Quba: Islam’s first mosque to expand tenfold, says crown prince

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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prays inside Quba Mosque in Madinah. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting the prophet’s grave. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. (SPA)
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The crown prince was accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Salman, right. (SPA
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. (SPA)
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Updated 08 April 2022
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Quba: Islam’s first mosque to expand tenfold, says crown prince

  • New capacity for 66,000 worshippers, as part of plan to restore 130 ancient mosques
  • About 57 sites, including wells, farms and orchards, are to be revitalized under the King Salman development project

MAKKAH/JEDDAH: Madinah’s Quba Mosque, the first place of worship built by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), will increase tenfold in size, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced. 

In 2018, the crown prince ordered the restoration of 130 historical mosques, which forms part of the government’s national revitalization program.

The crown prince believes in the importance of these ancient mosques, for their rich religious, social, cultural and architectural significance.

The structure will undergo the largest development in its history, expanding to 50,000 square meters.

Named after King Salman, the project aims to increase the mosque’s capacity to 66,000 worshipers.

Its current praying area is 5,000 square meters, with the building and facilities taking up 13,500 square meters. It has a total capacity for 20,000 worshipers.

The crown prince said the plan would ensure the mosque can cater for large numbers of worshipers during peak seasons.

It will preserve the architectural style of the mosque and other monuments close to it.

Shaded courtyards will be constructed on four sides, which will connect to prayer areas that are not structurally attached to the current building.

The crown prince said the revitalization would heighten the devotional and cultural experience for visitors.

It would further solve overcrowding and enhance the safety of worshipers. In addition, the road system would be revamped to provide easier access to the mosque.

As many as 57 sites, including wells, farms and orchards, are to be developed or rehabilitated as part of the project.

The crown prince praised King Salman for his commitment to these preservation initiatives, which forms part of the goals and objectives of Vision 2030.

During his visit to Madinah, the crown prince prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque, including at the Rawdah, an area between the Sacred Chamber (known as the Prophet’s house), and the Prophet’s minbar (or pulpit).

He was accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Salman, governor of Madinah, and several senior officials.

He also visited and prayed at Quba Mosque.

At Taiba Palace in Madinah later, the crown prince met with prominent scholars and leaders, and a group of citizens who came to greet him.

Quba Mosque is located 5 kilometers south of the Prophet’s Mosque. It was the first place of worship in the history of Islam, and constructed in 1 A.H. (622 A.D).

It is believed that Prophet Mohammed used to frequently pray in Quba Mosque, especially on Saturdays. He also urged his companions to do so.

There is a Hadith about the mosque, with the Prophet reported to have said: “Whoever makes ablutions in this house and offers one prayer therein, will be rewarded the equivalent of one Umrah.” This is why the mosque remains of considerable religious and historical importance to Muslims.

The mosque was renovated during the eras of both caliphs Othman bin Affan and Omar ibn Al-Khattab. The latter was the first to add a minaret to the structure.

A number of benefactors over the years have renovated the mosque, including in 1057, 1177, 1293, 1355, 1462 and 1503. This includes several times during the Ottoman era, the last of which was during the reign of Sultan Abdul Majid.

During the Saudi era, Quba Mosque, along with other houses of worship, were regularly revitalized. In 1968, its northern side was expanded, and then in 1985 King Fahd ordered several enlargements, while maintaining the building’s historically significant architectural features.

Abdul Haq Al-Uqbi, an architect who specializes in mosque architecture in Madinah, welcomed the King Salman development project, which he said would not only increase the capacity for worshipers but also ensure that its cultural and religious significance would be enhanced.

An additional positive element was that the entire Quba complex and surrounding area would be revitalized. This forms part of the “exceptional” urban regeneration program that the government has embarked on throughout the country. Many visitors would now be able to learn more about the 57 historically significant locations around the mosque, he said.

Dr. Hamza Al-Muzaini, a writer and academic, agreed that the expansion was of considerable social and cultural importance, and was fitting for the city of Madinah, which is a center of such symbolism and history for Muslims around the globe.

He added that residents of Madinah would be able to comfortably attend prayers in the mosque during Hajj and Eid Al-Fitr, when there is normally an increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the city.


New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve 

Updated 14 January 2025
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New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve 

  • Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve

RIYADH: A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled the first detailed list of reptile species in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Conducted by the reserve’s development authority, the study was published in the Amphibian & Reptiles Conservation journal.

Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve. Three species were also newly documented, raising the reserve’s known total to 34.

The research highlighted two endangered species, the Egyptian monitor lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) and the Wolfgangboehmei gecko (Tropicolotes wolfgangboehmei), which both face threats from climate change and human activity, according to the study.

Spanning from November 2022 to October 2023, the study employed tools such as genetic barcoding and highlighted the reserve’s ecological diversity.

Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program and the Saudi Green Initiative, the study is part of efforts to protect endangered species and sustain wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Researchers recommended enhanced monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.


Saudi aid center provides prosthetic services in Yemen

Updated 15 January 2025
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Saudi aid center provides prosthetic services in Yemen

  • Sixty-five percent of the beneficiaries were male and 35 percent were female, while 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent were local residents

RIYADH: Hundreds of Yemenis who lost limbs in the country’s civil war were given services through a Saudi-backed medical center in Aden Governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

With the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center provided 452 people with various services, including fitting, and rehabbing prosthetic limbs.

Sixty-five percent of the beneficiaries were male and 35 percent were female, while 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent were local residents, the report said.

A key objective of the project is to improve the capabilities of the health sector and alleviate the suffering of Yemenis through the Kingdom’s humanitarian arm, KSrelief.

 


Gulf Print and Pack expo debuts in Saudi Arabia

Updated 14 January 2025
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Gulf Print and Pack expo debuts in Saudi Arabia

  • Event aligns with Kingdom’s goal of replacing imports with domestic production

RIYADH: Gulf Print and Pack 2025 debuted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, highlighting the latest technologies, innovations and sustainable solutions from over 150 exhibitors.

The event is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the region’s printing and packaging industries while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The focus on digital technologies as a key theme for the event, emphasizing their transformative potential for the industry. (AN photo by Ghadi Joudah)

Event director Barry Killengrey told Arab News that hosting GPP in Saudi Arabia was a long-standing aspiration for the organizers. He said its expansion was made possible by a partnership with Informa Tahaluf, a company with a local presence.

“The GPP event in Dubai runs every two years, so this was a timely fashion where we could effectively have one event each year,” he said. “So 2025 was a focus on Saudi Arabia, especially as it aligns with the country’s goal to replace imports with domestic production.”

Gulf Print and Pack’s debut event in Riyadh is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the region’s printing and packaging industries while aligning with Saudi vision 2030 goals. (AN photo by Ghadi Joudah)

The event seeks to encourage collaboration and innovation within the commercial printing and packaging sectors, particularly in developing markets like Saudi Arabia. Killengrey said it created vast opportunities across the printing and packaging spectrum.

“In such markets, industries are more fluid compared to the highly specialized and consolidated markets in developed regions,” he explained, adding that commercial printers might move into packaging, and packaging converters might also have a commercial print business.

This isn’t just about showcasing technology. It’s about creating opportunities, driving growth and shaping the future of an industry that is vital to the region’s economic development.

Barry Killengrey, Gulf Print and Pack 2025 event director

“These industries are highly entrepreneurial and tend to seize faster-growing opportunities,” he said.

Barry Killengrey, Gulf Print and Pack 2025 event director

Killengrey also highlighted the crossover between packaging machinery and printing operations.

“For instance, co-packers often print their own packaging materials, and brand owners or specifiers seek events where they can explore a wide range of machinery applications and market opportunities,” he told Arab News.

Gulf Print and Pack’s debut event in Riyadh is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the region’s printing and packaging industries while aligning with Saudi vision 2030 goals. (AN photo by Ghadi Joudah)

The next generation was also creating a much better appetite for longevity in printing and sustainability. Whether it was direct mail, menus or advertising, a focus on sustainable products was key, he added, acknowledging the challenges faced by global brands — particularly in the food and beverage industries — to adopt sustainable practices.

Killengrey said the expo addressed these by emphasizing innovation, design, shorter production runs and the use of diverse, environmentally friendly materials.

He added rapid advancements in digital printing and packaging technologies were expected to grow significantly over the next five to 10 years.

The event also features innovations in digital embellishment, automation and pre-and post-press workflows, offering attendees insights into the latest capabilities in flexible packaging, plate-making, cutting machines, folding machines, and corrugation technologies.

Digital technology is a key theme for the event, emphasizing their transformative potential for the industry.

“This isn’t just about showcasing technology,” Killengrey said. “It’s about creating opportunities, driving growth and shaping the future of an industry that is vital to the region’s economic development.”

 


Cultural convergence: Saudi artist, US jazz legend unite in an evening of musical exchange

Updated 14 January 2025
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Cultural convergence: Saudi artist, US jazz legend unite in an evening of musical exchange

RIYADH: In an evening of musical and cultural exchange, Saudi artist Ahmed Mater hosted an American delegation of musicians featuring jazz legend Herbie Hancock, Manhattan Transfer singer Janis Siegel, and local Saudi artists in his studio in JAX on Monday.

“One of the most important aspects of this visit was the arts. The arts intersect and converge … art such as jazz, contemporary art, visual art, there is a dialogue between them,” Mater told Arab News.

He also underlined the importance of “dialogue between art that is local, Saudi, and historical, and art that is western, American, (such as) jazz.”

