JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host its sixth year of the world’s biggest camel festival, drawing camel owners from around the world.
The camel festival, which will continue for 40 days, is scheduled to start on Dec. 1 in Riyadh, bringing together camel owners from the Gulf, the US, France, Russia and the Kingdom, according to SPA.
The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is an annual international cultural, economic, sports and entertainment event organized by the Saudi Camel Club.
About 33,000 camel owners are expected to participate in the festival this year, which will be located in an area of 32 sq. km. north of Riyadh.
The carnival is a destination for tourists from across the world with more than 100,000 visits a day, SPA reported.
The Saudi Camel Club is finalizing applications for interested participants, which are due by Nov. 16.
Participants will compete in 19 different categories with the aim of winning the grand prize of more than SR250 million ($66 million).
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has recorded 1.4 million camels across the Kingdom.
In previous years, the festival has included activities such as racing, best-looking camel awards, auctions and camel training.
In 2019, the festival featured its first Saudi female competitor, Princess Sirene bint Abdulrahman.
Initiatives such as the festival represent an important part of the camel club’s efforts to build on the Kingdom’s rich history and culture and showcase the importance of camels in Saudi Arabia’s heritage.
Saudi Arabia gears up to host world’s largest camel fest
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Saudi Arabia gears up to host world’s largest camel fest
- The Saudi Camel Club is finalizing applications for interested participants, which are due by Nov. 16.
Egyptian president leaves Jeddah after performing Hajj
RIYADH: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi left Jeddah on Monday after performing Hajj, Saudi Press Agency reported.
El-Sisi arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday and prayed in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah before performing his Hajj rituals.
Ensuring Hajj safety, security from the skies
- The patrols are crucial for monitoring the density of pilgrim crowds
- The helicopter also includes medical rescue and care devices that can be installed inside the cabin as needed
MINA: Saudi authorities are carrying out helicopter surveillance flights around the clock to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during Hajj.
Under the Hajj Security Forces, the Security Aviation Command, operating under the Presidency of State Security, in collaboration with the Royal Saudi Air Force, this Hajj season is witnessing the deployment of advanced aircraft to oversee the movements of pilgrims in Makkah and its surrounding holy sites.
Speaking to the Interior Ministry’s Snapchat account, Col. Shaker bin Sulaiman Al-Tuwaijiri, deputy commander of the Hajj Security Forces’ aerial surveillance operations, said that the Hajj security forces are supervising the movement of pilgrims from the sky day and night.
“Flights of the General Security Aviation Command and the Royal Saudi Air Forces are deployed using top-tier helicopters, the latest technological enablers and artificial intelligence,” he said, adding that staff members are highly qualified due to their cumulative experience.
The patrols are crucial for monitoring the density of pilgrim crowds, ensuring that potential disruptions and dangers are swiftly identified and addressed, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The mission is closely integrated with the Hajj Command and Control Center, which receives live videos and images for prompt analysis and responsive action on the ground.
The information helps ground personnel manage the movement of vehicles and pilgrims between locations.
Some security helicopters, such as the S-92, are equipped with 270-foot rescue winches, thermal cameras operating in infrared and laser wavelengths, and a cargo hook capable of lifting more than 4.5 tonnes.
The helicopter also includes medical rescue and care devices that can be installed inside the cabin as needed. Passenger cabin seats can be configured for evacuation purposes.
The S-92 features an autopilot system and flight management and planning controls, according to the Interior Ministry’s website.
Record temperatures hit Saudi holy sites during Hajj
MAKKAH: The Saudi Health Ministry reported record high temperatures at holy sites during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
Temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade at the central area of the Grand Mosque, the ministry said, with Arafat reaching 48 degrees Celsius and Mina and Muzdalifah 46 degrees Celsius.
In response to the extreme heat, the ministry urged pilgrims to minimize sun exposure to avoid heat-related illnesses. The ministry recommended staying hydrated and staying in shaded areas whenever possible.
Pilgrims cast stones at Jamarat on first day of Tashreeq
- Designated pathways across the various floors of the Jamarat facility ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims and ease crowd management
MINA: Hajj pilgrims began the ritual stoning of the devil, throwing pebbles at the Jamarat, three stone pillars, on the first day of Tashreeq, which also coincides with the second day of Eid Al-Adha.
The ritual stoning began with Jamarat Al-Oula (the small pillar), continuing with Jamarat Al-Wusta (the middle pillar) and finally Jamarat Al-Aqaba (the large pillar), following in the Prophet Muhammad’s footsteps, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Numerous designated pathways across the various floors of the Jamarat facility ensured a smooth flow of pilgrims and eased crowd management. The innovative, multilevel structure was engineered to distribute pilgrims efficiently during the throwing ritual.
Pedestrian bridges connect the Jamarat to the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro Line and surrounding pilgrim camps in Mina, allowing for safe and convenient movement, SPA reported.
Guidance heroes of Hajj help pilgrims find their way
- Scouts can be found in all pilgrimage areas wearing blue caps, brown vests and green neckerchiefs, helping pilgrims
RIYADH: The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation trained scouts to serve during the Hajj season to provide guidance and advice to pilgrims.
These scouts can be found in all pilgrimage areas wearing blue caps, brown vests and green neckerchiefs, helping pilgrims.
Hajj scout Ramadan Swailek says that his duty is to serve and assist the pilgrims at various locations in Makkah.
“We are roaming scouts, and we have specialists from various fields present in the holy sites, such as guidance, health, and safety. The mission of a guidance scout involves guiding lost pilgrims. If a pilgrim is lost, we use maps to help them find their way.”
Swailek said that pilgrims can get cold refreshments and take a rest at the guidance stations.
“This is the first year we are working as roaming guides. In the past, we always provided stationary guidance, helping lost pilgrims who might have been wandering for three or four hours, often frustrated. Guiding them to their destination brings immense relief, and it is a highly rewarding experience. People truly compete for this role because it offers a profound sense of fulfilment,” he said.
Abdulrahim Saad Al-Maliki is another scout helping pilgrims this Hajj season.
“We come here with the intention of serving the pilgrims, as my colleague Ramadan mentioned, and we cover five areas in Mina. There is a lot of roaming, guiding and assisting in various aspects. We thank God for the blessings of Islam, our faith, and the security and safety we enjoy. We are always at the service of the pilgrims. This is my first year, and I hope to continue serving the pilgrims in the coming years, God willing.”
The Scout Commission from the TVTC in the Madinah region won the best headquarters at the camp level this year.
The TVTC was established in 1990 and has 283 training facilities covering all parts of the Kingdom.
