Day: June 23, 2024

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Sunday that a drone attack caused damage to a merchant vessel 65 nautical miles west of Yemen’s Al Hudaydah in the red sea.

“All crew members are reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call,” UKMTO said.

Since November, the Houthi group has been carrying out repeated drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden on Western commercial ships. This followed the brutal war waged by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, forcing shipping firms to change their vessels’ routes to longer journeys.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Makkah: The Makkah branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has distributed 13,339 copies of the Holy Quran to departing pilgrims from Thursday to Saturday at Taif International Airport.

These Quran copies are part of the gift from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, including publications of the King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex.

The gift includes Quran copies of various sizes and translations, featuring the meanings of the Quran words in different languages.

The departing pilgrims expressed their appreciation for the dedicated efforts made by Saudi Arabia in serving them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Madinah: A large number of buses depart Makkah daily heading to Madinah, carrying thousands of pilgrims who have completed their Hajj rituals this year.

The Saudi Press Agency yesterday captured images of the buses filled with pilgrims arriving in Madinah where they were offered services by employees of various government and security agencies concerned with pilgrims’ affairs, and volunteers who exerted tremendous effort under the scorching sun to monitor and guide the buses round the clock and facilitate the pilgrims’ movement, all part of the comprehensive plan entailing receiving pilgrims in Madinah and ensuring that they enjoy a smooth and safe conclusion to their spiritual journey.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Global Environmental Management Services Ltd. (Reviva), a subsidiary of Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) Group, signed an agreement today to establish a plant for recycling marine and industrial waste at Jeddah Islamic Port. The project, valued at SAR 30 million, will cover an area of 10,000 square meters.

The agreement was signed by Mawani’s President Omar bin Talal Hariri and SIRC’s CEO Eng. Ziad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha in the presence of other officials.

This initiative is part of Mawani’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability, ensure marine safety, and develop a sustainable maritime sector. It aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Green Ports Initiative, aiming to bolster Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center and a hub connecting three continents.

The new plant will enhance waste utilization by converting waste into valuable resources, thereby promoting a thriving circular economy in the Kingdom.
It will offer comprehensive waste management and recycling solutions, industrial maintenance services, by-product recycling, and transportation services, which will minimize waste generation and improve waste management operations while preserving the environment.

The collaboration between Mawani and Reviva will contribute to the Kingdom’s waste management goals as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and increase the private sector’s role in supporting economic growth. The initiative aims to position Jeddah Islamic Port among the top 10 ports globally.

Mawani is committed to launching pioneering initiatives connected to the Saudi Green Initiative, focusing on emission reduction and climate change control, while also strengthening public-private partnerships to enhance the global commercial appeal of the Kingdom’s ports.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its May report on the performance of domestic and international airports in Saudi Arabia.

Airports are assessed based on 11 operational performance standards, which align with strategic objectives to enhance services and ensure a seamless traveller experience at Kingdom airports.

The report ranked King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport, Abha International Airport, Qaisumah Airport, and Arar Airport highly.

GACA categorizes airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger numbers, ensuring a transparent approach.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the top spot in the category of airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, with an 82% compliance rate. Following closely behind was King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 73%.

In the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport and Prince Mohammed bin Ab
dulaziz International Airport tied for first place, with a 91% compliance rate. However, King Fahd International Airport outperformed its competitor in achieving] standards percentage.

In the 2 to 5 million annual passenger category, Abha International Airport and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jizan demonstrated a 100% compliance rate. However, Abha International Airport outperformed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport by surpassing higher targets in the specified evaluation criteria.

In the category of less than 2 million passengers annually, Qaisumah International Airport achieved a 100% compliance rate, outperforming its competitors regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.

Arar Airport came first in the domestic airport category, with a 100% compliance rate. It outperformed all competing airports regarding average waiting time for departing and arriving flights.

GACA evaluates airport performance through operational performance standards focused on critical passenger
touchpoints. These include check-in, security, passport control, customs, baggage claim, and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). These metrics ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for all passengers and are aligned with international best practices.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: President of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais has launched the “Answering Inquirers” initiative via phone to respond to religious inquiries from visitors of the Grand Mosque, guiding them in performing their worship and Umrah rituals correctly.

Al-Sudais stated that the initiative aims to streamline processes for Grand Mosque visitors and enhance the functions of initiative offices, which address questions from visitors and instruct them on adhering to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad during Umrah rituals.

The initiative’s administration, comprising scholars, judges, and educators, endeavors to educate pilgrims and visitors on various Islamic issues to ensure their worship adheres to proper religious guidelines.

Source: Saudi Press Agency