdom inaugurated its Mashair Railway, which cost $1.8 billion to transport pilgrims between the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. The much larger Haramain High Speed Rail is set to stretch 444 km between Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah. The Makkah Metro is expected to connect to both lines.

– AFP No women workers on Mashair trains yet 25 October 2012 - 09 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H JEDDAH — There are no available jobs for women in the Mashair Railway yet, according to the service’s safety manager, but he did not rule out opportunities for females in the future. Mohammad Al-Minshawi said the only female employee is a consultant from Singapore who is being contracted by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. He said tickets are sold to companies and institutions and not to individuals. There are 300 security personnel working for the train service, he added. He called on all stakeholders to help maintain this important national project, adding there is an operation room in every station. He added the carriages are designed according to the highest safety and international standards and equipped with a CCTV system and staffed by guides to detect any emergencies. The electronic gates, he said, are equipped with sensors to check the validity of tickets, while 4,000 employees deal with safety and security.

The public relations manager of the Chinese company operating the train service, Ayman Janbi, said employment is handled by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and there is no intention currently to employ women. He added the Chinese company is responsible for operation and maintenance of the service, handled mostly by Saudi engineers, while 4,000 temporary jobs are available during the Haj season. 25 October 2012 - 09 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H MINA – A Pakistani pilgrim gave birth to twin girls in Mina Wednesday, the first day of Haj. Dr. Hamza Al-Salamoni, gynecologist and obstetrician at Mina Al-Wadi Hospital, delivered the girls. The mother named them Safa and Marwah. Muhammad Mahmood, the proud father, said his wife started having labor pains after arriving in Mina and he took her to the hospital. The delivery was normal. A number of births are reported in the holy sites every Haj.

Couple saved for 30 years to perform Haj 25 October 2012 - 09 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H MAKKAH – For 30 years, 70-year-old Shahenaz and her husband have been saving money to perform Haj and visit the Prophet’s Mosque. They made a pact on the first day of their marriage to set aside a small amount of money for Haj every year. One day, their son fell sick and they had to take him to hospital and needed money to pay for his treatment. They borrowed from their neighbors and decided not to touch the cash they had been saving for Haj, no matter what. Thirty years later they found the money they raised would not be enough to cover their Haj trip. Instead of waiting another two years to save more money, Shahenaz and her husband sold their land to fulfill their lifelong dream. She said: “My husband and I are getting older and we might not live to see next year.

“We’re extremely happy that we’re in Makkah now and we’ll never forget this experience.” 3,000 kilograms of rotten meat seized in Makkah Thursday, October 25, 2012 MAKKAH – Inspection teams of Al-Sharayeh Municipality of Makkah have confiscated 3,000 kilograms of rotten meat stored in a warehouse at Al-Sharayeh district. The meat was going to be sold at cheap prices to different restaurants during the Haj season. The meat was not stored probably and was found inside an unhygienic warehouse. All workers inside the warehouse fled when the municipality’s inspectors raided the warehouse. The impounded meat together with 2,000 cartons containing expired milk, ice cream, and other foodstuffs have been destroyed. Dr. Waleed Milibari, who headed the inspection team, was surprised at the large quantity of stored meat and how callously it was going to be sold to restaurants by the workers despite the fact they knew that the meat was not good for human consumption. The head of the municipality said the owner of the warehouse and the workers would be penalized in accordance with the laws and regulations.

He urged citizens not to rent warehouses or even houses to such workers who do not have a shred of honesty and integrity. “Heavy fines will be imposed on any violators.” 1,300 pilgrims with fake permits turned back Thursday, October 25, 2012 JEDDAH – Around 1,300 pilgrims on board 26 buses were banned by passport officers from going to Makkah because they held fake Haj permits. The buses were stopped at a checkpoint in Riyadh and the passengers who hailed from different countries were asked to produce their Haj permits. Officers immediately discovered the permits were fake and asked the drivers to turn around and go back because they would not be able to complete their trip to Makkah. Over the past few days, more than 44,673 persons have been stopped at Makkah and Madinah entry checkpoints and have not been allowed to enter the holy cities because they did not have Haj permits. The checkpoints were able to accurately check Haj permits thanks to new directives that stated that all checkpoints in Makkah and Madinah should be supported with more passport officers. There are 12 checkpoints scattered outside Makkah.

All people passing through these checkpoints are required to show their IDs and Haj permits. The checkpoints have succeeded in seeing through all the tricks used by some people in order to sneak into Makkah. Some people who were trying to get past these checkpoints on foot were arrested and banned from entering the holy city. It is expected the number of illegal pilgrims will increase over the next few hours as hundreds of people try to enter Makkah without Haj permits. ‘Infiltrators’ cram mountain routes leading to Makkah Thursday, October 25, 2012 JEDDAH/TAIF — Pilgrims seeking to perform Haj without permits are increasingly looking for ways to infiltrate the holy sites, including resorting to drivers who ask for at least SR250 to drop them off at Makkah’s Sitteen Street. Okaz/Saudi Gazette witnessed the chaos caused mostly by Arab and African nationals in addition to Saudis who cannot afford the cost of the regulated Haj trip. These pilgrims, who do not have Haj permits, would negotiate with drivers to drop them off in Makkah.

Director of Public Security Saeed Al-Qahtani had previously pointed out that technology will be used to regulate the entry of pilgrims and warned those who are caught entering Makkah illegally that they will be prosecuted. He said: “We seek to implement the government regulations that aim to facilitate Haj smoothly and regulated pilgrims will be protected by the law.” The Ministry of Interior specifies a penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to SR100,000 for drivers who transport illegal pilgrims, while pilgrims are deported to their countries. Some pilgrims have walked for more than five kilometers to get into Makkah, but a security source said infiltrations have declined this year by around 60 percent compared to previous years. Head of Haj Security Saad Al-Khelaiwi said there are 55 checkpoints along dirt roads with a large number of security personnel covering all main and dirt roads into Makkah. He said the Al-Baheetah Center receives huge numbers of pilgrims, with a parking capacity of 6,000 vehicles.

From the highest point in Al-Hada Mountain, Okaz/Saudi Gazette witnessed illegal pilgrims crossing on foot and putting their lives in danger while vehicles wait for them on the other side of the nearby checkpoint to transport them to Makkah. Undercover police patrols have been trying to crack down on these violations by prosecuting the drivers of these vehicles. Acting Director of Taif Police Hasan Al-Ghethami said that the police’s role is facilitating traffic at the inspection points and dealing with drivers who transport illegal pilgrims by impounding their vehicles and arresting them.

Question: Mashair Railway that opened in 2010 connecting the sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat serves the visitors of what city?
Answer: Mecca (metro)