Makkah hotels ramp up readiness for this year’s Ramadan season

Makkah hotels ramp up readiness for this year’s Ramadan season
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Makkah’s hotels are gearing up to receive the millions of people arriving to perform Umrah during Ramadan. (Shutterstock/File)
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Updated 14 March 2024
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Makkah hotels ramp up readiness for this year’s Ramadan season

Makkah hotels ramp up readiness for this year’s Ramadan season
  • Providers compete to provide the best services to Umrah pilgrims
  • The holy city’s hotels have a high occupancy rate

MAKKAH: Makkah’s hotels are gearing up to receive the millions of people arriving to perform Umrah during Ramadan.
Prices in Makkah’s hotels vary based on their geographical location and their proximity to the Grand Mosque. They also vary according to full or partial views of the mosque, and compete to provide the best services to facilitate the movements of Umrah pilgrims.
Ahmed Al-Maghrabi, director of Swissotel Al-Maqam Makkah, said that the holy city’s hotels have a high occupancy rate and are fully booked at most times during Ramadan. He said that employees at the Swissotel Al-Maqam Makkah, which is located in the Clock Towers area and consists of 1,624 rooms and suites directly overlooking the Holy Kaaba, strive to provide hospitality in accordance with the highest standards.
“We also ensure that guests spend their time during the holy month of Ramadan in a place that combines spirituality and special service. We have been able to reach this efficiency in operation and hospitality through continuous training of our team, applying the best international practices in the field of hospitality and focusing on meeting the needs of our guests with precision and professionalism.”
He added: “The hospitality sector, specifically hotels, is facing various challenges, including the increasing expectations of guests and maintaining a high level of service. We are also working to overcome these challenges through investing in the development of human resources and technology and the continuous training of our Saudi male and female employees who have shown great efficiency and pride in providing services and excelling.
“Hospitality has being running through our veins since ancient times, and we cannot forget the Ministry of Tourism’s continuous efforts in developing national competencies through internal and external scholarships throughout the year. This has contributed and played an important role in elevating the level of services provided to our guests.”
Al-Maghrabi said: “We recognize the importance of Makkah (the holy capital) in the hearts of visitors as a tourism and religious destination, and we are working hard to diversity services to meet the demands and expectations of all segments of visitors, through cooperation with local and international companies. This drives us to invest in comprehensive services that include cultural, spiritual and recreational experiences, as well as logistical services to ensure that all our guests experience an integrated and comfortable visit.”
Abdullatif Althubaity, front office manager at DoubleTree by Hilton, said that most hotels in the central area had reached an occupancy rate varying between 80 and 95 percent over the past years.
He said that one of the most significant challenges facing the tourism sector in Makkah is that the holy city is crowded with large numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. “We strive to provide the highest levels of services to them and enrich their experience, despite the congestion in the streets of the central area. In addition, Makkah attracts all Muslims from around the world, however, there is an urgent need to educate pilgrims and visitors about tourism and religious awareness in Makkah.
“Saudi men and women continue to spread religious and tourism awareness among all visitors and pilgrims, in all languages, he said.
Althubaity also said that they strive to provide services worthy of the level of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Makkah, in terms of elevating the services to a high level to provide all means of comfort.
He said: “The services can be diversified to meet all the needs of pilgrims and visitors to achieve Vision 2030, by increasing the capacity of hotels in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque and expanding in the Grand Mosque to accommodate the largest number of Umrah pilgrims, reaching around 30 million Umrah pilgrims and 6 million Hajj pilgrims by 2030.”
Zaid Al-Khalidi, an investor in the hotel sector, said that during Ramadan prices were subject to different factors. “They are determined by several features, most importantly the location, view, proximity, the hotel rating and its location in the central area.”
He said that each room in the central area has a specific price that is raised during key seasons and peak times. The prices cannot be similar to each other; there are prices for groups and prices for online bookings.
He explained that the occupancy rate is high this year, especially since obtaining visas throughout the year is easy via smartphones. This was significantly important to increase the numbers and expand the work of hotels in the central area, around the Grand Mosque and in the rest of Makkah’s neighborhoods.
Al-Khalidi said: “Makkah is distinguished from the rest of Saudi cities as it is home to the largest rate of hotels, which exceed 1,400, most of which are five-star hotels, fully ready with high competencies and professional training. The Makkah region is crowded throughout the year with a varying occupancy rate, but recently, thanks to the thoughtful government’s decisions and allowing a large number to perform Umrah, the occupancy rate has increased and hotels are often fully booked.”
He said that the Haramain train and free buses from the airport had greatly contributed to facilitating the Umrah pilgrims’ journey and reducing congestion. The occupancy rate is expected to reach 100 percent on weekends, and the prices of four and five-star hotels will vary, especially between the hotels in the central area and other areas farther away from the Grand Mosque.


KSA, South Korea sign deal for film industry growth

KSA, South Korea sign deal for film industry growth
Updated 23 February 2025
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KSA, South Korea sign deal for film industry growth

KSA, South Korea sign deal for film industry growth

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission and the Korean Film Council have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in the film sector, support cultural exchange, and foster the industry’s growth in the Kingdom and South Korea.

The partnership aims to promote knowledge exchange, production collaboration, talent development, and technological innovation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It also highlights both countries’ commitment to supporting filmmakers and expanding international opportunities for creative professionals, the SPA added.

The agreement includes training programs, workshops, master classes and mentorship opportunities led by industry experts. These initiatives will help filmmakers refine their skills in production, animation, screenwriting and directing.

The partnership further strengthens film production collaboration, encouraging Saudi and South Korean filmmakers to develop and produce joint projects, the SPA reported.

Both sides will also facilitate cooperation and networking through major film festivals, including the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.


KSrelief humanitarian works continue

KSrelief humanitarian works continue
Updated 23 February 2025
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KSrelief humanitarian works continue

KSrelief humanitarian works continue

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its philanthropic activities continue in Yemen, Kosovo, Sudan, Bangladesh and Lebanon through the distribution of food and provision emergency medical services.

In Yemen, the Saudi agency on Friday distributed 98 tonnes of food boxes as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to enhance food security and alleviate suffering in Yemen.

In Kosovo, KSrelief handed out 900 food baskets in several cities, benefiting 4,500 individuals.

In Sudan, 227 food boxes were given to vulnerable displaced families in Gezira State as part of the third phase of KSrelief’s 2025 Food Security Support Project.

In Bangladesh, 500 food parcels were distributed in Dhaka, benefiting 2,500 individuals, as part of KSrelief’s humanitarian gesture to ensure food security in many brotherly and friendly countries around the world.

Meanwhile in Northern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ambulance Service funded by KSrelief carried out 71 emergency missions between Feb. 14 and Feb. 20 included administering first aid, transporting patients to and from hospitals and treating burn victims of Syrian and Palestinian refugees as well as members of the host community.

This initiative is part of the project to support emergency services and transportation in refugee areas and host communities in Lebanon.


Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference

Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference
Updated 23 February 2025
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Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference

Shoura Council speaker leads Saudi delegation at Arab Parliament conference
  • The conference focused on strengthening Arab parliamentary unity, with a key agenda item dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people

CAIRO: The speaker of the Shoura Council, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, led Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the 7th Conference of the Arab Parliament and the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments.

The conference, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo on Saturday, focused on strengthening Arab parliamentary unity.

One agenda item was dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people and rejecting any proposals for their forced displacement. As part of the discussions, participants worked on formulating a unified Arab parliamentary stance to advocate for Palestinian rights. The outcome was the planned issuance of a unified Arab parliamentary action plan outlining concrete steps Arab parliamentarians could take.

Ahead of its official approval, the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments held a closed consultative session to finalize the main aspects of the plan, which will be submitted to the Arab Summit for adoption.

The Kingdom’s conference delegation included the secretary-general of the Shoura Council, Mohammed bin Dakhil Al-Mutairi, along with council members Saad bin Salib Al-Otaibi, Tariq bin Saeed Al-Shammari, Hanan bint Abdullah Al-Sammari, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Aifan and Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Hazani.


King Salman orders the naming of 15 Riyadh squares after Saudi imams and kings

King Salman orders the naming of 15 Riyadh squares after Saudi imams and kings
Updated 22 February 2025
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King Salman orders the naming of 15 Riyadh squares after Saudi imams and kings

King Salman orders the naming of 15 Riyadh squares after Saudi imams and kings
  • The initiative followed a proposal by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and coincides with Saudi Arabia’s celebration of Founding Day

RIYADH: King Salman on Saturday issued a directive to name 15 squares in Riyadh after notable imams and kings of the Saudi State, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The initiative followed a proposal by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and coincides with Saudi Arabia’s celebration of Founding Day on Feb. 22, SPA added.

The move reflects the leadership’s commitment to honoring the legacy of the rulers who, for more than three centuries, have played a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s foundation, unification, and development.

These leaders safeguarded Saudi Arabia’s resources, ensured its security, and contributed to the prosperity of its people.

The newly named squares, located along Riyadh’s main roads, will commemorate historical figures from the Saudi State, including Imam Muhammad bin Saud, Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad, Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, Imam Abdullah bin Saud, Imam Turki bin Abdullah, Imam Faisal bin Turki, Imam Abdullah bin Faisal, and Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal.

The list also includes modern Saudi rulers King Abdulaziz, King Saud, King Faisal, King Khalid, King Fahd, King Abdullah, and King Salman.


Saudi embassy in Syria celebrates Founding Day

Saudi embassy in Syria celebrates Founding Day
Updated 22 February 2025
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Saudi embassy in Syria celebrates Founding Day

Saudi embassy in Syria celebrates Founding Day
  • Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha held high-level meetings with senior executives from major global companies at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami

DAMASCUS: Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in the Syrian Arab Republic held a reception on the occasion of the Kingdom’s Founding Day at its headquarters in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The celebration was attended by the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Yasser Al-Jundi, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Syria, and a group of businessmen and intellectuals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha held high-level meetings with senior executives from major global companies at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami to bolster partnerships in technology, artificial intelligence, investment and the space sector.