Omani Haj Mission leaves for KSA

The Omani Haj Mission has left for KSA, reported the Oman News Agency. The mission is headed by Sheikh Nasser bin Yousef al-Azri.

The mission's members were seen off upon their departure at Muscat International Airport by Sheikh Dr Kahlan bin Nabhan al-Kharousi, Assistant Grand Mufti of the Sultanate and a number of officials at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

After arriving in King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the mission will head to Makkah.

posted from Bloggeroid

PERGAS organises umrah for December 2016

Source: PERGAS website. Poster for umrah.

PERGAS, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, is organising an umrah tour for the 2016-2017 umrah season.

Led by Ustaz Saiful Adli, pilgrims will spend 10 days in KSA, and will be in Makkah on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday (roughly December 12, 2016).

The trip will be preceded by a three-week course on umrah at the Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah which begins 18 September.

Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah is also organising an umrah group, to be led by Ustaz Syed Mustafa Alsagoff, as part of the same trip.

Interested?

The cost is S$3,810 for an 8 December departure, flying via Qatar Airways. Register with Al-Fattah Travel & Tours

Construction contracts in KSA show sharp decline

The NCB Construction Contracts Index (CCI) reached 117.5 points by the end of the Q216, while the total value of awarded contracts reached SR20.3 billion. The CCI dropped from 125.8 points in April down to 109.4 in May, a 66% fall at the end of Q216 compared to the same period in 2015, when it reached 285.1 points.

The index was down due to the sharp decline in the value of awarded contracts through 1H16, amounting to only SR48.2 billion. April’s contract awards were valued at approximately SR9.3 billion, led by the oil & gas and power sectors. May's value of contract awards decreased to approximately SR3.1 billion, mainly led by the urban development & petrochemical sectors. June’s contract awards were worth approximately SR7.8 billion, led by petrochemical and residential real-estate sectors.​

The value of awarded contracts during Q216 declined by 27% compared to Q116. The SR20.3 billion worth of contracts awarded during Q216 reversed the trend seen in previous years through 2015, recording lower quarterly values of awarded contracts in 2016. The decrease was mainly attributed to the reduction in awarding of mega-projects as a result of the fiscal restructuring by the government. However, there was a significant increase in the number of smaller contracts that focused on strengthening the country's infrastructure capabilities. After amounting to SR9.3 billion in April, the value of awarded contracts in May dipped to SR3.1 billion, which was one of the lowest values seen since April 2010.

According to the NCB, the decision to halt expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque is indicative that spending on metro projects will be scaled back or even delayed. While KSA's largest metro projects in Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam will stall in 2016, NCB says investment in oil and gas projects is continuing, as well as in power sector.

The main contributing sectors in Q216 were oil & gas, which has accounted for 32% of the total value of awarded contracts, SR6.5 billion, followed by petrochemicals at SR5.6 billion (28%), and residential real estate at SR2.9 billion (15%). The power sector witnessed a rise in the value of awards compared to the previous quarter to reach SR2.4 billion (12%).

The momentum of the value of awarded contracts has declined during 1H16. The sharp drop in contract awards activity followed the collapse of oil prices as the government tightened spending and postponed its spending plans. Approximately SAR48.2 billion worth of contracts have been awarded though the first half of 2016 compared to SAR116.9 billion worth of contracts for the same period in 2015. The project awards in the second half of the year and into 2017 will be dependent on the government’s current plan of scaling down and which projects are prioritised. An upward trend in oil prices will ease the situation, but since this is an unlikely scenario, so further decline in contract awards appear to be the most likely outcome.

The Eastern Province continues to receive the largest share of sizeable projects. Approximately 48% of the value of awarded contracts are based in the Eastern Province due to heavy investment by Saudi Aramco in the oil & gas sector. The Makkah region is second with 21% share, which was mainly attributed to significant projects in the petrochemical sector. The Riyadh region had a 17% share of the awarded contracts, mainly due to several contracts in the real-estate and urban development sectors. The Al-Qassim region contributed 8% to the overall value of contract awards after a major contract in in the real estate sector was awarded by Sulaiman Al-Rajhi College.

The sharp decrease in the values of awarded contracts is a trend likely to continue through the rest of the year and into 2017, the NCB said. Following the Ministry of Finance announcement to cut infrastructure expenditure by nearly 60%, cutting budgets from SR63 billion in 2015 to SR23.9 billion in 2016, progress in KSA projects has been slow. 

In the medium to long term, the projects market will be relying increasingly on the private sector. However, the progress as anticipated will take some time as new legislation and regulations will need to be adopted. It appears that public-private partnerships are the most likely financing scheme for infrastructure projects.

Given the vital role the projects market plays in keeping the economy growing, a further suspension of contracts awards would have an adverse impact on the construction sector. There are strong indications of that already happening, as thousands of workers have been made redundant, and large contractors have been rolling down their debt with banks. Moreover, the GDP of the construction sector recorded -1.89% year on year in Q116. However, if it was not for the large value of awarded projects in previous years, worth over SR1.0 trillion and currently under execution, the construction sector GDP would have had a sharper decline. At the current pace of award contracts as witnessed in the first half of 2016, NCB warns that the GDP of the construction sector will continue to register negative growth, pulling other sectors down with it.​

Interested?

Read the report (PDF)

KSA firms display mixed sentiments for Q316

• KSA’s oil & gas sector has displayed a bearish outlook for Q316 and the non-hydrocarbon sector has maintained its forecast for Q316 
• The manufacturing sector is the most optimistic for Q316
• A third (31%) of non-hydrocarbon firms expect to invest in business expansion; for the hydrocarbon sector, the corresponding proportion is 30%

Dun & Bradstreet South Asia Middle East (D&B), in association with the National Commercial Bank released the D&B Business Optimism Index (BOI) survey for KSA for Q316. The survey reveals mixed sentiments for firms in KSA.

Dr Said Al-Shaikh, Group Chief Economist, NCB, said that despite some recovery in oil prices towards the end of the second quarter, raising to the mid-US$40 to US$50 a barrel range, the hydrocarbon sector BOI of Q316 slipped back into negative territory at -2 points after recording 3 points in Q116. "The negative momentum impacted business outlook, as only 38% of the participants in the survey expect no hindrance to their business," he said. "Looking beyond hydrocarbon, the BOI of the non-hydrocarbon has maintained similar expectations to the previous quarter at 21 points." 

More than half (56%) of the participants were aware of the national Vision 2030 and of the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020, which is part of Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is a blueprint for excellence grounded in KSA's place as the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds; a drive to be a global investment powerhouse, and to leverage on the country's strategic location to become a global hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. 

The Vision 2030 and NTP 2020 seems to have brought some optimism, thus preventing the BOI of the non-hydrocarbon sector from further deterioration, Dr Al-Shaikh added. He said, "Moreover, a sharp fall of contracts awards witnessed over the first half of 2016, recording approximately SR48 billion, not only impacted the construction sector BOI with a reading at 11 points and 12 points in Q216 and Q316, but other sectors were also impacted with varying degrees. In turn, the Q316 BOI for trade and hospitality dropped sharply to 18 points from 32 points in Q216. Reflecting the positive impact of Vision 2030 and NTP 2020, approximately 30% of each of the non-hydrocarbon firms participating in the survey indicated their expectation to invest in expansion in Q316."

Source: NCB. Dr Said Al-Shaikh, Group Chief Economist, NCB, speaking during the launch of the results.

Hydrocarbon sector

The survey for Q316 reveals a bearish outlook for Saudi Arabia's oil & gas sector, with the composite BOI slipping into negative territory in Q316 to -2 from 3 in Q216. With respect to the business environment 38% of the firms do not expect to face any obstacles in their operations, while concerns about the adverse impact of low crude prices have dominated sentiments as 43% of the firms think that this factor might prove to be a hindrance. Thirty percent of the oil & gas companies have indicated plans to invest in business expansion in comparison to 55% which said they will not undertake such moves.

Non-hydrocarbon sector

Saudi Arabia's non-hydrocarbon sector has maintained its forecast for Q316 at the previous quarter's level, with the composite BOI staying steady at 21. Regarding the business environment in Saudi Arabia, firms are more upbeat about the third quarter than they were for Q216: 51% expect that no negative factors will hurt their businesses in Q316 versus a corresponding 39% in Q216. Business sentiment is most dented by low oil prices (13% have cited it as a key hindrance), issues related to government rules & regulations (13%) and competition (7%). Further, 31% of the firms intend to invest in business expansion, while 52% have indicated that they will not.

Sector analysis

The manufacturing sector's optimism outlook has bounced up from the series low seen in the first and second quarter of 2016; the composite BOI has improved to 27 in Q316 from 22 in Q116 and Q216. The demand, hiring and net profits BOIs have strengthened on a quarterly basis as businesses expect new projects from new clients and an overall increase in demand. Additionally, the business scenario has improved with 59% of them not expecting any obstacles to their operations in Q316 compared to 27% in Q216. A third (31%) of the manufacturing companies intend to invest in business expansion in Q316 against 54% that have indicated that they will not.

The outlook for the finance, real estate & business services sector has reached a new low; the composite BOI slipped from 24 in Q216 to 23 in Q316. While the BOI for volume of sales has edged up on a quarterly basis, the indices for the remaining parameters have turned lower. Nearly half (48%) of the firms in this sector have said that they do not expect any negative factors to adversely impact them during Q316. Additionally, 34% of the respondents expect to undertake investments in business expansion, compared to 45% who will not.

The trade and hospitality sector's forecast for Q316 is at the lowest level recorded; the composite BOI has dropped to 18 from 32 in Q216. All five parameters comprising the composite index have registered declines. Even though the composite BOI has dropped, business environment expectations have improved; 53% of the firms do not expect any hurdles in Q316 compared to 36% in Q216. A third (31%) intend to undertake investment in business expansion in Q316, while 38% will not.

The composite BOI for the construction sector has edged up by a single point from 11 in Q216 to 12 in Q316. The outlook for the construction sector remains weak as crude oil prices continue to remain low, which has suppressed new projects. However, the forecast for the business environment is stable: 40% of the construction companies do not anticipate any hurdles in Q316 compared to a corresponding 41% in Q216. A quarter (26%) of the firms in the construction sector intend to undertake investment in business expansion in Q316 (66% will not take up these plans).

The transportation, storage & communication sector's forecast in Q316 has increased from 7 in Q2, 2016 to 14 in Q316. On a quarterly basis the indices for volumes, new orders, net profits and hiring have strengthened, but that for selling prices has worsened. Half (52%) of the firms in this sector do not expect any obstacles during Q316 (48% in Q216). A third of the respondents hope to undertake investments in business expansion in Q316 versus 60% that do not intend to undertake such plans.

The current survey shows that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have a modestly brighter forecast than the large companies, with composite BOIs of 22 and 18 respectively. SMEs are more optimistic than large companies on all parameters. SMEs hold a modestly firmer outlook with respect to the business environment with 53% of them compared to 49% of the large companies expecting no obstacles to their operations in the coming quarter. For both groups, the leading concerns are the impact of low crude prices and government policies, rules & regulations.

Assad Shaikh, Associate Director - Research & Advisory Services, Dun and Bradstreet South Asia Middle East said: "Sentiments in the region are subdued with respect to firms in the kingdom's hydrocarbon sector. The BOI score for this sector is recorded at -2 in Q3, 2016 from 3 in the previous quarter, weighed down by lower scores for selling prices and profitability. On the other hand, the current survey revealed that the composite BOI for the non-hydrocarbon sector is firm at the previous quarter's level of 21.

"The impact of low oil prices has dented the optimism with respect to the business environment which has turned lower for oil & gas firms as 38% have indicated that they do not expect any factors to impact their operations. The proportion stood at 51% for the non-hydrocarbon sector.

"With regard to investment in business expansion in Q316, sentiments of both groups are comparable (30% intend to invest in such plans for hydrocarbon firms versus 31% for non-hydrocarbon firms)."

The D&B Business Optimism Index is a measure of the pulse of the business community, serving as a benchmark for investors and policy makers. As the latest addition to D&B's global series, the Business Optimism Index on Saudi Arabia, done in association with The National Commercial Bank, is issued on a quarterly basis. The next Business Optimism Index on Saudi Arabia will be released in October 2016.

Interested?

Download the NTP 2020 playbook (link to PDF)

View the NTP 2020 infographic

KSA's Haj E-Portal accessed by over 1 million citizens and residents

The KSA Ministry of Haj and Umra's e-portal has exceeded 1 million visits, and the same is expected of its e-portal for domestic pilgrims. In the first 72 hours of operation nearly 100,000 citizens and residents of both sexes have registered at the domestic Haj pilgrims e-portal for the Hajj 2016 (1437) season, the ministry said.

This year, the Hajj pilgrims' e-portal enables citizens and residents to select the service provider, the programme, and the price as they wish. The ministry has also provided additional capabilities such as the Sadad payment system and the Yaqeen data verification service. Cancellations are accepted this year through the portal, along with refunds.

The Ministry of Haj and Umra provides services spanning the entire Hajj as follows:

1. At the towers in Mina on the foothills, and inside its shari'ah area

2. The first service segment at the camps;
3. The first service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah;

4. The second service segment at the camps;
5. The second service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah;

6. The third service segment at the camps; and
7. The third service segment at the camps, along with accommodation in Makkah.

The implementation of the Hajj pilgrims' e-bracelet scheme begins this year. Part of the electronic transformation programme launched by HE the Minister of Haj and Umra, Dr Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin, the e-bracelets are designed to identify Haj pilgrims quickly and to provide context when providing help. Available information on Hajj pilgrims will be accessible through all smartphones and tablets via an app available to all Ministry of Haj and Umra employees serving pilgrims and visitors, as well as to the employees of other service and security sectors.

Pilgrims Affairs Offices in the different countries from which Hajj pilgrims originate are to provide pilgrims' data before their arrival in KSA. The e-bracelet will include the following data: border number; visa Number; Passport number; plus access to the Hajj pilgrims' data in the ministry's database. Such data includes the pilgrim's photograph, the data of the entrusted with their service; the data of the residence in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites; and the phone numbers of the concerned with Haj service.

The initiative will help to improve performance in the Hajj and umrah sector, reduce time taken on procedures, increase transparency, and make more information available to all the involved agencies.

Eight mosques in Jeddah to be restored

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah region has laid the foundation stone for the restoration of eight historic mosques in Jeddah.

The ceremony, reported by the Saudi Press Agency, represents the first phase of the Care of historic mosques project being implemented by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in collaboration with Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Jeddah Governorate and Charitable Heritage Foundation.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Charitable Heritage Foundation, valued the efforts being made by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal in support of Makkah projects and noted that his followup has resulted in the creation of opportunities and major projects in the Makkah region.

posted from Bloggeroid

Minister of Haj and Umra, KSA, inspects umrah facilities

Source: Ministry of Haj and Umra, KSA.

HE the Minister of Haj and Umra, KSA, Dr Mohammed Saleh Bentin, inspected umrah pilgrims' service centers in both Makkah and Madinah in mid-June. 

The tours aimed to examine the procedures adopted by the ministry's sectors on implementation of operational plans for umrah this year, and to improve the services provided to both pilgrims and visitors.

After the tours he stressed the goal of ongoing performance enhancement, and of increasing cooperation between the agencies associated with umrah services.

In Madinah, the Ministry of Haj and Umra's umrah pilgrims' service centers are in the central area around Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque). ​​​​Since the beginning of umrah season, these umrah service centres have guided 30,000 lost umrah pilgrims and responded to 12,000 e-queries around the clock. In Makkah, over 43,000 services have been carried out for umrah pilgrims and visitors.

On June 20, (15 Ramadhan 1437), the Ministry of Haj and Umra announced that the number of umrah pilgrims who have arrived in the kingdom has reached 5,888,986. An analysis has shown that the pilgrims have been able to follow the rituals with ease despite higher umrah pilgrim numbers this year. This number is expected to reach over six million by the end June going by the number of visas issued.

According to the ministry, the following countries have sent the most umrah pilgrims for the Islamic year 1436. KSA targets to host a million umrah pilgrims every Islamic month from Safar, the second month of the year, to Ramadhan, the ninth month of the year. There are 12 months in the Islamic year.

Country ​	Umrah pilgrim numbers
Egypt	1,151,142
Pakistan	761,327
Indonesia	635,993
Turkey	450,427
Iran	404,114
India	391,242
Jordan	316,300
Iraq	268,063
Algeria	261,791
Malaysia	195,844

Ministry of Haj and Umra on track to hand over domestic Hajj accommodation in July

Source: Ministry of Haj and Umra, KSA.

The General Directorate of Domestic Pilgrims' Affairs in KSA, representing the Ministry of Haj and Umra, formerly named the Ministry of Haj, has carried out the final steps to hand over tents and towers in the month of Shawwal (July) to domestic Hajj organisations operating during the Hajj season this year.

It is expected that the timing will allow domestic Hajj organisations to complete the furnishing of the tents well in advance of the Hajj, which is expected to take place in September.

The allocation consists of:

• Six towers on the mountain slope of Mina, which can accommodate 11,872 pilgrims.
• A hundred and ninety-four standard tents, which can accommodate 132,679 pilgrims.
• Another 77 tents in the low-cost Hajj category, with a capacity of 51,518 pilgrims.

All the allocations of tents for domestic pilgrims have been made after finalising the requisite procedures with licensed domestic Hajj service providers. The evaluation of each company's performance in previous Hajj seasons was the major criterion in the allotment of tents.

KSA Ministry of Haj and Umra says Iranian Hajj organisation refused to consider its workarounds

The Ministry of Haj and Umra, KSA, formerly named the Ministry of Haj, has detailed the steps taken to help Iranian pilgrims perform the Hajj this year, despite a lack of diplomatic relations between KSA and Iran. The ministry has also stressed that KSA rejects the politicisation of Hajj rituals.

The KSA government has left the door open to negotiations from Iran to date. It details that the Iranian Organization for Haj and Visits had refused to sign minutes to conclude arrangements of Iranian pilgrims for 2016 on May 12, 2016. The Ministry of Haj and Umra, in compliance with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al- Saud and his government, subsequently responded to the desire of the Chairman of Iranian Organization of Haj and Visits and his accompanying delegation to sign the minutes in KSA to conclude Hajj arrangements for Iranian pilgrims in 2016.

"The ministry formally received the delegation and provided them with all facilities, including enabling them to perform umrah. After that, continuous meetings were held on 25 to 26 May 2016. The two sides dealt with all topics that have been discussed in previous meetings," noted the KSA ministry in a statement dated 27 May.

The Ministry of Haj and Umra's suggestions included:

-Issuing visas electronically from inside Iran in accordance with the mechanism agreed with the Saudi Foreign Ministry
-Transporting pilgrims on an equal basis between the Saudi national carrier and the Iranian national carrier.
-Approving the Iranian request by letting it to be diplomatically represented through the Swiss embassy in order to take care of Iranian pilgrims' interests. It was immediately coordinated with the competent authorities for implementation.

"However, at dawn on Friday May 27, 2016, the Iranian mission expressed its desire to head home without signing the minutes of arrangements of the Iranian pilgrims' affairs. Accordingly, the Ministry of Haj and Umra underscores that the mission of the Iranian Haj and Visits Organization which refused to sign the minutes of arrangements for Iranian pilgrims for the year 2016, will be held accountable before Allah Almighty and its people for the Iranian citizens' failure to perform Hajj this year," the statement adds.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the Ministry of Haj's overview of Hajj 2016
Read the blog post about Haj and Umrah magazine, and on the meeting between the Ministry of Haj, KSA and the Indonesian delegation

Flynas adds flights to Riyadh and Jeddah via Etihad partnership

Source: flynas. 

Effective 23 June, 2016, flynas will add a second daily service between Riyadh in KSA and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, increasing its combined offer with Etihad Airways to four daily services. Also on 23 June, flynas will enter the Jeddah – Abu Dhabi market with a daily flight which will complement Etihad Airways’ existing thrice daily services. Together, both carriers will offer four daily services linking Jeddah and the capital of the UAE.

This comes as part of an expanded codeshare agreement between the two airlines signed in October 2012. The codeshare agreement allows flynas to place its ‘XY’ code on multiple Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi and 20 destinations on its global network. In addition to Riyadh and Jeddah, Etihad Airways currently serves Dammam and Madinah, offering a total of 63 weekly flights to KSA. With the new services, flynas will offer 14 weekly flights from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi and seven weekly flights from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.

The additional flights from flynas will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft, offering an additional 3,416 seats per week, and ensuring maximum connectivity through Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub to key destinations in North America, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

Gregory Kaldahl, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President Network, said: “The expanding of our codeshare with flynas reflects our commitment to the key market of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new flynas services will offer business and leisure travellers greater choice and better flight connection in their travel to Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi to Etihad Airways’ worldwide network.”

Bander Al Mohanna, CEO of NAS Holding, said. “Since its launch in December 2015, we have seen a significant increase in traffic on our daily Riyadh to Abu Dhabi route, owing to the strong demand for travel between the two capitals.

“By doubling the frequency of flights between these two strategically important destinations, we are pleased to offer our guests increased flexibility, more choice and greater convenience.

“The launch of the additional flights is also a true testament to the success of our codeshare partnership with the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, with whom we look forward to continue expanding our services in the future, most immediately with the introduction of daily flights between Jeddah and Abu Dhabi from 23 June, which will further widen the choice available to guests traveling in both directions for business or leisure.”

Flynas Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi schedule effective 23 June 2016 (all times local)

Flight No,	Origin	Destination	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
518	Abu Dhabi	Jeddah	03:30	05:20	Daily	A320
517	Jeddah	Abu Dhabi	06:20	10:10	Daily	A320
220	Abu Dhabi	Riyadh	15:25	16:10	Daily	A320
219	Riyadh	Abu Dhabi	17:40	20:30	Daily	A320
222	Abu Dhabi	Riyadh	21:20	22:05	Daily	A320
221	Riyadh	Abu Dhabi	22:50	01:35	Daily	A320

Flynas codeshares with Pegasus Airlines to offer five new Turkey destinations

Source: flynas. Aerial view of Turkey.

Saudi Arabian national carrier flynas has launched codeshare flights with Turkish budget carrier Pegasus Airlines as part of efforts to expand its route network in Turkey. The first phase of the codeshare agreement between the two airlines will open up five new destinations for flynas guests travelling to Turkey – Antalya, Ankara, Adana, Hatay and Trabzon – by leveraging on Pegasus Airlines’ extensive network of domestic flights departing from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

“Pegasus Airlines is Turkey’s leading private airline and brings a pedigree of over two decades of being at the forefront of innovation within the Turkish aviation landscape. Connecting with such a reputable domestic partner will allow us to offer a new level of convenience and connectivity to flynas guests travelling from KSA to experience Turkey and its many stunning attractions,” said Bander Al Mohanna, Group CEO of NAS Holding.

“The codeshare agreement with Pegasus Airlines reflects flynas’ continuing commitment to provide new routes and destinations to our guests.”

Pegasus Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Güliz Öztürk said: “As a result of this codeshare agreement all passengers travelling on Flynas’ network can book their flights on Flynas’ website flynas.com and through its sales agents to Trabzon, Ankara, Hatay, Adana and Antalya via Pegasus’ main hub at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. We are delighted that this agreement that will contribute to the expansion of Pegasus’ regional influence, as well as presenting new opportunities for both airlines.”

TomTom launches traffic portal with live traffic and travel information

TomTom (TOM2) has announced TomTom City – a new traffic portal that provides live traffic and travel information for consumers and traffic management experts.

The new service showcases the extensive range of traffic information available on a city by city basis and will provide a platform to connect traffic authorities, businesses and citizens to jointly manage sustainable and efficient mobility. TomTom City builds on the TomTom Traffic information available to TomTom navigation devices and licensing partners in automotive, consumer and government. It also extends the historical congestion information provided through reports such as the TomTom Traffic Index.

TomTom City is accessible from any Internet enabled computer, tablet or smartphone and provides freely accessible content showing live traffic status and incidents as well as other driver-based information in cities. This will enable users to check their journey routes first and plan the best route. The data is also accessible to traffic management experts, traffic issues can now be dealt with even more quickly.

Ralf-Peter Schäfer, Head of Traffic at TomTom, said: “TomTom City gives drivers and traffic managers essential insights into the real-time traffic situation and the historical bottlenecks in key cities. This is an important step in our mission to help reduce delays for all drivers. Using data from over 450 million devices* globally we are creating services that will help cities and connected cars work together to optimise the road network.”

Key features:

Real time traffic status updated every minute

Status indicators show the current average speed observed in the city compared to average speed when there is no congestion; a congestion barometer showing relative congestion compared to a free-flowing period; and a snapshot that shows the number of road closures, construction areas and accidents currently in the city. In addition, TomTom City also shows the traffic incidents on a map, and the traffic flow (speed) on a map.

Delay hotspots

TomTom City shows the top congestion bottlenecks recorded in the recent quarterly period.  The information is presented as a summary for ‘All Day’ and separately for morning and afternoon peak periods to reflect the periodic traffic conditions in cities.  Summary information is presented on a map view and each hotspot can be selected individually to see road segment delay details.

Event reporter

This new web-based tool will help road authorities and other professional operators to inform millions of road users in minutes about events that are affecting the road network and its traffic flows via the TomTom Traffic service.  With a few clicks a road authority can report road closures, road works, accidents and other disruptions that are affecting traffic in their local area, now, as well as those planned in the future.

Cities currently supported include Dubai (ARE), Istanbul (TUR), and Riyadh (SAU), with a total of 25 cities in 18 countries included in this initial launch. More cities in 18 countries will be introduced, and more products, throughout the year.

*Devices include dedicated portable navigation devices, connected smartphone applications, in-dash navigation and fleet management systems.

Nearly 170,000 Indian pilgrims for Hajj this year

Source: Ministry of Haj, KSA. HH the Minister of Haj, KSA, Dr Bandar
Hajjar has met with a delegation from the Office of Indian Pilgrims.

HH the Minister of Haj, KSA, Dr Bandar Hajjar has met with a delegation from the Office of Indian Pilgrims, led by HH the retired general Dr Vijay Kumar Singh, who is also India's Minister of State for External Affairs.

The meeting was held as part of a coordination plan with Haj office delegations with regard to the arrangements and requirements of their pilgrims going to KSA for Hajj 2016 (1437). HH the Minister of Haj began the meeting with highlighting the efforts of the KSA, led by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz in conducting major projects in Makkah, the holy sites, and Madinah. The projects have been unprecedented in history in terms of space, quality, and         speed of completion. HH also stressed the importance of the programmes prepared by the Ministry of Haj, including promoting pilgrims' awareness before their arrival to the Holy Lands, compliance with pilgrims' plans in order to maintain pilgrims' safety, and the early expiration of air transport and housing contracts.

Matters related to organising pilgrim affairs for Hajj 2016 were discussed, including housing and transportation, the ritual and procedural aspects; the services provided to them by Arbab Al-Tawaif Establishments, The Unified Agents Office, and General Cars Syndicate; and the mutual cooperation in respect of umrah pilgrims services.

For their part, HH the Indian minister expressed his admiration for the developments and achievements that have facilitated Hajj services for all pilgrims including those from India, and praised the strong and historic relations between India and the KSA as well as the technical works of the Ministry of Haj, as well as the pilgrims' electronic portal. The portal allows pilgrims to complete all the procedures in their countries, and enables them, at the same time, to select the services they want. 

There will be nearly 170,000 Indian pilgrims this year.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the Ministry of Haj's overview of Hajj 2016
Read the blog post about Haj and Umrah magazine, and on the meeting between the Ministry of Haj, KSA and the Kazakhstani delegation

More than 10,000 pilgrims from Thailand to attend Hajj 2016

Source: Ministry of Haj, KSA. The Ministry
meets a delegation from the Haj Committee of
Thailand.

His Excellency Dr Hussein Bin Nasser Al-Sharif, Haj Affairs Undersecretary, KSA, has met His Excellency Aaron Bochum, head of the pilgrims affairs delegation and a member of the Haj Committee in the Kingdom of Thailand, and his entourage.

The meeting is part of the Saudi Ministry of Haj's plan to coordinate with Offices of Pilgrims Affairs worldwide on arrangements and requirements of Hajj pilgrims for 2016 (1437).

Dr Hussein Al-Sharif stressed that promoting pilgrims' awareness before they arrive to perform the Hajj, of using the foreign pilgrims' electronic portal, compliance with the batch plans and schedules, and coordination with the ministry batch units in order to maintain pilgrims' safety.

The head of the Thai Office of Pilgrims Affairs in turn acknowledged the Saudi government's efforts and achievements, in addition to its cooperation and coordination in all services. 

There will be about 10,400 pilgrims from Thailand this year.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the Ministry of Haj's overview of Hajj 2016
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the Filipino visit to the Ministry of Haj

Pakistan International Airlines cuts fares to Jeddah and Madinah

In an effort to facilitate umrah pilgrims, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reduced its fares for Jeddah and Madinah by 10% as of January 24 2016.

Fares from Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan have now been cut to PKR49,100 for Jeddah and to PKR44,100 for Madinah while from Karachi and Quetta fares have been reduced to PKR39,100 for Jeddah and PKR34,100 for Madinah for economy class, exclusive of taxes.

Ministry of Haj inspects key venues for umrah in KSA

KSA's Ministry of Haj has inspected key venues in Makkah and Madinah to ensure that minor Hajj rituals can be undertaken smoothly by umrah performers.

The ministry carried out on-site visits for updates on preparations, follow-ups and assessments of services delivered for umrah activities at Guidance Centers about the Two Holy Mosques in both cities, at the new head office of the Ministry in Makkah, and at the reception area for umrah performers at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry, KSA shuts down detergent counterfeiting operation

Source: MCI.

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MCI) in KSA has confiscated some 150,000 items in an unlicensed plant at a farm east of Medina. Labourers were making detergents to be sold locally as being from Turkey. The site was shut down and those responsible are being investigated.

Inspectors visited the farm after a tip-off and found large quantities of raw materials that could be used to prepare different types of soaps, washing-up liquid and automotive windshield cleaners, as well as containers which identified the country of origin as Turkey. The site also failed hygiene, safety, storage and packaging regulations.

The MCI has been conducting inspection campaigns on factories, plants and warehouses in various parts of KSA to verify their authenticity and to ensure the absence of fraud. The MCI further calls on all consumers to report complaints and observations via the toll free hotline number 1900.

MCI uncovers second warehouse making contaminated mattresses near Jeddah

Source: MCI.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) in KSA has seized mattresses made with contaminated sponge from a warehouse south of Jeddah and will take legal procedures against the perpetrators.

Contaminated sponge from waste containers and the municipal dump was collected and used to stuff mattresses bearing fake trademarks such as Sleep Jowhar, Star Dream and Super Mark. MCI had earlier confiscated 10 thousand pillows and mattresses stuffed with contaminated sponge in a warehouse south of Jeddah with similar operations.

The second round of seizures included 500 mattresses ready for sale, 350 used ones, fabric, and sewing machinery. MCI inspectors have also impounded an Isuzu truck loaded with 300 mattresses for distribution locally.

The discovery came about as part of regular MCI inspections on warehouses and commercial institutions. MCI invites consumers to call in to their toll-free hotline 1900 with observations, or send a Commercial Notification.

Low cost carrier flynas adds Bahrain to KSA routes

Source: flynas.

Saudi Arabian national carrier flynas has launched new flights from KSA to Bahrain, expanding its reach to 26 destinations throughout the region. Bahrain is the third destination to be added to the flynas GCC network, after Dubai and Kuwait.

In 2014 alone, 6 million Saudis visited Bahrain – a year-on-year increase of 19.3%, making them by far the largest segment of visitors from a total of 6.6 million GCC travelers to Bahrain. The significant growth in the number of travelers between Bahrain and KSA serves to reinforce the long-standing relationship the two countries share across their business and leisure sectors.

Bander Al Mohanna, Nas Holding Group CEO said, “Flynas is pleased to touch down in Bahrain and the introduction of this key destination to our GCC network is a major step forward in our commitment to offer greater connectivity, affordability and convenience to our growing consumer base. Moreover, with the addition of Bahrain, and we look forward to continue expanding into other regional cities in the future as part of our long-term expansion plans.”

Both Riyadh and Jeddah flights will operate three times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The two routes will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft with the capacity to carry 164 passengers in a two-class configuration – 156 in economy and eight in business class.

The flights from the Saudi capital depart at 6:50pm, arriving in Bahrain at 8pm. The return departs at 8:50pm to arrive in Riyadh at 10pm local time. The flights from Jeddah depart at 4:55pm with an arrival at 7:25pm. The return flight leaves Bahrain at 8:15pm, arriving into King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 10:55pm local time.

“Given the high demand for this route, we are confident that this new service will benefit both markets on account of Bahrain’s strong appeal as an attractive destination for business and leisure,” added Al Mohanna.

“We would like to congratulate flynas on successfully adding these important routes to their growing network of destinations within the region. Flynas’ decision to launch this new service between KSA and Bahrain will certainly enhance travel options for domestic, regional and international visitors alike and also give the regional aviation sector a significant boost especially as we continue to see a sustained increase in the number of students and leisure guests travelling between the two countries each year,” said Mohamed Khalil, Chief Commercial Officer of Bahrain Airport Company.

Interested?

Introductory fares for flights between Riyadh and Bahrain start from SAR 299 and SAR 399 for Jeddah to Bahrain.

Emirates responds to high demand with four more flights to Jeddah a week

Emirates has added four flights per week to Jeddah, starting 14 December 2015. 

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a major market for Emirates and its importance is reflected by the fact that we will now operate three flights per day to Jeddah with our popular A380 aircraft. This is tremendous news for both our business and leisure customers and highlights our commitment to providing travellers in Jeddah with not only the very latest in aircraft innovations but also increased connectivity,” said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West.

The additional flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, bringing the total number of weekly flights to Jeddah to 21.

Emirates flight EK801 will depart Dubai at 0140 and arrive in Jeddah at 0340 the same day. The return flight, EK802, will depart Jeddah at 0540 and arrive in Dubai at 0930 the same day.

Emirates’ First Class and Business Class passengers will also benefit from a complimentary chauffeured service to and from the airport, along with access to more than 35 dedicated Emirates Lounges around the world.

Passengers in all cabin classes have access to Wi-Fi, more than 2,000 channels of in-flight entertainment and gourmet-chef prepared meals, served by highly trained, multilingual cabin crew. Emirates’ customers also benefit from luggage allowances of 30 kg in economy class, 40 kg in business class and 50 kg in first class.

Emirates has been operating in The Kingdom for more than 26 years, first launching flights to Jeddah in 1989. The airline was the first to introduce an A380 into KSA by upgrading Jeddah to a double decker service in 2010. Today, Emirates serves KSA with 63 flights a week via four gateways; Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Al Medinah al Munawarah (Madinah). This will increase to 67 flights a week from 14 December with the additional services to Jeddah. All flights are non-stop to Dubai.