News

First E-Mall Soon to Open in Oman

First E-Mall Soon to Open in Oman

Online shopping, though very popular in most parts of the world, is still not as big in places such as Oman. However, all that is about to change with the announcement of the first home-grown fully-integrated shopping portal in the Sultanate.

Though still in its infancy, much talk and excitement is building up in the Gulf country as the first e-mall in the Sultanate will soon be introduced in the retail market.

First E-Mall Soon to Open in Oman
Credits: Jeeblee

First Omani E-Mall to be Launched Soon

The up and coming shopping portal, Jeeblee Online, is the first-of-its-kind Omani firm to allow consumers to purchase online, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as shared in a report by the Muscat Daily.

The announcement regarding the e-mall launch was made at the Oman E-Commerce Conference, which was held this week.

As per reports, the E-mall has 60 local and international brands and promises to deliver goods to consumers within 24-48 hours in Oman.

In a tweet, Ali al Lawati, owner of the Jeeblee Online, shared, “The first E-mall in the sultanate has been unveiled. The platform will have a lot of brands and bring shopping to the fingertips of the people.”

The two-day conference where the retail project was announced was attended by executives in the field of e-commerce from across the world.

In terms of retail performance, Oman’s total wholesale and retail trade has seen a steady rise of 2.3 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2012 to 2017.

With the Sultanate’s overall economic growth, it has drawn significant investments in the retail sector. Though the current retail landscape in the Sultanate is largely dominated by standalone units, the concept of organized retail in the form of malls and shopping centers are gaining prominence.

At present, the e-commerce market in Oman accounts to only 1% of total sales. It is still a budding market and has ample opportunities to grow in the future.

On the other hand, the global e-commerce market is about to reach US$ 2 trillion by 2020 and have a share of 7.8% of all sales. In developed nations, e-commerce share ranges from 45-80%.

China and India have seen a revolution in e-commerce industry in the past decade. Many companies are established during this time and became billion-dollar companies.

In Oman, however, more than 20% of the population has only made at least one (1) online purchase in 2014. Despite Oman having one of the highest smartphone usages in the Middle East, only 8% of the population engaged in mobile shopping. Most of the items purchased online in Oman are groceries and music products.

According to research, e-shopping Omani consumers spend most of their money on:

  • Clothing
  • Airlines
  • Groceries(Food)
  • Travel
  • Beauty Care
  • Medicine
  • Coupons
  • Hotels

Of note, important factors that influence consumer preferences in the Sultanate include ease of use, pricing, customer service, and financial inclusion.

These are just some of the things which e-commerce leaders should look into so as to ensure the success of their business ventures in a relatively new and conservative market such as that of Oman’s.

ALSO READ: FinanceMinistry Introduces New Rules for Duty-Free Shops in Oman

Saudi Government Rejects Need to Accept Foreign Consultancy Firms

Government departments and agencies in the Kingdom have been forbidden to use the services of foreign consultancy firms as per instruction from the national government. The royal order issued concerning this, states that contracts can only be signed off with foreign consultancy companies only when there is no Saudi alternative available. Saudi Limits the Need to Hire Consultancy Services from Foreign Firms The decree was based on a ruling upheld by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, following recommendations by its Experts’ Committee, as shared in a report by the Saudi Gazette. According to the report, previous discussions by the Shoura Council had taken place with regard to government agencies and foreign companies, with a recommendation to provide more consultancy work for Saudi firms. The resolution aims to tap into the capabilities of local firms, highlighting the opportunity given to citizens to create their mark in the industry they are involved with. Under the order, all the government departments and agencies are obliged to sign contracts with only experienced Saudi consultancy offices and companies. At that time, the value of contracts awarded to foreign firms was estimated to be around SAR 12 billion ($3.2bn) based on a report by the General Auditing Bureau. The decree was based on a decision of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers as part of integrating the recommendations of its Experts’ Committee, which examined the subject. The report came after conducting a thorough review of the foreign consultancy contracts of the government agencies during the past financial years. The deliberations prompted Shoura members to call on the authorities to take measures to provide consultancy services for the Saudi firms. The members of the council noted that there are dozens of national research centers operating under the umbrella of universities or the private sector that can take advantage of this core activity involving huge amounts of money. The hope is that national research centres based in universities or the private sector can take advantage of the new order. With this change, more opportunities are now being offered to Saudi nationals to maximize their skills, talents, and expertise to help improve their respective industries as well as the overall economy. It should be noted, though, that government agencies and companies may still avail services of foreign consultancy firms when there are no Saudi alternative to offer this service in a particular field or industry. ALSO READ: Here are the Booming Job Sectors in UAE, Saudi Arabia

Government departments and agencies in the Kingdom have been forbidden to use the services of foreign consultancy firms as per instruction from the national government.

