MAKKAH: King Salman will cover the cost of sacrificial animals for 5,000 pilgrims hosted by the Hajj guest program, an official said.
The offer includes all pilgrims from more than 80 countries hosted by the Guests of King Salman for Hajj and Umrah, said secretary-general of the program, Abdullah bin Mudlaj Al-Mudlaj.
These include relatives of slain soldiers from Palestine, the Egyptian army and police, as well as relatives of Sudanese army personnel who were killed in the Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope operations.
Al-Mudlaj said the number of beneficiaries this Hajj season stands at 5,000, compared to 2,400 last year.
The executive committee of the program has begun work to implement the offer in coordination with the concerned agencies, while all the beneficiaries have been informed of the offer, he added.
The Hajj guest program is coordinated with Islamic figures in different countries around the world. It helps bolster relations between the Kingdom and peoples of Arab and Islamic countries, including Qatari nationals recently hosted by the king.
Meanwhile Tawfiq Al-Sudairi, the deputy minister of Islamic affairs, call and guidance, stressed the history of the Kingdom in disassociating Hajj from political and sectarian divides.
He said: “The Kingdom has disassociated Hajj from politicization and political and sectarian slogans since it was founded by King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman. He emphasized that … Saudi officials always emphasize this strategic concept, from which all governmental authorities and service programs are launched to assist pilgrims. Therefore, it is always being reaffirmed that Hajj is a religious ritual that must be elevated and that it is so much purer than political and sectarian matters.”
Meanwhile, a Palestinian woman from Gaza wept as she stood in front of a photo of King Salman in the lobby of a hotel hosting the families of martyrs of Palestine who came to perform Hajj.
Ruwdha Abdulhameed, 63, pointed to the King’s photo and in her local Arabic dialect said: “I send my greetings to King Salman. May Allah give him a long life because he is supporter of Palestine … and we are proud of him.”
She said she has been termed as the “mother of a martyr” because her son was killed at the age of 25, and her two grandsons were also martyred. She said her sufferings faded when she arrived in the Kingdom.
“The sons of Palestine are your sons, and Saudi youths are our sons. Our lives are sacrificed for Palestine and Al-Aqsa, of which we are proud,” she said.
Around 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims will perform Hajj this year at the king’s expense under the Guests of King Salman for Hajj and Umrah program.
Pilgrim Aisha Abul-Qasim hopes that Hajj will be a good opportunity to pray for her son, Ayman Jibril, a mine expert in the Sudanese army who died four months ago.
Abul-Qasim is one of 10 Sudanese mothers who lost loved ones fighting with the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen who will perform Hajj this season as guests of King Salman.
With tears in her eyes, Aisha said that her son had four sons of his own when he died. She said that she has spent most of her days taking care of them since April 22, when the Sudanese armed forces informed her that her son was killed.
“The Saudi Embassy in Khartoum facilitated our travel procedures to Jeddah airport. They completed the procedures in record time,” said Abul-Qasim. She also said that the Sudanese pilgrims were given a welcome reception before they were taken to a hotel in Al-Rusayfah in Makkah.
King Salman to cover cost of sacrificial animals for 5,000 pilgrims on Hajj program
King Salman to cover cost of sacrificial animals for 5,000 pilgrims on Hajj program
Balad Beast brings global beats to historic streets
- ‘MDLBEAST put us on the international map,’ say Saudi electronic duo Dish Dash
JEDDAH: The music festival Balad Beast concluded its fourth edition this weekend, having transformed Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage district of Al-Balad into an open-air celebration of music, culture and creativity that attracted thousands of music lovers over two nights.
The festival, organized by Saudi music platform MDLBEAST, featured more than 70 local, regional and international artists across four stages, offering audiences a diverse journey through electronic, hip-hop and global sounds.
Speaking to Arab News, MDLBEAST chief creative officer Ahmad Al-Ammary, also known as DJ Baloo, described Balad Beast as a “cultural takeover” adding that finding the right spaces for dance floors was a challenge, “but Balad is constantly evolving and we work with that change.”
Addressing the challenges of working in a heritage area, he said: “Balad is sensitive and condensed, so logistics can be complex. In our first year, heavy rain flooded one of the planned squares and we had to relocate the Souq Stage to a much smaller space, but it worked and it has remained there ever since.
HIGHLIGHT
Reggae superstar Shaggy noted that the reality of playing live in Saudi Arabia often surprises those who arrive with preconceptions.
“Yes, the alleys are narrow and the district is old, but they’re full of ideas, patterns, colors and visuals. Everything flows here,” he continued. “As a festival, it’s hard to define Balad, because it gives so much of itself creatively. It’s incredibly generous with its ideas and details, and inspiration comes from everywhere.”
Balad Beast featured performances from international artists including US rapper Playboi Carti, making his first appearance in Saudi Arabia; US rapper Destroy Lonely; Swedish DJ and producer Alesso; and Bosnian-German DJ Solomun on the opening night. The following night saw French-Haitian singer-songwriter Naïka, reggae superstar Shaggy, Dutch DJ Franky Rizardo, British DJ Pawsa, and US rapper Tyga, and more take the stage, while Saudi and regional artists including Cosmicat, TUL8TE, Zeina, Vinyl Mode, Moayed, Dish Dash, Musab, Varoo and HiFi appeared across the festival, offering audiences a mix of global and local talent.
Saudi electronic duo Dish Dash reflected on the festival organizer’s impact for local artists.
As a festival, it’s hard to define Balad, because it gives so much of itself creatively. It’s incredibly generous with its ideas and details, and inspiration comes from everywhere.
Ahmad Al-Ammary, MDLBEAST chief creative officer
“MDLBEAST put us on the international map,” the brothers told Arab News. “It helped us get recognized by festivals, promoters and event organizers abroad. When we travel, people don’t expect this level of talent coming from Saudi Arabia, especially considering we didn’t have this scene before.”
Shaggy, who performed a hit-filled set during the festival, told Arab News: “I’ve been blessed with some incredible songs, and I see music as a gift and a tool for service. When I go on stage, I’m there to entertain people, to make them smile and feel good, but that service also supports many livelihoods from the people working at this festival to those who work with me. These songs have become part of people’s lives, and I don’t take that lightly.”
Shaggy also noted that the reality of playing live in Saudi Arabia often surprises those who arrive with preconceptions.
“I’ve performed in Saudi Arabia more than once, and while there are certain rules that are different, it’s not an issue for me. My focus is always on delivering the hits and giving the audience a great time,” he said.
“There’s a big misconception. People have more freedom than (outsiders) think. Everyone has been extremely nice.”
Asked what advice he would offer to aspiring artists, Shaggy said: “Understand that what you’re given is a gift and a form of service. Stay humble, do the work, and remember why you’re doing it.”
As Al-Ammary noted, there are many such aspiring artists now making a name for themselves in the Kingdom.
“Talent is emerging everywhere, at different levels,” he said. “The scene is still in a mysterious and surprising phase. There’s a rawness to it.”
