Latest news with #TawfiqAl-Rabiah
Saudi Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Hajj minister reassures safe departure of Iranian pilgrims in call with head of Iran's Hajj Organization
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH— Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah held a phone call with head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Dr. Alireza Bayat on Sunday. During the call, Al-Rabiah reassured Dr. Bayat the safety and smooth implementation of the pilgrims' transfer plan at all stages of their return, from their departure from Makkah and Madinah through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah to the Jadidat Arar border crossing. Dr. Bayat expressed his deep thanks and gratitude to the King and the Crown Prince for the care and attention extended to the Iranian pilgrims throughout their stay in the Kingdom. He also appreciated the dedication of the minister and his continuous follow-up to facilitate their procedures and ensure their comfort at all stages of Hajj. The Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry's initiative to ensure safe return of the Iranian pilgrims comes in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and based on the recommendation of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to facilitate all the needs of Iranian pilgrims and ensure the provision of all necessary services until conditions are in place for their safe return to their homeland to join their families. The first group of Iranian pilgrims departed on Sunday, as part of the implementation plan overseen by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and monitored by a dedicated operations room that provided care and services to the pilgrims until the moment of their departure.
Saudi Gazette
09-06-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Rabiah announces early Hajj 1447 preparations; Success of 1446 Hajj Season hailed
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program, held its annual Hajj concluding ceremony at the ministry headquarters in Makkah on Sunday. The event honored the recipients of the Labaytum Award for Excellence in Services to Pilgrims and celebrated the efforts of several pilgrim affairs offices and nonprofit organizations for their outstanding services during the current Hajj season. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced the official handover of the preliminary arrangements document to pilgrim affairs offices in preparation for the 1447 AH Hajj season. This early step aims to enhance readiness and improve pilgrims' experience by enabling early contracts, site allocation, and service integration. Speaking on the occasion, the minister stressed that this year's Hajj season was successful by the grace of Allah, followed by the support and guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the continuous direct supervision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He noted that the integration of efforts among government agencies, private sector entities, and pilgrim affairs offices played a vital role in delivering a successful and seamless Hajj season. Al-Rabiah noted that the ministry has begun preparations for the next Hajj early by issuing the preliminary arrangements document, which allows pilgrim affairs offices to secure essential services in advance, ensuring operational stability and service quality. He stressed the importance of adhering to health eligibility regulations when registering pilgrims, per the requirements set by the Ministry of Health. The minister also announced that the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for November and invited all local and international partners to take advantage of this global platform to showcase innovations and exchange expertise in order to continuously enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims.
Kuwait Times
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Kuwait Times
Pilgrims urged to stay in tents on Arafat Day
MAKKAH: Saudi authorities have asked pilgrims performing the hajj to remain in their tents for several hours during the high point of this week's pilgrimage, citing high temperatures. According to a report in Saudi media, Hajj Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has requested that pilgrims refrain from leaving their tents between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday. The 'Day of Arafat' traditionally marks the high point of the hajj, when pilgrims scale Mount Arafat on the outskirts of Makkah. There, pilgrims assemble on the 70-m-high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayer and Quran recital, staying there until the evening. There is little to no shade on Mount Arafat, leaving pilgrims directly exposed to the harsh desert sun for hours. 'We warn against climbing mountains or high places on the Day of Arafat, as it causes extreme physical exertion and increases the risk of heat exhaustion,' the health ministry said in a separate statement published by Saudi media. Temperatures this year are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, gets underway on Wednesday. Officials have beefed up heat mitigation measures hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius. This year, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 sq m, thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, the hajj minister told AFP last week. As of Sunday, more than 1.4 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, officials said. The Mina Emergency Hospital is one of 15 facilities operating just a few weeks a year around the annual pilgrimage. Abdullah Asiri, Saudi Arabia's deputy minister for population health, told AFP at the Mina hospital that 'the focus is on heat-related conditions because the hajj coincides with extreme heat'. Brimming with staff but no patients just yet, the hospital is part of the kingdom's efforts to prepare for 'the worst-case scenario' after pilgrims descend on Mina, Asiri said. Mecca's Grand Mosque is serviced by the largest cooling system in the world, according to Saudi state television, with enormous fans and cooled pavements dotting the massive complex. But outside, hiding from the heat can prove challenging. Some pilgrims wear caps or carry umbrellas, but others walk on foot without any protection from the sun, like Palestinian Rabah Mansour, 70, who said that after a lifetime of working outside as a farmer, 'heat doesn't bother me'. 'I have been working in the fields since I was a child,' he said, as sweat trickled down his face. While many pilgrims may be overcome with religious fervor, Asiri warned devotees against unnecessarily exposing themselves to harsh conditions. Badr Shreiteh, another Palestinian pilgrim, told AFP that he believed such hardships on the hajj trail would increase the blessings he reaps. 