The royal order issued concerning this, states that contracts can only be signed off with foreign consultancy companies only when there is no Saudi alternative available.

Government departments and agencies in the Kingdom have been forbidden to use the services of foreign consultancy firms as per instruction from the national government. The royal order issued concerning this, states that contracts can only be signed off with foreign consultancy companies only when there is no Saudi alternative available. Saudi Limits the Need to Hire Consultancy Services from Foreign Firms The decree was based on a ruling upheld by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, following recommendations by its Experts’ Committee, as shared in a report by the Saudi Gazette. According to the report, previous discussions by the Shoura Council had taken place with regard to government agencies and foreign companies, with a recommendation to provide more consultancy work for Saudi firms. The resolution aims to tap into the capabilities of local firms, highlighting the opportunity given to citizens to create their mark in the industry they are involved with. Under the order, all the government departments and agencies are obliged to sign contracts with only experienced Saudi consultancy offices and companies. At that time, the value of contracts awarded to foreign firms was estimated to be around SAR 12 billion ($3.2bn) based on a report by the General Auditing Bureau. The decree was based on a decision of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers as part of integrating the recommendations of its Experts’ Committee, which examined the subject. The report came after conducting a thorough review of the foreign consultancy contracts of the government agencies during the past financial years. The deliberations prompted Shoura members to call on the authorities to take measures to provide consultancy services for the Saudi firms. The members of the council noted that there are dozens of national research centers operating under the umbrella of universities or the private sector that can take advantage of this core activity involving huge amounts of money. The hope is that national research centres based in universities or the private sector can take advantage of the new order. With this change, more opportunities are now being offered to Saudi nationals to maximize their skills, talents, and expertise to help improve their respective industries as well as the overall economy. It should be noted, though, that government agencies and companies may still avail services of foreign consultancy firms when there are no Saudi alternative to offer this service in a particular field or industry. ALSO READ: Here are the Booming Job Sectors in UAE, Saudi Arabia
Credits: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Limits Need to Hire Consultancy Services from Foreign Firms

The decree was based on a ruling upheld by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, following recommendations by its Experts’ Committee, as shared in a report by the Saudi Gazette.

According to the report, previous discussions by the Shoura Council had taken place with regard to government agencies and foreign companies, with a recommendation to provide more consultancy work for Saudi firms.

The resolution aims to tap into the capabilities of local firms, highlighting the opportunity given to citizens to create their mark in the industry they are involved with.

Under the order, all the government departments and agencies are obliged to sign contracts with only experienced Saudi consultancy offices and companies.

At that time, the value of contracts awarded to foreign firms was estimated to be around SAR 12 billion ($3.2bn) based on a report by the General Auditing Bureau.

The decree was based on a decision of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers as part of integrating the recommendations of its Experts’ Committee, which examined the subject.

The report came after conducting a thorough review of the foreign consultancy contracts of the government agencies during the past financial years.

The deliberations prompted Shoura members to call on the authorities to take measures to provide consultancy services for the Saudi firms.

The members of the council noted that there are dozens of national research centers operating under the umbrella of universities or the private sector that can take advantage of this core activity involving huge amounts of money.

The hope is that national research centers based in universities or the private sector can take advantage of the new order.

With this change, more opportunities are now being offered to Saudi nationals to maximize their skills, talents, and expertise to help improve their respective industries as well as the overall economy.

It should be noted, though, that government agencies and companies may still avail services of foreign consultancy firms when there is no Saudi alternative to offer this service in a particular field or industry.

ALSO READ: Here are the Booming Job Sectors in UAE, Saudi Arabia

Finance Ministry Introduces New Rules for Duty-Free Shops in Oman

Finance Ministry Introduces New Rules for Duty-Free Shops in Oman

Oman’s Ministry of Finance has issued a new list of regulations, conditions, and procedures applicable for purchases and sales as well as establishing new duty-free shops.

The Ministerial decision comes with a list of regulations, conditions, and procedures for duty-free shops.

