Follow the latest updates on Hajj 2021 here
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques distributed on Friday 12,000 umbrellas to worshippers and workers at the Grand Holy Mosque to protect them from heat before Hajj this year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Hajj officially begins on July 18 and is limited to 60,000 pilgrims this year. Hajj pilgrims in Jeddah told The National they started receiving Hajj supplies from their Hajj and Umrah companies on Wednesday.
The supplies include an ihram, two white unstitched sheets worn by men during Hajj, and a carry-on bag for pilgrims to pack essentials such as clothes and utility items for the pilgrimage. Each pilgrim is only allowed one bag measuring up to 60 x 40 centimetres.
“I was so excited to receive this surprise. I didn’t know we would get a suitcase and ihram before we go on Hajj,” said Ms Fatemah, a Syrian resident in Jeddah.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said “technical capabilities” were used to provide an innovative model for high-quality services for pilgrims this year.
Among these models is the ihram treated with silver nanotechnology, created by Saudi inventor Hamad bin Ali Al Yami, which will be used in the Hajj season for the second year in a row.
The ihram uses a cotton fabric that prevents the reproduction of bacteria and it holds an International Quality Certificate (ISO) as well as a certificate of recognition from SGS Germany.
The ihram aims to limit the transmission of infection among pilgrims, especially since it is worn for a long period of time during rituals and is extremely crucial for personal hygiene.
Mr Al Yami told SPA that one of the assets of silver nanotechnology is that it is used globally to sterilise surgical tools and in scrubs for doctors and medical teams in hospitals.
“What encouraged me the most was when King Salman’s Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research in 2008 conducted an experiment that relied on nanotechnology in the manufacture of antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral materials to disinfect carpets in the Two Holy Mosques and the covering of the Kaaba. It showed great results and helped reducing microbial growth,” Mr Al Yami said.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Friday stopped issuing prayer permits in the Grand Mosque in preparation for Hajj.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has assigned 135 scholars and imams to offer religious guidance to pilgrims and the Assistant Agency for Women’s Administrative and Service Affairs announced that it is ready to receive pilgrims with a force of 775 female workers.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
Read more from Johann Chacko
HAJJAN
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh