Many citizens attribute the recent shortage of cement and 20 percent hike in its price to a new expatriate fees ordered by the Ministry of Labor.
There has been no arrival of cement to the Jeddah market for the last three days triggering a severe shortage of the material, which is highly in demand because of the boom in construction projects in the city. Now a bag of cement sells for SR18 as against SR 15 last week.
“The disappearance of cement from the market is a ploy of expatriate workers to find money to pay for the recent hike in expatriate fees to SR 2,400. In fact the commodity is available but only in the black market at a higher rate,” said Abdullah Al-Shahri, a Saudi who urgently needed cement to finish the construction of an apartment building.
He said he has the evidence to buttress his charge that the crisis is artificially created because he bought a truckload from a driver who offered to supply him the required quantity of cement on condition that he should pay a higher price and that the delivery would be made under the cover of darkness.
Another Saudi buyer in the market, Saleh Al-Ghamdi, agreed with Al-Shahri’s view but added that the rising price was expected as prices of most other goods have gone up following the increase of the expatriate fees.
“It is the common citizen who suffers the consequences of the ministry’s increased expatriate fees,” he said, adding that the manufacturing companies would never bear the burden of the new fees but pass on to the consumers who have already started sensing it in the market.
On the other hand, Chairman of the Contractors’ Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Ridwan did not believe that there was any connection between the recent rise in expatriate fees and the current spurt in prices.
“The cement shortage is because of the higher demand and lower supply of the commodity in the market. Trucks have been waiting for load cement at factory gates for several days,” he said.
A source at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the latest cement crisis in Jeddah is because some production lines of a company that used to supply to the Jeddah market have been closed.
The source added that the ministry demanded cement companies to increase production and supply the needs of Jeddah while the ministry is monitoring the market and arresting black marketers.
According to company sources, the shortage in the market would be short and caused by the time gap between the manufacturing at the factory and delivery in the market.
Cement salesmen in Jeddah said the interruption in the cement supply was because of a disagreement between workers and company managers.
Cement shortage sparks speculation
Cement shortage sparks speculation
From Arafat to Muzdalifah, pilgrims continue their sacred journey
- As the sun set over Mount Arafat, signaling the end of the day’s rituals, pilgrims began leaving en masse for Muzdalifah, a holy site nestled between Arafat and Mina
- Travel from Arafat to Muzdalifah was achieved by using a vast fleet of buses operating on a phased schedule
RIYADH: On Thursday, corresponding to Dul Hijjah 9, more than 1.67 million pilgrims gathered on the plain of Arafat, marking the spiritual apex of the Hajj pilgrimage.
From early morning, the atmosphere in Arafat was one of intense devotion, with worshippers praying, reciting the Qur’an, and raising their hands in supplication.
The Day of Arafat, considered the most sacred in the Islamic calendar, is the heart of the Hajj journey.
As the sun set over Mount Arafat, signaling the end of the day’s rituals, pilgrims began leaving en masse for Muzdalifah, a holy site nestled between Arafat and Mina.
The move to Muzdalifah is an integral part of Hajj, combining logistical coordination with spiritual significance.
This leg of the journey is tightly choreographed by Saudi authorities to ensure safe and efficient travel despite the enormous scale of the operation.
According to the General Authority for Statistics, 1,673,230 pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, with 1,506,576 of them from outside the Kingdom.
The number of domestic pilgrims is 166,654, including citizens and residents.
Managing the movement of such large numbers requires seamless coordination between several agencies, including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Interior, and the Transport General Authority.
Travel from Arafat to Muzdalifah was achieved by using a vast fleet of buses operating on a phased schedule. Additionally, the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro, a railway system built exclusively for Hajj, played a major role in easing congestion.
The nine-station metro can transport up to 72,000 pilgrims an hour in one direction, operating on a circular loop connecting Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
Authorities also used smart surveillance systems, drones, and real-time data to monitor crowd movement and prevent bottlenecks.
Volunteers and security personnel were stationed at checkpoints to guide pilgrims and ensure safety during this critical transition.