Finance Ministry Introduces New Rules for Duty-Free Shops in Oman
Credits: Muscat Duty Free

Oman Sets New Rules for Opening Duty-Free Shops

According to the decision issued by the ministry, “Departing passengers and transit passengers on international flights and departing aircrew members can purchase items from the duty-free shop by submitting their passports and boarding pass at the duty-free sales counters,” as shared in a report by the Times of Oman.

Accordingly, the license to start a free market will be issued for two years at a fee of RO 5,000 which is renewable for another two years for a similar fee if the request is made 30 days before the expiry of the initial license.

The new regulation has specified the procedures for obtaining a license to establish a free market, including referral to the competent authorities requesting the establishment of the free market – within its jurisdiction – to the administration to give its initial opinion to approve or not, as well as the installation of cameras and surveillance devices in the free market warehouse and other places in accordance with the specifications of the Royal Oman Police.

The companies will comply with the provisions of the regulations within a period not exceeding six months from the date of its implementation.

Duty-Free Shops at Airports

Based on Article 15, “Sales staff are obliged to deliver to the buyer, a receipt containing the number of units sold, their inventory number, the type of item, the name of the airport where the sale was made and the price of the item.”

Furthermore, the decision states, “Sales staff are prohibited from selling in the event of cancellation of the flight or if the passenger retracts from travel and in the case of flight delays where passengers can not stay in the departure lounge.”

This means that in the event of a flight cancellation, the staff shall be obliged to cancel the sale which has taken place. And in case the traveler forgets his purchases, the goods must be returned to the duty-free shop and the sales staff should cancel the sale and notify the Customs office.

It would be best to coordinate with airport officials as well as duty-free representatives regarding such changes to ensure full compliance with the regulations set by the ministry.

ALSO READ: Royal Oman Police to Launch Online Work Visa Facility this September

Saudi Arabia to Integrate Smart Technology on Bus Services

Saudi Arabia to Integrate Smart Technology on Bus Services

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia placed an order for a smart technology system from Japanese giant NEC to cover 400 buses starting next year and an additional 2,000 after five years.

Japan-based information tech giant NEC revealed that it has established a tie-up with the kingdom for the implementation of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).

Saudi Arabia to Integrate Smart Technology on Bus Services
Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Saudi to Introduce Smart Buses Soon

According to NEC, The ITS offers an accurate scheduling service and an automated fare collection system, which utilizes IC cards to support cashless, accurate and reliable fare collection, as well as a bus location management via GPS, as shared in a report by Arabian Business.

The initiative aims to improve transportation services for pilgrims in Makkah.

Also, the smart system provides bus information to passengers through solar-powered displays installed at bus stops and mobile applications.

The system will be applied on 400 buses starting next year, with a plan to increase the number to 2,000 in the next five years.

According to Saudi Transport Minister Nabil al-Amoudi, “7,400 planes full of pilgrims arrived this year via Jeddah and Madinah airports” and “more than 18,000 buses were mobilized” for the hajj.

Meanwhile, transport needs to be organized for the sites around Makkah.

Every year, around two million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia during September visit Islam’s holiest places, Makkah and Medina.

Prior to this, hajj was simply a traditional ritual observed by Muslims, but today, it has also risen to prominence as a tourism destination because of the evolution of facilities over the years.

Because of this, the hajj has now become the main tourism prospect for both national and international stakeholders, mainly tour operators and hotel groups.

As part of Saudi Arabia’s support in this growing industry, the government has shown commitment by investing in hotels and preserving ancient religious sites.

Apart from the growing influx of international pilgrims from countries with large Muslim populations, domestic pilgrims have also provided a steady source of tourism revenue from this religious event.

Of note, international pilgrims come from countries such as India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Morocco, and Algeria.

As the government continues to throw its support on one of the region’s biggest international events, more initiatives geared on improving the services related to the observance of hajj such as those in the transport, retail, and hotel industries are starting to adopt smart technology to improve the pilgrims’ overall hajj experience.

ALSO READ: [VIDEO] Here’s How Muslims Celebrated Eid on Final Days of Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Bahrain to Ban Use of Plastic Table Rolls

Bahrain to Ban Use of Plastic Table Rolls

As calls for environmental reforms are becoming more pronounced more than ever, the Kingdom of Bahrain has approved a resolution that will ban table plastic rolls, which are non-biodegradable, starting next year, as announced by the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE).

