Saudi Arabia's General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque is well-prepared for receiving large numbers of Hajj pilgrims for the final circumambulation – the Farewell Tawaf.
Worshippers entered the Grand Mosque in Makkah on the second day of the days of Tashreeq, travelling from Mina, south-east of the holy city, in large crowds.
Tashreeq refers to the three days that follow the day of Eid Al Adha.
Pilgrims from the kingdom were scheduled to perform the farewell circumambulation of the Kabaa, the sacred cube-shaped building at the centre of the Grand Mosque, on the 12th and 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah. The 14th has been reserved for international pilgrims.
Madinah has put in place all the necessary operational plans, in co-ordination with the relevant government agencies, to receive Hajj pilgrims who will arrive to the city to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit prominent Islamic landmarks.
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid Al Adha on Wednesday, as pilgrims in Saudi Arabia began performing the final rituals of Hajj.
About 1.8 million pilgrims converged on the tent city of Mina on Monday. This is the largest Hajj since the coronavirus pandemic, that began in 2020, strictly reduced access to one of Islam’s five pillars.
The pilgrimage took place seamlessly without major incident, except for heat-related conditions as temperatures passed 40°C this week.
More than 6,500 cases of heat exhaustion have been recorded by the Ministry of Health.
Service with a smile
Meanwhile, young Saudi volunteers have been working around the clock to serve Hajj pilgrims this year.
More than 7,600 volunteers – both men and women – have been providing healthcare services for pilgrims.
“We devote all our time and effort to help assist pilgrims during Hajj season,” Duaa Hashim, a volunteer told The National.
“This year was very hot, we were serving water bottles and umbrellas throughout the day,”
“It has been very tough on pilgrims in the heat and sun, we advise them to rest and avoid staying outside and to remain in the shade as much as possible. It is our privilege to care for them,” she said.
Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammed Al Abdali said it is coordinating and working with all sectors and Hajj related ministries, adding that 32,000 people are working for the ministry.
Private companies, such as Saudi Arabia's Almarai foods, also participated in Hajj. Saudi Scouts gave pilgrims cold drinks and refreshments to cool off in the summer heat in the holy sites.
The Saudi Red Crescent on Wednesday said more than 2,300 of its volunteers, both men and women, are working to provide emergency services to pilgrims at holy sites this year.
“It is an honour to serve the pilgrims. We have been on call and working every day to make sure they are rushed to hospital. There have been many cases of heatstroke as it is very hot, said Ammar Osamah, a Saudi paramedic.
“There are many young Saudi Scouts here which is great to see for the pilgrims arriving to the kingdom. They are giving away water as we reach the hottest temperatures in Hajj,” added Mr Osamah.
A great number of volunteers are under 25, said Khalid Alshareef, a Saudi Hajj guide from Jeddah.
“They are very passionate and want to serve the pilgrims who get lost from their group.”
Heartwarming images of security forces hugging older pilgrims providing them comfort and spraying them with refreshing water have gone viral on social media.
An Egyptian pilgrim Hadir Eldessouky said the security forces went out of their way to help pilgrims during Hajj, all the time “wearing a smile on their face”.
“This year we are working more than the last two years because of the increase in number of pilgrims from all over the world,” said Mr Alshareef.
“It is not easy for pilgrims who are feeling the heat, but we are trying our best to make them comfortable.”
The Health Ministry said that more than 215,000 pilgrims have been provided with medical treatment during Hajj.
“You can see young men and women taking care of pilgrims walking the hot ground in Mina and Arafat,” said Iman Ali, a local pilgrim.
“They helped spray water on my face and hands as well as pilgrims' heads to cool it down in the afternoon when the sun is at its peak.”
“They are doing a commendable job. We will always remember their warmth and generosity.”
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
Concrete and Gold
Foo Fighters
RCA records
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20about%20%C2%A35%20billion%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
