Pilgrims pack Mount Arafat for climax of biggest Covid-era Hajj

One million pilgrims from across the globe amassed on Thursday in the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform the initial rites of the Hajj. (AFP)
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Updated 08 July 2022
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Pilgrims pack Mount Arafat for climax of biggest Covid-era Hajj

  • The Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for all Muslims physically and financially able to make the journey, which takes the faithful along a path traversed by the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago.

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia: Huge crowds of robed Muslim pilgrims prayed on Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat on Friday, the climax of the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the pandemic forced drastic cuts in numbers two years in a row.
Groups of worshippers, many holding umbrellas against the fierce sun, recited verses from the Qur'an on the rocky rise, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have given his final sermon.
Prayers on Mount Arafat, also known as the “Mount of Mercy,” are the highlight of the pilgrimage, capped this year at one million people including 850,000 from abroad after Covid greatly reduced numbers over 2020 and 2021.
Pilgrims, many of them in simple white robes and chanting “Oh God, here I am,” reached Mount Arafat on foot or in buses from the tents nearby where they spent the night.
After sunset, they will journey the short distance to Muzdalifah, where they will sleep under the stars before performing the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ceremony on Saturday.
“I am so happy to be here, like everyone else. This is the biggest Hajj in the coronavirus era, but it isn’t big enough yet,” Egyptian pilgrim Saad Farhat Khalil, 49, told AFP.
“There are one million here today, but if the Saudis allowed more, 10 million would have came,” he added.
Entry roads were packed with worshippers as helicopters buzzed overhead and volunteers handed out bottles of water and collected rubbish in green plastic bags.
“Let’s keep the purest of all lands clean,” read a sign on a large garbage container.
The Hajj, usually one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, is among the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives.
In 2019, as in previous years, some 2.5 million Muslims from around the world took part, a figure that dropped to a few thousand in 2020 and 60,000 in 2021.
Even though the crowds are back, Covid fears remain and the Hajj is taking place against the backdrop of a resurgence in the region, with some Gulf countries tightening restrictions to keep outbreaks in check.
All participants were required to submit proof of full vaccination and negative PCR tests. On reaching their white-tent encampment at Mina on Thursday, they were handed small bags containing masks and sanitiser.

The pilgrimage can be physically draining even in ideal conditions, but worshippers this year have faced an added challenge: scorching sun and temperatures rising to 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit).
Islam forbids men from wearing hats once the rites start, and many have been seen shielding themselves with umbrellas, prayer mats and even, in one case, a small bucket filled with water.
Women, meanwhile, are obliged to cover their heads with scarves.
“We can tolerate (the heat). We are here for the Hajj. The more we tolerate, the more our pilgrimage is accepted,” Laila, a 64-year-old Iraqi pilgrim who gave only her first name, told AFP in Makkah, where the rituals started.
Saudi officials have touted their preparations for the extreme conditions, highlighting the hundreds of hospital beds allocated for heatstroke patients and the “large number of misting fans” they have provided.
A truck has also been allocated to distribute umbrellas, water bottles and small fans.
Nevertheless, the National Center for Meteorology, which has set up an office in Mina, is sending warnings to pilgrims on their mobile phones, urging them to avoid outdoor rituals at certain times of the day, especially at noon.
On Saturday, Muslim pilgrims will take part in the “stoning,” the last major ritual of the Hajj which has previously led to deadly stampedes, as hundreds of thousands of participants converge on a small space.
After the stoning ritual, pilgrims return to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform a final “tawaf” or circling of the Kaaba, the cubic structure draped in a gold-embroidered black cloth that is the focal point of Islam.
Eid Al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice that begins on Saturday, marks the end of Hajj.


Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites

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Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites

  • Map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad
  • Part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark

RIYADH: The Madinah Research and Studies Center has released an updated version of the Innaha Taybah map, which features 50 historical and archaeological sites in the region.

The map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

This comes as part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark that introduces the place and allows users to view the historical site’s details.

It contains significant landmarks that tourists can visit, starting with the Prophet’s Mosque, the most prominent site in Madinah and a destination for Muslim visitors throughout the year.

Also featured are Baqi’ Al-Gharqad, Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park, the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque Exhibition and the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography.

The map also includes prominent historical mosques that were built during the Prophet’s era and are still standing, such as the Mosque of Al-Ghamama, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, Al-Sajdah Mosque, Al-Ijabah Mosque, Al-Suqya Mosque, Al-Manaratain Mosque, Bani Haram Mosque, Al-Fatah Mosque, Al-Rayah Mosque, Bani Harithah Mosque, Al-Shaikhain Mosque, Al-Jumu’ah Mosque, and Quba Mosque.

The Innaha Taybah map includes numerous archaeological landmarks, notably the Sela Mountain, Jabal Aynayn (Al-Rumat), the Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery, and ancient wells that have been rehabilitated as part of a project to restore historical sites in the region. These include Bir Al-Khatam (Well of Arees), Athq Well, Al-Ihn Well, the Well of Ghars and Al-Foqair Well. Other sites include the Urwa Palace, Al-Jamawat, the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, and natural landmarks connected to events that took place in Madinah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and subsequent eras.


Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises

Updated 05 November 2024
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Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises

RIYADH: The Saudi cabinet discussed the Kingdom’s call for an Arab-Islamic summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, in a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.

The cabinet also stressed the urgent need for a political resolution to the crisis in Sudan, urging all parties to honor the commitments outlined in the "Jeddah Declaration" of May 2023. It emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, a cessation of hostilities, and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

The cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s recent hosting of the inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which brought together representatives from 90 countries and international organizations.


Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 

Updated 05 November 2024
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Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 

  • Manchester United connects with audiences and “converts followers to fans”
  • Saudi clubs should find their own unique point of view 

RIYADH: Understanding your fan base is a key element of successfully marketing your sports brand, Manchester United’s director of marketing told the audience at the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh.

During his keynote speech, “Cultural Connection, Unbreakable Bonds and the Power of Stories: Lessons Learnt From a Career in Sports Marketing,” Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports.

Whether you are a football fan or not, there is no denying that Manchester United is one of the most well-known clubs in the world. But how did it gain its reputation?

Like many popular teams, it is about connecting with your audience and Manchester United has a unique way of “converting followers to fans,” McKie told Arab News.

“I would say the absolute key to finding an audience and growing is really understanding your fans and, in the UK and in Europe, football clubs are bigger than just sports assets, than community assets, they mean more,” he said. “There will be generations of families that have gone to watch the team and support them, so honoring that and respecting that is absolutely key.”

An important marketing tactic for McKie involves researching the upbringing and backgrounds of athletes before their rise to stardom. This is a way to humanize them and create campaigns with a personal touch.

Manchester United's director of marketing Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports. (AN photo/Loai Elkelawy)

“I think humanizing athletes is an important marketing tactic (and) I think it’s an important human tactic,” he said. “These are individuals in the public eye, there are millions and millions of people watching them, expecting things from them. They have the same problems we have ... so it’s incredibly important that we understand that.”

McKie highlights unique brand identities for emerging football clubs, such as FC Como and Venezia, in Italy, and Forest Green Rovers in England. Venezia is known for its love of fashion while the latter has claimed the title of becoming the first fully vegan football club.

“It’s really about building a profile and understanding who the audience is and then you can serve them the things that will drive them down towards being a fan, and a committed fan, that comes to games etc.

“It’s very important in women’s sports because of the very high proportion of fandom that exists there. It’s important as marketers that we actually bring them closer, we understand them, we give them content that’s going to engage them and not just bring the ideas of men’s football across and expect it to work.”

For Saudi teams, McKie’s advice is to “have a point of view.”

“Within Saudi, a lot of these teams are new or relatively new in the grand scheme of football. So there’s an opportunity to have a point of view and stand for something … to form a team that plays a certain way and isn’t bound by baggage that can come from being a really big heritage brand.”


KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 

Updated 05 November 2024
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KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 

  • The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning

RIYADH: Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Kingdom’s delegation, visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, which began on Monday and ends on Nov. 8.

The pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, features spaces for meetings, workshops and dialogue sessions. It includes over 40 interactive activities and hosts 150 representatives from various Saudi entities. 

The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning, showcasing innovative projects and successful experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. 

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Saudi delegation, visited the Saudi pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)

It also showcases the Kingdom’s achievements under Vision 2030, including sustainable transport networks, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced municipal services in cities. 

On the sidelines of the forum, Prince Faisal met with several delegation heads to discuss enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise. 

He discussed potential collaboration between Riyadh and Istanbul with Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, focusing on the exchange of skills.

He also met with Anar Guliyev, a member of the cabinet and chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan, to discuss cooperation.


Athar Festival begins in Riyadh

Updated 05 November 2024
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Athar Festival begins in Riyadh

  • Almost 2,000 people registered for second edition, says organizer
  • Veteran Gulf publisher aims to gather region’s creative community

RIYADH: The second Athar Saudi Festival of Creativity kicked off on Tuesday with a full house in Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC.

Hosted by UAE-based Motivate Media Group and communications consultancy TRACCS, the festival will feature 100 regional and international speakers and is expected to bring together almost 2,000 professionals and leaders from the creative marketing industry.

Ian Fairservice, managing partner and group editor-in-chief of Motivate Media Group, will chair the event, with Mohammed Al-Ayed, CEO of TRACCS, as vice chairman.

In an interview with Arab News, Fairservice said: “Athar has a role in bringing together the creative community, and the marketing community.

“The whole ethos of Athar is to create a community, albeit just for a couple of days, where everybody can come together and communicate and share ideas and develop new ones.”

He highlighted the increase of attendees this year, compared to last year’s event.

Ian Fairservice, managing partner of Motivate Media Group and chairman of Athar Festival, delivers a speech on the first day of the festival on Nov. 5, 2024 in Riyadh. (Loai Elkelawy)

“All of our numbers have pretty much doubled on last year. We have almost 2,000 attendees registered and, as you can see around us here, it’s absolutely buzzing. The main stage area is completely full. There are probably 100 people standing at the back watching our first keynote speaker today,” he said.

“In terms of other numbers, we have 400 entries for the awards for tomorrow night, of which there are 211 shortlisted.”

Fairservice’s knowledge of the region comes from living in Dubai for 47 years. He formed Motivate Media Group back in 1979 and launched one of the country’s first English-language magazines, “What’s On,” which had a primary readership of tourists and expatriates.

The inspiration behind it was simple — there was no media. It was, he recalls, an era “with no television, no radio, no newspapers, no magazines.”

Today, Motivate Media Group publishes numerous magazines such as “Emirates Woman,” “Gulf Business” and “Business Traveler Middle East.”

“We’ve grown the company organically and have gone into every different aspect of media across the board,” said Fairservice. “It’s been a privilege and a fantastic opportunity to have been able to do this from the ground floor.”

Athar Festival will continue on Wednesday with panel discussions, presentations and fireside chats focused on growing the creative landscape in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and beyond, covering various sectors such as sports, entertainment, and tourism.

The event will conclude with the Athar Awards ceremony on the evening of Nov. 6.