For Muslim HNWIs worldwide, the spiritual pull of Islam’s holiest sites is transforming into a magnetic attraction for global real estate investment
Saudi holy cities
Latest in Saudi holy cities
Holy mosques
Saudi reports 81mn worshipers visit Prophet’s Holy Mosque from beginning of Muharram
More than 8 million people offered prayers in the honorable Rawdah and the old campus, Saudi authorities said
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
Saudi Arabia reopens to foreign vaccinated pilgrims, increases Umrah capacity
Capacity will be increased to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month as of August 9
haramain high speed rail
Saudi high-speed railway to resume ops after lengthy Covid suspension
Saudi Arabia will resume operations of the Haramain high speed railway linking the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah on Wednesday
Hajj
Video: Here’s how the Hajj has changed amid the coronavirus pandemic
In 2019, more than 1.8 million foreigners performed the Hajj pilgrimage. This year, Saudi Arabia barred Muslims living abroad from taking part due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
congregational prayers
In pictures: Saudi Arabia reopens mosques for prayers
Complying with stringent social distancing rules, worshippers kept a minimum of two metres apart as many voiced elation over the government decision to allow more than 90,000 mosques across the kingdom to re-open.
Grand Mosque
What Makkah’s Grand Mosque looks like from outer space
An image of the Grand Mosque of Makkah was taken by the UAE’s KhalifaSat on the first day of Eid Al Adha
Al-Shuaibah Desalination Plant
Saudi Arabia launches $826m water projects
Water projects include a pipeline to carry desalinated water in Makkah and across other holy sites
Five Pillars of Islam
Gallery: Millions gathered to Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf
Nearly 2.5 million pilgrims flocked at the Grand mosque for final prayers on Tuesday to perform Tawaf, a seven-round circumambulation around Kaaba at the end of their Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah.
Hajj
How Makkah vendors are cashing in on Hajj pilgrimage
Religious tourism brings the kingdom billions of dollars annually, an important revenue source as it seeks to diversify its economy
Hajj pilgrims
Gallery: Pilgrims arrived in the Islamic holy city of Makkah for Hajj rituals
Muslims from across the world gather in Makkah in Saudi Arabia for the annual six-day pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, an act all Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Five Pillars of Islam
Saudi Arabia prepares for annual hajj pilgrimage as Gulf tensions persist
This year’s hajj takes place amid tensions in the Gulf region exacerbated by a series of attacks on oil tankers, drone strikes and interceptions of maritime traffic on the high sea
Hajj pilgrims
Saudi Arabia enlists 350,000 people to help Hajj pilgrims
A total of 1.65 million pilgrims had arrived in the kingdom by Monday
Hajj pilgrims
Gallery: Saudi holds parade of hajj security forces
Saudi security forces carried out a huge military parade displaying soldiers and other forces who will be responsible for the security of the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage.
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Etihad Airways to deploy extra flights for Hajj pilgrims
Abu Dhabi airline will operate 15 extra flights between July 28 and August 25 to transport pilgrims to Madinah
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Christchurch
Saudi Arabia to host 200 Hajj pilgrims from Christchurch, New Zealand
Kingdom to welcome families of those killed and injured by terrorist attack in March
IHG
IHG reveals plan to build world’s largest Voco hotel in Makkah
InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the signing of Voco Makkah in partnership with Maad International to build the largest Voco in the world