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Tag: Arabia

  • Saudi Arabia: 120 prayer areas prepared in Grand Mosque’s new expansion

    Saudi Arabia: 120 prayer areas prepared in Grand Mosque’s new expansion

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    Riyadh: At least 120 prayer areas in the new Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah are prepared to ensure a comfortable visit for pilgrims during the holy month of Ramzan, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

    This comes as the General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque are preparing several plans to facilitate the movement of visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah in the third Saudi expansion.

    There are 120 prayer areas equipped with a field services system and human cadres in the new expansion.

    The presidency has allocated a number of doors for entry and exit.

    From the north side, worshippers can enter the prayer area through gates; 104; 106; 112; 173; 175; and 176 and from the western side, gates 114. 116; 119; 121; And 123 will remain open, so are gates 162; 165; and 169 from the east side.

    Walid Al-Masoudi, Director of the General Administration for the third Saudi Expansion of the Grand Mosque, said that the dedicated doors facilitate the arrival of worshipers and help them on their way to the prayer rooms on the ground and first floors.

    The roof level will be used for the first time, and in the event that the interior spaces of the Grand Mosque are full, the northern and western courtyards and parts of the service buildings will be used as it expands to accommodate more visitors.

    The presidency also provides basic services in all available places, such as 72 toilets for people with special needs.

    Moreover, 675 marble stations (mashrabiya), 362 escalators and 26 elevators are available for pilgrims and worshipers to facilitate movement around the mosque.

    All prayer areas of the mosque were provided with 22,000 carpets and more than 12,000 containers of Zamzam water.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Video: At least 20 Umrah pilgrims killed, 29 injured in Saudi Arabia bus crash

    Video: At least 20 Umrah pilgrims killed, 29 injured in Saudi Arabia bus crash

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    Saudi Arabia bus crash

    Riyadh: At least 20 Umrah pilgrims were killed and 29 injured after a bus crashed southwest of Saudi Arabia on Monday, Dubai-based Gulf News reported.

    The bus hit a bridge, tipped over, and caught fire.

    The accident, which occurred due to a brake failure, took place on the road joining Asir province and the city of Abha, Gulf News reported.

    The victims were on their way to Makkah to conduct Umrah.

    The injured have been taken to local medical facilities for treatment.

    Teams from the Red Crescent Authority and Saudi civil defence arrived quickly at the scene of the accident and roped off the area, reported Gulf News.

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    #Video #Umrah #pilgrims #killed #injured #Saudi #Arabia #bus #crash

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Saudi Arabia: Hyderabad woman rescued in Nov awaits repatriation

    Saudi Arabia: Hyderabad woman rescued in Nov awaits repatriation

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    Hyderabad school

    Hyderabad: A Hyderabad woman named Sakina Fatima was rescued in November after being tortured by her employer in Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia. Since then, she is staying in the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and waiting for repatriation.

    The Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) party which had raised her case earlier too has requested External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to speed up the repatriation process.

    Recused after Hyderabad woman’s brother wrote letter 

    Last year in November, Sakina’s brother Syed Zaker Hussain wrote a letter to the Minister for External Affairs, appealing for her rescue. In the letter, he explained that Sakina, who was in search of a job to look after her family after the death of her husband, was approached by a local agent and offered a job as a housemaid in Dubai. The agent promised a three-month visit visa and said that if she liked the job, her visa would be extended to two years. However, after three months, she wanted to return to Hyderabad as she was not paid any salary.

    Instead of sending her back, Sakina was sold to an Arab family in Saudi Arabia and forced to work for 18 hours daily. Even after her mother passed away, she was not sent back to India. After learning of her situation, concerned authorities rescued her and moved her to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

    Awaiting repatriation

    Since November, Sakina is staying in the embassy and awaiting repatriation. MBT has requested the External Affairs Minister to intervene and expedite her repatriation process.

    The case highlights the plight of many workers from India who are lured to the Gulf countries with false promises and end up trapped in exploitative work situations.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Foreign trucks need e-documents to enter Saudi Arabia from April

    Foreign trucks need e-documents to enter Saudi Arabia from April

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    Foreign trucks need e-documents to enter Saudi Arabia from April

    Riyadh: Saudi Transport General Authority has announced that all foreign trucks must present transit e-documents to enter the Kingdom from April 1, state media reported.

