Latest news with #pilgrims
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudia Group transports 3,900 Iranian Pilgrims daily
Jeddah: In line with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the recommendation of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudia Group continues to operate dedicated flights to support the return of pilgrims from the Islamic Republic of Iran. These efforts are carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, ensuring the delivery of all necessary services for a safe and smooth return to their homeland. Daily flights operated by Saudia and flyadeal depart from the Hajj and Umrah Terminal Complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. As part of this operation, approximately 3,900 pilgrims are transported each day, with 2,700 pilgrims traveling to Arar airport in Saudi Arabia and coordination is underway to transport 1,200 pilgrims daily to Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Saudia Group's coordinated return operations have been conducted under close supervision of senior officials, who were present on-site to ensure smooth departures. This level of engagement reflects the Kingdom's deep-rooted commitment to serving pilgrims with excellence, providing care, hospitality, and operational efficiency at every step of their journey. About Saudia Group Saudia Group is one of the largest aviation conglomerates in the MENA region. The Group drives industry development with its 13 subsidiaries, and offers world-class air transport, cargo services, ground services, logistics, maintenance, catering, private aviation, real estate, training, and medical services. The mission of Saudia Group is to inspire people to go beyond borders with a purpose that is rooted in unlocking human potential and connecting the world in ways never thought possible. The group is committed to reshaping the aviation ecosystem in the MENA region and beyond, by embracing innovation and a customer-centric approach. Media Center Saudia Airlines Headquarters Jeddah 21231, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Email: mediacenter@ X: @SaudiaGroup Linkedin: SAUDI AIRLINES WhatsApp: Saudia Group | مجموعة السعودية
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Hundreds evacuated from Iran via border crossing being sent to homes across Pakistan
QUETTA: Pakistani officials say hundreds of students and pilgrims, who were evacuated after Israeli strikes on Iran, will be transported to their homes across Pakistan today, Wednesday, after they were brought a day earlier to Quetta, the capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran. Commissioner of Quetta, Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, said 545 pilgrims and 207 students reached Quetta from Pakistan's Taftan border crossing with Iran and arrangements had been made to transport them to their hometowns. 'We are trying to make them stay in Quetta tonight. There are some restrictions on movement at night from Quetta,' Shafqaat told Reuters. 'There are law and order issues on roads at some places. We want to avoid any unfortunate or untoward incidents.' Musharraf Abbas, who arrived from Tehran, said he was a student at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. 'Their [Iran's] military residences and rooms were at about one-and-a-half-kilometer distance from our residence,' he told Reuters. 'They were attacked on late Friday night around 330pm in which their high level personnel, including scientists, revolutionary guards and military leaders were killed.' Pakistan closed its border crossings with Iran at Panjgur in Balochistan province indefinitely due to escalating tensions, the district administration of Panjgur announced on Sunday, June 15. However, one of the busiest crossings at the Taftan border remains operational for repatriation and trade activity. A group of 214 Pakistani students studying in medical and engineering institutions in Iran arrived at Pakistan's Taftan border crossing from Tehran following Israeli airstrikes, officials said on Tuesday. Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered a sixth day despite a call from US President Donald Trump for Tehran's unconditional surrender.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Pakistan says resolved over 30,000 Hajj pilgrims' complaints
ISLAMABAD: A facilitation center set up by the Pakistani government in Makkah for this year's Hajj resolved over 30,000 complaints filed by pilgrims, the religion ministry said on Tuesday. This year's Hajj took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent over 115,000 pilgrims under both the government and private schemes. Ayesha Ijaz, the person in charge of the facilitation center in Makkah, told Pakistan's religious affairs ministry that the center has been specially set up to help Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. 'The facilitation center established by the Government of Pakistan in Makkah to provide exemplary facilities to Pakistani pilgrims during and after Hajj 2025 has successfully resolved over 30,000 complaints,' the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said. It said thousands of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were provided immediate assistance related to travel issues, lost tickets, accommodation, food and other important matters. 'The center operates round the clock and has various special departments, including the Departure Cell, Zong Desk, Maktab Desk, Madinah Departure Cell, Complaints Cell and 24/7 Call Center,' Ijaz said. Hafiz Obaidullah Zakaria, who is in charge of the Complaints Cell, said 30,147 complaints have been registered so far related to Hajj 2025. 'Of these, 2,446 complaints were resolved within 24 hours, 113 are under process, while 580 complaints were declared inauthentic,' he was quoted as saying by the religion ministry. The religion ministry said this year, multiple channels were provided to pilgrims for registering complaints, including a 24-hour call center, WhatsApp, toll-free numbers and other platforms. It said the number of complaints had been reduced significantly, which reflected impressive arrangements undertaken by the government. 'The timely actions of the facilitation center and effective complaint management have set a new precedent for Hajj operations, which has been appreciated not only by the authorities but also by the pilgrims,' the ministry said. The last Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive on July 10.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
‘Game changer': Pakistan says resolved over 30,000 Hajj pilgrims' complaints
ISLAMABAD: A facilitation center set up by the Pakistani government in Makkah for this year's Hajj resolved over 30,000 complaints filed by pilgrims, the religion ministry said on Tuesday. This year's Hajj took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent over 115,000 pilgrims under both the government and private schemes. Ayesha Ijaz, the person in charge of the facilitation center in Makkah, told Pakistan's religious affairs ministry that the center has been specially set up to help Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. 'The facilitation center established by the Government of Pakistan in Makkah to provide exemplary facilities to Pakistani pilgrims during and after Hajj 2025 has successfully resolved over 30,000 complaints,' the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said. It said thousands of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were provided immediate assistance related to travel issues, lost tickets, accommodation, food and other important matters. 'The center operates round the clock and has various special departments, including the Departure Cell, Zong Desk, Maktab Desk, Madinah Departure Cell, Complaints Cell and 24/7 Call Center,' Ijaz said. Hafiz Obaidullah Zakaria, who is in charge of the Complaints Cell, said 30,147 complaints have been registered so far related to Hajj 2025. 'Of these, 2,446 complaints were resolved within 24 hours, 113 are under process, while 580 complaints were declared inauthentic,' he was quoted as saying by the religion ministry. The religion ministry said this year, multiple channels were provided to pilgrims for registering complaints, including a 24-hour call center, WhatsApp, toll-free numbers and other platforms. It said the number of complaints had been reduced significantly, which reflected impressive arrangements undertaken by the government. 'The timely actions of the facilitation center and effective complaint management have set a new precedent for Hajj operations, which has been appreciated not only by the authorities but also by the pilgrims,' the ministry said. The last Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive on July 10.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Iranian pilgrims who were stranded in Saudi Arabia arrive in Iraq on their way back home
Dozens of Iranian pilgrims trapped abroad due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel will soon return to Iran. Iranians who had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage have been waiting in a coach station in Karbala, Iraq. (AP video shot by Ali Sadiq)
