JAKARTA: A fast-track clearance for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims — known as the “Makkah Route” — has been opened at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport.
The initiative comes as the first groups of pilgrims left from six Indonesian cities, including the capital.
Indonesian and Saudi officials, including Osama bin Mohammed Al-Shuaibi, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Indonesia, were present at the official launch of the fast-track facility on Tuesday.
Airport operator Angkasa Pura has installed 20 booths to process Hajj pilgrims, with each counter manned by two Saudi immigration officers.
“This is the first time the immigration process has taken place in Jakarta, so they will not have to go through custom clearance on arrival in Saudi Arabia and can go directly to their buses, which will take them to their accommodation, while their luggage will be handled and delivered directly to their respective hotels,” Al-Shuaibi said.
“This is a step to improve our Hajj services. We have introduced it this year at Jakarta, where about 60,000 pilgrims are expected to depart. We will introduce it in four cities next time and eventually we hope to introduce it all Hajj embarkations in Indonesia,” he said.
The envoy said that about 400 pilgrims underwent the fast-track clearance in an hour at the airport on Tuesday.
“We appreciate King Salman’s initiative that makes the pilgrims’ journey much easier. It shows that we have a deep and close relation,” Indonesia’s Minister of Social Affairs, Idrus Marham, said.
Director-General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Nizar Ali, said that 4,486 pilgrims had left from Surakarta, Surabaya, Jakarta, Padang, Makassar and Lombok. Up to 221,000 pilgrims are expected to leave Indonesia this year, with the last departure on Aug. 14.
Garuda, the Indonesian airline, expects to fly as many as 108,000 pilgrims in 280 groups from around the country.
Among the 393 pilgrims who left Jakarta was 91-year-old Mohammad Hasan Saad, from East Jakarta, the oldest person in the group.
Hanif Fakri, a member of the medical staff assisting the group, said this was his second pilgrimage, this time by carrying out the task as a medical officer, after his first Hajj in 2012.
Hanafi bin Dogol, a 50-year-old pilgrim from East Jakarta, told Arab News that he had been on a seven-year waiting list waiting for his chance to go on Hajj.
“I have been practicing and learning the rituals. I hope I can accomplish the pilgrimage in the most favorable manner,” he said.
Fast track to Hajj on Jakarta’s Makkah Route Initiative
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Fast track to Hajj on Jakarta’s Makkah Route Initiative
- A fast-track clearance for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims has been opened at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport
- The initiative comes as the first groups of pilgrims left from six Indonesian cities, including the capital
Harvard students explore Jeddah’s history, culture
- This visit is part of a national initiative organized by Saudi students at Harvard University
Jeddah: The Jeddah Historic District Program of the Ministry of Culture recently hosted a delegation of students from Harvard University, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The students were given a tour of the Jeddah Historic District, known as Al-Balad, highlighting its distinctive architectural, cultural and economic landmarks.
They also participated in activities commemorating World Arabic Language Day, which further enhanced their understanding of the area’s rich heritage.
This visit is part of a national initiative organized by Saudi students at Harvard University to showcase the Kingdom’s cultural and economic development to their peers, the SPA reported.
The Jeddah Historic District Program plays a crucial role in revitalizing the area through community engagement, economic development and sustainable urban planning.
By transforming historic Jeddah into a vibrant environment for living and working, the program aims to establish it as a global heritage and tourist destination.
Saudi project clears 570 Houthi mines in Yemen
Riyadh: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 570 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included two anti-personnel mines, 50 anti-tank mines, 508 unexploded ordnances and 10 explosive devices, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 473,258 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
Riyadh forum explores reading’s role in growth
RIYADH: The Reading Forum, organized by the Libraries Commission, recently concluded at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
The forum featured dialogue sessions and workshops attracting reading and culture enthusiasts, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Discussions covered novels as artistic expressions that reflect culture and history, foster critical thinking, and the role of narration in promoting cross-cultural dialogue.
Participants highlighted reading and research as tools for personal growth, lifelong learning, and effective content creation.
They emphasized the importance of translation in cultural exchange and global copyright, the SPA reported.
Sessions explored instilling a love for reading in youth through collaboration between families, schools and society, as well as leadership in literary trends and the impact of genres on critical thinking.
The event set out to position reading as a foundation of progress, celebrating Saudi, Arab and global literary talent while fostering a culture of knowledge and intellectual growth.
Riyadh festival explores role of theater in shaping intellectual, artistic futures
RIYADH: The Riyadh Theater Festival is hosting a series of cultural discussions and theatrical performances distinguished by intellectual depth and artistic excellence.
Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the festival is being held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University until Dec. 26.
A seminar on contemporary theater in the Arab world explored the intersection of creativity and sustainability, bringing together an elite group of theater thinkers and creators.
One of the festival’s participants, Kamal Al-Alawi from Tunisia, reviewed the evolution of theater, tracing its journey from the Greek era through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the time of Emile Zola, which marked a qualitative shift and revolution in impressionism.
Among the intellectuals and theater experts, Lina Abiad from Lebanon discussed ways to improve theatrical production and modernize it using contemporary methodologies.
The commission’s CEO, Sultan Al-Bazie, described the festival as a cornerstone for advancing theatrical movement in the Kingdom and increasing public awareness of the performing arts.
This year’s event features 20 performances, selected by a committee of experts, reflecting the diversity of theatrical arts in the Kingdom and its intellectual and developmental programs.
The festival underscores the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent, aiming for a strong presence on regional and international stages. It will conclude with a presentation of awards to distinguished performers.
Jeddah Book Fair wraps up with 450,000 books sold
- The event hosted workshops, seminars, panel discussions and book signings led by experts in literature, arts and sports
Jeddah: The Jeddah Book Fair concluded on Saturday, attracting thousands of visitors with local and international booksellers.
Held from Dec. 12-21 under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair featured more than 450 pavilions and showcased works from 1,000 publishing houses across 22 countries.
Mohammed Alwan, CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, said that the fair displayed nearly 400,000 titles, selling more than 450,000 books in various genres.
The event hosted workshops, seminars, panel discussions and book signings led by experts in literature, arts and sports.
A dedicated children’s section featured animation, educational books and advanced learning tools.
One pavilion highlighted the cultural significance of camels, using modern technology to explore their history, types, and related poetry.
Arabic manga publications targeting youth were also a key attraction, alongside interactive displays and models of famous characters, offering a blend of entertainment and education.
