Makkah’s Grand Mosque Welcomes a Million Worshippers Daily

01 April 2023, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Muslims perform the "Tarawih" evening prayers at the Great Mosque in Makkah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (SPA)
01 April 2023, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Muslims perform the "Tarawih" evening prayers at the Great Mosque in Makkah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (SPA)
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Makkah’s Grand Mosque Welcomes a Million Worshippers Daily

01 April 2023, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Muslims perform the "Tarawih" evening prayers at the Great Mosque in Makkah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (SPA)
01 April 2023, Saudi Arabia, Makkah: Muslims perform the "Tarawih" evening prayers at the Great Mosque in Makkah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (SPA)

The Grand Mosque in Makkah has been welcoming nearly a million Umrah pilgrims and worshippers daily since the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan that began 12 days ago.

The numbers are expected to rise in the second half of the month.

The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque announced that as of Saturday, 9,357,853 worshippers and Umrah pilgrims from across the globe have visited the Grand Mosque since the beginning of the holy month.

Relevant authorities have intensified their efforts to provide the best services to the worshippers so that they can perform their prayers smoothly.

Authorities have handed out 508,560 bottles of zamzam water. They provided volunteer services to 982,154 beneficiaries, 1,992,050 have benefited from field guidance and 719,500 from digital awareness services.

Some 322,700 liters of disinfectants have been used to clean the carpets at the Grand Mosque and 320,800 to clean its roofs, and 47,500 liters of hand sanitizers have been distributed. The Grand Mosque has been furnished with 35,000 carpets.

Social and humanitarian services have benefitted 249,906 people, and 653,369 people have benefitted from guidance that is provided in various languages.

Moreover, the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque revealed that the average duration of the Umrah rituals performed by each pilgrim had reached 104 minutes. The smooth process is testament to the services provided by the authorities.

On Sunday, General President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais announced that the Presidency has completed the preparation of the third Saudi expansion of the Grand Mosque.

He stated that all its floors, roofs, and yards are ready to accommodate the largest number of pilgrims and visitors.

He extended his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the great efforts and unprecedented services they provide for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.



Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Iran FM Receives Heads of Trilateral Committee Delegation in Tehran 

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi receives the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee in Tehran on Tuesday. (SPA)

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi received in Tehran on Tuesday the heads of the delegations of the joint trilateral committee tasked with following up on the 2023 Beijing Agreement.

The Saudi delegation is led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji and China’s delegation is headed by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Miao Deyu.

The officials discussed ways to boost cooperation and reviewed issues of mutual interest.

The commitee had met in Tehran earlier on Tuesday with the parties saying they look forward to expanding economic and political cooperation, as well as in other fields.

They also underlined the importance of dialogue and regional cooperation to bolster security, stability, peace and economic prosperity.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and China called for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. They condemned Israel’s attacks against Iran and the violation of its sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia and Iran stressed their commitment to implementing all articles of the 2023 Beijing Agreement, saying they seek to bolster good neighborliness between them.


Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Mohammed bin Salman, Sharaa Discuss Syria’s Economic Recovery 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks on Tuesday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The leaders reviewed bilateral relations between their countries and opportunities to strengthen cooperation across several fields.

They tackled issues of mutual interest and the efforts aimed at promoting security and stability and supporting economic recovery in Syria.


Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
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Saudi FM, Rubio Discuss Regional, Int’l Developments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in Riyadh in February. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Tuesday on regional and international developments.

The State Department said they discussed the developments in Yemen and the pressing need to advance peace efforts in Sudan.

Rubio welcomed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the United States in November.

The visit, he said, “underscored the strength of the Saudi-US partnership.”