Pilgrims from US, UK, Europe and Pakistan join group for 'incredible' Hajj


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Read the latest updates on the Hajj pilgrimage here

Dr Mohammad Siddiq Khandwani has brought 100 pilgrims from UK, USA, mainland Europe and Pakistan to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

“This is our 27th Hajj operation,” he told The National.

He said detailed arrangements had been made for pilgrims during their stay in Arafat.

“We listened to the khutbah and prayed in Al Namirah Mosque in the afternoon.”

“Pilgrims have been immersed in their ibadah [worship], and we are making arrangements to settle them in once they finish performing their rites ― to make sure they have a clean, cool area to relax and pray.

“We are making sure the food is fresh and healthy, served to pilgrims on time,” he added.

“All things are on track. The logistics are good too. We thank God for making this journey easy, especially this year, for the pilgrims.

This year has seen the resumption of a large-scale Hajj, with about one million pilgrims taking part.

Due to the pandemic, only 10,000 Saudi residents participated in 2020, while last year 60,000 Saudi residents who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 made the pilgrimage.

Before the pandemic, up to three million pilgrims had made the journey.

Dr Muhammed speaks several languages, including Arabic, Urdu and English, and volunteers to help pilgrims from several groups, if required.

His wife helps women pilgrims who may have queries or concerns.

Usman Saaeed, a Pakistani pilgrim from the US is performing the pilgrimage with his wife.

“This is my first time to perform Hajj. Everything is very comfortable and we are enjoying our journey. So far, it's been easy,” he said.

“This is my wife's first Hajj as well. The experience has been splendid.”

The group of men and women travel together, so families can be together during the pilgrimage.

Pilgrims at the Khandwani group in Arafat. The National
Pilgrims at the Khandwani group in Arafat. The National

“The learning experience with this group has been incredible. They have brought counsellors for the pilgrimage and they give us lectures on Deen (religion) and Dunya (world). It's been great.

“It's easy to converse because the Imam's and even our organiser Mr Khandwani speaks in several languages, including English and in Urdu,” Mr Saaeed said.

Other pilgrims in the Khandwani group said organisers made sure the tents were cool, there was ample space for everyone to relax that and fresh food was served.

Amir Ismail, from Leicester, in central England, said the journey has been “comfortable, easy and no complaints from the moment we arrived. It's been a great experience.”

He said Hajj has changed over the years, that it has “definitely become more luxurious and easy for pilgrims now”.

“We don't even feel the heat, the tents are air-conditioned, and there is readily available food and drinks.

“May God help us appreciate his blessings more so we can exert ourselves more in worship.”

Mubashir Aliya, a Pakistani pilgrim, said she is performing Hajj with Khandwani group and “everything is better than expected and has been easy for the pilgrims”.

Arafat sermon in images

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
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  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Key facilities
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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm

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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.

Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.

The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.

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Brief scoreline:

Burnley 3

Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'

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Man of the match

Ashley Barnes (Burnley)

Roll of honour 2019-2020

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners: Dubai Hurricanes

Runners up: Bahrain

 

West Asia Premiership

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UAE Division Two

Winners: Barrelhouse

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COMPANY PROFILE

Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2014

Number of employees: 36

Sector: Logistics

Raised: $2.5 million

Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

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Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

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Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

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Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 630Nm

Price: Dh875,000

On sale: now

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

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If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

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Updated: July 09, 2022, 8:00 AM`