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Minister of endowments thanks Ƶ for caring for Syrian pilgrims

Minister of endowments thanks Ƶ for caring for Syrian pilgrims
Syrian Minister of Endowments Muhammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in Makkah on Wednesday. (SANA)
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Updated 27 sec ago

Minister of endowments thanks Ƶ for caring for Syrian pilgrims

Minister of endowments thanks Ƶ for caring for Syrian pilgrims
  • Syrian minister of endowments conveyed President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s greetings to the Saudi leadership
  • An estimated 22,500 Syrians have embarked on the first day of the Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday

LONDON: Syrian Minister of Endowments Muhammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri praised Ƶ’s hospitality and care for pilgrims during a meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in Makkah on Wednesday.

An estimated 22,500 Syrians embarked on the first day of the Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday, which ends on June 9.

Shukri emphasized the importance of cooperation to help pilgrims perform their rituals smoothly during Hajj, reaffirming Syrian pilgrims’ commitment to following Saudi instructions and regulations.

The minister conveyed President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s greetings to the Saudi leadership. Al-Sharaa spoke this week with Syrian pilgrims in Makkah during a video call and asked them to act as “messengers of Syria” and show a good example during the Hajj.

Al-Rabiah expressed hope for stability and tranquility in Syria, according to the SANA news agency.


Defense Ministry launches first mobile field hospital at holy sites 

Defense Ministry launches first mobile field hospital at holy sites 
Updated 5 sec ago

Defense Ministry launches first mobile field hospital at holy sites 

Defense Ministry launches first mobile field hospital at holy sites 
  • Wards have 50-bed capacity, pharmacy, surgical room
  • Aim is to ensure pilgrims perform Hajj in ‘good health’

RIYADH: The Ministry of Defense has launched a mobile field hospital for the first time at the holy sites to boost healthcare services during the Hajj.

The hospital will provide comprehensive and high-quality medical services, the ministry said on Wednesday.

“The Joint Forces Command has harnessed all facilities and health services to ensure that the guests of God perform the Hajj pilgrimage with ease (and) in good health,” the ministry added.

The state-of-the-art facility comprises 29 trailers and 26 modules that house hospital components, including the main entrance, connecting corridors, emergency exits, and essential services.

It includes inpatient wards with a 50-bed capacity, fully equipped pharmacy, radiology unit, medical laboratory, and specialized clinics.

It also features a surgical operating room with a recovery and sterilization wing, intensive care and observation units, and an emergency department.

The hospital reflects the vital role of the Ministry of Defense in serving pilgrims and boosting the health infrastructure at the holy sites, the ministry added.

The ministry’s General Directorate for Health Services said Tuesday it is ready to implement an integrated medical plan to support the Ministry of Health.

This plan encompasses 36 health centers across the holy sites, with a combined capacity of more than 1,000 beds.

There are 1,791 health and administrative personnel deployed at fixed and field hospitals, emergency centers, and specialized clinics in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. 


Saudi Red Crescent conducts air evacuation in Arafat as part of Hajj preparedness efforts

Saudi Red Crescent conducts air evacuation in Arafat as part of Hajj preparedness efforts
Updated 04 June 2025

Saudi Red Crescent conducts air evacuation in Arafat as part of Hajj preparedness efforts

Saudi Red Crescent conducts air evacuation in Arafat as part of Hajj preparedness efforts
  • Operation was launched after an emergency call was received by the SRCA’s central operations room

ARAFAT: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority carried out an emergency air medical evacuation in Arafat on Wednesday, as part of its broader efforts to enhance readiness during the Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The operation was launched after an emergency call was received by the SRCA’s central operations room.

Ground and air ambulance teams were immediately dispatched to the scene in coordination with relevant health authorities, SPA added.

The patient was stabilized on-site and transported by medical evacuation aircraft to a designated hospital, following direct coordination with the hospital’s medical team and the provision of all necessary medical details.

SRCA spokesman Dr. Taimur Shukrullah Jan said the mission was part of a broader integrated system designed to improve emergency response across the holy sites.

He noted that medical evacuation aircraft are crucial in reducing response times, particularly in areas of high population density or restricted mobility.

“The authority is harnessing all its human and technical resources to serve pilgrims, in line with its humanitarian and national mission,” Jan said. “Our ground and air ambulance teams are operating around the clock to deliver urgent care where and when it’s needed.”

The SRCA’s air ambulance service for the Hajj season comprises 11 aircraft deployed across 13 strategic landing sites in Makkah and the holy sites.

More than 120 trained personnel are working to ensure rapid intervention and high-quality emergency services for pilgrims, SPA reported.


Pilgrims receive gifts reflecting Saudi culture

Pilgrims receive gifts reflecting Saudi culture
Updated 04 June 2025

Pilgrims receive gifts reflecting Saudi culture

Pilgrims receive gifts reflecting Saudi culture

MAKKAH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, known as Wrth, has welcomed pilgrims arriving in Ƶ via land, sea, and air with gifts inspired by traditional Saudi arts.

