Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region, chaired here today a meeting of the Hajj Central Committee.
Following the meeting, Secretary of the Committee Mohammed al-Shafi said the committee had reviewed the report submitted by the follow up committee on the performance of the service sectors at the Hajj season.
Prince Khalid asked the concerned authorities to submit their visions for the Hajj season of next year including the seasons of Umrah (the minor Hajj) and the blessed month of Ramadan.
He also urged the authorities that had participated in this year's Hajj season to submit their reports on the implementation of the plans and programs of the Hajj season as well as the required proposals for improving performance in the next Hajj seasons.
The number of pilgrims who left the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its air, land and sea exit- points up to yesterday amounted to 1,004,996.
According to the daily report issued by the Hajj Central Committee the emergencies' cases received by Makkah hospitals amounted to 172,079, the Saudi red crescent society extended aid to 15,728 patients, and the number of persons admitted at the hospitals amounted to 14, 908.
The report also said 13872 patients were discharged and 1,036 are still remaining at the hospitals as in-patients.
The number of missing pilgrims who had received guidance amounted to 18, 647. In addition, 312 beggars were arrested, and 4,161 persons were also arrested by the passports department, while the number of the arrested vendors amounted to 1, 646.
King Fahd Complex for Holy Quran excels in its mission
Holy City of Madinah, 03 Jan 08
King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran is devoted to the service of the Holy book and the Prophet's (May Peace be Upon Him) Teachings. It also received all attention and care of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
This came in a report prepared by the General Secretariat of King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran in Madinah. The report highlighted the efforts exerted by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince to serve Islam and Muslims by facilitating the printing and distribution of the Holy Quran in its original Arabic language and the holy book's translation and interpretation in a large number of other world languages through this great complex.
The late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone of the Madinah-based Complex for Printing the Holy Quran on 16/01/1403 AH and opened it on 06/02/1405 AH.
The Complex not only print and distribute the Holy Quran but also focuses on taking care of the Prophet's Teachings and Islamic studies as well as engaging in research works pertaining to the holy book and the Prophet's teachings. In addition, the complex also circulates its publications on the global website.
The Higher Commission of the Complex is chaired by Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammad Al Al-sheikh and is comprised of Eight members.
The report showed that the Training Center, an affiliate of the Complex, has held more than 12 training courses for over 300 technicians.
The printing capacity of the Complex amounts to 10 million copies on an annual schedule of a single shift. More than 160 publications are produced by the Complex, including copies and recordings of the Holy Quran and the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) Teachings and Biography with their translations.
It is estimated that the number of research works on the Kingdom's care for the Holy Quran and Prophet's Biography which were published until 1428 AH have been contained and printed in more than 220 million copies.
The Holy Quran is translated into 47 languages; 24 Asian, 11 European and 12 African languages. In addition, the other translated publications of the complex are
more than 60.
The Complex is spread over an area of 250,000 square meters. The complex is an integrated unit where there is a mosque and buildings for management, maintenance, printing, warehouses, transportation, marketing, housing, recreation, clinic, library, restaurants and other utilities.
In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to provide a copy of the Holy Quran and other publications of the Complex to the pilgrims, the Complex continues to annually distribute the gift of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to every pilgrim on his departure from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after performing their Hajj rituals. The number of the copies distributed to pilgrims until the Hajj season of 1427/1428 AH, has exceeded 25 million copies.
The Complex has an integrated factory for manufacturing, printing and packaging Compact Discs (CDs) with a capacity of 840 CDs per hour.
The Complex has a website on the Internet in Arabic with links in six other languages, namely English, French, Spanish, Urdu, Indonesian and Hausa.
The number of workers at the Complex is 1700, including Ulema (Islamic Scholars), university professors, technicians and administrators. The percentage of Saudis working at the Complex is 77%.
Since the establishment of the Complex, about two million Muslims from around the world visited the Complex.
2nd part of Survey on Pilgrims' Impressions completed
Jeddah, 04 Jan 08
The Unified Agents Office completed the second part of a survey on the Pilgrims' Impressions about this year's Hajj season.
In a statement to The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Office Mahmoud Jamil Hasuba said that this survey is prepared by the Office and published by the Public Relations and Information Department, adding that this survey was included in a work plan aimed at upgrading the services provided to the pilgrims.