    The document will contain information about the sender and recipient of the shipment, trip itinerary and routes, among others, said the the Saudi Press Agency report on Saturday.

    The authority said the decision aimed to support local transportation and logistic services, ensure fair competition, enhance the investment environment and boost safety levels for cargo services, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The authority added that cargo transport within the kingdom is confined to the national carrier as per the accredited transport mechanism, and prohibits non-Saudi companies to carry out transport operations within the country.

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    #Foreign #trucks #edocuments #enter #Saudi #Arabia #April

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Saudi Arabia and Syria in talks to re-establish ties: Report

    Saudi Arabia and Syria in talks to re-establish ties: Report

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    Saudi Arabia and Syria are discussing the resumption of consular services, according to Saudi official media, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom severed relations with President Bashar al-dictatorship.

    “A discussion is underway between officials in the kingdom and their counterparts in Syria about resuming the provision of consular services,” state-affiliated channel Al-Ekhbariya said, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.

    The report did not provide a timetable for the move, which would be the latest Saudi effort to heal fences with regional enemies.

    Earlier this month, a Chinese-brokered agreement was revealed to restore diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had been cut for seven years.

    For weeks, Riyadh has hinted at a reconciliation with Syria.

    In the aftermath of a massive earthquake that slammed southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, killing tens of thousands of people, it provided relief to both rebel-held and government-controlled areas of the nation.

    The efforts did not entail direct communication with Assad’s internationally isolated administration, and Saudi officials instead organised supplies into government-controlled areas via the Syrian Red Crescent.

    After the earthquake, Damascus has witnessed more Arab participation, especially from countries that have so far rejected normalisation after more than a decade of conflict.

    Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated in February that the Arab world was coming to the conclusion that a new strategy for Syria would be required, involving dialogue with Damascus in order to solve humanitarian concerns.

    “There is a consensus within the Arab world that the status quo is not working and that we need to find some other approach. What that approach is, is still being formulated” Prince Faisal told the Munich Security Conference.

    According to the Saudi foreign minister, policy changes in Syria might benefit Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, particularly Jordan and Lebanon.

    Emirati official media said that Assad visited the UAE on Sunday, when President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan informed him that it was time for Damascus to be reintegrated into the larger Arab area.

    The visit is Assad’s second to the oil-rich UAE in as many years, following a visit to Oman last month, his only formal engagements in Arab nations since Syria’s civil conflict began in 2011.

    Syria was kicked out of the Cairo-based Arab League in 2011 for its deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

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    #Saudi #Arabia #Syria #talks #reestablish #ties #Report

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Pakistan ambassador to Saudi Arabia being recalled

    Pakistan ambassador to Saudi Arabia being recalled

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    Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is considering recalling the countrys Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Khurram Rathore, hardly a year after he was posted by former premier Imran Khan.

    The process of recall has started but not finalised yet, The News reported.

    Rathore was earlier posted as Pakistan’s High Commission in Canada and hardly a month after his settlement there, he was asked to get ready for posting in Riyadh.

    He was flown to Saudi Arabia during Khan’s visit, which turned out to be the latter’s last one as Prime Minister.

    Rathore had then not formally assumed the charge by the time.

    A government official said Rathore’s removal had been on the cards since long because he was considered politically aligned with the PTI.

    “He is known as (Khan’s) loyalist,” a well-placed official in the Prime Minister Office told The News.

    Rathore was primarily considered close to Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former foreign minister and PTI vice chairman, and had served in a party office for a year by taking leave from the government job some years back, it has been learnt.

    A think tank was set up by PTI in Lahore and Rathore served there from 2012 to 2013, The News reported.

    Another official said the government got alerted about him after Khan’s revelation during an interaction with journalists a month back where he said he was in touch with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.

    How far Khan’s claim was true and whether Rathore played any role in restoring his contact with the Saudi ruler remains unverified, The News reported.

    A diplomatic source was, however, dismissive that Rathore could either have that clout or risk his career by playing as a messenger between the opposition leader and the Saudi dignitary.

    A source in the Prime Minister’s Office said he was not aware of any special reason other than his affiliation with the PTI.

