RIYADH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has described the movement of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat during the current Haj season as unprecedented.
Speaking on Saudi TV Channel 1, Prince Khaled said the Kingdom is providing quality services to Haj and Umrah pilgrims, “which has stirred the envy of its enemies.”
He said the requirement that pilgrims wear electronic wristbands is part of a comprehensive plan for Makkah and holy sites during the Haj season, a plan that will see Makkah changed into a smart city.
Resorting to electronics to control the flow and movement of pilgrims is in line with the leadership’s directives and befitting a smart city, he said.
He called on those who performed Haj to give the chance to those who have not yet performed it, because Islam, he said, only ordered that Haj be performed only once in a lifetime for those who can afford it physically and financially.
The Makkah governor said the number of illegal pilgrims has dropped to 5 percent, compared to 9 percent and 70 percent in 1436 and 1435 pilgrimage seasons, respectively.
He attributed the drop in illegal pilgrims to the success of the regulatory plans and the penalties announced in case of violators.
He said fraud, deception and breaking systems contradict Islamic ethics, and citizens and foreign residents alike should behave accordingly.
“Those who do not respect themselves do not respect the system, so why should we respect them,” he asked referring to those who resort to fraud in an attempt to perform Haj.
Referring to the movement of pilgrims on Arafat Day, the ascension of all pilgrims to Mina and then to Mount Arafat, the Makkah governor termed it as unprecedented in terms of ease and flow of movement.
He has commended the great efforts exerted by those working to serve the pilgrims, and the role of Saudi youth in the service of Hajis.
Prince Khaled stressed that “all services provided by Saudi Arabia to pilgrims are part of our duty, especially as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is paying great attention to serving the pilgrims.”
Makkah governor lauds smooth flow of Hajis
Makkah governor lauds smooth flow of Hajis
Princess Reema’s Wave unveils ocean regeneration platform
- Upgraded platform provides deeper, more comprehensive data on the state of the world’s oceans and the impact of human activity
- Features an enhanced user experience, including an integrated tool powered by artificial intelligence
JEDDAH: Wave, powered by the Future Investment Initiative Institute and founded by Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, has unveiled version 2.0 of its Ocean Central data platform, oceancentral.org.
The upgraded platform provides deeper, more comprehensive data on the state of the world’s oceans and the impact of human activity.
It features an enhanced user experience, including an integrated tool powered by artificial intelligence, to guide users through queries and analysis. A new ocean news section also offers English-language summaries of the latest ocean-related developments and reports from around the world.
“The evolution of Ocean Central moves us a step closer to our collective goal of ‘Ocean Regeneration within a Human Generation’,” said Princess Reema.
“The future of our oceans depends on advances in accurate data, allocating resources more strategically and making informed decisions that protect marine environments, and Ocean Central plays an important role in enabling us to focus efforts.”
The enhanced platform will be on show at the 13th annual World Ocean Summit, organized by Economist Impact, which takes place in Montreal from March 4-5. The event brings together international government ministers, policymakers, investors and business leaders from sectors including shipping, energy and tourism.
The platform integrates global targets from the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. It monitors progress towards these goals, highlights successful initiatives and identifies critical knowledge gaps.
Wave is a collective action platform dedicated to restoring a thriving ocean by 2050. Powered by the Future Investment Initiative Institute, it delivers targeted interventions across four pillars — engagement, insights, sectoral activation and innovation — to advance ocean regeneration.
