Dr. Fouad Abdusslam Al-Farsy, the Minister of Haj, received here today French Ambassador Designate Bertrand Besancenot.
During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues pertaining to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The French Envoy lauded the efforts of the Government of Saudi Arabia to serve the Pilgrims and Umrah performers to facilitate their religious rituals.
The Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Angari signed at his office here today a contract to finance "Distinction Research Center for Researches of Hajj and Umrah" in The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research at Umm Al-Qura University.
The Minister said the cost of financing the center amounts to SR 41 million riyals.
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 develop 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, King Fahd for Petroleum and Minerals and King Faisal universities and is expected to sign more of such research contracts soon.
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.
Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region received here today the Governor of Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Jafari and the Director of CITC in Makkah Dr. Ibrahim Al-Harbi.
Al-Harbi pointed out after the meeting that the Makkah Governor was briefed on efforts of CITC in the field of regulation of the communication sector and the effort of the CITC to service the region and businessmen in addition to the services of CITC which are provided in the Hajj season to follow up the performance of communications networks and ensure its quality.
The meeting also touched upon the efforts, facilities and services of the Ministry of Communications and CITC in the area of electronic transactions, smart cities and their relevance in modern life, economic prosperity and civilization.
Ministry of Hajj declares three year moratorium on the appointment of any new travel agencies abroad
28 August 2007
The Ministry of Hajj has made it clear that, for a period of three years, it will not accept any new applications from tourist companies and other agencies abroad for approved status as organisers of pilgrimages.
This decision has been prompted by the need to control the number of pilgrims each year for safety reasons, to avoid problems with crowd control and to avoid excessive congestion on the roads around the Holy Places.
It is also the case that the Ministry and its branches in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Jeddah Governorate have been inundated with applications from tourist companies, agencies and charitable societies seeking new licences for the right to organise pilgrim travel from outside the Kingdom.
Minister of Hajj Holds Meeting With Kuwait's Minister of Justice, Endowments and Islamic Affairs
Jeddah, 26 August 07
The Minister of Hajj Dr. Fouad Bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy held here today a meeting with Kuwait's Minister of Justice, Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr.Abdullah Matooq Al-Matooq
During the meeting, they discussed the preparations for pilgrims coming from Kuwait and services rendered to them.
The Kuwaiti minister praised the great services and facilities offered by Saudi government to pilgrims to perform their rituals in comfort and with ease.
King Fahd complex prints over 6 Million Copies of Quran in six months
Riyadh, 21 August 07
The number of the Glorious Quran and Islamic books printed at King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex in the last six months this year amounted to 6,278,413.
These copies are in 200 European, Asian and African languages, according to a bi-annual report for the fiscal year 1427-1428 H, published by the General Secretariat of the Complex.
Highlighting the number of Islamic activities for the same period, the report said the complex participated in 13 exhibitions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia including 7 exhibitions, which were held abroad.
The number of trainees of the complex totaled 103. Of these, 90 were trained at the complex in Madinah and the remaining 13 trainees were sent abroad.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Alsalam Palace in Jeddah on Monday.
At the outset of the meeting, the King briefed the cabinet on the contacts and consultations which he held over the previous days with a number of heads of states and their envoys. The talks dealt with the developments of events in the region and the world.
The King pointed out that the Kingdom has been exploiting all its potentials in the service of the Two Holy Mosques, pilgrims, Umrah ( Minor Pilgrimage) performers and visitors of the Prophet's Mosque. The King noted that the expansion of Masa'a (Running Track) at the Grand Mosque, completion of storeys at Jamarat (Devil Stoning) Bridge and the general development of Makkah, Madinah and the holy places come within the context of praise and thanks to Allah for bestowing the service of the holy places on the Kingdom and its people.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad bin Amin Madani said that in this context, the cabinet stressed that serving the issues of the Muslim nation and enhancing its security, stability, development and unification of its ranks have been among the priorities of the Kingdom's foreign policy.
On the Arab Affairs, the cabinet affirmed that the ability of Arab nations to confront local, regional and international challenges necessitates the enhancement of joint Arab action institutions and commitment to resolutions and agreements endorsed by Arab summits. It also emphasized that conviction in the Arab interests demands the unification of efforts rather than dispersing them, and regional alliances should be utilized to unite Arab ranks rather than utilizing them to serve division and weakness.
Egyptian Health and Population Minister honors Bakhsh Group
Cairo, 20 August 07
The Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Hatem Al-Jabli honored here today Bakhsh Saudi Health represented by Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group Dr. Taha Abdulrahman Bakhsh for what it has done for a female Egyptian Umrah (minor pilgrimage) performer who was recently injured in a car accident in the Kingdom.
The spokesman of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population Abdulrahman Shaheen asserted today that the Group provided all care for the injured Jihan Al-Tabie and bore 100,000 Egyptian pounds in addition to transferring her by plane to Egypt.
Shaheen thanked the Group, saying "this event reflects the depth of Saudi-Egyptian relations in various fields".
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