Pilgrims perform farewell Tawaf in Makkah

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Updated 12 July 2022
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Pilgrims perform farewell Tawaf in Makkah

  • Robot distributes copies of Qur’an to departing Hajj pilgrims
  • The Tawaf Al-Wida is performed before a pilgrim departs from Makkah and is an obligatory Hajj ritual

RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims have performed the farewell Tawaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah after completing the stoning ritual on the third day of Tashreeq.

The Tawaf Al-Wida, or farewell Tawaf, is performed before a pilgrim departs from Makkah and is an obligatory Hajj ritual.




Pilgrims supplicate to God. (Ghazi Mahdi)

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques provided its usual first-class services in accordance with the Kingdom’s plans to support pilgrims performing their Hajj rituals with ease.

The presidency recruited a 500-strong civil security cadre to manage and organize crowds in cooperation with the security authorities inside the Grand Mosque, as well as preparing the entire floors of the Mataf building, and the full capacity of the mosque.




Pilgrims walk during Hajj. (Ghazi Mahdi)

The presidency said that a robot is distributing copies of the Qur’an to pilgrims performing their final Hajj ritual before they leave Makkah.

Sheikh Badr bin Abdullah Al-Furaih, the presidency’s deputy president for guidance affairs, said that the robot uses a dual automatic navigation system and has a three-dimensional sensor to avoid collisions with people and objects.




Pilgrims supplicate after performing the “stoning the devil” ritual. (Ghazi Mahdi)

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Monday that 90 percent of the pilgrims have finished the stoning ritual at the Jamarat as part of the Tafweez (crowd control) plans.

The ministry confirmed the success of its strategy to group pilgrims after they threw stones on the third day of Tashreeq before departing to the Grand Mosque to perform the farewell Tawaf.




Pilgrims are pictured during their Hajj journey. (Ghazi Mahdi)

The grouping process was conducted according to plans that were prepared in coordination with the government agencies organizing Hajj services.

The ministry has not received any reports of problems with grouping pilgrims at the Jamarat facility or while they were transiting to the Grand Mosque.




Pilgrims supplicate after performing the “stoning the devil” ritual. (Ghazi Mahdi)

Meanwhile, the Communication Center of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has recorded more than 222,000 interactions since the beginning of the Hajj season, supporting pilgrims with any inquiries throughout their pilgrimage.

The center provided answers to queries in several languages, including Arabic, English, French and Urdu.

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UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

Updated 11 January 2025
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UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

  • Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.

New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.

He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.


Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

  • The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen attempting to storm the palace

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attack on the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad, which left 19 people dead, including a soldier guarding the complex, and injured others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Chad’s security and stability, while rejecting any actions that threaten the country’s peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its statement, the Ministry extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the government and people of Chad. The Kingdom also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the assault.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen reportedly linked to Boko Haram attempting to storm the presidential palace, prompting a fierce battle.

The Chadian government confirmed that 18 attackers from a 24-member commando unit were killed in the fighting, alongside one security personnel. Tanks were deployed to secure the area.


GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 11 January 2025
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GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi recently received New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles Kingston at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties, the General Secretariat wrote in a report.

During the meeting, they also discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, notably the progress of negotiations for the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and updates on the joint action plan between the two sides. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues.​

 

 


Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority issued a warning about Country Butcher Boy beef pepperoni, manufactured in the UAE.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the 250-gram packages with an expiration date of March 1, 2025, are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium posing serious health risks, confirmed by lab tests.

The authority advised the public to avoid consuming the product and dispose of any units they may have.

Steps have been taken to remove the contaminated product from the market, and regulatory action is being pursued against the importing company, the SPA reported.

Violations of food laws can result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to SR10 million ($2.6 million), or both.

The authority reiterated its commitment to food safety and will continue taking action against violators. Consumers can report food safety concerns to the authority’s call center at 19999.


Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

Updated 11 January 2025
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Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

RIYADH: The Royal Thai Embassy recently took part in a volunteer initiative at Aba Samri National Park in the Murat governorate of Riyadh region, in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

Part of the National Greening Season, the activity aims to enhance vegetation, curb land degradation, and plant native and adaptive species, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The embassy’s involvement promotes vegetation restoration and aligns with the center’s call for broader environmental engagement from all sectors. The scheme improves air quality, reduces dust storms and restores ecosystems, the SPA added.

The National Greening Season, a core element of the broader program, fosters public-private partnerships, volunteerism, and awareness about afforestation and combating desertification.

The center leads efforts to protect and restore vegetation sites across Saudi Arabia, addressing challenges such as wildfires, illegal logging and unregulated grazing to safeguard natural ecosystems.