Latest news with #TawfiqAlRabiah
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Saudi student Mohammed Al Qassim fatally stabbed in park near Cambridge, killer's image
ALBAWABA - Saudi student Mohammed Al Qassim tragic murder continues to spark global outrage. A Saudi student Mohammed Al Qassim was stabbed to death on Friday evening in a park south of Cambridge, UK, police have confirmed. The incident has triggered an ongoing investigation, with two men arrested so far, according to a report by Al Ekhbariya TV. Britain's Cambridge Crown Court heard the case for the first time on Tuesday. Charges of murder were brought against the defendant. He denied the crime in front of the judge, though, so the court decided to delay making a verdict and carry out more research. Photo from social media Mohammed Al Qassim and the killer In addition to being a scholarship student, the late Mohammed Al-Qassim was a young man renowned for his moral character and his voluntary work serving God's guests at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Thousands of people posted his pictures in volunteer uniform during the Hajj season, expressing both pride and sadness. "A noble Saudi young man, known for his piety to his parents and his volunteer service to the Guests of God at the Grand Mosque in Mecca," said Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in a heartfelt statement on the X platform in memory of Mohammed Al Qassim. I send my deepest sympathies and condolences to his family. May God show him mercy and pardon him. Additionally, Mishary Rashid Alafasy wrote: "As a Muslim, a Quran memorizer, a servant of God's guests, a knowledge seeker, and a son of our nation, we owe Mohammed Al Qassim a right. He was betrayed in his murder. Officials weren't the only ones who responded. A private letter that Mohammed Al Qassim wrote to his sister prior to his passing was released by his sister, and it caused a lot of people to express their sorrow. "My sister... you are a source of pride and support," he remarked. I vow to God that I love you with an unfathomable love, despite the fact that I have a strange feeling that I cannot explain to you. Mohammed's humanity was emphasized by these straightforward comments, which combined pride with sadness. People have said that Mohammed "departed in body, but left behind a fragrant legacy." In addition to expressing his sorrow, Fayez Al-Maliki uploaded a picture of Mohammed Al Qassim along with the following message: "May God comfort and strengthen his family's hearts." #Al-Qassim Muslim. I pray that God will give him paradise. In order to honor Mohammed Al Qassim, his posts, recollections, and even pictures of his prayer rug—which stayed exactly as he left it—have been turned into symbols. Arab and Gulf audiences are keeping a careful eye on the case's specifics as investigations intensify, anticipating justice and the conclusion of the accused's trial.
Arab News
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Malaysia grants Saudi Hajj minister Al-Rabiah 'Hijra Personality of the Year' award
KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah received the International Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 2025 award in Malaysia on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Malaysia grants the award — the name of which translates to Person of the Year for Hijrah — annually to an influential Muslim personality to recognize their contributions to Islamic causes. Al-Rabiah won the award for his efforts in developing systems designed to make Hajj and Umrah run safely and smoothly for pilgrims. Al-Rabiah was presented with his award by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Religious Affairs Mohammed Naeem bin Mukhtar were present at the ceremony. The event was held in Kuala Lumpur on the occasion of Hijri New Year.
Gulf Insider
08-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Welcomed Pilgrims On 7,000 Flights From 238 Cities
As the annual Hajj pilgrimage draws to a close, Saudi Arabia has revealed that more than 7,000 flights from 238 cities worldwide brought pilgrims to the Kingdom this year, in what is being described as one of the most integrated and technologically advanced Hajj operations to date. Speaking at the annual reception for distinguished Hajj guests hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah emphasized the unprecedented levels of coordination and efficiency that marked the 2025 pilgrimage. Dr. Al Rabiah announced the enhancement of the Nusuk app, which now provides more than 130 digital services to pilgrims from visa facilitation to guidance for every stage of the journey, including their safe return home. The Minister also cited the expansion of shaded areas to more than 300,000 square meters, including 170,000 square meters along pilgrim routes and the planting of 23,000 trees to improve comfort and reduce heat exposure at key sites. Saudi authorities boosted the electric grid's capacity at the holy sites by 95 percent, a project costing over 3 billion riyals, and distributed more than 7 million cubic meters of water across Mecca and the pilgrimage sites. Transportation saw similar upgrades: over 4,700 Haramain train journeys, 2,500 trips on the Mashaer Metro, and a fleet of more than 20,000 buses moved crowds efficiently between sacred locations. Healthcare capacity also reached new heights, with a more than 60 percent increase in hospital beds, the opening of a new emergency hospital, and the deployment of 71 rapid-response medical points throughout the holy sites.
