Scheme launched to improve Grand Mosque visitor experience for elderly, disabled pilgrims

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Apr. 17, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 17 April 2023
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Scheme launched to improve Grand Mosque visitor experience for elderly, disabled pilgrims

  • Presidency keen to welcome elderly and disabled people during Ramadan and offer services such as designated prayer areas in line with appropriate health and safety standards

MAKKAH: A new initiative has been launched at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to improve the visitor experience for elderly and disabled pilgrims.

Under the Ershad scheme, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques’ Agency for Social, Voluntary, and Humanitarian Services aims to provide improved guidance for the two target groups throughout the Grand Mosque and its squares.

The project is part of the “It is an Honor to Serve Our Pilgrims” campaign which looks to ensure worshippers receive the best possible service from the moment of their arrival until they depart.

Assistant Undersecretary for Social and Humanitarian Affairs Omar Al-Mahmadi told Arab News: “The initiative was launched to serve people with disabilities.

“It aims to direct them inside the Grand Mosque (and its squares), receive them in the squares, respond to their inquiries and guide them to the sites that are designated for them, in accordance with a comprehensive system of humanitarian services.”

He said the presidency was keen to welcome elderly and disabled people during the holy month of Ramadan and offer services such as designated prayer areas in line with appropriate health and safety standards.


Saudi Arabia’s KAUST advances AI training with winter school

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Saudi Arabia’s KAUST advances AI training with winter school

  • The event provides a platform for research collaboration, academic partnerships, and connections with global scientific institutions

JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is hosting the second MenaML Winter School, in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, from Jan. 24 to 29.

It brings together leading researchers, scientists, and specialists in artificial intelligence from across the Middle East and North Africa, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The program aims to advance scientific research and build specialized technical skills through an intensive curriculum covering both theoretical and applied AI.

Sessions cover the latest in intelligent model engineering, AI for scientific applications, and high-efficiency computing technologies.

Representatives from 16 international scientific and technological institutions are participating, alongside 300 researchers selected from 2,300 applicants based on merit and research potential.

The event provides a platform for research collaboration, academic partnerships, and connections with global scientific institutions.

It promotes innovation and solutions across sectors, including energy, health, infrastructure, and advanced technology, the SPA reported.

The program strengthens regional human capital through advanced training, knowledge exchange with leading experts, and fostering an ecosystem that encourages research and innovation.

It also reinforces the Kingdom’s role as a regional and global hub for scientific research and advanced technologies, supporting its contribution to the development of AI.