JEDDAH: Tears of joy and complex feelings flowed as 1,000 pilgrims — families of the martyrs and wounded men of the Egyptian army and police — arrived as guests of the King Salman for the Hajj and Umrah Program 2018.
The pilgrims were given roses and Zamzam water as well as the keys to their rooms at their residence in Makkah.
The chairman of the committee of the Egyptian guest pilgrims, Abdul Aziz Nasser Saleh, said that preparations had been carried out as planned under the direct supervision of the Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdullatif Al-Asheikh.
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1,000 Egyptian pilgrims arrive in Makkah for Hajj
1,000 Egyptian pilgrims arrive in Makkah for Hajj
- This Hajj season pilgrims will be able to try out the latest mobile hotel capsules
- A driver who illegally transports pilgrims into Makkah will be fined SR10,000 ($2,600) for every passenger he is caught transporting
King Abdulaziz Foundation reveals rare images from king’s 1916 Basra visit
- Photographs form part of a wider collection documented by British photographer Gertrude Bell
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation has revealed archival photographs documenting King Abdulaziz’s tour of the outskirts of Basra in 1916, a visit that came at an early stage of his efforts to build regional relationships.
One of the photographs, taken by British photographer Gertrude Bell, shows King Abdulaziz standing with his men in the Basra desert, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The image reflects his early political and diplomatic engagement in the region, as he sought to strengthen ties with neighboring areas and engage with the wider Arab and international community, SPA added.
The photograph forms part of a wider collection documented by Bell, which records key developments and transformations across the Arabian Peninsula during the early 20th century.
The Basra visit holds particular significance in King Abdulaziz’s journey as a unifying leader.
Rather than crossing borders in pursuit of power, the visit reflected an approach focused on stability, cooperation and long-term regional harmony, laying the groundwork for a leadership style defined by pragmatism and openness, SPA said.
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