Saudi artists and American musicians from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UC Los Angeles visited Ahmed Mater's studio for a private tour. (AN photo by Jafar Saleh)

Mater himself specializes in a range of art forms including photography, video, sound, installations, video art, filmmaking and drawing.

His studio in JAX is filled with historical books, vintage film reels, and equipment, along with art supplies that he offers to artists for learning and creating. His mission is to use the studio as a foundation to support and nurture artistic talent.

Mater welcomed local Saudi artists and American musicians from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of California, Los Angeles to his studio for a private tour and discussion.

Davida MacDonald, cultural attache at the US Embassy, attended the gathering and outlined her experience touring the studio with the delegation of musicians.

“Dr. Ahmed Mater is a legend … I always love coming here. It is just a place of creative ferment, there are filmmakers and artists and musicians,” she said. “We are so excited the US Embassy has partnered with the Saudi Music Commission and the Ministry of Culture to bring these jazz legends to the Kingdom for the first time.”

Hancock’s visit to the Kingdom is part of a celebration of Saudi-US cultural ties, sponsored by the Arts Envoy Program from the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Saudi Music Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Music Hub, and the King Fahd Cultural Center.

“The genuine interest and affection with which this group of stellar musicians has been received by Saudi musicians, as well as the public at large, is just a testament to the energy, dynamism and creativity of the Saudi music scene,” she said.

The cultural attache underlined the importance of the visit, which she described as a “two-way exchange” with “American jazz musicians sharing their craft with Saudi musicians and learning from Saudi musicians.”

MacDonald said the tour was meant to be a five-minute affair but instead lasted an hour, with detailed discussions of art and music.

Mater said that Hancock had “a unique and memorable reaction” to the studio and that “the spirit of his visit was friendly and familiar, rather than formal,” leading to a longer and more comprehensive tour.

“For example, he (Hancock) was curious and asked me about Saudi artists and the music they make, such as Mohammed Abdu, whose pictures were presented in the studio.”

Mater highlighted that his colleague and fellow artist in the studio, Abdullah Al-Qarni, a qunun player and maker, was present and played alongside Hancock in a spur-of-the-moment performance.

“The studio team was present and Al-Qarni played the qunun and explained the eastern and western maqams. They worked on comparing how the sounds resonated,” he said.

Afterward, Al-Qarni and Mater presented Hancok with a qunun to take with him back to the US.

“It was a beautiful night for everyone,” Mater said. “Art, like jazz, fine art, and visual art … there is a dialogue between them, this is the beauty of today.”

 


KSA welcomes record 18.5m pilgrims in 2024

Updated 14 January 2025
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KSA welcomes record 18.5m pilgrims in 2024

  • Makkah Taxi launches to enhance pilgrim mobility
  • Fleet is expected to grow to about 1,800 vehicles by the end of 2025

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced that more than 18.5 million pilgrims visited Makkah and Madinah in 2024. This includes 16,924,689 Umrah performers and 1,611,310 Hajj pilgrims.

The minister revealed the record-breaking figures at the fourth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, which runs until Jan. 16.

The event, themed “The Road to the Nusuk,” is hosted by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, featuring more than 300 local and international organizations displaying innovations to improve the pilgrim experience.

The event included the launch of Makkah Taxi, a new transport service developed by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Makkah Taxi began operations on Jan. 13, being introduced in phases for a smooth transition. The service operates around the clock with 47 locations around Makkah, including key stations and areas near the Grand Mosque.

Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser presented the operating license to the winning company.

The fleet is expected to grow to about 1,800 vehicles by the end of 2025, enhancing transport services for Makkah’s growing demand, SPA reported.

Passengers can pay with cash or credit cards, with fares regulated by the Public Transport Authority.

The fleet features advanced surveillance systems, smart sensors, emergency buttons, and a dedicated customer service center for added security and convenience.

Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the commission, said that the vehicles are environmentally friendly and highly reliable, operating on hybrid and electric systems.

This reinforces Makkah’s position as a smart, sustainable city that blends technological advances with improved experiences for pilgrims, Umrah performers, and residents, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior is displaying security systems powered by artificial intelligence, equipment, and digital solutions for crowd management at holy sites.

The ministry’s pavilion highlights the “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign, aimed at raising awareness of Hajj regulations, ensuring pilgrims obtain official permits, and supporting security and organizational efforts to provide a safe experience.

The Makkah region principality’s pavilion promotes awareness and regulatory compliance, while the Madinah region principality focuses on services for pilgrims and Umrah performers.

The four-day event features 47 discussion sessions, 50 workshops, and more than 130 speakers addressing sustainability, eco-friendly technologies, AI in crowd management, and opportunities for startups in the Hajj sector.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umm Al-Qura University is organizing the “Humanizing the Holy Sites” hackathon, inviting students, entrepreneurs and specialists to develop sustainable solutions that enhance the pilgrim experience and reduce environmental impact.