Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Umrah and Visit Program thank Saudi Arabia for warm reception, generous hospitality

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The interviewees came from several countries including Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, the UK, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. (SPA)
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The interviewees came from several countries including Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, the UK, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. (SPA)
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Updated 10 February 2024
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Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Umrah and Visit Program thank Saudi Arabia for warm reception, generous hospitality

  • A number of Umrah performers in the second batch of the program, which included 250 prominent Islamic female and male figures from European and South American countries, were interviewed by the Saudi Press Agency

MAKKAH: The guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Umrah and Visit Program, which is supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, have expressed thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the generous hospitality and warm reception given to them since their arrival in the country as guests of the program.

A number of Umrah performers in the second batch of the program, which included 250 prominent Islamic female and male figures from European and South American countries, were interviewed by the Saudi Press Agency.

Dr. Nasser Al-Kilani, from the Romanian delegation, praised the facilities, and said: “We feel joy and happiness as we spend great days in Makkah and the holy sites, feeling the holiness of place and time, especially while we are next to the Holy Kaaba.”

Aydin Muhammad Bostanji, who hails from northern Greece, expressed his thanks to the Kingdom’s leadership, and added: “We have seen and felt the best hosting following our arrival until now, and we cannot forget this visit. It is a dream that has come true for us as we found warmth, honor and interest from those in charge of the program, in addition to the treatment of security personnel who provided us with all love and appreciation, whether in Makkah or Madinah.”

Dr. Khaled Lamtairi, a member of the Romanian delegation, praised the development of services provided to guests of the program, and asked Allah to reward the leadership of the Kingdom for its efforts and all it provides to serve Islam and Muslims.

The interviewees came from several countries including Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, the UK, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.

 

 


Pioneering electric bus service takes to the road in Makkah

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Pioneering electric bus service takes to the road in Makkah

  • The bus rapid transit project, a system designed to have higher capacity and reliability than conventional bus services, is said to be the first of its kind in the Kingdom
  • The vehicles operate in dedicated bus lanes within a network that includes two main bus stations and 11 stops along the route connecting them

MAKKAH: A pioneering electric bus service took to the road in Makkah this week.

Electromin, the developer and operator of the service in partnership with Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction, said it is expected to serve more than 125 million passengers over the next 15 years, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by more than 31,500 tonnes compared with traditional vehicles.

The bus rapid transit project, a system designed to have higher capacity and reliability than conventional bus services, is said to be one of the first of its kind in the Kingdom. It was inaugurated on Wednesday by Amr Al-Dabbagh, chairperson of Al-Dabbagh Group, Samir Nawar, managing director of Petromin, and Yasser Abu Ateeq, CEO of Umm Al-Qura.

The bus rapid transit project is designed to have higher capacity and reliability than conventional bus services. (Supplied)

Electromin, a subsidiary of Petromin specializing in energy and mobility solutions, said the new service, which forms part of the Masar Destination mixed-use real estate development project in Makkah, is one the first transport networks of its kind in the country, and represents a significant shift toward a cleaner, more efficient urban transport model.

It operates in dedicated bus lanes, connecting key hubs within Masar and providing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation for residents and visitors, the company added. The network includes two main bus stations and 11 stops along the route connecting them. It has been designed to serve more than 5 million visitors and pilgrims annually, and to be easily accessible to all users.

Operators say the service is designed as a foundation for Makkah’s future transportation system, through its integration with the broader Masar project, which includes pedestrian walkways, more than 5,000 parking spaces, metro services and other urban infrastructure.