    Rathore is the third consecutive ambassador in Riyadh who is being prematurely recalled. He assumed office on February 15, 2022.

    His predecessor Lt Gen (R) Bilal met the same fate. And so too his predecessor, Raja Ali Ejaz, who was suspended weeks before his retirement and recalled at a short notice.

    Khan had censured Ejaz during a meeting he held with him.

    That decision, however, didn’t go well with the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as some retired diplomats recorded protest at this public humiliation in April 2021.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • First India-Gulf Cooperation Council held in Saudi Arabia

    First India-Gulf Cooperation Council held in Saudi Arabia

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    Riyadh: The first round of the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Senior Officers Meeting (SOM) was held in Riyadh. Ausaf Sayeed, secretary(CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs held a meeting with Saudi Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed bin Abdul Kareem El-Khereiji on the Political-Security-Social-Cultural pillar of India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

    During the India-GCC meeting on March 20, the two sides conveyed happiness over the progress made in trade and investment between India-GCC countries. The Indian delegation was led by Ausaf Sayeed, while the GCC delegation was led by Abdul Aziz Bin Hamad Al-Owaishaq, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Negotiations, GCC.

    Both sides agreed for an early finalisation of the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the press release. Sayeed called for more collaboration between India and GCC countries in renewable energy, food security, health, IT sector and counter-terrorism. The two sides proposed the formation of Joint Working Groups to cater to particular areas of cooperation between India and GCC countries.

    “Secretary(CPV&OIA) invited for more collaboration between India and GCC countries in renewable energy, food security, health, IT sector and counter-terrorism,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in the press release.

    Ausaf Sayeed on Wednesday held a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. Sayeed expressed gratitude to Tawfiq Al-Rabiah for the allocation of a Haj quota of 1,75,025 for India for 2023, the MEA said in the press release.

    Sayeed said an invitation was extended to him to visit India at his earliest convenience. Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia tweeted, “Secretary (CPV&OIA), Dr Ausaf Sayeed @drausaf met with Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia H.E. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and had discussions on various issues pertaining Indian Hajj and Umrah Pilgirms.”

    On March 20, Sayeed met Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdul Kareem El-Khereiji on the Political-Security-Social-Cultural pillar of India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). Both sides assessed the continued high-level contact between India and Saudi Arabia.

    Sayeed discussed the progress made under the Committee on Economy and Investment of the SPC with Saudi Centre for International Strategic Partnerships (SCISP) President and CEO Dr Faisal Al-Sugair.

    The two sides agreed to make further progress on priority opportunities identified under the Committee in various sectors, including renewable energy, grid connectivity, pharmaceuticals, food security, IT, fintech and water resources, the release stated.

    On March 19, Sayeed met the Deputy Minister for International Partnerships in the Saudi Ministry of Investment Mohammad Al Hassnah and discussed opportunities for bilateral investment exchanges. The two sides discussed setting up an investment bridge for accelerating the pending investment projects and facilitating investors.

    (Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Ramzan to begin on March 23 in Saudi Arabia

    Ramzan to begin on March 23 in Saudi Arabia

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    The moon sighting committee of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) announced on Wednesday that the first fast of the month of Ramzan will be on Thursday, March 23, while Taraweeh will begin on March 22, after Isha prayers.

    The crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan 1444 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin or “in the year of the Hijra”), has been sighted in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening.

    Therefore, Wednesday was the last and 30th day of Shaban 1444 Hijri.

    The Ramzan crescent was observed using a CCD camera at Taif observatory. It was observed across the Kingdom in all observatories including Sudair and Tumair.

    On Tuesday, Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel reported, “It was not possible to see the crescent of the month of Ramzan today in the observatories of Tabuk, Tamir and Sudair.”

    It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court on Sunday, March 19, has called on all Muslims in all parts of the Kingdom to investigate the sighting of the crescent of the month of Ramadan 1443 this Friday evening.

