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, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, met on Wednesday with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, to discuss bilateral relations and explore opportunities for further development, particularly in the military sector. The meeting, held in the Crown Prince’s office in Riyadh, covered a range of shared interests.
Attending the reception on the Saudi side were Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor; Khalid Al-Humaidan, Head of General Intelligence; Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor to the Royal Court; General Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff; and Nawaf Al-Maliki, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan.
Representing Pakistan were Ahmad Farooq, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Brigadier Mohammad Asim, Military Attaché at the embassy in Riyadh.
In a separate meeting, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Defense Minister, also met with General Asim Munir to discuss the historic ties between the two countries, focusing on strategic cooperation in military and defense areas and exploring ways to strengthen and expand bilateral ties. They also discussed various issues of mutual concern.