Hajj Pilgrims To Get Zamzam Water in Their Accommodations

Zamzam water will be provided to Haj pilgrims in their accommodations through out their stay in Makkah, according to Minister of Haj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Bentan.

“Provision of the blessed water to the guests of Allah is a scared duty. By delivering it to pilgrims in their accommodations, we will help reduce congestion inside the Grand Mosque and cut the Zamzam water black market,” he said after a meeting with the Unified Zamazma Office.Best Water on Earth Surface

Bentan said Zamzam water is free, but nominal charges are taken to cover the cost of transportation to the accommodations of pilgrims.

Chairman of the Unified Zamazma Office’s board of directors Abdul Hadi Zamzami said all arrangements have been completed to provide Zamzam water to all foreign pilgrims in their accommodations in Makkah during their entire stay from arrival until departure.

He said they have an electronic system to make sure that enough quantities of Zamzam water reach the pilgrims right where they are staying.

Meanwhile, the ministry has decided the Haj charges for domestic pilgrims. The charges, service categories and the mechanism for registration will be announced on Wednesday.

“Domestic pilgrims can start registering with the Mutawifeen at the ministry’s e-gate from Aug. 3,” the Haj minister said.

Bentan also discussed with officials at the Tuwafa establishment for Arab pilgrims arrangements to host about 280,000 pilgrims from 19 Arab countries.

The minister said the World Health Organization (WHO) will decide the countries affected by infectious diseases so as not to allow their citizens to perform Haj.

“We depend on WHO’s reports to decide on infection-free countries so as to allow their pilgrims to come to the Kingdom for the Haj,” he said in a press statement following a tour to Tuwafa establishments in Makkah.

The Kingdom last year prevented people from a number of West African countries to perform the Haj because of Ebola virus.

“People from all infection-free countries will be allowed to come to Saudi Arabia for Haj this season,” he added. Hajj Pilgrims To Get Zamzam Water in Their Accommodations

Haramain Train Station in Makkah

 The company implementing the Haramain train station in Rasifah has completed 90 percent of the construction and finishing work.

Saeed Al-Qurashi, the head of the transport committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and member of board of directors, told a local publication that the Haramain train project is expected to be operational in 2017, and will be able to transport 9,000 passengers per hour, which will ease the movement of pilgrims coming from King Abdulaziz International Airport.

“The station is a small city containing all the basic facilities and services for worshipers, and was designed according to aesthetic and engineering specifications, very unique in the world,” he added, explaining that the transport prices have yet to be defined.

The track of the train is 450 km and will shorten the travel time between Madinah and Makkah to two hours.

He also said the station is like a mini city with all necessary services for visitors and pilgrims.

“The station has arrival and departure halls, commercial stores, a prayer room, parking space, car rental offices, public sector services and their offices and restaurants,” he said.The station has been aesthetically designed in a way which makes it one of a kind worldwide,” said Al-Qurashi.

He added the ticket charges have not been decided yet.

“The railway that will connect Makkah and Madinah is one of the Kingdom’s most carefully supervised projects. It is one of the top priorities for the government. The project is going on schedule without any delays or hindrance. It will facilitate the transportation between the two holy cities greatly,” said Al-Hamdan. He said he made a tour of the train and traveled between King Abdullah Economic City and Madinah during a test ride.

“The train goes at a speed of 200 km per hour. I was with a group of officials and supervisors of the project and I had checked the station in Rabigh. It is complete and ready for operation. The national manpower is doing a great job as Saudi workers are trained in countries such as Spain,” said Al-Hamdan.

He also said the train will connect Makkah and Madinah and will have stops in Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City and Rabigh.

“The 450-km long railway is built using the latest technology and most advanced materials. The train has the latest engines and the cars were built using most advanced technology in consultation with international companies ,” said Al-Hamdan.

There is also a VIP lounge for first class passengers, he added.

“The station will have around 70 escalators, each 23 meters long. The escalators will be the longest in the Middle East. The station will also be fully equipped with all required services. The Civil Defense will have an office at the station and there will be a parking lot with a capacity for 6,000 vehicles,” said Al-Suwaikit. Haramain Train Station in Makkah

The station will also have parking for buses and taxis, he added.

“The municipality is also working on constructing a promenade for pedestrians. The total area of the station is 461,000 sq. meters. The station is also fully equipped with surveillance cameras and plasma screens,” said Al-Suwaikit.

“We have also allocated a budget for the design and aesthetic appeal of the station. The station will have chandeliers reflecting the theme of the station and matching the design of the trains, offices and stores,” said Al-Suwaikit.

He also said the station was designed to be as eco-friendly as possible using eco-friendly material. The station will have a glass ceiling to allow the sunlight to illuminate it during the day.

Five stations have been planned for the Haramain train. They are: Madinah at the north end of the line, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Jeddah city center, and Makkah in the south.

The Makkah Central Station is located near the 3rd Ring Road. The Jeddah Central Station is located on the Haramain Road. The railway alignment route will be on the median of the Haramain road. The station at KAIA will be a terminus station. Madinah will have only one passenger station. A station may be required for the Haj Terminal at Jeddah Airport.

Makkah station is located at the main entrance of Makkah city on the 3rd Ring Road at Al-Rusaifa district. It is about 3 km from the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The station is bordered by Abdullah Areef Street on the east, and King Abdulaziz Road Project on the north.

Jeddah station is located in the center of Jeddah, specifically in Al-Sulaimaniya district at the junction of Al-Haramain Road with King Abdullah Road. It is bordered on the west by Ali Murtaza Street.

KAEC station is located at the entrance of KAEC from the east (near the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) and within the administrative boundaries of KAEC.

Madinah station is located in Knowledge Economic City on King Abdulaziz Road and along the Prophet’s Mosque. The train station is bordered by University Road on the west and the Junction of the 3rd Ring Road on the east.Haramain Train Station in Makkah

Haramain Train Station in Makkah