'As you can see, we're dripping with sweat,' he said, adding: 'The more hardship we endure, the more reward we gain.' According to Asiri, of the health ministry, a total of 50,000 healthcare workers and administrative staff have been mobilized for the hajj, far exceeding previous years' numbers. More than 700 hospital beds are ready, equipped with fans to treat severe cases of heat illnesses. 'Capacity this year has been expanded by more than 60 percent compared to last year,' Asiri said, expecting greater numbers of patients. 'That's why we are doing all of these measures,' he said. To prevent people from needing hospitalization in the first place, 71 emergency medical points have been set up around Makkah's holy sites with a focus on 'treating patients on the ground before their case deteriorates', said Asiri. On the second day of hajj, pilgrims will head to Mount Arafat. Asiri said pilgrims can stay in the shade. 'Most of the heat-related illnesses that happen in Arafat is because people think that they must be under the sun,' he said. 'You don't have to be outside your tent during Arafat. You don't have to climb the mountain,' he added, citing no religious obligation to do so, 'and it's very risky from a health point of view'. Authorities have built cooled walkways, including a newly completed four-kilometer pathway leading to Arafat. Abdul Majid Ati, from the Philippines, said there is 'extreme heat, but there are also times that we are inside the (Grand mosque) – it's extreme cold because of the tiles and of the aircon'. 'We take this as a challenge and a test of our moral character.' – AFP
India.com
05-06-2025
- India.com
14 lakh Muslims reach Saudi Arabia as Hajj 2025 pilgrimage begins in Mecca amid scorching heat; check restrictions, rules for pilgrims
Hajj 2025 commenced in Mecca, Saudi Arabia from Wednesday, June 4. (File) More than 14 lakh Muslim pilgrims from across the globe have converged in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj 2025 pilgrimage which began in the holy city of Mecca on Wednesday (June 4) amidst scorching desert heat. Pilgrims from every corner of the world have begun Hajj rituals under the open skies of Mecca, braving the searing desert sun, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, presently a challenge, especially for the women and the elderly. In wake of last year's tragic deaths, when scores of pilgrims die due to heat stroke, the Saudi Arabian government has made stricter arrangements to protect pilgrims. According to Saudi officials, the number of tents have been increased for pilgrims to prevent overcrowding, while additional medical personnel have also been deployed near the sacred site. Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah informed that authorities have installed more than 400 cooling units in the area to ease the challenge for pilgrims to complete the 'Tawaf' (ritual circumambulation) of the Holy Kaaba. Only those with Hajj permits allowed inside Mecca Notably, around 1300 people people, mostly pilgrims died in heat-related incidents during last year's Hajj season when a heatwave swept across Mecca and other Saudi cities, with temperatures reaching a scorching 51 degrees Celsius. Following the tragedy, Saudi Arabia introduced sweeping changes to its Hajj and visa policies, including barring people without valid Hajj permits from performing the annual pilgrimage. Additionally, stricter entry and exit rules have been enforced for the twin holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and AI-based systems have been deployed for better crowd monitoring and management, according to officials. According to Saudi authorities most of the pilgrims who died of heat stroke last year did not carry valid permits and fell victims to the brutal desert heat as they did not have access to air-conditioned tents and buses. In wake of last year's tragedy, Saudi officials have launched a crackdown on unauthorized Hajj pilgrims during Hajj 2025 through frequent riads, drone surveillance and text alerts. Countries are allotted Hajj permits on a quota basis. Children banned from Hajj 2025 Another major step to ensure pilgrims' safety this year is that Saudi Arabia has barred children under the age of 12 from performing the Hajj pilgrimage this year. This significant policy change, one of the biggest in recent years, has been introduced as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of children during the journey which could be dangerous for kids due to massive crowds. Earlier, in April, Saudi Arabia suspended short-term visas of 14 countries to curb unauthorized Hajj pilgrims and prevent overcrowding. These include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen and Morocco.
Kuwait Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Pilgrims gather in Makkah for hajj
MAKKAH: More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Makkah ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors. Officials have beefed up heat mitigation measures hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius this week as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings starts on Wednesday. The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. As of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials. This year, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 sq m, thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's hajj minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah told AFP last week. On Monday, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius, the health ministry said 44 cases of heatstroke had already been treated. The latest artificial intelligence technology will also help monitor the flood of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Makkah to better manage the mammoth crowds. Despite the punishing heat, pilgrims were overjoyed as they arrived in Makkah. 'This is really a blessing from Allah,' Abdul Majid Ati, a Filipino lawyer and sharia counsellor, told AFP near the Grand Mosque. 'We feel so peaceful and safe in this place.' Abdulhamid, from Nigeria, said he was 'very happy' to be performing his second pilgrimage in a row at just 27 years old. But the young man said he never walks out without his sunglasses, describing the temperatures in Mecca as 'very, very, very hot'. The rites in the holy city and its surroundings, which follow a lunar calendar, fall again this year during the hot month of June. Last year, most of the deaths were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. In the run-up to this year's hajj, Saudi authorities launched a widespread crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the hajj without a permit — though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Along with hefty fines, those found illegally entering Makkah during the hajj face a potential 10-year ban from Saudi Arabia. For Mariama, a 52-year-old pilgrim from Senegal, the journey to Makkah has fulfilled a lifelong dream. 'I was dreaming about it, thinking about it every time to come here to do the hajj,' she said. – AFP
