Special services to aid pilgrims with special needs during Hajj
Special services to aid pilgrims with special needs during Hajj/node/1359076/saudi-arabia
Special services to aid pilgrims with special needs during Hajj
1 / 3
There are special vehicles for those who need to be transported from the Holy Mosque. (SPA)
2 / 3
A Muslim pilgrim pushes an elderly woman on a wheelchair outside the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah on August 16, 2018, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city. (AFP)
3 / 3
There are also special vehicles for those who need to be transported from the Holy Mosque. (SPA)
Special services to aid pilgrims with special needs during Hajj
These guides provide clarification for issues concerning Hajj, Umrah, and the Qur’an in Braille language format
There are special vehicles for those who need to be transported from the Holy Mosque
Updated 20 August 2018
Hussam Al Mayman | Arab News
MAKKAH: The General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques has begun services to aid pilgrims with special needs during this year’s Hajj season. Among these services is a small talking watch for the visually impaired. These watches tell the time and prayer times via audio alerts.
Other services provided by the Presidency’s special needs department are allocated entrances to ease access to prayers. These are gates 63 and 68, which were built during the expansion period of the late King Fahd.
There are also specialized paths for pilgrims with disabilities in mobility and the visually impaired with their own dedicated entrances.
Other provisions include a pen that serves as a Qur’an reader for the visually impaired and elderly, and a service for holding and carrying copies of the Qur’an for those who are unable to hold them.
Another service is the distribution of canes for the blind and visually impaired to help guide their path while walking.
A device that assists in Tayamom (dry ablution) is also available.
The special needs unit will also distribute booklets on how to perform Umrah and Hajj, along with guides who can show guests how to pray and explain important rituals to be performed.
Jeddah Book Fair set to showcase rising Saudi literary scene
This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops
Updated 09 December 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is preparing to host the Jeddah Book Fair from Dec. 11 to 20 at Jeddah Superdome, bringing together more than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies from 24 countries across 400 booths.
Held under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair is part of the commission’s “Saudi Reads” campaign, which seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.
Jeddah Book Fair’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage. (Supplied/@saudibookfairs)
Dr. Abdullatif Al-Wasil, CEO of the commission, said the Jeddah Book Fair reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to cultural development and the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s literature, publishing and translation sector.
He highlighted the fair’s interactive programs for publishers, authors, translators and the public, which are designed to enhance content quality, support creative development and foster knowledge partnerships.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Jeddah Book Fair seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.
• It will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events.
• The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers.
The event also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a cultural hub attracting major publishers, content creators and investors.
This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops. A dedicated children’s zone will feature literary and entertainment activities tailored to young visitors, along with competitions to inspire reading and creativity.
The fair will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events.
Book-signing stations will give readers the chance to meet their favorite authors, while cultural organizations, community groups and universities will present their latest publications and initiatives.
A manga and anime zone will highlight collectibles from the genre, alongside specialized books. A discounted books section will also be available to promote wider access to reading.
The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers, where hundreds of titles across literary and cultural fields will be showcased, underscoring the fair’s role in nurturing local talent and enriching the Kingdom’s evolving literary scene.