    List of countries that follow Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting announcement

    1United Arab Emirates (UAE)
    2Bahrain
    3Kuwait
    4Qatar
    5Syria
    6Palestine
    7Egypt
    8Yemen
    9Lebanon
    10Sudan
    11Somalia
    12Iraq
    13Turkey
    14Tunisia
    15Djibouti
    16Libya
    17United Kingdom (UK)
    18Philippines

    On the other hand, Eid-ul-Fitr, marks the end of the month-long fast. Eid ul Fitr is expected to begin on Friday, April 21, 2022. Eid holidays will be from Ramzan 29 until Shawwal 3 – based on the Islamic calendar.

    The exact date of the start of Eid-ul-fitr will be confirmed closer to the date, based on the moon-sighting tradition.

    In Islam, Ramzan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon.

    Ramzan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is believed to be the month during which the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

    Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and abstain from food and drink during this period.



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    #Ramzan #March #Saudi #Arabia

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Ramzan 2023: Crescent moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia

    Ramzan 2023: Crescent moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia

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    Riyadh: The moon sighting committee of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia announced that the first fast of the month of Ramzan 2023 will be on Thursday, March 23, as the crescent moon was not sighted on Tuesday.

    Therefore, Wednesday, March 22, will be the last and 30th day of Shaban 1444 Hijri.

    Saudi Al-Ekhbariya channel reported, “It was not possible to see the crescent of the month of Ramzan today in the observatories of Tabuk, Tamir and Sudair.”

    The moon sighting committee in the Kingdom meets again on Wednesday evening to confirm the sighting of the moon.

    Earlier, Saudi Arabia had called on Muslims to sight the crescent of the holy month of Ramzan. The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent – either by the naked eye or through binoculars – to report to the nearest court and register their observation.

    On the other hand, Eid-ul-Fitr, marks the end of the month-long fast. Eid ul Fitr is expected to begin on Friday, April 21, 2022. Eid holidays will be from Ramzan 29 until Shawwal 3 – based on the Islamic calendar.

    The exact date of the start of Eid-ul-fitr will be confirmed closer to the date, based on the moon-sighting tradition.

    What is Ramzan?

    In Islam, Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar— a lunar calendar consisting of twelve months beginning with Muharram, and ending with Zul-Hijjah. Each month starts with the sighting of the moon. Eid Al Fitr, on the other hand, marks the end of the month-long fast.

    The calendar has been observed for more than 1,440 years and is used to date important Islamic events including the start of Ramzan, Eid-Al-Fitr, and the beginning of the Haj.

    Ramzan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is believed to be the month during which the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.

    Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and abstain from food and drink during this period.

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    #Ramzan #Crescent #moon #sighted #Saudi #Arabia

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Ramadan 2023 begins on March 23; crescent moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia

    Ramadan 2023 begins on March 23; crescent moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia

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    Riyadh, Mar 21: The crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, has not been sighted on Tuesday evening in Saudi Arabia, according to local media reports. Therefore, Wednesday, March 22, would be the last day of the month of Sha’ban, and the holy month would begin from Thursday, March 23.

    The Islamic calendar is usually either 29 or 30 days and the beginning and end of the month depend on the crescent moon, which is why Ramadan is not set on any specific days annually.

    The Kingdom’s moon sighting committee will meet again on Wednesday evening to confirm the sighting of the moon.

    Earlier, Saudi Arabia had called on Muslims to sight the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan. The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent – either by the naked eye or through binoculars – to report to the nearest court and register their observation.

    Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the faithful observe the ninth month of the Islamic calendar with prayers and fasting.

    During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise (Fajr) to sunset (Maghreb). Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it’s an obligatory practice for all Muslims who can carry out the fast. In addition to abstaining from food and drink during fasting, Ramadan is also a month of disciplining oneself, reflecting and creating positive spiritual habits.

    Islamic calendar

    The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The 12 months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi’ al-Awwal, Rabi’ al Thani, Jumada al-Awwal, Juamda al-Thani, Rajab, Sha’aban, Ramadan (the month of fasting), Shawwal, Dhu al-Qadah and Dhu al-Hijjah (the month in which Muslims go for Haj – pilgrimage).

    Even though the Islamic calendar has 12 months, being a lunar calendar, it is shorter than the Gregorian calendar – nearly ten days shorter, in fact. This is why Ramadan falls at a different time every year according to the Gregorian calendar.–(Khaleej Times)

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    ( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )