Madinah joins SDG Cities Global Initiative

Madinah in KSA has signed a letter of intent with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) to join its SDG Cities Global Initiative.

This reflects the commitment of the Madinah Region Development Authority to ensure an inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable city. Madinah's efforts are focused on the wellbeing of citizens and to advance in the direction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDG Cities Global Initiative is intended to catalyse local governments' sustainability efforts and build their capacity to localise the SDG. It also aims to celebrate cities for their sustainable development achievements by sharing their promising practices and policies globally. Under this initiative, UN-Habitat provides planning tools, expert assistance, financing, and publicity incentives.

Madinah City is the capital of Madinah Province in KSA. As of 2020, its population is an estimated 1.5 million. 

Source: Madinah Region Development Authority. Located in Madinah City, the Prophet's Mosque was built by the last prophet, Muhammad (ﷺ), in 622. Muhammad is also buried here.

Haramain High Speed Rail inaugurated

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of KSA has launched the Haramain High Speed Rail, the Saudi Press Agency has reported. The railway is part of King Salman's plan to achieve the comfort of Hajj and umrah pilgrims.

In a speech at the launch ceremony Dr Nabil bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Minister of Transport, KSA was cited as saying, "The journey between Makkah and Madinah has become closer and easier than ever before. In conjunction with the 88th National Day, this great project is only a confirmation of the Kingdom's commitment to serve Islam and Muslims."

The Minister of Transport disclosed that the railway spans 450 km and has a capacity of 60 million passengers annually. The minister added that the project had been implemented according to international best practices.

The railway has five stations, Makkah, Madinah, Rabigh King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz International Airport and downtown Jeddah.

KAEC, along the coast of the Red Sea, offers 100% foreign ownership for individuals and organisations, seaport and bonded zone regulations, and ease of access to permits and licenses related to residing, working, operating businesses, and owning and managing properties.

King Salman then boarded the train from Jeddah to Madinah. With the train said to travel at between 300 and 400 kmh and the distance between Jeddah and Madinah at 328 km, the journey by high speed rail is estimated to take an hour or less. The same trip by car would have taken four hours and by air, about an hour.

Madinah Municipality outlines plans for Hajj

Source: KSA Centre for Government Communication.
An inspection by the Madinah Regional Municipality.

Madinah Regional Municipality Secretary Engineer Mohammed bin Abdulhadi Alomari has shared that 4,073 inspection tours on food and health facilities are part of the Hajj 2018 strategy.

Inspection tours and visits focusing on the degree of danger and compliance with health rules and regulations have reached 1,222 food-related facilities such as kitchens, restaurants, hotels, fast-food restaurants, and meat shops. 

He also noted that regular inspections on gas stations, service centres, and rest areas alongside highways connecting Makkah to Madinah are also underway.

Alomari further announced that cleaning will be done daily in public places, especially surrounding the Prophet’s mosque and Islamic and historical sites. There will be 3,874 cleaning crew, including cleaners, supervisors, inspectors, and drivers. 

Madinah to host an Islamic Village Festival

The Islamic Village Festival, one of the highlights of Madinah, KSA as the capital of Islamic tourism 2017 under the theme You Might Come to Know Each Other will launch soon, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The Secretary General of the Tourism Development Council in Madinah region, Engineer Khalid Al-Shahrani, said that 45 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation will be participating in the festival, which will cover an area of more than 30,000 sq m.

The village includes heritage showcases for each country, including products made there; traditional foods and handicrafts. There is also an agricultural exhibit and art gallery.

Folk theatre, poetry and a fashion show are planned.

Interested?

View the calendar of events (Arabic)

Office of Pilgrims Affairs, Pakistan invites bids on catering in Madinah for Hajj 2017

The Office of Pilgrims Affairs (OPAP), Consulate General of Pakistan, Jeddah in KSA has published an invitation to submit expressions of interest/bids (EOI/Bids) from the owners and their authorised attorneys of catering companies in Madinah for Hajj 2017 (1438).

The catering companies must be registered with the Ministry of Hajj and Amana Madinah. The owners of catering companies of Madinah are to offer rates for three meals as per the menus given to all eligible bidders. All owners and authorised attorneys of the catering companies must apply directly to the OPAP. Agents or suppliers are not eligible. 

Interested?

All EOIs/bids must reach OPAP, Consulate General of Pakistan, PO Box 182, Jeddah 21411 by 6 March 2017. Bids will be opened at 4.30pm on the last day in the presence of bidders or their representatives who may choose to be present. OPAP reserves the right to reject any bid without assigning any reasons.

View detailed terms and conditions

Date palm project in Madinah to support orphans

Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Madinah region in KSA, has launched a project to plant 100,000 palm trees in his region to help orphans.

Prince Faisal is Chairman of the board of directors of the Takaful Welfare Society for Orphan Care in Madinah. As a token of his support for the maiden project, Prince Faisal bought 100 palms and opened the doors for donations from well-wishers and contributors to expand the project.

Takaful Society Secretary General, Abdul Mohsin Al-Harbi, said that the project is the outcome of a yearlong study. Dates are a major cash crop of the region and popular among local and foreign consumers. He shared that each palm tree would cost SR600 – this sum includes the cost of the tree, land and its cultivation for two years until it bears fruit.

The society takes care of more than 8,000 orphans, including support for living, health and education. Al-Harbi said the project will be a sustainable endowment which could help finance several projects for the benefit of orphans.

Oman Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines codeshare for Muscat and four cities in KSA

Oman Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement covering services between Muscat and four destinations in Saudi Arabia. Customers have been able to book flights through either airline for services between Muscat and Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, or Madinah since the end of June.

Oman Air operates double-daily flights between Muscat and Riyadh, double-daily flights between Muscat and Madinah, up to two flights per day between Muscat and Dammam and daily flights between Muscat and Madinah. The airline deploys Boeing 737s on services to Riyadh, Dammam and Medina, whilst B737s, Airbus 300s, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners are deployed on services to Jeddah.

Saudi Arabian Airlines operates regular flights throughout the week from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah to Muscat, using Airbus 320 aircraft.

Aboudy Nasser, Senior Vice President Network and Revenue Management, at Oman Air said: “This new partnership will deliver even greater choice and convenience for customers of both airlines. Not only can tickets be simply booked via travel agents, www.omanair.com or www.saudiairlines.com, but customers of both airlines can now access two complementary networks of exciting international destinations. Furthermore, Saudi Arabian Airlines shares Oman Air’s commitment to the highest standards of hospitality, service and onboard product, ensuring a consistently enjoyable passenger experience for all. It is a pleasure to be working alongside Saudi Arabian Airlines and we look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”

Khalid Albassam, VP, Network & Revenue Management at Saudi Arabian Airlines added: “There is a natural synergy between the national carriers of our respective countries and customers are sure to appreciate the increased choice and convenience that this codeshare offers.

“In addition to beautiful and fascinating domestic destinations, both Saudi Arabian Airlines and Oman Air offer access to very significant international networks, which will delight business and leisure travellers alike.”

The codeshare agreement represents an important element of Oman Air’s strategy to increase the choice, convenience and connectivity that the airline offers its customers. In addition to expanding its network to approximately 75 destinations by 2020, Oman Air has entered into a number of codeshare partnerships, with various reputed international airlines.

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.

First UAE pilgrims arrive in KSA for Hajj 2015

The first batch of Hajj pilgrims from the UAE arrived in Madinah, Saudi Arabia on September 12 via the Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, WAM, the Emirates news agency has reported.

Members of the UAE Hajj Mission in Madinah received the pilgrims.
As of 12 September, 967,249 Hajj pilgrims have arrived in KSA from overseas said the Saudi Press Agency.

posted from Bloggeroid

Incident management goes smoothly at the Makkah and Madinah mosques over Ramadhan

The Saudi Director General of Civil Defense General Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Amro has announced that the third phase of the crisis plan for caring of worshippers at the two main mosques during the fasting month of Ramadhan went smoothly, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

General Sulaiman said the civil defence forces are ready to resolve any emergencies during the last night of Quran recitation over the month, and throughout the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.

He reported minor cases inside the Makkah-based Grand Mosque and Madinah-based Prophet's Mosque, including fatigue experienced by some of the elders and the chronically ill among the pilgrims. 

Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport opens new terminal

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Tibah Airports Development Company have announced the opening of a new terminal at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport (PMIA) in Madinah Al-Munawarah, KSA.

This public-private partnership (PPP) and fast-track engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project was completed in 30 months. It is both the first US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified airport terminal outside of the US and the first in the MENA region.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) contracted with Tibah through a build operate and transfer agreement in the first airport privatisation in KSA. The contract is valued at approximately US$1.2 billion. The Tibah Consortium, which comprises Turkey's TAV Airports with Al Rajhi Holding Group and Saudi Oger, appointed a contractor consortium comprising TAV Airports and Al Arrab Contracting Company (ACC) to design and construct phase 1 facilities. CH2M, an engineering consultancy with over 40 years of transportation infrastructure experience in KSA, was appointed jointly by GACA and Tibah to be the independent engineer for the project.

Joe Stratford, CH2M's Project Director, said: "This iconic infrastructure project will facilitate increasing growth in passenger numbers and aircraft movements through provision of world-class modern airport airfield, passenger terminal and landside infrastructure. We are proud to have had the opportunity to play a significant role in the successful and timely delivery of these new facilities."

The new terminal and airfield are built to the highest international standards and allow for an initial operating capacity of 8 million passengers per year. The terminal is modular to allow for expansion in phase 2 to suit the expected future increases in passenger and aircraft traffic, with state-of-the-art facilities affirming PMIA's current and future role as a major gateway for scheduled passengers as well as Hajj and umrah pilgrims to Madinah and Saudi Arabia.

This new terminal takes up 156,940 sq m on three floors, and has 16 aircraft stands served by passenger boarding bridges and 20 remote apron stands. The project also includes the implementation of a widened and extended runway, with 10 km of taxiways capable of accommodating A380 size aircraft.

The project includes a mosque for 1,000 worshippers, and 20 support buildings including dedicated Hajj facilities plus a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Building.

posted from Bloggeroid

Ministry of Hajj reveals long-term initiatives to accommodate more pilgrims

Source: Ministry of Hajj, KSA.

Saudi Arabia expects to host many more pilgrims than over the next five years and is preparing to make the umrah and Hajj experiences as smooth as possible, revealed His Highness Dr Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar, the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia. According to Dr Bandar, an estimated 8 million umrah pilgrims and 3 million Hajj pilgrims will visit this year, and the numbers will grow over the next five years.

Dr Bandar reported that the umrah and Hajj experiences are being enhanced on many fronts, including e-tracking for foreign pilgrims, crowd control (tafwij) during all stages of the Hajj journey, accommodation, health services, transportation, communications services, and project management. Other initiatives include the welcome and farewell ceremonies for umrah pilgrims, development of a Pilgrim City in Yanbu, and operating rest-houses along the Makkah-Madinah road.

The Ministry of Hajj is conducting studies on accommodating more pilgrims, including estimating water and electricity requirements, health, and transportation services, Dr Bandar said. The studies also cover the housing capacities in Makkah and Madinah, estimating local movement, and the accommodation of large numbers at the Mataf* (tawaf area), Mas`a** (sa`y area) and Al-Haramain Al-Sharifain***.

His Highness Dr Bandar further noted that the state has made the development of Al-Haramayn Al-Sharifayn and care of its visitors a top priority. Recent achievements to this purpose include the expansions of Al-Haramain Al-Sharifain, the Mas`a and the Mataf areas have all been expanded; established a Jamaraat**** facility, railway services in Mashair and Al-Haramain Al-Sharifain; built the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and the Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah, and also opened a Pilgrims Rest Hall with a 2,400-man capacity. 

*The mataf is the area where pilgrims circumambulate the Ka'abah as part of the ritual called the tawaf

**The Sa'y area is where pilgrims go seven times between the hills of As-Safa and Al Marwah

***Referring to the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah

****A ritual where pebbles are thrown at pillars called jamaraat occurs as part of the pilgrimage