EDITORIAL

Hajj is Indeed a Source of Guidance

All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon His servant and beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) our guide and intercessor with Allah, the Exalted; and upon his purified household, his faithful companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.

The sun of Islam brilliantly rose, and enlightened the path which guide mankind to a blissful life both here and the Hereafter. It guides the deviated, protects the weak, uplifts the downtrodden, satisfies the hungry and clothes the naked. Islam came to clarify all rights and obligations; and to free the individual, family, and the ummah 1 from fear, injustice, ignorance and hunger. According to its laws, white and black, ruler and ruled, man and woman are all equal. Islam determines a just balance which organizes every aspect of life, and all needs of the human race. It marvelously caters to any need in life, while carrying the message of guidance and reform, the flambeau of power and mercy and the banner of freedom and justice, in quest of a secure life for all humanity under its shades, till the end of life on earth.

In Islam, we find attributes that no other religion offers. Islam reconciles the creed with the legislation and morals. It responds to the corporal needs and spiritual desires, and identifies the deterrent punishment. It cultivates morals to form the balanced ummah. Then it makes justice the ruler and observer and, the conscience a guide. It promises reward for the righteous believers, and punishment for those who go astray.

One main attribute of Islam is that it raises the status of man, and asserts his high position as the viceroy of the Creator and the best of all creatures. Mankind revives the earth and the souls by construction and faith, while honoring the religiously ordained duties. Islam orders fulfilling of divine obligations, and makes it compulsory for the keeping up of prayer, fasting, and the performance of Hajj , and jihad (holy struggle for the sake of Allah)...etc.

Hajj is indeed a source of guidance and innumerable benefits and interests, and a stronghold of defense and uprightness. Allah, the Most High, ordains Hajj so that the ummah of the Seal of the prophets remains the bearer of the monotheistic banner to achieve the unity of humanity, and carries out the most...

Health Ministry Readies Contingency Plan for Hajj

Riyadh, 04 September 07

The Ministry of Health has called on Saudi doctors who are not working during the Hajj season this year to register with the Ministry and contribute in humanitarian efforts to help the pilgrims, a senior ministry official said here yesterday.

Dr. Redha Khaleel, adviser and head of the Hajj Preparation Committee at the Ministry, said that, out of necessity, the Ministry is recruiting only 50 doctors and 100 nurses for ER purposes from abroad during this year’s Hajj.

“Local doctors who are not working during Hajj are welcome to participate,” he said, adding that medical personnel would be mainly required to work in ER.

Announcing the Ministry’s plans this year for Hajj, the official said that Mount Arafat Hospital would be renovated at a cost of SR22 million. The improvements would increase the hospital’s bed capacity to 250, according to a report published today by Arab News.

The official noted that 9,600 medical officials - including doctors, nurses, field workers and inspectors - would work during this year’s Haj and 86 health centers would operate in Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina to serve sick pilgrims of all nationalities. Seven local hospitals in areas close by have been designated to take serious cases that require advanced medical attention.

Twenty large ambulances will be added to the Ministry’s fleet this year bringing the total number of ambulances operating during the pilgrimage to 96. The ambulances will be used to transfer sick pilgrims to health centers and hospitals.

“This year we are also increasing the number of small ambulances to work their way through crowded areas and pedestrian zones… Each of these ambulances will have a doctor and a nurse, and their aim is to treat cases on the spot,” said Khaleel.

The official said that the Ministry had completed preparing its emergency plan along with other ministries participating in the Hajj operation. The plan includes methods of dealing with virus outbreaks, emergency evacuation, contingency plans, among others.

Foreign pilgrims will be required to take certain vaccinations before entering the Kingdom. Khaleel said that the medical requirements have been publicized at all Saudi consulates and embassies abroad.

“Every year, the Ministry studies the types of diseases prevalent in the countries where the majority of pilgrims come from based on statistics released by the World Health Organization. Accordingly, vaccines are made available before Hajj,” said Khaleel.

He said that pilgrims entering the Kingdom would be checked to ensure they have taken relevant vaccinations. Those who have not taken vaccines in their home country will be vaccinated at entry points, he noted.

Higher Education Ministry Funds Hajj Research Center

Riyadh, 01 September 07

Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al-Anqari, the Minister of Higher Education will sign in Jeddah tomorrow a contract to finance the distinguished research center for Hajj and Umrah at the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research - Umm Al-Qura University.

This comes in the framework of the Ministry's plans to encourage Universities to engage in scientific research works and development.

The signing of this contract is in implementation of the Ministry's plan to encourage universities to have interest in scientific research and development through support of research already in progress or newly established in Saudi universities in multiple disciplines and areas, highlighting strengths and excellence areas, then develops into academic research centers.

