This Hajj could be biggest since requirement for women accompanied by male guardians was dropped in 2021
Maximum age limit has also been scrapped this year, meaning thousands of elderly will be performing the ritual
Updated 24 June 2023
AFP
MAKKAH: Enormous crowds of worshippers thronged Makkah, Islam's holiest city, on Friday for the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in years, with more than two million expected to brave the scorching Saudi Arabian heat.
Pilgrims in white robes and sandals packed the ancient city, now dotted with luxury hotels and air-conditioned shopping malls, after flooding in on planes, buses, and trains for the annual rites.
This year's Hajj, one of the world's biggest annual religious gatherings, could break attendance records, officials said.
"As the Hajj draws near, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prepares... for the largest Islamic gathering in history," Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said in a video published by the ministry this week.
Rites include circling the Kaaba, the large black cube in Makkah's Grand Mosque, praying on Mount Arafat, and "stoning the devil" by throwing pebbles at three giant concrete walls representing Satan.
More than two million people from more than 160 countries will attend, Rabiah said -- a dramatic increase on the 926,000 from last year, when numbers were capped at one million following the Covid-19 pandemic.
About 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad had already arrived by Wednesday evening, Saudi authorities have said.
In 2019, about 2.5 million people took part. Only 10,000 were allowed in 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, rising to nearly 59,000 a year later.
The Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives.
Travelers from around the world have been pouring into Jeddah's modernized airport, some of them using streamlined visa services to disembark from planes straight onto buses to their accommodation.
Some 24,000 buses will be in service to ferry the pilgrims, as well as 17 trains capable of moving 72,000 people every hour, officials said.
"It is an unbelievable feeling that is very emotional," Souad bin Oueis, a 60-year-old Moroccan pilgrim, told AFP after arriving on her first visit to Saudi Arabia along with her husband.
This Hajj will be the biggest since the requirement for women to be accompanied by male guardians was dropped in 2021.
This year, the maximum age limit has also been scrapped, meaning thousands of elderly will be among those contending with Saudi summer temperatures that are expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit).
The Hajj rituals begin late Sunday at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The worshippers will sleep in tents on Monday night and spend Tuesday at Mount Arafat, the climax of the Hajj, where the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
After casting pebbles in the "stoning of the devil" ritual on Wednesday, marking the start of the Eid Al-Adha holiday, pilgrims return to Makkah to perform a farewell "tawaf" -- circling seven times around the Kaaba.
Makkah pilgrimages are a major source of income for Saudi Arabia, which is embarking on an ambitious plan to overhaul its largely oil-dependent economy. The Hajj and year-round Umrah rituals generate an estimated $12 billion annually.
An expansion project that involves scaling up infrastructure and transport supporting Makkah and Madinah, where two of Islam's holiest sites are located, is a key part of the economic plan as the kingdom looks to increase visitor numbers.
This year's summer timing for the Hajj, which follows the lunar calendar, will test the endurance of worshippers during the four-day, mostly outdoor ritual. More than 32,000 health workers will be on hand to help fend off heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion.
RIYADH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his first tour of the Middle East as Washington's top diplomat.
Rubio's plane took off from Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, bound for Riyadh, where he is set to meet Saudi leaders including his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia in preparation for direct talks between US and Russian officials in the coming days to seek an end to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The trip follows last week’s telephone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in which Trump said they “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.”
SINDBAD Collective takes creativity for a road trip across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Together, the aim of the SINDBAD Collective is to form a community of creatives who believe in breaking barriers, taking risks and making art more accessible
Updated 17 February 2025
Jasmine Bager
ALKHOBAR: If you were in the right place at the right time, you might have caught a glimpse of something unexpected — a vehicle led by eight art experts, transformed into a roving exhibition, rolling across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
From Feb. 6-20, the fourth annual exhibition of the SINDBAD Collective took to the road, turning highways into hallways and city streets into gallery spaces.