Arab News
08-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia achieves unprecedented integration, efficiency during 2025 Hajj, says minister
MINA: Saudi Arabia has achieved unprecedented levels of integration, efficiency and service excellence during this year's Hajj, according to the Minister of Hajj and Umrah. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah was speaking at the annual reception for dignitaries and senior Islamic figures who performed Hajj this year, which was held on Saturday in Mina and attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This year saw the launch of the Hajj Transport Center, which served as the central hub for transportation across Makkah and the holy sites and was one of this year's notable achievements, said Al-Rabiah. In terms of infrastructure, he added, the electric power capacity in the holy sites increased by 75 percent, with total investments exceeding SR3 billion ($800 million). Logistically, the minister said: 'More than 7,000 flights from 238 destinations around the world were received. In addition, 4,700 Haramain High-Speed Railway trips and 2,500 shuttle bus journeys were operated, supported by the deployment of over 20,000 buses.' He added: 'In the health sector, hospital bed capacity was expanded by over 60 percent. A new emergency hospital was inaugurated, and 71 rapid response units were deployed, tripling the emergency response capacity compared to previous years.' Al-Rabiah also emphasized the success of the 'No Hajj Without a Permit' campaign, which played a vital role in maintaining order, protecting pilgrims and ensuring the safe management of crowds. He said the campaign was launched to reinforce discipline, protect legitimate pilgrims and facilitate crowd management in a safe environment, enhancing smooth flow and improving organizational efficiency. On the volunteer front, the Ministry of Health announced the participation of more than 5,000 health volunteers during this year's Hajj season, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of medical services provided to pilgrims. This initiative aligns with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Guests of God Service Program, launched in 2019 under Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to increase the number of volunteers and enhance their contribution to serving pilgrims. The ministry said: 'The volunteers supported healthcare services across three main areas, preventive, therapeutic and support services, in various locations throughout the holy sites … as well as through active participation in hospitals and health centers.' Authorities also praised the role of advanced technology and digital platforms that streamlined pilgrims' movements and access to services, while thousands of security personnel, health workers, and volunteers were deployed to offer support.
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's Hajj Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: No Effort Spared in Serving the Pilgrims
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah stressed that the Kingdom is keen on providing the best services and procedures to the Hajj pilgrims. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said that no effort has been spared in serving them. The Hajj and Umrah Ministry had sought during its preparations for this year's Hajj to coordinate with Hajj affairs offices from across the globe. It held 78 preparatory meetings that helped in elevating readiness and coordination with concerned authorities. All this aims to allow the pilgrims to perform the rituals smoothly and at ease, stressed the minister. Moreover, Al-Rabiah highlighted the Masar Nusuk app that played a role in documenting and organizing service providers, ensuring a fair and transparent operational environment. The ministry is keen on providing high quality services at appropriate prices and achieving operational sustainability in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, he added. The ministry has so far received over 1.5 million pilgrims from across the globe, he revealed. Al-Rabiah also underlined the cooperation between his ministry and Interior Ministry in implementing the 'No Hajj without a Permit' campaign. The campaign aims to preserve the security and safety of legal pilgrims and prevent any violations or victims of Hajj scams, he said. The Nusuk app has played a role in documenting the personal and health information of pilgrims, as well as their residency status, he explained. The app acts as an ID for the pilgrims as they move from one holy site to another during the Hajj, he went on to say. This has helped limit violations. Al-Rabiah noted that his ministry sought to tackle challenges early on, such as the preparedness of infrastructure and modernizing services for the pilgrims. Over 62,000 inspection tours have been held and some 6,300 reservations have been made and dealt with immediately, reflecting a keenness on ensuring quality of services, Al-Rabiah said. Al-Rabiah also revealed that efforts have been made to boost environment sustainability at the Hajj. Over 170,000 square meters of area have been provided with shade from the sun and 20,000 plants have been planted to provide vegetation cover and reduce temperatures. Efforts have also been exerted to limit the use of plastic and increase reliance on clean sources of energy, he added. Hajj services are also benefitting from advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, said Al-Rabiah. They are being used in crowd management, analyzing data and other areas. The Nusuk app has been developed to become a 'digital companion' to the pilgrims, boasting over 100 services, Al-Rabiah said. The Hajj and Umrah Ministry is constantly following up on new technologies to benefit from them in servicing the pilgrims, he stressed. On approval ratings for the Hajj, the minister revealed that the rate increased from 74 to 97 percent in the past three years, including this Hajj season. On whether other countries have reached out to Saudi Arabia to benefit from its experience in organizing such a massive event as the Hajj, Al-Rabiah confirmed that his ministry held the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition to that end. Delegations from 100 countries took part and over 670 agreements were signed for countries to benefit from Saudi Arabia's expertise, Al-Rabiah stated.
