• During Ramadan 2020 and 2021 international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia, but this year they have returned. SPA
    During Ramadan 2020 and 2021 international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia, but this year they have returned. SPA
  • Itikaf prayers at the Grand Mosque have also been allowed once more. SPA
    Itikaf prayers at the Grand Mosque have also been allowed once more. SPA
  • During Ramadan, worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast. AFP
    During Ramadan, worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast. AFP
  • A Muslim woman prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. AFP
    A Muslim woman prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. AFP
  • Saudi Arabia says it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's hajj. @SPA twitter
    Saudi Arabia says it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's hajj. @SPA twitter
  • Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba. AFP
  • Muslims pray around the Kaaba. AFP
    Muslims pray around the Kaaba. AFP
  • Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. AFP
    Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. AFP

Gulf

Ramadan 2022: stunning images show Makkah from above as Muslims observe holy month

City is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic

The National

April 13, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Images capturing the movement of worshippers during Ramadan in Makkah from above are giving those not able to be there a special view.

The photographs were taken by the Saudi Press Agency more than 1,000 metres above the Saudi city, with the assistance of the kingdom's security aviation section.

They showed Muslims circling the Kaaba and gathering in squares in the city, nestled between the mountains.

Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world during the holy month, for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic.

In Ramadan 2020 and 2021, international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia, but this year they have returned.

Itikaf prayers at both Grand Mosques have also been allowed once more.

All worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast.

Oud is also burnt during each prayer time at the Kaaba.

To help pilgrims stay cool, eight million litres of Zamzam water have been distributed at the Grand Mosque so far.

Volunteers carried 250 backpacks and 91 carts of bottles and vats of water. The area is kept pristine by 4,000 staff who have cleaned the Grand Mosque 100 times since Ramadan began.

Mosques from space - in pictures

  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi shot last year by KhalifaSat, UAE's first indigenously developed satellite. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi shot last year by KhalifaSat, UAE's first indigenously developed satellite. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
  • The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, captured from the International Space Station by Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut in space, in 2019. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri
    The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, captured from the International Space Station by Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut in space, in 2019. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri
  • A stunning image of Sharjah’s largest mosque captured by KhalifaSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    A stunning image of Sharjah’s largest mosque captured by KhalifaSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
  • The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, which is the sixth largest globally, as seen from space. Photo: Nasa's Earth Observatory
    The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, which is the sixth largest globally, as seen from space. Photo: Nasa's Earth Observatory
  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi attracts more than 40,000 worshippers during Eid prayers. Photo: Maxar / Space Imaging Middle East
    Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi attracts more than 40,000 worshippers during Eid prayers. Photo: Maxar / Space Imaging Middle East
  • The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, as seen from space. Photo: Nasa
    The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, as seen from space. Photo: Nasa
  • The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, captured by KhalifaSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
    The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, captured by KhalifaSat. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Updated: April 13, 2022, 8:49 AM
Saudi ArabiaRamadan 2026