JEDDAH: Soon a drive from Makkah’s city center to King Abdulaziz International Airport will take 35 minutes, easily reducing the current driving time by 25 minutes. Before this year’s Haj season, the new 85 kilometer-long Makkah-Jeddah Huda Al-Sham Highway will be operating partly, stretching for 35 kilometers between the two cities. The new road connects Al-Haramain Road (Jeddah highway), Al-Hijra Road (Madina Road – which stretches to Madina), and Makkah Road. The part to be opened will be used to transport pilgrims from the Pilgrims’ City at Jeddah airport to Makkah.
Briman Bridge on Al-Haramain road was removed to connect the new road to Al-Hijra road. Jeddah highway (which stretches to Makkah highway, so those heading for Makkah have to use it) is often congested at peak times.
Only 8 kilometers are remaining for the project to be completed, said project director engineer Maher Habash. Lanes will be 35 meters wide, in addition to 12-meter-wide service lanes.
Although the project is finished, many cars are using it in the morning: Commuters and fuel tankers who provide fuel to gas stations. “We had to fix some locations of the project after they were damaged by heavy tankers,” said Habash. “Currently nine supervisors and six engineers, in addition to surveyors, are working on the project to guarantee an execution that is compliant to standards and specifications.”
Haj companies will be able to transport pilgrims from Jeddah airport to Makkah and Madina via the new road that is shorter and free of small cars.
New Makkah-Jeddah highway to be partly opened before Haj
New Makkah-Jeddah highway to be partly opened before Haj
Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah
- The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.
He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.
They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.
Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”
He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.
The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.
According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.
The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.
It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.
Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.
The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.
