As the Hajj season approaches, Saudi Arabia's Ministry'sº of Hajj and Umrah and its affiliates have launched several apps and initiatives to help ease the rituals and journeys of millions of Muslims performing Hajj this year.
The Hajj charity association Hadiyah (Arabic for gift), has launched a Breaking the Silence initiative for Hajj pilgrims this year – 300 volunteers are part of the initiative.
The new initiative will offer translation services, guides for international pilgrims and provide information across all holy sites including the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the pilgrimage.
Turki Al Hetershi, Hadiyah’s executive director, said the charity provides an easier platform for volunteers to give back during the Hajj season.
As part of Vision 2030, the kingdom's Ministry of Labour and Social Development aims to increase the level of voluntary work in various regions.
The initiative is not the only service provided by the kingdom to help bridge the language gap.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has introduced several electronic services to improve pilgrims' experiences.
The services include a Sharia awareness app that educates pilgrims on Hajj rituals, and offers a translator if the pilgrim requires a language other than Arabic
The Rushd app was launched to provide a library and electronic web Quran service.
The ministry believes in the importance of digital transformation and intends to “to implement all digital transformation standards according to the kingdom’s Vision 2030”, said Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullatif Al Asheikh.
Comfort and Spirituality in the Prophet’s Mosque – launched by the Presidency in Madinah – is an e-programme that welcomes pilgrims to the site.
Combating heat during Hajj
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Roads launched the “We Serve You on Our Roads” initiative for the convenience of pilgrims on the roads leading to the holy sites.
In the case of a bus breaking down, the authority will provide a mobile facility that can be set up in “two minutes” to accommodate up to 45 pilgrims at a time, and will be equipped with portable air conditioners, cold drinks and refreshments.
Authorities are also using technology to create cooler surfaces for pilgrims because the Hajj season takes place at the peak of summer.
The Royal Commission for the Holy City of Makkah and the Holy Sites introduced the technical use of paint to reduce the effects of heat on pilgrims.
The initiative relies on the application of technology during the Hajj season to reduce the temperature of asphalt surfaces by reflecting sunlight using certain paint colours.
The National Centre of Meteorology has predicted that temperatures would increase at the holy sites during the Hajj, with temperatures at times likely to reach 45ºC.
The annual pilgrimage will begin on June 26, with Arafat Day the following day and Eid Al Adha celebrations beginning on June 28, Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday evening.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
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Everton 2 Southampton 1
Everton: Walcott (15'), Richarlison (31' )
Southampton: Ings (54')
Man of the match: Theo Walcott (Everton)
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
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Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
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