Upon arrival in Muzdalifah, pilgrims performed the Maghrib and Isha prayers — traditionally shortened and combined — before beginning another key ritual: collecting 49 pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat site in Mina.
Many pilgrims chose to rest or sleep under the open sky, emulating Prophet Muhammad’s practice during his farewell pilgrimage. Although logistically smaller than other holy sites, Muzdalifah was fully equipped with ample lighting, shaded rest areas, water stations, and mobile medical units.
The Ministry of Health deployed more than 120 ambulances and several field hospitals at Arafat and Muzdalifah, supported by thousands of medical staff to respond to heat stress, dehydration, or urgent health issues.
Mobile clinics were also stationed at key points to assist elderly and vulnerable pilgrims.
These logistical and health measures reflect Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to improving the Hajj experience under Vision 2030.
Through a blend of faith, planning, and technology, this year’s Hajj continues to evolve into a model of safety, efficiency, and spiritual focus for millions of Muslims worldwide.
Tough security ensures safe, smooth Hajj
- The Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational plan to ensure a safe and smooth 2025 Hajj season
ARAFAT: Saudi Arabia has intensified the enforcement of Hajj permit regulations this year, barring individuals without official permits from entering Makkah to ensure that authorized pilgrims can fully benefit from the Kingdom’s services and facilities.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that security forces had been deployed across all key access points to Makkah to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the city in the days leading up to Hajj. The intensified measures come in response to longstanding concerns over the strain placed on infrastructure and essential services by unauthorized pilgrims.
The Ministry of Interior outlined a comprehensive security and organizational plan to ensure a safe and smooth 2025 Hajj season.
By ensuring that only authorized individuals enter Makkah during the Hajj season, the Kingdom aims to maintain public health, optimize crowd control and uphold the spiritual integrity of the pilgrimage.
In a recent press conference, held ahead of Hajj, the Kingdom detailed preparations aligned with the directives of Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud. The strategy covers public safety, crowd and traffic control, and emergency responses throughout the pilgrims’ journey.
Authorities reported the dismantling of 252 fake Hajj campaigns, the arrest of 1,239 illegal transporters, and the return of 269,678 non-residents of Makkah, 75,943 unauthorized pilgrims and 109,632 vehicles. An additional 11,610 individuals were found violating residency, labor and border laws.
The move is part of a broader effort by authorities to safeguard the sanctity of the pilgrimage and ensure the safety and comfort of registered pilgrims.
The MoI has repeatedly said that individuals caught attempting to perform Hajj with no valid Hajj permit will face a fine of SR20,000 (more than $5,300), with enforcement in effect from April 29 to June 10.
The ministry warned that foreign nationals found in violation would, in addition to the financial penalty, be deported to their home countries and barred from re-entering the Kingdom for ten years.
The ministry also confirmed that a financial penalty of up to SR100,000 would be imposed on anyone who transported holders of visit visas or attempted to transport them with the intent of bringing them to the city of Makkah or the holy sites during the same period.
The ministry added it would request the competent court to confiscate any land transport vehicle proven to have been used for this purpose if owned by the transporter, an accomplice or any party found to be involved.
In previous years, emergency rooms in Makkah hospitals were often overwhelmed with medical cases involving individuals who entered the city without valid Hajj permits. Many lacked access to official accommodation and transportation, resulting in overcrowding not only in emergency facilities but also in the Grand Mosque and the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat — areas whose capacity is topographically constrained.
Pilgrims have voiced their support for the tightened rules. In previous seasons, illegal pilgrims strained logistical operations, including food distribution, transportation schedules and accommodation management.
Indian couple Altaf Hussein and his wife Farhana told Arab News that they were pleased with the running of this year’s Hajj.
“I am happy with their management,” Hussein said. Farhana added that it was her first time performing Hajj and that it was unlike what she had heard about.
“From day one in Makkah, I am so happy and thankful to Allah the Almighty, and may Allah keep the two holy mosques’ management prosper,” she said.
Marwa Al-Said, an Egyptian pilgrim, said that this year’s Hajj felt “especially exceptional” with unauthorized pilgrims barred from entering Makkah.
