FaceOf: Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, director-general of the Center for Government Communication
Updated 20 August 2018
Arab News
Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth has been director-general of the Center for Government Communication (@cgcsaudi) since his appointment by Awwad Al-Awwad, the minister of media, in January 2018.
He has praised the efforts of the Ministry of Media to broadcast Hajj rituals from Makkah and other holy sites through channels on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The initiative was the ministry’s gift to Muslims across the world, supervised by the minister of media, he said.
Al-Maghlouth said that the ministry made sure the channels were transmitted in several languages to meet pilgrims’ requirements.
Al-Maghlouth was born in July 1978 in Al-Ahsa. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Weber State University, Utah, and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado.
He also received the Prince Bandar bin Sultan Award for Scientific Excellence. He received his Ph.D. in media in Manchester.
Al-Maghlouth writes a weekly column in Al-Watan Saudi Arabia, focusing on social and cultural issues.
He had been a Saudi Aramco employee since October 2005 and previously chaired the company’s media relations unit in 2006.
In November 2007, he chaired the information committee at the third OPEC summit. He also chaired the committee at the Jeddah energy meeting in May 2008.
He was on an exchange project with KAUST in 2008 before pursuing his Ph.D. He worked at several Arab and Saudi newspapers and magazines such as Al-Youm, Al-Hayat, Al-Watan, Elaf, Al-Kafila, Forbes and Terhal.
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief continues food aid to world’s needy
Updated 8 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has provided 2,339 food parcels to vulnerable people in the Syrian Arab Republic and Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Syrians in Aleppo received 1,339 parcels, while in Sudan’s Blue Nile State 1,000 were delivered for 4,686 people, the report added.
Saudi Arabia continues to provide much-needed aid to communities in crisis across the world, the SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia congratulates Bahrain on election to UN Security Council
Bahrain will begin its 2-year term as a nonpermanent member of the council on Jan. 1, 2026
It was elected alongside Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia
Updated 04 June 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi authorities congratulated Bahrain on Tuesday after the nation was elected to serve as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2026-2027.
The election of the country “confirms the international community’s confidence in Bahrain’s ability to contribute effectively to strengthening international peace and security,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
The Kingdom wished Bahrain success in representing the interests of the Arab group of nations within the UN and in carrying out its duties as a member of the council.
Bahrain was elected alongside Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia, all of which will serve two-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The 15-member Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, consists of five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the UK and the US — plus 10 nonpermanent members elected by the General Assembly to serve staggered, two-year terms. Bahrain and the other newly elected nations will therefore join five existing nonpermanent members whose terms conclude at the end of 2026: Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia.
What is the Hajj pilgrimage and what is Eid Al-Adha? Why are they significant for Muslims?
Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia and involves a series of religious rituals
It is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and fasting
Updated 03 June 2025
AP
Once a year, large numbers of Muslim pilgrims converging on Saudi Arabia unite in religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam. They fulfill a religious obligation, immersing themselves in what can be a spiritual experience of a lifetime for them and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.
Here’s a look at the pilgrimage and its significance to Muslims. What is the Hajj?
The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia and involves a series of religious rituals. It’s required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Some Muslims make the journey more than once.
It is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. When is the Hajj?
The Hajj occurs once a year during the lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar year. This year, the Hajj will start on June 4.
When the Hajj falls during the summer months, the intense heat can be especially challenging. Amid extremely high temperatures last year, more than 1,300 people died during the Hajj, Saudi authorities announced then. The country’s health minister said at the time that the vast majority of the fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances under the sun.
Muslim worshippers walk on the streets in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, June 2, 2025. (AFP)
What's the significance of the Hajj to Muslims?
For pilgrims, performing the Hajj fulfills a religious obligation and is also a deeply spiritual experience. It’s seen as a chance to seek God’s forgiveness for past sins, to grow closer to God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets.
Communally, the Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages, and economic classes from around the world in performing religious rituals and acts of worshipping God at the same time and place. This leaves many feeling a sense of unity, connection, humility, and equality. Pilgrims also show up with their own personal appeals, wishes and experiences.
Many pilgrims bring with them prayer requests from family and friends that they would like to be said on their behalf.
Some spend years hoping and praying to one day perform the Hajj, or save up money and wait for a permit to embark on the trip.
Ahead of the journey, preparations may include packing various essentials for the physically demanding trip, seeking tips from those who’ve performed the pilgrimage before, attending lectures or consulting other educational material on how to properly perform a series of Hajj rituals as well as spiritually preparing oneself.
A Muslim pilgrim prays overlooking the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Makkah before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, June 2, 2025. (AFP)
What are some of the rituals that pilgrims perform?
Pilgrims make the intention to perform the Hajj, and they enter a state of “ihram.” Being in ihram includes abiding by certain rules and prohibitions. For instance, men are not to wear regular sewn or stitched clothes that encircle the body, such as shirts, during ihram. Instead, there are simple ihram cloth garments for men; scholars say the purpose is to discard luxuries and vanity, shed worldly status symbols and immerse the pilgrim in humility and devotion to God.
