Hajj Concludes Sunday, Pilgrims to Self-Isolate

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Hajj Concludes Sunday, Pilgrims to Self-Isolate

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Hajj pilgrimage will end on Sunday with worhsippers performing the final “farewell” tawaf, or circumambulation of the holy Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah city.

The pilgrims will conclude their holy journey with home isolation as part of the ongoing precautions against the novel coronavirus.

The pilgrims will kick off the final day of the Hajj at dawn on Sunday with the ritual stoning of the devil, by collecting small, medium and large stones, said Saudi deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdul Fattah al-Mashat.

They will then head to Mina and at 4:00 pm, they will depart to the Grand Mosque for the final tawaf.

They will be tested for the coronavirus soon after concluding the rituals ahead of their departure from Makkah, he added.

The first day of the stoning of the devil began on Saturday amid heavy security and health measures. Authorities ensured that social distancing measures were adopted and the pilgrims were presented with a souvenir gift from the Hajj and Umrah Ministry on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

The disinfection of the Grand Mosque continued on Saturday. The holy mosque has been disinfected at a rate of ten times per day.

The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of the COVID-19 illness among this year's pilgrims. Government precautions included testing pilgrims for the virus, monitoring their movement with electronic wristbands and requiring them to quarantine before and after.



Saudi Arabia Stresses Ongoing Efforts to Advance Regional, International Stability

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session - SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Stresses Ongoing Efforts to Advance Regional, International Stability

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session - SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session - SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held Tuesday in Jeddah.

The Cabinet was briefed on the recent talks and communications between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and various countries, focusing on solidifying relations and advancing bilateral and multilateral coordination across diverse fields to achieve common interests and mutual benefits, SPA reported.

It also closely followed regional and international developments, reaffirming the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to establish a just peace in the Middle East, promote international security and stability, and end the cycle of violence that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians.

The Cabinet commended the outcomes of the Saudi delegation’s visit to the Syrian Arab Republic. The visit, carried out under the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s steadfast support for Syria’s path toward economic growth.

The Cabinet noted that the visit culminated in the signing of 47 investment agreements valued at approximately SAR24 billion across several sectors, along with the announcement of a joint business council to foster mutual cooperation and activate partnerships between private sector institutions in both countries.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet addressed the Kingdom's participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, during which the Kingdom highlighted the significant achievements of its vision, positioning the Kingdom as the fastest-advancing among the G20 countries in sustainable development indicators over the past decade.

The Kingdom’s participation also underscored its international contributions and initiatives aimed at promoting global progress and prosperity.

The Cabinet expressed its hope that the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia in partnership with France, would contribute to accelerating the recognition of the State of Palestine and establishing a consensual path toward implementing the two-state solution, while enhancing the security and stability of countries in the region.

The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s welcome of the announcement by President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic regarding his country’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine. It also called on other countries to take similar steps in support of peace and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Cabinet strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley, stressing that such actions undermine peace efforts and reflect a persistence in sabotage and destruction. It reiterated the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the occupation authorities’ violations of international law and United Nations resolutions.

On domestic affairs, the Cabinet reviewed the latest developments in the Kingdom’s efforts to develop circular carbon economy technologies, including the successful operation of a Direct Air Capture (DAC) testing unit in Riyadh. This initiative reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to exploring innovative and promising technical solutions in this field, reaffirming its leadership and dedication to achieving its climate goals in line with Vision 2030.