Read the latest updates on the Hajj pilgrimage here
Saudi Arabia's Hajj Ministry has said it is seeking alternative flights for pilgrims from Europe and the US who have had problems with an online portal.
It said the “urgent package of solutions” aims to ensure that everyone chosen for this year’s Hajj in the ballot will be able to go.
The pilgrimage season will begin on July 7 and is the first since the coronavirus outbreak that worshippers from outside Saudi Arabia can attend.
The kingdom introduced a new one-stop portal for overseas visitors to request a Saudi visa and book a package for their pilgrimage.
But some British Muslims said the portal had caused confusion and the ministry said some pilgrims had faced technical problems.
It said there was limited capacity on flights. The first group of pilgrims from Europe, the US and Australia arrived on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in the UK said authorities were “working tirelessly” to ensure that everyone gets a ticket.
The ministry “is working to secure alternative flights and additional seats for pilgrims wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia from Britain, the United States of America and European countries”, it said.
“It is also ensuring the immediate issuance of visas to enter the kingdom. The ministry is in regular contact with those affected by the limited seating capacity and the technical difficulties experienced by pilgrims using the electronic portal.”
It assured visitors that authorities would “follow up [on] the condition of pilgrims in the kingdom and abroad, to ensure their arrival is facilitated before performing the rituals”.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that Hajj would begin on July 7, after the crescent moon was sighted. Applications for foreign visitors were open from June 10 to June 13.
Visitors from abroad must by fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and younger than 65 as of Friday. People who have not made the pilgrimage before were given priority in the ballot.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
