Latest news with #MadinahRegionDevelopmentAuthority
Barnama
30-07-2025
- Barnama
Saudi Arabia Launches 'Ala Khutah' Experience To Retrace Prophetic Migration Route
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is recreating the historic Hijrah (migration) of Prophet Muhammad through the 'Ala Khutah' (In the Prophet's Steps) programme - a six-month immersive journey beginning this November that allows participants to retrace the sacred route from Mecca to Medina. Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh said the initiative is part of the broader 'Hijrah Trail' project, launched earlier this year by the Governor of Madinah Region and Chairman of the Madinah Region Development Authority, Prince Salman bin Sultan. The experience allows participants to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, covering 470 kilometres and passing through 41 historical landmarks and five key locations. bootstrap slideshow He said the 'Ala Khutah' experience has drawn widespread global attention, particularly from Southeast Asia, as it has resonated deeply with the Muslim community, with over one million requests submitted to join the experience. 'This strong response highlights the special place the Hijrah story holds in the hearts of Muslims in the region, many of whom are eager to engage in a spiritually enriching journey that is tied to one of Islam's greatest historical moments,' he said in a statement on Wednesday. Participants will engage in an array of curated activities, including visits to key historical sites, camel riding, and theatrical re-enactments of the Hijrah at original locations. 'The experience has been meticulously designed according to the highest standards, relying on authentic and credible historical sources,' he said. The route also features eight designated rest camps, over 50 enrichment stations, and modern transport solutions such as 4x4 shuttle buses that allow visitors to reach the iconic Cave of Thawr in just three minutes, a journey that previously took over two hours on foot. 'The goal is to bring this interactive and human-centred recreation of the Prophetic journey to a broader global audience,' he said.
Arab News
25-07-2025
- Arab News
Madinah authority restores historic holy sites
RIYADH: Projects to preserve and restore important religious and historic sites in Madinah have brought a growing number of visitors to the area. The work by the Madinah Region Development Authority includes ongoing restoration of the Battle of the Trench site and surrounding areas, where followers of the Prophet Muhammad dug a deep trench to fortify themselves against attack in 627 C.E. A place that holds deep religious and historical significance for Muslims, the redevelopment includes restoring several mosques and other significant sites. The authority is also redeveloping the Miqat of Dhu Al-Hulaifah, where the Prophet Muhammed entered the ritual state of Ihram before performing the Umrah pilgrimage. The initiative is focused on expanding the mosque's facilities and improving services. Over the past year, several Madinah landmarks have been enhanced with modern amenities and new guide services using digital technologies. Other upgrades include the installation of pedestrian facilities around the city's central area and near the Prophet's Mosque, such as electric vehicle access and a pedestrian path to Quba Mosque, and landscaping and public amenities. The Rua Al-Madinah Project is a major development featuring an extensive tunnel network and numerous luxury hotels which will contribute to the target of increasing the holy city's hospitality capacity to 30 million visitors by 2030. The Al-Matal Project, another new initiative, features integrated tourist and recreational facilities built into the mountainside of the Al-Jamawat neighborhood. The schemes will enrich the Madinah visitor experience, a key objective of Saudi Vision 2030.
Arab News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Madinah presents SDG progress at UN in New York
RIYADH: The Madinah Region Development Authority participated in the main session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the UN headquarters in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. In the session, titled 'Transformation from the Ground Up: Acting at Local Level,' the authority highlighted Madinah's pioneering role and the Kingdom's leadership in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals. Abdulrahman Ibrahim, the authority's chief data and innovation officer, said Madinah had become a model for international best practices. Key initiatives include the 2023 Madinah City Voluntary Local Review — the first in the Kingdom and second in the Arab region; the 2024 State of Sustainable Development Report for Madinah Region — the first Voluntary Subnational Review in the Arab region; and the launch of the Atlas of Sustainable Development in Madinah City Neighborhoods, a global first for precise, neighborhood-level SDG assessment. The session also reviewed successful local and regional approaches to accelerating sustainable SDG solutions, discussing key enablers and opportunities to expand local action. The authority's participation, part of the Saudi delegation led by Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, underscores the Kingdom's commitment to sustainable development aligned with Vision 2030. The UN forum, running through to July 23, also featured dialogue sessions on global frameworks for resilient urban development and strategies to create value for cities through data-driven trends.
Arab News
19-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Madinah leads global discussion on sustainability
RIYADH: Madinah Mayor and CEO of the Madinah Region Development Authority Fahad Albulihshi inaugurated an event at the UN headquarters in New York, emphasizing the critical role of local action in achieving global sustainability goals. The event, titled 'Act Local, Accelerate Global: Advancing Inclusive, Science- and Evidence-Based Solutions for SDG Localization in the Arab Region,' was part of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. It underscored the need for inclusive, data-driven approaches to localize the Sustainable Development Goals effectively and ensure no one is left behind, according to the Saudi Press Agency. This year's participation reflects the Kingdom's alignment of Vision 2030 with the global SDG framework and highlights Madinah's efforts in localizing the SDGs and adopting the Quality of Life Index initiative. Albulihshi noted that cities are responsible for implementing 65 percent of the SDGs, adding that the availability and quality of urban data remain major challenges. He stressed the importance of global frameworks in guiding sustainable local development. The Madinah Region Development Authority showcased its Atlas of Sustainable Development for the city and its neighborhoods, along with a report on building a risk-resilient future — both key tools for informed sustainable development decisions. Organized by the Madinah Region Development Authority in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the World Council on City Data, the event brought together regional and international partners. On the sidelines, the mayor will meet with local and regional government representatives to discuss cooperation on the UN 2030 Agenda, including governance, inclusive services, and local investment to support regional SDG progress. The UN forum, running through to July 23, also featured dialogue sessions on global frameworks for resilient urban development and strategies to create value for cities through data-driven trends.
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Madinah mayor to present SDG progress at UN
MADINAH: Madinah Region Development Authority is participating in the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York under the theme 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.' The forum, running until July 23, brings together UN member states to review progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The authority's participation is part of the Kingdom's delegation, led by Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim. This year's participation reflects the Kingdom's alignment of Vision 2030 principles with the global SDGs framework and highlights Madinah's role in localizing the SDGs and adopting the Quality of Life Index initiative. Fahad Albulihshi, Madinah mayor and CEO of the authority, will deliver the Kingdom's address at the Local and Regional Governments Forum during the UN event. His speech will focus on Madinah's role in localizing SDGs and the Kingdom's commitment to advancing SDG efforts at the local level, aligned with Vision 2030 goals. On the sidelines, the mayor will hold bilateral meetings with representatives of local and regional governments to discuss cooperation on the UN 2030 Agenda. Discussions will also address governance, inclusive services, and local investment in supporting SDG progress regionally.
