Hajj 2025: UAE leaders congratulate Saudi King on successful season
This year, more than 1.6 million Muslims are performing the sacred pilgrimage, with majority of them from outside Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to congratulate him on the successful season.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed "his sincere congratulations on the success of the Hajj season this year, which was achieved by the grace of Allah the Almighty, and thanks to the generous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, his wise government and its institutions, to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals in tranquillity and safety".
Similar messages were sent by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain also congratulated the Saudi king on the occasion.
After a year that saw fatalities because of heat during Hajj, the kingdom has imposed higher penalties this year for anyone attempting to perform Hajj without a permit, including fines of up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals, arrest, and deportation. The kingdom also suspended short-term visas for 14 countries earlier this year, and security personnel can be seen across holy sites in Makkah.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
9 minutes ago
- The National
Britain's Keir Starmer and Oman's Sultan Haitham vow to increase collaboration in energy, tech and defence
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Oman 's Sultan Haitham have agreed to deepen collaboration in energy, technology, defence and security. The leaders met in London for talks that also focused on trade negotiations between the UK and Gulf Co-operation Council. They called for urgent humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, saying the crisis in the enclave "cannot continue", a Downing Street representative said. "The Prime Minister updated His Majesty on his conversations with other leaders in recent days and both agreed on the need for a longer-term peace plan, which includes a pathway to recognition," the representative said. Mr Starmer announced on Tuesday that Britain would recognise a Palestine state in September, unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. The move followed a similar announcement by France, while Canada and Malta have also said they plan to recognise Palestine. Sultan Haitham "welcomes the UK's steps towards recognising Palestine, reaffirming Oman's support for a two-state solution and lasting peace in the Middle East", the Oman News Agency reported. "His Majesty the Sultan and the UK Prime Minister explored means of expanding Oman-UK co-operation in trade, investment and regional stability," it added. Discussions also covered Iran, with Mr Starmer thanking Sultan Haitham for Oman's continued efforts to help avoid a return to war in the region. The sultanate has in recent years played a major role in mediation efforts aimed at ending regional conflicts. Oman mediated several rounds of nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, before those talks were ended by the Israel-Iran war. The sultanate also took the lead in a diplomatic drive involving Qatar, Egypt and Russia that contributed significantly to ending that conflict, sources told The National.
Arabian Business
40 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
dnata wins multi-year Etihad Airways catering contract at Jordan AMM airport
dnata has secured a multi-year contract to provide inflight catering services to Etihad Airways at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Jordan. The global air and travel services provider will produce and uplift more than 90,000 meals annually for the UAE carrier's 14 weekly flights between Amman and Abu Dhabi. 'Etihad Airways is renowned for its high service standards, and we're proud to be selected as their catering partner of choice. This contract is a strong endorsement of our team's culinary ambition, operational excellence and ability to deliver at scale, day after day. From bold, locally inspired flavours to beautifully balanced premium-cabin dishes, we will work closely with the airline to create world-class menus that elevate the passenger journey,' Dana Kamal Adwan, CEO of dnata Catering & Retail Jordan said, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office. dnata wins a multi-year contract to provide high-quality inflight catering services to Etihad Airways at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. dnata will produce and uplift more than 90,000 meals annually on board 14 weekly flights operated by the UAE carrier between Amman… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 30, 2025 dnata to provide 90,000 annual meals for Etihad Airways Jordan operations The addition of Etihad Airways brings dnata's airline client base at Queen Alia International Airport to more than 30 carriers. The company employs over 400 professionals in Jordan to deliver these catering services. During the financial year 2024-25, dnata uplifted more than 4.5 million meals for over 24,000 flights at AMM. dnata's catering and retail division operates as one of the world's inflight hospitality providers. The company's 10,400 catering professionals produce over 110 million meals annually, serving full service, low-cost and VIP carriers from more than 60 locations worldwide.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
UAE non-oil trade hits $470.3bn in first half of 2025
The UAE recorded non-oil foreign trade worth AED1.728 trillion ($470.3 billion) in the first six months of 2025, marking a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the figures on social media platform X. 'Today, I reviewed our non-oil foreign trade data for the first half of 2025. In the first six months of this year, we achieved more than AED1.7 trillion, with a record growth of 24 per cent compared to the first half of 2024, which itself was an exceptional year for our national economy. We recorded double what we achieved in the first half of 2021 and continued the unprecedented boom in our trade with historic growth rates of 59.5 per cent and 37.8 per cent compared to the first half of 2022 and 2023, respectively,' Sheikh Mohammed said. Today, I reviewed the data for the first half of this year regarding the UAE's non-oil foreign trade. It achieved significant growth of 24% compared to the first half of the previous year, while the average growth of global trade was only about 1.75%. Our non-oil foreign trade… — HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 30, 2025 UAE non-oil exports hit $100.6 billion with 44.7% growth in 2025 The semi-annual growth reached 9.1 per cent compared to the second half of 2024. Sheikh Mohammed attributed the performance to the UAE's strategic position under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's leadership, describing the country as 'a major trading nation, a reliable trading partner for the world's largest economies and a gateway to facilitate trade flows around the world.' Non-oil exports reached AED369.5 billion during the first half of 2025, registering growth of 44.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office. This represents the first time non-oil exports have contributed 21.4 per cent of total non-oil foreign trade, up from 18.4 per cent in the first half of 2024 and 16.4 per cent in 2023. The export figures show an 80 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023, more than double the 2022 level, and represent a 210.3 per cent increase compared to 2019. Switzerland emerged as the top destination for UAE non-oil exports, followed by India, Turkey, and Hong Kong-China. Thailand, Switzerland and India recorded the highest growth rates among recipient markets. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, launched in September 2021, has produced 28 agreements with 10 currently in force. 'In September 2021, we launched the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme to expand our network of trading partners around the world. Our non-oil foreign trade continues to reap the benefits of this programme, under which we have concluded 28 agreements to date, 10 of which have entered into force. This means we can offer unhindered customs access to markets where nearly 3 billion consumers live,' Sheikh Mohammed said. CEPA partners accounted for AED85.02 billion of UAE non-oil exports, showing 62.8 per cent growth and representing 23 per cent of total non-oil exports. India received AED51.45 billion worth of exports, marking 97.6 per cent growth compared to 2024, while Turkey received AED27.2 billion with 24.1 per cent growth. Exports to the ten countries with active CEPAs increased three times compared to 2022 and 2021 figures and exceeded four times the 2019 exports. Re-exports totalled AED389 billion in the first half of 2025, with growth rates of 14 per cent, 15.8 per cent and 25.4 per cent compared to the same periods in 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively. The top 10 partner nations recorded 16.5 per cent growth in re-exports, while the rest of the world showed 12 per cent growth. Non-oil imports reached AED969.3 billion, representing 22.5 per cent growth compared to the first half of 2024. Imports from the top 10 trading partners grew 20.8 per cent, while imports from other countries increased 24.3 per cent. Switzerland becomes top destination for UAE non-oil exports in 2025 Trade with the UAE's top 10 trading partners grew 25.5 per cent, while trade with other countries increased 23.6 per cent. Individual country performance showed trade with India up 33.9 per cent, China up 15.6 per cent, Switzerland up 120 per cent, and Saudi Arabia up 21.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. Turkey recorded 41.4 per cent growth, while the United States saw 29 per cent growth and ranked sixth among the top 10 trading partners. France entered the top 10 list for the first half of 2025.
