8  births recorded in holy places during Hajj 2019

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Libyan pilgrim Suad Mohammed Barbush and her baby Arafah, named after Mount Arafat. (SPA)
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Libyan pilgrim Suad Mohammed Barbush gave birth to this baby boy and named him Arafah, after Mount Arafat. (SPA)
Updated 12 August 2019
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8  births recorded in holy places during Hajj 2019

  • Libyan, Guinean Hajj pilgrims give birth to healthy babies at Mount Arafat
  • Guinean baby named after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

MINA: Hospitals in Makkah and the holy places in Mina and Arafat recorded eight births while the Hajj pilgrimage was in progress, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

A ministry report carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the Makkah Maternity and Children Hospital registered 5 births, two in Arafat and one in Mina.

The babies born in Arafat were delivered by pilgrims, who were performing Hajj rites in the holy mount on August 10, the second day of Hajj. It was not known if the mothers of the other babies were also pilgrims.




Guinean pilgrim Maimunah Ali and her baby, Mohammed Salman. (SPA photo)

Forty-year-old Libyan pilgrim Suad Mohammed Barbush delivered her baby boy at the Jabal al-Rahma Hospital and named him Arafah, after the holy mount. Parents usually agree to name their babies who are born in the mountain either Arafah or Arafat. 

Ashan Yusuf expressed happiness and gratitude to the hospital medical team after both his wife and baby were declared in stable condition.

The second woman was Guinean pilgrim Maimunah Ali, 23, who gave birth at the East Arafat Hospital on Saturday afternoon, hours after she and her husband climbed Arafat in the morning as part of the Hajj ritual.

Breaking from tradition, Maimunah and her husband Abu Bakr agreed to name their son Mohammed Salman, after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Doctors also declared the Guinean mother and baby in "stable and sound condition."


Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

Updated 11 January 2026
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Taif festival celebrates Saudi Arabia’s literary icons

  • It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content

TAIF: A special section highlighting key Saudi literary figures forms part of the Writers and Readers Festival in Taif.

The area explores the lives of distinguished writers, poets, and authors who have shaped the Kingdom’s creative landscape, influencing literature, journalism, theater and intellectual thought.

It introduces visitors to the contributions of literary pioneers through accessible visual and narrative content, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the festival runs until Jan. 15 and features 42 prominent publishing houses from Saudi Arabia and overseas, offering visitors the chance to explore the latest works in literature, philosophy and general knowledge.

Meanwhile, the festival’s interactive murals section engages visitors with openwork art panels, allowing them to contribute to the city’s features and identity.

The murals depict Taif’s natural and historical landmarks, including Al-Hada Mountain, the Taif rose gardens, and traditional Hijazi palaces. Others are inspired by Souq Okaz, a historic literary and commercial center linked to the region’s poetic heritage.

Designed by a visual artist, they blend folk-inspired elements with imaginative expression, creating a collaborative experience that celebrates the city’s beauty and brings art closer to the public.