The respondents asserted their full satisfaction over the services provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all sectors.
As regards the services of the Office, the survey showed that 84% of pilgrims were satisfied about the services provided by the Office, describing the services as excellent. 14% of them indicated that these services are improving year after year.
It is noteworthy that respondents included Hajj Missions' Officials as well as pilgrims who are highly qualified.
Crown Prince Sultan thanks al-Turki and Islamic dignitaries
Holy City of Makkah, 02 Jan 08
Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, has expressed appreciation for the heartfelt feelings spelt out by Dr Abdullah al-Turki, the secretary general of the Muslim World League (MWL), and the Islamic dignitaries.
In a cable of reply to Dr al-Turki, Crown Prince Sultan said 'we would like to thank you and the Islamic dignitaries, including Ulema (Muslim scholars), callers and heads of the Islamic centers, and academicians, for your heartfelt feelings'.
Crown Prince Sultan prayed to Allah Almighty to enable the Saudi officials ensure the comfort of the pilgrims.
Earlier, Dr al-Turki sent a cable of thanks to Crown Prince Sultan on behalf of the MWL and the Islamic dignitaries who had performed Hajj as guests of the MWL.
The guests of the MWL highlighted the great attention given by the Saudi officials to the pilgrims.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed reiterates the keenness of Saudi officials on safety of pilgrims
Holy City of Madinah, 02 Jan 08
Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed, the Governor of Madinah region, and who is the Head of the Hajj committee in Madinah, reiterated the keenness of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz as well as the Interior Minister on the safety of the pilgrims.
Prince Abdulaziz was speaking to the passengers of the plane which made an emergency landing yesterday at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport here.
A Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) plane which was bound to Casablanca made yesterday an emergency landing at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
In a statement to SPA, Prince Abdulaziz said the plane had safely landed and the passengers were evacuated within five minutes.
He noted that one of the passengers was slightly injured, but the rest of the passengers were safe and in a good health.
Prince Abdulaziz said the passengers were hosted at a five-star hotel and there was a special health unit for the old passengers.
He confirmed the readiness of all concerned authorities to serve the pilgrims and ensure their safety, adding that the passengers will leave today for home.
280,068 pilgrims arrived in Madinah up to yesterday, Dec 31, 2007, while 88,437 pilgrims left the city, according to a report released by the secretariat of the Hajj committee in Madinah.
The pilgrims remaining in Madinah included 26,470 Iranian pilgrims and 20,561 Indonesian pilgrims.
Yesterday 9,271 pilgrims left Madinah via Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport aboard 40 international flights.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region, received at his office here today Minister of Hajj Dr. Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy who presented a detailed report on the activities during this year's Hajj.
Prince Khalid thanked the Minister of Hajj and his staff for their successful efforts to serve pilgrims which went smoothly as planned under the follow-up and support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, and the Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz who is also Chairman of Higher Hajj Committee.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sends cable of thanks to Hajj Minister
Riyadh, 31 Dec 07
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has thanked the Minister of Hajj Dr. Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, Heads of Hajj Missions and Guests of Great Hajj Symposium for congratulating him on the success of this year's Hajj.
This came in a reply cable of thanks sent by the Monarch to the Minister of Hajj who earlier sent a cable of congratulations in his own name and on behalf of Heads of Hajj Missions and Guests of Great Hajj Symposium on blessed Eid Al-Adha and the success of this year's Hajj season.
Lebanese Hajj Mission Director praises Saudi Hajj services
Holy City of Madinah, 30 Dec 07
Dr Yousef Ahmad Hawala, the Chairman of the board of directors of the non-governmental establishment for the Hajj guides, received here today director of the Lebanese Hajj affairs commission Ibrahim al-Eitabi and head of the Lebanese Hajj mission Othman Mohammed Ali Mineimna.
Speaking on the occasion, Al-Eitabi hailed the great attention given by the Saudi officials to the pilgrims.
On his part, Mineimna praised the role of the non-governmental establishment for the Hajj guides in the service of the pilgrims and the existing cooperation between the Lebanese Hajj mission and the Hajj ministry.
On the other hand, Hawala expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the Lebanese Hajj mission with the establishment, and hailed the support extended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Madinah region, and Dr Fua'd al-Faresi, the minister of Hajj, to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims.
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