Pilgrims perform Hajj at the holy mosque in Makkah. Saudi Ministry of Media
Pilgrims perform Hajj at the holy mosque in Makkah. Saudi Ministry of Media
Pilgrims perform Hajj at the holy mosque in Makkah. Saudi Ministry of Media
Pilgrims perform Hajj at the holy mosque in Makkah. Saudi Ministry of Media

Resumption of Umrah is a sign of renewed hope


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Today marks the resumption of the Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the Islamic rite was suspended in March this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2019, more than 19 million people performed the Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year. But starting today, the number will be capped at 6,000 each day.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage, which took place in July, was also scaled back, with fewer than 10,000 pilgrims performing Islam's holiest rite, instead of the usual 2 million people.

This difficult decision was necessary in order to protect worshippers from Covid-19. Increasing the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims was central to Saudi Vision 2030, a long-term plan to diversify the Saudi economy and enact social reforms. The Kingdom had hoped to attract over 30 million Umrah pilgrims by 2030, but the pandemic has forced the government to cut back on these goals.

The fact that the Hajj could take place at all, and without any health problems, is a victory for health authorities. In addition, the low number of pilgrims has made Hajj an even more intimate and memorable experience for pilgrims this year.

Organising pilgrimages in the age of Covid-19 poses immense logistical challenges. To perform the Umrah, worshippers are required to download an application – named I’tamarna – giving them access to the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, and allowing them to select modes of transport and meeting points. High-resolution thermal cameras have been installed at the entrances of the Grand Mosque, which will be washed 10 times a day.

Umrah will resume in three phases to ensure the safety of pilgrims. In the first two weeks, 6,000 Saudis will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage each day. From October 18, up to 15,000 residents and citizens of the Kingdom will be allowed to undertake Umrah daily. And in November, that number is expected to rise to 20,000, reaching 100 per cent capacity.

Suspending Umrah for seven months was a necessary precaution, but the fact that it has now resumed, even with limited capacity, brings solace to worshippers during challenging times.

Religion can bring people together, and give succour to believers in a time of crisis

Irfan Iqbal Khan, an Indian resident of Saudi Arabia for 23 years, told The National that the resumption of Umrah "came like a silver lining" during a particularly difficult period. This year has been marked by the pandemic, restrictions designed to contain its spread, and the consequent global economic downturn.

Religion can bring people together, and give succour to believers in a time of crisis. Yet the pandemic has made it challenging to hold religious events that bring communities together, often forcing them to commune from a safe distance. As our understanding of Covid-19, and the means to curb its spread, grow over time, some activities have resumed, albeit with many precautions.

The resumption of Umrah is a sign of resilience, and it brings much-needed hope in these difficult times.

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

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Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

THE SPECS

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors

Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode

Power: 121hp

Torque: 142Nm

Price: Dh95,900

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

PROFILE OF STARZPLAY

Date started: 2014

Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand

Number of employees: 125

Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 640hp

Torque: 760nm

On sale: 2026

Price: Not announced yet

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Prince Ea
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The specs: McLaren 600LT

Price, base: Dh914,000

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm

Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

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Bharatanatyam

A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.