“I would like to thank you all. The arrangements you are applying this year are truly different,” she said. “I feel comfortable — there is no hardship, no fear and none of the worries we usually hear about during Hajj. It is, seriously speaking, real security.”
According to an official at Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital in Arafat, the one-day facility — which in previous years typically received hundreds of patients during the Hajj season — had recorded only two emergency cases as of 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Saudi, Islamic leaders exchange Eid Al-Adha greetings
- King, crown prince receive telegrams, calls from around Arab world
- Four-day festival begins on Friday
RIYADH: The leadership of Saudi Arabia on Thursday received telegrams from the heads of several Islamic countries on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent their own goodwill messages, wishing Islamic leaders progress and prosperity for the festival.
The crown prince on Thursday also received a telephone call from Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Muslims worldwide will begin the four-day celebration of Eid Al-Adha on Friday. The holiday occurs in the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar and coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, where 1.4 million pilgrims this week began their rituals.
Pilgrims commend Saudi Arabia’s care, organization
- This year, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program is hosting in excess of 2,400 pilgrims from more than 100 countries
ARAFAT: Several guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah expressed deep emotions as they stood on the plains of Arafat, saying that chanting the Talbiyah and supplicating were among the most profound moments of their lives.
They praised the generous care they received from their arrival in the Kingdom until reaching the holy sites, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Pilgrim Mohammed Amer, from New Zealand, said: “Arafat Day is extraordinary in every detail; a moment of serenity and peace. I never imagined experiencing it with such honor, organization and care.”
He commended the Kingdom and its leadership for facilitating the rituals and ensuring every pilgrim’s comfort, the SPA reported.
Pilgrim Sameh Abu Baker, from Palestine, appreciated the services and exceptional organization of pilgrim movement.
He said: “The emotions on this great day are indescribable. Joy fills our hearts as we see pilgrims responding in unison. These moments will remain etched in memory.”
This year, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program is hosting in excess of 2,400 pilgrims from more than 100 countries, reinforcing the Kingdom’s global mission to serve the two holy mosques and pilgrims.
Celebrities join millions on a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Hajj journey
- Many celebrities join millions of Muslims worldwide traveling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj
RIYADH: Every year, many celebrities join millions of Muslims worldwide traveling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj — a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey for affluent Muslims. This year is no different.
Among those performing Hajj this year are Zimbabwean motivational speaker and Islamic scholar Ismail ibn Musa Menk, known as Mufti Menk; internationally famed South African chef Hamzah Saeed; Egyptian singer and composer Ahmed Saad; and Pakistani actor Malik Aqeel.
Menk posted on X: “As I embark on my journey for the Hajj after 24 years, I seek the forgiveness of Allah for my shortcomings and ask you to forgive me too. Hajj is meant to purify us and wipe away our sins. May Allah make me a better person, closer to Him and worthy of His Mercy! Aameen.”
In another post, he said: “Almighty. Grant us the strength to give up something for Your sake. Help us understand the true meaning of sacrifice. May we achieve the benefits of these ten days & may You accept the sincere efforts of those making Hajj.”
Saeed also expressed his anticipation on Instagram, seeking forgiveness and hoping Allah accepts his prayers and guides him on this blessed journey, one of Islam’s five pillars.
Quoting Qur’an 2:158, he wrote: “Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are symbols of Allah. Whoever performs Hajj or Umrah will find no sin in walking between the two. May Allah accept and bring everyone to His House, the Kaaba.”
Shaykh Sulaimaan M. Ravat, a distinguished South African scholar, shared Hajj snapshots on X, including an emotional conversation with Saeed during his first visit to the holy cities.
“I am the first person from my family to visit Haramain,” Saeed said.
On Instagram, he celebrity chef posted a video from Madinah: “Words can’t describe having experienced and seeing all historical places and to learn stories about them with learned scholars one on one, stay tuned as will be taking you on Mount Uhud journey.”
In an emotional post on X, Egyptian singer Saad shared a video from the Grand Mosque reciting the Qur’an.
Pakistani Cinema, a popular TikTok page, shared a clip of Aqeel in Saudi Arabia performing Hajj, reciting a beautiful na’at — poetry praising Prophet Muhammad.
