Saudi Arabia Successfully Hosts Over 15 Mln Worshippers, Umrah Pilgrims during Ramadan

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Successfully Hosts Over 15 Mln Worshippers, Umrah Pilgrims during Ramadan

Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)
Worshippers perform prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Tuesday the success of the Umrah season and the organizational and health measures in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, over 15.5 million people performed prayers, including 5.1 million Umrah pilgrims, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. No coronavirus infection was reported among them.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat told Asharq Al-Awsat that the ministry had employed all of its energy, in coordination with all concerned parties, to ensure the success of the Umrah during Ramadan.

He said that it had set preemptive plans and strategies that were prepared in advance before the advent of Ramadan.

The fact that not a single coronavirus infection was reported among the millions of worshippers throughout this period is evidence of the success of these plans, he stressed.

Worshippers were required to have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mashat said that the regulations stipulated that a Umrah pilgrim must have received one or two shots of the vaccine.

This measure is sufficient at this stage to ensure everyone’s safety, he remarked.



Saudi Arabia Stresses its Ongoing Efforts to Tackle Situation in Gaza, Lebanon

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Stresses its Ongoing Efforts to Tackle Situation in Gaza, Lebanon

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet session in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government underscored on Tuesday the Kingdom’s ongoing political and humanitarian efforts to tackle the situation in Gaza and its surroundings, and in Lebanon.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet session that was held in Riyadh.

The cabinet also highlighted the air bridge the Kingdom has launched to provide humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people amid the Israeli assault on their country.

Crown Prince Mohammed briefed the ministers on the telephone call he received from French President Emmanuel Macron and the outcomes of the meeting he held with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Riyadh last week.

Crown Prince Mohammed’s talks with the officials focused on regional developments and efforts exerted towards them.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's participation in bilateral and multilateral meetings, with the objective of boosting its relations with countries worldwide in various sectors, facilitating coordination to address issues and challenges of international significance, and achieving shared interests.

The cabinet renewed the Kingdom's emphasis, at the UN Conference on Victims of Terrorism, on the importance of international efforts to curb extremist ideologies and rhetoric, eradicate terrorism, provide support and care for all victims, and empower them through education and rehabilitation.

The minister said the cabinet reiterated the key points of the Kingdom's opening statement at the 89th session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which reaffirmed the commitment to women's rights, to lifting their status in society, and to continuing reforms that empower women and encourage their participation in development.

At the domestic level, Al-Dossary said the Cabinet praised the successful conclusion of the Global Logistics Forum held in Riyadh under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. It hoped that its outcomes will contribute to boosting cooperation, developing logistics services and supply chains, and supporting economic growth and sustainable development.

Moreover, the cabinet declared that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve making it on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Green List, alongside the Ibex Reserve, is consistent with the Kingdom's ongoing efforts in environment conservation. The move helps in realizing the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to declare 30% of terrestrial and marine regions protected areas by 2030.

The cabinet reviewed several reports on the performance of public agencies over the past period, their contributions to achieving the targets of the Saudi Vision 2030, and the significant progress seen in the indicators and initiatives of national strategies.