RIYADH: Sterilization at the Grand Mosque is being intensified as the holy site begins to receive Umrah pilgrims after the completion of Hajj 2021.
Procedures for regulating entry and exit, the allocation of specific lanes for people with special needs and the distribution of Zamzam water bottles to prayer areas, courtyards and tawaf areas are also in place to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims.
Foreign pilgrims will be able to perform Umrah with the start of the new Islamic year which is expected to fall on August 9, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj for Hajj and Umrah Services Hesham Saeed told Al-Ekhbariya news channel.
Sterilization efforts intensify at Makkah’s Grand Mosque as Umrah pilgrims arrive
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Sterilization efforts intensify at Makkah’s Grand Mosque as Umrah pilgrims arrive
- Foreign pilgrims will be able to perform Umrah with the start of the new Islamic year which is expected to fall on August 9
Saudi Crown Prince, UN secretary general discuss Gaza situation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received a phone call from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and efforts towards achieving peace and stability.
French minister tours cultural highlights during Saudi visit
RIYADH: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s culture minister, received his French counterpart Rachida Dati, who is currently on a visit to the Kingdom.
Prince Badr commended the robust cultural relations between the Kingdom and France, emphasizing their recent development and the Saudi leadership’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cultural connections.
The discussions centered on ways to bolster cooperation and international cultural exchange between the Kingdom and France across various cultural domains. Key areas of focus included museums, theater and performing arts, culinary arts, films, heritage preservation, libraries, visual arts, music, fashion, architecture, and design.
Dati explored several prominent cultural venues and events in Riyadh during her official visit.
She toured the “Diriyah Biennale for Contemporary Art” held in the Jax district of Diriyah. The biennale features a significant number of elite artists from both the Kingdom and around the globe.
The Jax district has undergone a complete redesign, transforming it into a vibrant creative hub featuring performance spaces, artist studios, art galleries, and supportive platforms.
Dati also visited the Irqah Cultural Center and was briefed on its various innovative cultural initiatives. The center exemplifies Saudi cultural creativity by repurposing historical buildings and turning them into unique spaces that embrace art, artists, and elements of Saudi culture.
The French minister also visited the offices of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and learned about some of the plans for the city and Expo 2030 which is being hosted in the Saudi capital.
Saudi leaders congratulate Russian president on re-election
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The Crown Prince congratulated Putin on being re-elected for a new presidential term.
Putin thanked the crown prince for his noble feelings.
“The call stressed distinguished bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in all fields,” the SPA reported.
Earlier, King Salman and the Crown Prince sent separate cables congratulating the Russian president.
Saudi foreign, culture ministers sign memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation
- MoU set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to help boost collaboration between their ministries within the cultural sector and aid coordination across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement, which was signed in Riyadh, is set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges.
It is in line with the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Culture under Vision 2030.
Jordan’s crown prince performs Umrah
- He was joined by a diverse group of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes
RIYADH: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah on Monday performed Umrah, the minor pilgrimage to Makkah.
He also performed prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Accompanying him were notable figures including Prince Omar bin Faisal, Prince Nayef bin Asem, and Prince Rakan bin Mired.
He was also joined by a diverse group comprising members of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes, and media professionals. They shared in the spiritual journey and also gathered for iftar, the meal to break the fast during Ramadan.