Mina Prepares to Bid Pilgrims Farewell after Successful, Exceptional Hajj Season

 Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
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Mina Prepares to Bid Pilgrims Farewell after Successful, Exceptional Hajj Season

 Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)
Pilgrims praying after stoning the devil at Mina’s Jamarat site (AP)

As the sun sets on the second day of the Tashriq days, which follow the Eid al-Adha holiday, the holy site of Mina prepares to bid farewell to Hajj pilgrims headed to Makkah to perform the final rite of their spiritual journey.

On the second day of Eid and the first day of the Tashriq days, Hajj pilgrims had carried out the stoning of the devil ritual at Mina’s Jamarat site.

The visitors of the holy sites were given the pebbles to throw at the three walls in a disinfected bag as part of the coronavirus preventive measures.

Pilgrims were then transported out of Jamarat according to a highly detailed plan that focuses on preventative health measures that ensure their safety.

Colored tracks, floor stickers, and guiding posters aided pilgrims in easily flowing in and out of the site under close supervision from civil and security authorities helping organize this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Jamarat is considered one of the key sites in Mina, and is comprised of five 12-meter stories that are fully serviced to ensure enough room for pilgrims to perform their rites at ease.

After leaving Jamarat, pilgrims headed back to their camps at Mina, commonly known as the City of Tents, where they would start preparing for the final stop in their pilgrimage journey.

This includes performing the last Tawaaf (floating around the Kabah seven times) in Makkah, which is part of a series of ritual acts that must be performed during Hajj.

As for emergencies reported during this year’s Hajj, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority’s land and air ambulance teams received more than 11,000 phone calls between July 17-20 and filed 1,893 emergency reports in the holy city and holy sites.

Ambulance teams stationed in Makkah city and holy sites responded to 1,269 medical and injury cases. Out of the total cases, 602 were transferred to hospitals, and 649 were attended to on the spot.

Statistic reports of the Authority show that during the last four days, a total of 979 medical and 177 injury cases were attended to by its teams.

The central Makkah city recorded the highest number of emergency cases with 755, out of which 37 of them were reported in the Grand Mosque, 274 in Mina, and 198 cases each in Arafat and Muzdalifah.



Saudi Defense Minister Visits Turkish Industrial Companies

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun witness the signing of MoUs between Saudi and Turkish companies. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun witness the signing of MoUs between Saudi and Turkish companies. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Visits Turkish Industrial Companies

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun witness the signing of MoUs between Saudi and Turkish companies. (SPA)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun witness the signing of MoUs between Saudi and Turkish companies. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visited on Wednesday the Turkish Aerospace Industries Company (TAI) in Ankara and Turkish Defense Industries Company Baykar in Istanbul.

During the two visits, Prince Khalid was briefed on the capabilities and potential of the two companies, along with their most prominent projects, modern products, and advanced technologies.

He toured the facilities of the two companies and listened to explanations of their future plans and strategies.

On Tuesday, he met at his residence in Ankara with a delegation from the Turkish Defense Industries Company (ASELSAN), which briefed him on its most prominent projects and latest products and services.

He was accompanied during the two visits by senior officials.

Also on Wednesday, Prince Khalid met with Defense Industry Agency President Haluk Gorgun and executives of large Turkish industrial companies.

Participants reviewed cooperation opportunities in the defense field according to Saudi Vision 2030.

Prince Khalid and Gorgun witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Saudi and Turkish companies.

The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials from the two countries.