The Ministry has already signed similar accords with the distinguished research centers associated with a number of Saudi Universities including King Saud, King Abdulaziz, and King Fahd for Petroleum and Minerals and King Faisal universities and is expected to sign more of such research contracts soon.

Ambassador Adel A. Al-Jubeir Biography

His Excellency Adel A. Al-Jubeir was appointed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as Ambassador to the United States on January 29, 2007. Ambassador Al-Jubeir presented his credentials to President George W. Bush at the White House on February 27, 2007.

Mr. Al-Jubeir was born February 1, 1962 in Majma'ah (Riyadh Province), Saudi Arabia, and attended schools in the Kingdom, Germany, Yemen, Lebanon, and the U.S.  He obtained a B.A. summa cum laude in political science and economics from the University of North Texas in 1982, and an M.A. in international relations from Georgetown University in 1984.

In 1987 Mr. Al-Jubeir was appointed into the Saudi Diplomatic Service and posted to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, where he served as Special Assistant to the Ambassador.   In 1990-91, he was part of the Saudi team that established the Joint Information Bureau at Dhahran during Operation Desert Shield/Desert

Storm. He was a member of the GCC delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference inOctober 1991, and a member of the Saudi delegation to the Multilateral Arms Control Talks in Washington, DC in 1992.  In December 1992 he was dispatched with the Saudi Armed Forces to Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope.

Mr. Al-Jubeir was appointed Director of the Saudi Information and Congressional Affairs Office in Washington in 2000, and was named Foreign Affairs Advisor in the Crown Prince’s Court in the fall of 2000.  In August 2005, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz appointed Mr. Al-Jubeir to the position of Advisor at the Royal Court.

Mr. Al-Jubeir was Visiting Diplomatic Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York, 1994-95. He has lectured at universities and academic institutions in the U.S. and appeared frequently in the media. In 2006, he has received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of North Texas.

Mr. Al-Jubeir is fluent in Arabic, English, and German.

Governmental Bodies Complete Ramadan Preparations

Holy City of Makkah, 29 August 07

The Official Governmental bodies in Makkah Region have completed all preparations for offering the best services for the visitors of the House of Allah - the Holy Mosque of Makkah, during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The Holy City of Makkah is witnessing nowadays a huge number of visitors who come to perform Umrah and pray in the Holy Mosque as well as to spend the Holy month of Ramadan there.

Numerous plans and programs in spheres of security, religious, awareness, sanitation, health and services plans, which have been formulated for this Ramadan season, have been discussed in-depth and are ready for implementation soon, to facilitate Umrah and prayers for all visitors.

The General Presidency of the Holy Mosque of Makkah Affairs has prepared comprehensive plans to increase the number of religious lectures to guide Umrah performers on how best to conduct these religious rituals, guide them and provide answers to all related questions in this context.

Ramada Announces Saudi Expansion

Ramada Worldwide will continue its expansion across the Middle East with two new properties in Madinah, and one each in Dammam and Al Qassim.

Ramada Worldwide, through its Master Licensee and operator in Saudi Arabia, Riyada International Hotels & Resorts (RIHR) is set to increase rapidly its portfolio of properties. Its expansion plans to include hotels in Al Khobar, which is expected to open in 2008, and two properties in Makkah, which will also open in 2008.

“The company looks well on track to achieve this, and by the end of 2008 its portfolio will comprise a total of 12 hotels and more than 6000 rooms,” Mohammed Hassan Al Amir, managing director of RIHR, was quoted by a media report as saying.

This August, it is opening the Ramada Madinah Al Qibla Hotel and the Al Hambra Hotel. Overlooking the Holy Mosque in Madinah, the Ramada Madinah Al Qibla Hotel has 10 guest floors with basement parking. It has 20 interconnecting rooms and has allotted rooms to accommodate guests with special needs.

Situated along Islamic Court St. fronting the Holy Mosque, The Ramada Madinah Al Qibla Hotel is composed of 140 rooms highly furnished with in-room safes, equipped with TV, work desk, mini-fridge, tea/coffee station in all rooms and cable channels. The hotel also has one main restaurant with a capacity of 500 guests.

The Ramada Madinah Al Hambra Hotel is approximately 15 km from Prince Mohammed Abdul Aziz Airport, conveniently situated at Sitteen Street, a few minutes walk to the Holy Mosque. The hotel has 249 comfortable rooms and luxurious suites elegantly furnished. Its  Al Bustan Restaurant has a capacity of 200 persons and offers Oriental, Continental, Far East and Western cuisines.