Follow the latest updates on Hajj 2021 here
Pilgrims clad in white robes continued to pour into Makkah to perform the first ritual of Hajj early on Sunday, where they were welcomed with white roses and a bag of essentials such as prayer mats and umbrellas to shield them from the sun.
About 60,000 pilgrims will assemble in Mina later on Sunday before they move to mount Arafat the following day.
Pilgrims should spend the day in Mina on Al Tarwiyah, the day of quenching thirst, which is the eighth day of Dhu Al Hijja.
The pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to go. It used to draw more than two million people.
But for a second straight year it has been curtailed because of the coronavirus, with only vaccinated people in Saudi Arabia able to participate.
One pilgrim described how robots distributed Zamzam water.
“Honestly, it made it easier for us to access water, especially as we have designated paths for circumambulation,” said Faryal from Pakistan.
"I also saw female officers in their uniforms taking charge − an empowering move. I had only seen them on TV. I am excited to see more Saudi female security personnel here.”
Female officers will play a vital role in ensuring that this year’s Hajj is as safe and secure as possible, Fahad Nazer, spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington, said in a tweet on Saturday.
Samira Abbas was among thousands of pilgrims who travelled from all over the kingdom to join the allotted groups for this year’s Hajj.
“All the personal suffering, the exhaustion of long hours of travel and hunger just disappeared when I saw the Kaaba. Nothing else matters,” Ms Abbas said.
“Many of us travelled in our ihram, drove for hours and then waited for hours before we could board the bus. It’s been a long journey but this is just the beginning.”
The pilgrims rest after finishing the circumambulation in Makkah and returning to their residential camps in Mina.
Social-distancing measures have been put in place to control the movement of pilgrims. About 500 employees have been positioned at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to organise crowds.
About 20,000 pilgrims performed circumambulation at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“It feels different already to Hajj I performed 15 years ago. It used to be more social, but it’s good to ensure safety of others by following social distancing,” said Ayesha, a Pakistani national.
Hajj authorities have been disinfecting the Grand Mosque around the clock to ensure pilgrims' safety.
While many pilgrims have commented on the measures put in place to guard against Covid-19, they also say the pilgrimage remains a deeply personal experience.
Ayman Abdulaljalil, 53, an Egyptian who lives in Makkah, is undertaking the pilgrimage for his late mother.
"My mother passed away a year ago and she really wanted to do Hajj for a second time before she died but she couldn’t, so I decided to do it on her behalf," Mr Abdulaljalil said.
Dina Salem, also an Egyptian resident of Makkah, said she was performing Hajj for her younger sister.
“I’m doing Hajj for my sister who died suddenly. She was only 55 and healthy ... she always wanted to come to Hajj," said Ms Salem, 58.
A person can perform Hajj on behalf of someone who has died or is unable to come to Makkah, but only if they have already performed the pilgrimage for themselves.
Each year, great effort is made to ensure the Hajj goes ahead safely, but the last two years of pandemic adjustments are proving useful to authorities, who have taken advantage of more technological advancements.
"We were allocated groups, given exact Google locations for our camps in case we got lost in the crowd and were escorted by well-trained team leaders to Mina," Ahmed, a Pakistani resident of Saudi Arabia, told The National.
The deputy minister responsible for the event, Abdul Fattah Mashat, said the Hajj and Umrah, a shorter pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of the year, are major components of the Saudi Vision 2030.
The plan aims to boost the religious tourism sector and host 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually by 2030.
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
War on waste
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Specs
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
Towering concerns
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The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
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The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
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Transgender report
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THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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- Keep an open mind
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age |
$250 a month |
$500 a month |
$1,000 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
|
25 |
$640,829 |
$1,281,657 |
$2,563,315 |
|
35 |
$303,219 |
$606,439 |
$1,212,877 |
|
45 |
$131,596 |
$263,191 |
$526,382 |
|
55 |
$44,351 |
$88,702 |
$177,403 |
School uniforms report
While you're here
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
Company%20Profile
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
Neighbourhood Watch
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Background: Chemical Weapons
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
Company%20Profile
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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Tomorrow 2021
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