According to the SCE, the second phase of the ministerial resolution aims to curb the amount of plastic used in the Kingdom, which has an adverse effect on the environment.

Bahrain to Ban Use of Plastic Table Rolls

Soon, Plastic Table Rolls to be Banned in Bahrain

The said initiative is expected to be rolled out in July of next year. Aside from plastic table rolls, more items will be included in the second phase of the ban and will be announced later, as shared in a report by the Bahrain Daily Tribune.

In line with the directives of the Government Executive Committee chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa – and pursuant of the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure’s Order Number (7-731-2019), which deals with the regulation and reduction of plastic usage, the Ministerial Order Number (11) of 2019 with respect to the technical regulations for plastic products has been put into effect last July.

According to the SCE, companies that need to continue using plastic bags for their day-to-day operations will need to apply for a license.

In line with this, non-biodegradable garbage bags have also been banned since last month. The new non-biodegradable garbage bags, which will soon replace the plastic bags will also not come at additional costs to the public, the Council reassured.

Meanwhile, a study piloted by the SCE revealed that the transition to eco-friendly and biodegradable garbage bags will not affect the plastic products manufacturing sector in the kingdom.

It’s interesting to learn that a small country such as Bahrain is taking big steps in protecting the environment.

With laws already establishing a system that is more attuned to the needs of the planet, hopefully, more people will also support the cause by adopting some lifestyle changes which are geared towards preserving the environment and being more conscious of the choices we make in our everyday living.

By saying “no” to single-use plastics, we can spare our environment several hundreds of years of toxic problems, which would ultimately, come back to us, as well as the future generation.

By showing our simple support to the campaigns launched by the government in relation to preserving the environment, we are already showing our willingness to be part of the change, which we owe the future generation.

ALSO READ: [Guide] What You Need to Know About Working in Bahrain

Royal Oman Police to Launch Online Work Visa Facility this September

Royal Oman Police Targets Launch of Online Work Visa Facility this September

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) announced that it is planning to launch its online work visa facility in September this year.

Recently, the ROP has launched an e-mail notification facility on visit visas. These documents contain specific visa information such as photographs of the visa holder. There are five types of visas under the e-visa option offered by Oman’s online facility at present.

Royal Oman Police Targets Launch of Online Work Visa Facility this September
Credits: ROP

Oman to Launch Online Work Visa Facility in September

According to the ROP, “The facility is likely to be available from the second half of September. We conducted a trial run with a few companies last month to iron out the glitches. Everything went well and there were no issues. We are hopeful that everything will be in place before the launch”, as shared in a report by the Muscat Daily.

Furthermore, the e-visa facility will be made available via https://evisa.rop.gov.om. The ROP explained that company representatives can also visit the website to gain a better understanding of the online work visa application system.

Of note, only Oman-issued debit cards can be used for payment to conform to the Central Bank of Oman’s new regulations.

“This is mandatory for receiving online applications for work visas. Some Sanad offices are already providing the e-visa facility. This service will be extended and used much more once the online facility is introduced,” an ROP representative disclosed.

Among the visa types offered under the e-visa facility are unsponsored tourist visas for GCC and Group 1 countries; sponsored tourist visas for remaining countries (other than those in the Group 1 category); multiple-entry visas for one year and multiple-entry visa for ten years for American citizens as well as Express visas.

The Oman eVisa was first introduced in March 2018 to streamline the process of obtaining a Tourist visa to visit the country. However, Oman is now specifying that visitors to the country will need to apply for visas a week in advance of travel.

In a statement shared by the ROP, “It is recommended to have the application sent at least one week before you travel.” The directive also applies to those applying for tourist visas which need to be used for “one month from the date of issue.”

Of note, the Sultanate has recently stopped issuing visas on arrival in February 2019.

There is currently a temporary ‘Visa on arrival kiosks’ in Muscat International airport. However, for those who didn’t apply for an eVisa, there is no information on how long these kiosks are going to be there for, so it’s advisable to apply for an eVisa before flying Oman.

ALSO READ: Oman to Introduce Expat Visa Ban for Senior Management Roles

UAE Gov’t Staff to Get Shorter Working Hours for this Reason

UAE Gov’t Staff to Get Shorter Working Hours for this Reason

UAE government employees who have school-going children can get up to three hours off work during the first week of the new academic term starting this year.

The announcement made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources aims to help parents report late for work so that they can escort their kids to schools, or leave early to pick them up. The vision behind the initiative adopted by the UAE Cabinet is to empower public employees to take part in their children’s routine school activities.

UAE Gov’t Staff to Get Shorter Working Hours for this Reason
Credits: Dubai Media Office

UAE Grants Shorter Working Hours for Gov’t Employees with Schooling Children

The resolution was derived from recommendations made by the National Programme for Happiness and Positivity in coordination with the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

In line with this, employees can also request permission to report late or leave early to attend parent-teacher meetings or their kids’ graduation ceremonies.

The initiative coincides with the National government’s commitment in drawing up policies and services that will contribute to creating a positive and happy society, which has been one of the goals of the UAE leadership for all of its residents.

To achieve this vision, the government will lay the foundation for an appropriate environment to ensure the happiness and well-being of the UAE society.

The National Programme for Happiness and Positivity features a variety of initiatives in three major areas: The inclusion of happiness in the policies, programmes and services of all government bodies, as well as the work environment there.

The national plan for happiness includes a host of initiatives to develop and adopt corporate models for happiness, launching a mandate for happiness in all federal government bodies. It also features the development of a happiness guideline, as well as performance indices that ensure the compliance of the plans of establishments with those of the programme.

The said plan tackles the transformation of government service centres into customer happiness centres and allocating government employees to realise the happiness of customers. In line with this, a range of initiatives has been launched in cooperation with national media to firmly establish the values of happiness and positivity. Other initiatives will be launched to encourage reading and publish books that focus on happiness in order to raise awareness about the importance of positivity and happiness as an integrated lifestyle.

With parents working in the public sector now given the opportunity to spend more time with their families, the focus of the vision highlights the important roles of parents in creating an ideal society where values of happiness and positivity are observed.

ALSO READ: UAE School Admits Students Who Can’t Afford Fees

[WATCH] Sheikh Mohammed Inspects Dubai Expo 2020 Construction Progress

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, paid a visit to several infrastructure projects related to the Expo 2020 Dubai, which is set to take place starting October 2020, with the participation of 95 countries.

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocols and Hospitality in Dubai on his visit to the Expo 2020 Dubai South, where he was received by Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, as well as other senior officials.

[WATCH] Sheikh Mohammed Inspects Dubai Expo 2020 Construction Progress
Credits: Credits: WAM

[VIDEO] UAE Leaders Visit Dubai Expo 2020 Construction Site

On-site, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by Al Hashemy about the progress of the infrastructure projects, as well as the awareness and promotional programs and plans drafted by the office to promote the Expo, which is expected to accommodate over 25 million visitors and government leaders from around the world, according to a report by WAM.

During the briefing, Al Hashemy noted that the office has launched various promotional campaigns to introduce the expo’s goals and activities, especially among university and school students, in various local locations, such as parks, and in neighboring countries.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Within the day, Sheikh Mohammed also visited several construction sites in the expo’s site and the UAE pavilion, which was designed to attract and impress local and foreign visitors. He expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the projects, and praised the efforts of the expo’s working team of Emirati youths, under the leadership of Al Hashemy.

Sheikh Mohammed also highlighted the importance of ensuring the success of the expo, which will promote a bright image of the UAE and its people, and become a global cultural platform for all countries to showcase their cultures, heritage, histories and national products, as well.

Furthermore, the ruler of Dubai expressed his confidence and optimism towards the success of the event, due to the hard work of the Emirati youth, who can organize international cultural, tourism, and commercial events of this nature and scale in the country.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

In line with this, Sheikh Mohammed urged all national authorities, especially those in Dubai, to intensify their efforts to make the Expo succeed, noting, “We must all work hard to achieve success. Whatever people achieve without hard work, they lose without regret.”

The Expo 2020 in Dubai will be the host to the world for 173 days (approximately 6 months), where various countries will openly and festively express their culture, products, and people, as this will also be a global platform for leaders to collaborate and share best practices and innovation across various fields. To know more about Expo 2020 in Dubai, please visit their official website.

ALSO READ: Here are the World’s Most Powerful Arabs in 2019

 

 

UAE School Admits Students Who Can’t Afford Fees

UAE School Admits Students who Can’t Afford Fees

In the country’s bid to further raise its global competitiveness, a newly opened private Pakistani school in Sharjah is accepting students who cannot afford tuition fees or have been out of school for several years due to lack of funds.