This initiative, in collaboration with the Pilgrim Awareness Center and Saudia airline, aims to enrich pilgrims’ experience culturally and intellectually, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Pilgrims received prayer rugs adorned by Arabic calligraphy and medallions featuring traditional inscriptions reflecting Saudi cultural values.

Accompanying the gifts were informational cards about Hajj rituals, provided by the Pilgrim Awareness Center.

Gifts were distributed at key entry points, including King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port, and the Hajj dispatching control center on Hijrah Road.

Wrth’s participation aligns with its mission to raise awareness of traditional arts and offer a unique pilgrim experience during the Kingdom’s Year of Handicrafts.

The initiative highlights national identity and strengthens the global presence of traditional Saudi arts, the SPA reported.

The royal institute recently completed a billboard project along Hijrah Road between Makkah and Madinah, in collaboration with the Roads General Authority.

The billboards feature designs inspired by traditional motifs and crafts such as weaving, reflecting the national identity. These showcase the beauty of local arts and regional patterns and aim to enrich pilgrims’ cultural experience and promote heritage tourism.


Three Saudi twin pairs unite to serve pilgrims at Hajj

Three Saudi twin pairs unite to serve pilgrims at Hajj
Updated 04 June 2025

Three Saudi twin pairs unite to serve pilgrims at Hajj

Three Saudi twin pairs unite to serve pilgrims at Hajj
  • These six young men are united in their dedication to serving pilgrims, according to the Saudi Press Agency

MAKKAH: In a rare and coincidental alignment, this year’s public service camps organized by the Ƶn Scouts Association for Hajj have brought together three sets of Saudi twins.

Hailing from the scout group of the Civil Development Association in Riyadh’s Al-Rabie neighborhood, these six young men are united in their dedication to serving pilgrims, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The twins — Hussam and Issam Saeed Al-Qarni, Azzam and Ammar Suleiman Al-Sulaiman, and Walid and Muhannad Abdul-Hakim Al-Otaibi — are bound not only by family ties and similar appearances, but also by a shared passion for scouting and commitment to volunteer work and pilgrim service.

Hussam and Issam said: “Scouting was not just a passing activity, but a life path chosen with conviction from a young age.”

They emphasized they were raised to love their country, and that scouting has allowed them to express this through guiding pilgrims, providing first aid, and offering various forms of assistance.

They also stressed that “every moment during the pilgrimages is a new lesson in patience, compassion, and discipline.”

Azzam and Ammar said that the experience has deepened their bond, adding with pride: “We thought we knew each other well, but in the atmosphere of the pilgrimages and under the pressure of tasks, we discovered new dimensions of cooperation and interdependence.

“We work as a team, complementing each other, and everything we do is for the comfort of the pilgrim, whom we consider our guest. It is our duty to provide them with the utmost comfort.”

Walid and Muhannad Abdul-Hakim Al-Otaibi expressed their profound pride in participating, describing it as life-changing. “Today, we are not only serving, but also learning how to stand calmly in the midst of a crowd, how to take initiative without expecting thanks, and how scouting can be a comprehensive educational field,” they said.

“Being here together, two brothers and twins, experiencing the same thing and sharing every detail, is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.”


98-year-old Egyptian pilgrim fulfilling lifelong dream

98-year-old Egyptian pilgrim fulfilling lifelong dream
Updated 04 June 2025

98-year-old Egyptian pilgrim fulfilling lifelong dream

98-year-old Egyptian pilgrim fulfilling lifelong dream
  • Ahmed Tamim is among the oldest pilgrims on Hajj this year
  • Son Muhammed says ‘his eyes filled with tears’ when selected

JEDDAH: Ahmed Tamim, 98, is fulfilling a lifelong dream of performing Hajj this year.

Tamim is a native of Egypt’s Sohag governorate, located on the west bank of the Nile, and is one of the oldest pilgrims on this year’s Hajj.

He arrived in Madinah on May 18 accompanied by his son, to embark on the sacred journey that is mandatory for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to complete it.

They are among 13,062 Egyptian pilgrims who were selected through the annual lottery to perform the pilgrimage this year.

His son Muhammed told Arab News: “It all started with a phone call from my friends who said the Hajj lottery is open, aren’t you going to apply for your father?

“I tried to contact the lottery mission, and they told me tomorrow is the last day (and) anyone who hasn’t applied can still apply.

“At the time, we hadn’t applied, but after that call, I decided to apply for my father, and thank God, his name was added to the reserve list due to his advanced age.”

He added: “Every year he used to wish to perform Hajj or Umrah. This time, when he found out his name was called after all these years, his eyes filled with tears and he reacted with happiness, he couldn’t believe it.”

Muhammed said his father is insisting on performing all the rituals unaided despite his difficulties in walking and hearing.

“He always (said) ‘this is an opportunity Allah has chosen me, and I want to experience it to the fullest.’”

Muhammad added: “Everyone in Sohag is happy for my father, because he’s not only the oldest pilgrim, but he’s a very respected religious person in the governorate.

“May Allah accept his Hajj and we are all so glad that he finally made Hajj.”