PACI launches civil IDs address change on Sahel app. for non-Kuwaitis
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Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Lottery System For 1447 AH Hajj Kuwait Pilgrims – Registration Now Open Via Sahel
KUWAIT CITY, July 3: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs recently issued a circular to authorized Hajj organizers about the registration procedures for the 1447 AH Hajj season through the lottery system. This is part of the ongoing cooperation aimed at serving pilgrims better and as per the decision of the Supreme Hajj and Umrah Committee during its first meeting for 1447 AH. The circular states that registration for Kuwaitis wishing to perform Hajj will be through the Sahel application. The lottery-based registration ensures that all applicants are gradually screened and maintain their ranking in the queue until selected. The following are the general conditions: Applicants must be Kuwaiti nationals who have not performed Hajj; A maximum of five relatives per group is allowed Women can add one 'mahram' (who may have previously performed Hajj) and one resident relative Applicants can change or reschedule their Hajj dates during the registration period by paying a non-refundable fee of KD10 (around $32.80) Upon confirmation, an initial payment of KD1,500 (around $4,900) is required An application is canceled if payment is not made within the deadline The selected pilgrims will be registered with the Hajj caravans. They are allowed to switch to another caravan once, provided they do so before Jan 15, 2026. Vacated spots will be filled by the next candidate in the lottery queue. Candidates will have three days to complete the KD1,500 payment after selection. A full refund is possible if cancellation is made before Jan 18, 2026; hence, there will be no refund after this date. Payment methods and registration dates will be confirmed in the next circular; while acceptance notifications and further instructions will be sent through Sahel.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwaiti scholar highlights courage of Gulf pearl divers in a unique historical study
SHARJAH, UAE, July 2: Kuwaiti writer and researcher Talal Saad Al-Rumaidhi presented a paper on the traditional pearl diving industry in the Arabian Gulf at the Sharjah Heritage Conference on Wednesday. His research, titled 'Pearl Diving in the Gulf Through French Eyes: Humor in the Writings of Albert Londres,' explored early 20th-century French journalistic perspectives on this historic Gulf profession. Al-Rumaidhi's presentation focused on the work of Albert Londres, a renowned French journalist who visited the GCC region in 1930. Londres provided a rare and vivid account of the pearl diving trade, blending humor and humanity to depict the divers' harsh realities, resilient spirits, and the austere lifestyle they led. In an interview with KUNA, Al-Rumaidhi highlighted how Londres detailed the intricacies of diving vessels, voyage rituals, and maritime gatherings. The journalist captured the expressions and instinctive endurance of Gulf communities as they confronted daily challenges at sea. Londres was particularly struck by the divers' toughness and ability to face the dangers of the sea with primitive tools and under difficult conditions. Using witty and descriptive language, he famously described a captain who would never stop working and referred to the divers as 'men who do not go to hell,' symbolizing their courage and fearlessness. The French journalist also expressed a profound connection to the Gulf people and their environment, once stating, 'When I went down into the sea, I found myself becoming Arab.' Concluding his paper, Al-Rumaidhi emphasized the value of examining Gulf heritage through non-Arabic sources, which offers fresh ways to engage younger generations. He called for more comparative research combining Western narratives and local accounts to provide a fuller understanding of the GCC's maritime history. The Sharjah Heritage Conference, which runs through Thursday, is an annual gathering of leading scholars and researchers from across the Arab world. The event serves as a vital platform for exchanging knowledge on intangible heritage and the history of traditional professions, with this year's edition featuring extensive participation from GCC countries and experts in maritime heritage.
Kuwait Times
15-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
Ancient Malian city celebrates annual replastering of mosque
People carry buckets full of mud on their heads during the re-plastering of the Great Mosque of Djenne in Djenne.-AFP Thousands of Malians have replastered the iconic earthen mosque in the historic city of Djenne during an annual ceremony that helps preserve the World Heritage site. To the sound of drums and festive music, townsmen on Thursday coated the towering three-minaret mosque with fresh mud plaster. The annual replastering with "banco" -- a mix of earth and water -- shields the mosque from harsh weather ahead of the Sahel region's often violent rainy season. "This mosque belongs to the whole world," said Aboubacar Sidiki Djiteye, his face streaked with mud as he joined the "unifying" ritual. "There's no bigger event in Djenne than this," he told AFP. "Replastering the mosque is a tradition handed down from generation to generation," said Bayini Yaro, one of the women tasked with carrying water for the plaster mix. Locals prepared the mix themselves, combining water, earth, rice bran, shea butter and baobab powder -- a hallmark of Sahel-Sudanese architecture. Chief mason Mafoune Djenepo inspected the fresh coating. "The importance of this mosque is immense. It's the image on all Malian stamps," he said. A blessing ceremony followed the replastering, with Quranic verses recited in the mosque courtyard. Participants then shared dates and sweets. First erected in the 13th century and rebuilt in 1907, the mosque is considered the world's largest earthen structure, according to the United Nations' cultural body, UNESCO. Djenne, home to around 40,000 residents and known for preserving its traditional banco houses, has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1988. The site was added to the endangered heritage list in 2016 due to its location in central Mali, where jihadist fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as ethnic militias and criminal gangs, have waged a violent insurgency since 2012.--AFP