The private institution enables underprivileged students as well as their families to afford tuition fees by providing flexible payment plans. The school aims to assist students who can’t afford the fees or have not been to school in many years by offering discounts and payment plans which are most suitable for their financial capacities.

UAE School Admits Students who Can’t Afford Fees

School Assists Students Who Can’t Afford Tuition to Study in UAE

Pamir Private School will be starting classes in September and has already given admissions to several underprivileged students, some of whom had never been in a classroom their entire life, as shared in a report by the Khaleej Times.

Fees for the school range from AED 8,350 for kindergarteners up to AED 13,250 for Grade 12, all with discounts of up to 40 percent, including books and uniforms.

In more dire cases, the school management even provides parents with a monthly payment plan, which could be as low as AED 700 per month for some enrollees.

According to the principal of Pamir Private School, Aziza Hassan Ali, “There are many cases where we have given discounts of up to 40 percent to the students. There are so many students who can’t afford the fees or have not been to school in many years.”

Ali also recounted a time when there was a parent whose three daughters had never been to school. They used to study at home because of extreme financial problems. In a desire to assist the children, the school got the approval from the council for their admission, and they were enrolled in the appropriate grades according to their assessment tests.

In a similar case, the school has also given admission, with a 50 percent discount, to two other students.

In the UAE, there are less than 15 Pakistani schools and very few of them cost AED 500 per month.

Samina Nasir, who works as a social worker in the UAE, shared that she has spent the past 28 years helping needy Pakistani children in the country find a place in the education system.

As the head of the education committee at Pakistan Association Dubai, Nasir said there are “many cases” of children who are out of school due to financial problems.

The school’s initiative is aligned with the country’s Vision 2021, which aims to create a first-rate education system, which will require a complete transformation of the current education system and teaching methods to contribute to nation-building by means of investing in the country’s youth regardless of social disposition in life.

ALSO READ: Qasr Al Watan Presidential Library in Abu Dhabi: A Journey into the UAE

[VIDEO] Here’s How Muslims Celebrated Eid on Final Days of Haj in Saudi Arabia

[VIDEO] Here’s how Muslims Celebrated Eid on the Final Days of Haj in Saudi Arabia

This year, there were close to 2.5 million pilgrims who took part in a symbolic stoning of the devil in the final days of the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as Muslims around the world marked the start of the Eid Al Adha celebrations.

The symbolic act was performed by pilgrims in Mina by throwing pebbles at a pillar in a symbolic casting away of evil during the final days of Haj.

[VIDEO] Here’s how Muslims Celebrated Eid on the Final Days of Haj in Saudi Arabia
Credits: Saudi Press Agency / Twitter

[WATCH] Muslims Celebrate Eid on Last Days of Haj in Saudi Arabia

Muslims around the world commemorated the end of Haj with Eid celebrations, including distributing food to the poor.

Owing to the Kingdom’s reputation as the cradle of Islam, and the guardianship of Islam’s holiest sites, in Mecca and Medina, and organizing the world’s largest annual Muslim gathering which retraces the route Prophet Mohammad took 14 centuries ago, Saudi Arabia deployed tens of thousands of security forces and medics alongside modern technology including surveillance drones to maintain order.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The arrival of nearly two and a half million pilgrims, mostly from abroad, is part of the religious duty once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.

The people are asked to carefully follow and observe schedules for each stage of Haj, but with so many people, panic is a constant danger.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Under close supervision and dressed in white garments signifying a state of purity, the faithful converged on Jamarat to perform the stoning ritual from a three-storey bridge erected to ease congestion after stampedes in previous years.

The pilgrims will then return to the bridge over the final two days for more stoning before returning to Mecca to pray at the Grand Mosque at the end of Haj.

The Haj and year-round Umrah create billions of dollars in revenue from pilgrims’ lodging, transport, fees, and gifts.

The authorities aim to increase the number of Umrah and Haj pilgrims to 15 million and 5 million respectively by 2020 and hope to double the Umrah number again to 30 million by 2030.

Similarly, Muslims from all over the world observe the Eid Al Adha – the annual Feast of the Sacrifice. Hundreds attend a morning prayer gathering at mosques. The holiday commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God and marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

ALSO READ: Prison in Saudi Arabia Offers Rehab to Prisoners via Entertainment Programmes