This year’s edition, “SINDBAD: On the Road!,” is a mobile exhibition that challenges the traditional idea of gallery spaces. The collective modified an existing vehicle with a custom extension, allowing the team to exhibit, collect and connect with creative communities throughout the journey. They started in Jeddah, their home base, and made stops in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Bahrain before returning to Jeddah for a final showcase.
Moving art was just one part of the journey; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. (Supplied)
The journey began with a pre-launch event in Jeddah on Feb. 5, featuring an open mic and pickup event at Wasl Art Space.
The road trip officially kicked off on Feb. 6, as the SINDBAD team set out for Riyadh. A car meet took place on Feb. 7, followed by a pickup and open mic at Lamaat and Beast House in JAX district on Feb. 8.
In Alkhobar, where Arab News met the fun and dynamic team, the event was held on a rooftop at Bohemia Art Cafe on Valentine’s Day. The vehicle wouldn’t fit for logistical reasons, so people had to climb the stairs to witness — and submit — art.
HIGHLIGHTS
• From Feb. 6-20, the fourth annual exhibition of the SINDBAD Collective took to the road, turning highways into hallways and city streets into gallery spaces.
• In Alkhobar, where Arab News met the fun and dynamic team, the event was held on a rooftop at Bohemia Art Cafe on Valentine’s Day.
• The journey then crossed into Bahrain, where Riwaq Art Space hosted an exhibition on Feb. 15.
The journey then crossed into Bahrain, where Riwaq Art Space hosted an exhibition on Feb. 15.
Every year, the collective hosts an open call, inviting artists and researchers to submit work that challenges traditional formats. (Supplied)
The adventure will return to Jeddah, where on Feb. 20 Naqsh Art Studio will host a final exhibition showcasing the collected works and research from the entirety of the trip.
But the journey won’t stop there. SINDBAD will also participate at the N.E.S.T. Book Launch in AlUla on March 13.
This year, the structure itself was a modular three-panel system, designed to collapse, adapt and cross boundaries — literally and figuratively. The journey wasn’t just about moving art; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. Each city hosted a mix of guerrilla-style pop-ups and community activations.
Moving art was just one part of the journey; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. (AN photo)
This year, the team introduced SINDBAD Radio, an online platform featuring open-mic performances, artist submissions and curated music playlists to accompany the journey.
“Whenever somebody submits a work, they come and record a voice note explaining it,” Abdullah Al-Amoudi, a co-founder of the collective, told Arab News. “We put it on SINDBAD Radio, so when you tune in, you hear their story.” The radio station also broadcast live updates from the road, allowing audiences to follow along as the team made their way across the Kingdom.
SINDBAD Collective was founded in 2021 in Jeddah by a group of artists, designers, curators and researchers who wanted to create a more inclusive and experimental art platform.
The SINDBAD has been collecting artwork, sharing music, and engaging with communities since Feb. 6. (Supplied)
Every year, the collective hosts an open call, inviting artists and researchers to submit work that challenges traditional formats.
“The space of SINDBAD is a space of discovery. It’s a space for learning. It’s a space to make mistakes,” said his sister Ahaad Al-Amoudi, a founding member of the collective. “We take most of the works that are submitted. We never say no to any work.”
Ahaad is an accomplished artist whose work addresses history and representation. She earned degrees in visual communication from Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah and a master’s degree in print from the Royal College of Art, London.
Safwan Fallatah, also known as Mista Safwan, is a music producer, photographer and filmmaker. (Supplied)
In her research about Saudi Arabia’s ethnography, Ahaad’s photography, video and print installations are meant to reinterpret historical renditions of a reforming culture.
Ahaad and Abdullah’s mother, Effat Fadag, is an associate professor of fine arts at the University of Jeddah and a multidisciplinary artist — and the biggest champion of the group.
Abdullah is a designer and artist trained in film and landscape architecture, and the co-founder of THIRD SPACE* Studio. Together, they form the core of the collective.
They chose the name SINDBAD because of its deep cultural resonance. “Everybody has a different memory of who Sindbad is, but he’s always journeying,” Ahaad explained. “That’s why we thought he fit really well. He’s young, he’s fresh, he’s journeying.”
