JEDDAH: The name of the forthcoming edition of the Emirates International Hot Air Balloons Festival will be changed to the King Salman International Hot Air Balloons Festival, Balloon Adventures Emirates has announced. The festival’s 13th edition will take place during November and December.
More than 100 team members from 15 Arab and foreign countries will take part in the festival, which has been an annual event since 2006.
The head of Balloon Adventures Emirates, Capt. Abdul Aziz Nasser Al-Mansouri, highlighted the Emirati and Arab youths’ pride in naming the next edition of the festival after King Salman.
“This festival is the first of its kind in the region. It is held in all the emirates of the UAE and is witnessing large international participation and media coverage.”
Capt. Hassan Nasser Al-Mansouri, secretary-general of Balloon Adventures Emirates, stressed the UAE’s keenness to host the major international tournaments and activities in all fields and at all times, such as the King Salman International Hot Air Balloons Festival.
“This year’s festival will see the launching of the Balloon of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques and ‘The world will not forget you Zayed’ Balloon, which honors the late founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan.
“It will also include balloons dedicated to President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, his vice president and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Sharjah’s ruler Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, and a number of balloons dedicated to international figures,” he added.
UAE’s hot air balloon festival named after Saudi Arabia’s King Salman
UAE’s hot air balloon festival named after Saudi Arabia’s King Salman
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.
Advanced tech enhances Hajj crowd management
- Tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency
ARAFAT: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, is using high-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial artificial intelligence and real-time data during the Hajj season.
These tools help monitor and analyze human and vehicular movement to enhance crowd management efficiency, with the analysis covering entry points to Makkah to observe vehicle flow and peak times.
They also track crowd density around the Grand Mosque and analyze pilgrimage routes to predict mobility patterns and congestion, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The technology supports immediate decision-making by providing accurate data and improving crowd distribution. It also ensures safe mobility and enhances coordination among operational teams on the ground.
The collaboration presents an advanced model for using geospatial technologies, helping improve safety and increase field operation efficiency during Hajj.
How Ihram clothing is tailored and designed for Hajj
- Ihram represents spiritual purity and equality of pilgrimage
- New technologies introduce Ihram with anti-bacterial properties
RIYADH: During Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, Muslim men wear Ihram — simple attire representing purity and equality.
Ihram is made of two white unstitched pieces of fabric. One, the Izar, is wrapped around the waist while the other, the Rida’, covers the shoulders.
“Ihram is worn by men during Hajj and Umrah, and it is always unstitched and white,” Abdullah Al-Ahmad, who owns a menswear store in Riyadh, said.
“(It) usually consists of two pieces, a lower piece and an upper piece, and the most popular types of Ihram in the market are those made of elastic, and those tied around the belt. People usually prefer cotton, especially Egyptian cotton, for its high quality; also because cotton is softer on the skin and does not absorb heat.”
Hamad Al-Yami, a Saudi inventor in nanotechnology and member of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, talked to Arab News about his nano-silver technology Ihram.
“The idea originated while I was working at the Saudi Ministry of Health, where I noticed the need for antibacterial medical clothing,” he explained.
“The concept later evolved to include Ihram clothing after studying the challenges pilgrims face, such as the spread of infection in crowded conditions, wearing Ihram for a long period of time, sometimes for days at a time, and the limited effectiveness of traditional fabrics.”
He added he was inspired by the historical use of silver for sterilization and developed a technique using silver nanoparticles, each about one-millionth of a millimeter, to sterilize cotton fabric. The primary purpose of his invention was to reduce infection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Along with his antibacterial clothing, he has future plans to work on recycled Ihrams and turn them into eco-friendly products like bags or pillows that could be used in mosques.
While men wear Ihram, women have more flexibility when it comes to clothing choices during Hajj, although modesty is still a requirement when choosing fabric and colors.
Due to the hot weather in the Makkah region, most women prefer lightweight, breathable materials such as cotton and linen.
“There are no specific clothes for women. Any texture, any color, as long as it is not decorated and is socially appropriate for Hajj. It should be modest and mostly white or beige,” said pilgrim Afnan Al-Harbi.
“I used to wear white because it was hot and sunny in Makkah and the color is cooler a little bit. We also don’t wear perfumes, we don’t cover our faces, and we don’t wear gloves. Still, a lot of pilgrims at the time were wearing black abayas.”
Wearing the Ihram is not a fashion choice. It indicates a state of spiritual readiness to submit to God and clear the mind and body of all negativity, so that Hajj can be begun with a positive mindset.
Saudi crown prince, Iranian President hold Eid Al-Adha call
- President Pezeshkian thanked the Kingdom for its efforts and distinguished services provided to pilgrims
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, President Pezeshkian thanked the Kingdom for its efforts and distinguished services provided to pilgrims.
He also extended Eid greetings to the Crown Prince, who in turn offered his congratulations on the blessed occasion.
Saudi authorities pump nearly 1 million cubic meters of water to serve Hajj pilgrims
- Saudi Water Authority said that providing water to pilgrims was one of its continuous tasks during the Hajj season
- National Water Company pumped more than 980,633 cubic meters of water to key holy sites in Makkah and Madinah
MAKKAH: Saudi water authorities have provided nearly a million cubic meters of water to serve the 1.4 million Muslim pilgrims participating in the Hajj since Wednesday.
The National Water Company said that it pumped more than 980,633 cubic meters of water to key holy sites visited by pilgrims, including Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Mount Arafat and Muzdalifah.
The Saudi Water Authority, a government body overseeing water operations in the Kingdom, said that providing water to pilgrims was one of its 24-hour continuous tasks during the Hajj season.
On Thursday, it presented its comprehensive water supply chain plan, which begins with seawater desalination, undergoes transportation and treatment, and ends with distribution, reuse and irrigation.
An interactive presentation, “The Story of Water in Hajj,” was shown in numerous languages at the Hajj Media Hub, an integrated media center supporting journalists covering Hajj, in the Makkah Chamber Exhibition and Events Center.
It showcased advanced technologies for water desalination, storage, transportation and treatment, along with smart operations and sustainability solutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