A spiritual highlight of the Hajj for many is standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for forgiveness and make supplications. Many raise their hands in worship with tears streaming down their faces.
Other rituals include performing “tawaf,” circumambulating, or circling the Kaaba in Makkah counterclockwise seven times. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure, is the focal point toward which Muslims face during their daily prayers from anywhere in the world.
Among other rituals, pilgrims also retrace the path of Hagar, or Hajjar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, who Muslims believe ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her son. What is Eid Al-Adha?
Eid Al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is the Islamic holiday that begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the Hajj.
A joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid Al-Adha marks Ibrahim’s test of faith and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. During the festive holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some meat to poor people.
Saudi Ministry of Defense deploys evacuation aircraft to safeguard pilgrims’ health during Hajj
The ministry will provide advanced ambulance services for transferring emergency patients from Hajj destinations
Its logistical and medical teams will oversee aerial evacuations in coordination with the Ministry of Health
Updated 03 June 2025
Arab News
MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Defense will deploy a fleet of aerial evacuation aircraft to respond to emergency medical cases during this year’s Hajj season, set to start on June 4.
The ministry will provide advanced ambulance services for transferring emergency health cases from Hajj destinations to hospitals inside and outside Makkah.
An estimated 1.25 million Muslims are taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage, and between June 4-9, they will visit Makkah as well as Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat, key holy sites for pilgrims.
The ministry’s logistical and medical teams will oversee aerial evacuation operations in coordination with the Ministry of Health. Each aircraft is equipped with devices and supplies similar to a hospital’s intensive care units, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Stationed at locations near the holy sites, the aircraft will quickly respond to emergency cases to safeguard the health of pilgrims. The ministry’s announcement is part of broader health initiatives launched by Saudi authorities and companies during the Hajj season.
On Monday, Saudi authorities announced the use of drones to deliver medicines and other medical supplies to patients during Hajj, cutting delivery times from an average of one hour to just six minutes.
The initiative, covering a network of more than 136 locations at several sites, will be able to provide more than 2,000 types of medicines and other medical supplies.
Smart Hajj: How authorities are preparing for crowd control
Safeguarding pilgrims and managing their movement takes careful planning
Updated 03 June 2025
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Each year, the eyes of the world turn to Makkah, where millions of pilgrims from a range of nationalities, ethnicities and cultures gather in a remarkable spiritual gathering that symbolizes the unity of Islam.
In this vast diversity and sheer scale, the foremost challenge lies in managing the movement of crowds in a brief timeframe and a geographically constrained area encompassing the Grand Mosque and the Holy Sites.
Alhough Hajj is, at its core, an act of worship, safeguarding pilgrims and managing their movements requires meticulous planning, technical precision, and close coordination between security, health, service and technology organizations.
The movement of crowds in Makkah and the Holy Sites is managed by a centralized, data-driven strategy that relies on real-time inputs from surveillance cameras, aerial monitoring and location-tracking applications. (SPA)
Preparations for this year’s season underscored Saudi Arabia’s ability to integrate advanced technologies, institutional expertise, and forward-thinking initiatives to successfully orchestrate one of the most complex logistical operations in the world.
The movement of crowds in Makkah and the Holy Sites is managed by a centralized, data-driven strategy that relies on real-time inputs from surveillance cameras, aerial monitoring and location-tracking applications.
This integrated approach allows authorities to respond effectively to emergencies, proactively reroute pedestrian flow, anticipate congestion points and guide pilgrims with precision, ensuring the seamless and dignified continuation of rituals at every stage.
Coordinating the movement of over 2 million pilgrims in such a densely concentrated setting is a remarkable global accomplishment by any standard.
Akram Jan, Crowd management expert
Crowd management expert Akram Jan spoke to Arab News about the efforts that went into organizing the Hajj season.
“Coordinating the movement of over two million pilgrims in such a densely concentrated setting is a remarkable global accomplishment by any standard,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, he said, has become a global leader in crowd management, offering valuable insights for other countries.
Crowd control for the pilgrimage includes carefully calibrated timetables, which significantly reduce congestion and enhance overall safety.
He said that such crowd control is achievable only through high-level inter-agency coordination, intensive field team training, and the ability to respond swiftly to changing conditions on the ground.
Hotelier Mohammed Hakim spoke to Arab News about how the Kingdom’s Hajj and Umrah preparations have progressed over the years.
These changes have redefined the sector, shifting it from a seasonal service model to a comprehensive, year-round industry.
He said: “It is now evident that the experience of pilgrims extends far beyond the performance of rituals; it has evolved into a comprehensive, well-orchestrated journey that meets the highest standards of service and excellence.”
“We are now in the era of ‘Smart Hajj,’ where crowds are managed through applications, meals are distributed via digital platforms, and the quality of camps and accommodations is continuously monitored through real-time sensors and data analysis,” he added.
“Pilgrim satisfaction is measured from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until their departure, all with an unprecedented level of digital transparency.
“We are entering a new era for Hajj and Umrah — one that transcends boundaries and is no longer confined to specific seasons. It is driven by a vision of continuous growth, institutional integration, and human empowerment, moving toward a values-driven economy rooted in a deep commitment to renewal and progress.”
