Arab News Hajj app explained

Updated 09 August 2019
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Arab News Hajj app explained

What it is

The Arab News Hajj app is a free smartphone application designed to help pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia to perform the holy rituals. It offers essential information and contact details needed during their spiritual journey. 

This year’s version of the app, endorsed once more by the Muslim World League, comes with a new design that provides an improved user experience. Enhanced features include live news updates and the signature ‘Pilgrim Tracker,’ which enables worshippers to connect with their loved ones back home. The new features give pilgrims the option to listen to verses from the Qur’an, to use a digital Qibla compass and activate a real-time currency converter to help to process their payments.

 

What it does: Main features

 

Pilgrim tracker: If you get lost in the crowd of Hajj pilgrims, there is no need to panic. This feature allows you to track and check on friends and family while performing Hajj. Each user has a unique code that can be shared with their loved ones to let them know where they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hajj information: All you need to know about Hajj rituals. Key information such as daily prayer times and weather updates can also be found under this feature. It also has important contact details of all embassies and other useful numbers such as hotels and restaurants. The feature also shows pilgrims the nearest hospitals, train stations and Grand Mosque gates.

 

 

 

 

Latest news: Pilgrims no longer need to worry about grabbing newspapers or checking online news outlets while performing Hajj. All the latest stories and developments from our team of journalists covering Hajj will be listed in detail under this feature.

 

 


 


Mawhiba awards 68 students grand prizes for science competition

Updated 5 sec ago
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Mawhiba awards 68 students grand prizes for science competition

  • The winning students will carry Saudi Arabia’s banner at the International Science and Engineering Fair, “ISEF 2026,” alongside other global talents

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, revealed on Thursday the grand prize recipients of the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair, marking the conclusion of the 16th National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity.

The event, held from Jan. 25-29, in strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Education, represents the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s premier youth science competition.

The winning students will carry Saudi Arabia’s banner at the International Science and Engineering Fair, “ISEF 2026,” alongside other global talents.

Their selection follows an intensive four-month scientific gauntlet that attracted more than 357,000 participants submitting more than 34,000 research projects.

Sixty-eight exceptional students emerged victorious with grand prizes.

Earlier in the day, Mawhiba announced 84 students as recipients of special recognitions from a consortium of 12 ministries, agencies, and prominent national and international institutions.

The special awards comprised 59 domestic honors and 25 international distinctions for exceptional projects featured at the Ibdaa 2026.

The path to victory proved demanding. Participants navigated multiple elimination rounds, beginning with 16 regional showcases that advanced 500 projects.

Four centralized exhibitions followed, narrowing the field to 200 finalists for the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair.

An expert jury of 166 evaluators drawn from more than 40 public and private universities, plus additional research centers, assessed each submission, assigning five judges per project to ensure thorough evaluation.

The Ibdaa Olympiad operates as an annual scientific tournament through the strategic partnership of Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education.

Competitors submit individual research projects adhering to rigorous specifications and protocols.

Distinguished academics and specialists apply systematic scientific benchmarks to identify exemplary work worthy of advancement to elite competitive tiers, ultimately selecting the finest entries for representation at ISEF and comparable international scientific forums and competitions.