For the SINDBAD team, this year was all about community-building. “There’s so much happening in Riyadh, in Bahrain, in Jeddah,” Ahaad said. “We wanted to create a bond where we’re coming to you in Alkhobar, but you’re also coming to us.”
The idea of an open, evolving exhibition resonated deeply with people.
“We got to Alkhobar, and we thought — Bahrain is close enough, right?” Ahaad recalled. “We can cross the border. We can take this even further.”
As they traveled, something unexpected happened: Artists started pulling out artworks from their pockets. “They would see the truck open, see the artworks inside, and then literally take pieces out of their pockets and hand them to us,” Abdullah said. “They were ready for it. Some would even go back home, grab their artworks, and return.” The trip became a testament to artistic spontaneity and inclusivity.
“A lot of young artists feel like they have to apply to an open call, that they have to be at a certain level,” the siblings said. “We’re trying to break that barrier. We want them to feel safe, to feel like they can showcase their work, even if it’s a work in progress or something they made years ago. It’s time for them to take that step.”
Since Feb. 6, the SINDBAD team has been on the road, collecting artwork, sharing music, and engaging with communities.
Abdullah, who drove the entire 15-hour stretch from Riyadh to Alkhobar, described it as part of the fun. “I enjoy it a lot,” he said. “We have a radio station this year with SINDBAD Radio. It’s curated, and we go live on Instagram. People can tune in and listen as we drive — ‘We’re coming, we’re passing through this city, we’re on our way to that city.’”
With each stop, SINDBAD brought new voices into the fold, proving that art isn’t confined to galleries — it’s everywhere.
Beyond the Al-Amoudi family, SINDBAD Collective includes a diverse group of artists and researchers.
Mohsin Ali is an architectural researcher and curator exploring post-colonial migration and decolonial processes through architecture. He is currently an assistant curator at Art Jameel.
Damon James Owen is a multidisciplinary artist and educator working in printmaking, publishing, and experimental media.
Manar Eissa is a graphic designer and illustrator whose nature-inspired art reflects her passion for storytelling.
Yasser Al-Zahrani is a production manager and art director specializing in Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art scene.
Safwan Fallatah, also known as Mista Safwan, is a music producer, photographer and filmmaker.
Together, the aim of the SINDBAD Collective is to form a community of creatives who believe in breaking barriers, taking risks and making art more accessible. And if you missed them this time, keep your eyes on the road. You never know when SINDBAD might roll through your city next.
Deputy foreign minister meets Russian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation
Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji met with Ambassador of Russia to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation, as well as other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of New Zealand to the Kingdom Charles Kingston on Sunday in Riyadh, where they engaged in cordial talks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi minister Al-Jubeir discusses land reclamation, security at Munich conference
Al-Jubeir said land safety is essential for achieving security and stability, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to combating desertification in partnership with the UN
Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
MUNICH: The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir took part in a key dialogue session on land reclamation and security at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.
The session, organized in collaboration with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the Adelphi Research Foundation, addressed the link between land preservation and global stability.
Al-Jubeir said land safety is essential for achieving security and stability, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to combating desertification in partnership with the UN.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s leadership at COP16, which focused on the negative repercussions of land degradation and the need for sustainable solutions.
Al-Jubeir outlined Saudi Arabia’s local, regional, and international initiatives aimed at protecting land and addressing desertification.
He also called for strong international cooperation to tackle the cross-border challenges posed by land degradation and urged global policymakers to implement effective strategies to safeguard both the environment and security.
Saudi crown prince discusses regional developments with French President Macron
During the call, areas of joint cooperation and regional and international developments were discussed
Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, areas of joint cooperation and ways to enhance them were reviewed, and regional and international developments were discussed.
The two officials also exchanged views on the latest developments and efforts made toward them to achieve security and stability.
This afternoon, I spoke on the phone with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to review the situation in the Near and Middle East.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, I commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts alongside the Arab League—work that France will support…