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Transport minister inspects Jeddah airport's readiness for pilgrims' departure

Transport minister inspects Jeddah airport's readiness for pilgrims' departure

Saudi Gazette10 hours ago

Saudi Gazette Report
MAKKAH — Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser inspected on Sunday King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to assess its operational readiness for the departure of pilgrims following the completion of their Hajj rituals.
During the visit, the minister reviewed the procedures in place for receiving pilgrims and facilitating their departure, including the workflow in departure lounges, the performance of services and facilities, and overall operational efficiency. The inspection aimed at ensuring a smooth travel experience and deliver top-quality services to pilgrims in line with the highest international standards.
The arrival phase of this year's Hajj season saw more than 1.4 million pilgrims arrive by air from outside the Kingdom. They traveled on over 10,000 scheduled and chartered international flights via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Pilgrims came from 71 countries and 238 destinations, with 11 departure halls designated for their reception.

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Transport minister inspects Jeddah airport's readiness for pilgrims' departure
Transport minister inspects Jeddah airport's readiness for pilgrims' departure

Saudi Gazette

time10 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Transport minister inspects Jeddah airport's readiness for pilgrims' departure

Saudi Gazette Report MAKKAH — Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser inspected on Sunday King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to assess its operational readiness for the departure of pilgrims following the completion of their Hajj rituals. During the visit, the minister reviewed the procedures in place for receiving pilgrims and facilitating their departure, including the workflow in departure lounges, the performance of services and facilities, and overall operational efficiency. The inspection aimed at ensuring a smooth travel experience and deliver top-quality services to pilgrims in line with the highest international standards. The arrival phase of this year's Hajj season saw more than 1.4 million pilgrims arrive by air from outside the Kingdom. They traveled on over 10,000 scheduled and chartered international flights via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Pilgrims came from 71 countries and 238 destinations, with 11 departure halls designated for their reception.

Centuries of Hajj documented in travelers' chronicles
Centuries of Hajj documented in travelers' chronicles

Arab News

time13 hours ago

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Centuries of Hajj documented in travelers' chronicles

For centuries, the Hajj pilgrimage has stood as Islam's most profound convergence of spiritual devotion and physical endurance. This sacred journey, where the trials of travel merge with the sanctity of worship, has been meticulously documented by countless travelers, scholars and rulers whose written accounts have become invaluable chronicles of the history of Islamic civilization. From barefoot pilgrims to seafaring voyagers and desert caravans, the Hajj experience has been preserved across generations through detailed testimonies, books and manuscripts that illuminate both the ritualistic and human dimensions of this transformative journey. According to researcher and historian Saad Al-Joudi, the Hajj transcended its purely ceremonial function to become a comprehensive documentation project that captured the essence of Islamic society across different historical periods. The Andalusian explorer Ibn Jubayr was one of the most meticulous chroniclers, providing exhaustive accounts of his maritime route from Andalusia through Alexandria to the Hejaz from 1183-1185. His writings detail every stage of the pilgrimage sequence: The ritual consecration at designated boundaries (Ihram), the circumambulation of the Kaaba (Tawaf), the Sa'I (running between Safa and Marwa), the overnight vigil in Mina, the standing at Mount Arafat, the symbolic stone-throwing ceremony, and the final farewell circumambulation. • This sacred Hajj journey has been meticulously documented by countless travelers, scholars and rulers. • Their written accounts have become invaluable chronicles of the history of Islamic civilization. • The Andalusian explorer Ibn Jubayr was one of the most meticulous chroniclers, detailing every stage of the pilgrimage sequence. • Ibn Battuta, who set off on his pilgrimage in 1325, focused extensively on the logistical infrastructure supporting the routes to Makkah. The renowned traveler Ibn Battuta, who set off on his pilgrimage in 1325, focused extensively on the logistical infrastructure supporting the routes to Makkah. His accounts express wonder at the remarkable unity displayed by Muslims of diverse languages, ethnicities and cultures as they performed identical rituals in perfect synchronization. He documented the overland passages from the Levant to Madinah, describing rest stations, temporary pilgrim markets and mobile medical facilities. Majed Al-Yazidi, of Umm Al-Qura University, said that Hajj documentation extended beyond travel writers to include sultans and kings. Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid is said to have performed the pilgrimage several times, notably traveling on foot as an expression of humility. The 13th-century Mamluk ruler, Baibars, established comprehensive supply networks and security installations for pilgrim caravans throughout the Levant and Arabian Peninsula, transforming the Hajj into an integrated socio-political undertaking. The geographic scope of the pilgrimage routes reflects the civilizational breadth of the Islamic world. 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Al-Nabulsi documented the extensive cultural exchanges occurring between pilgrims from East Asia to North Africa, recording gift exchanges, manuscript trading and intellectual discussions. Al-Joudi emphasized that Hajj journeys were cultural, spiritual and humanitarian occasions that motivated numerous writers and travelers to document their rich details. He said that among the most prominent was Ibn Battuta, who dedicated extensive passages in his book the Rihla to describing Hajj rituals, sanctuary conditions and caravan movements. Al-Yazidi also highlighted scholar Mohammed Al-Amin Al-Shanqiti, who authored 'The Hajj Journey to God's Sacred House.' His writings combine precise descriptions with jurisprudential insights and religious rulings, alongside personal observations and interactions with pilgrims from across the globe. Modern Arabic literature has been enriched by numerous Hajj memoirs. 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Al-Yazidi said that these diverse travel accounts, despite variations in language and approach, constituted a living historical archive of the Hajj across centuries.

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