Muslims perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan this year. Reuters
Muslims perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan this year. Reuters
Muslims perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan this year. Reuters
Muslims perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan this year. Reuters

Iranian Umrah pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia for first time in almost a decade


Mona Farag
  • English
  • Arabic

The first group of Iranian Umrah pilgrims in nine years travelled to Saudi Arabia on Monday, following the restoration of ties between the two countries last year.

Eleven flights from as many airports in Iran took off for Saudi Arabia, Iran's official news agency reported, citing Mohammad Hossein Ajilian, who is in charge of Hajj operations in Iran Airports Company.

Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations under a Chinese-mediated agreement in March last year after they were cut in 2016.

Iranian media said in December the kingdom had lifted restrictions on Iranians wanting to perform Umrah but flights were delayed due to what Tehran called “technical problems”.

Both countries had agreed to resume flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations.

The first flight left from Mashhad, to be followed by flights from Zahedan, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Yazd, Kerman, Bandar Abbas, Sari, Isfahan and Shiraz before the final flight from Mashhad on May 2.

Iran suspended flights to Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrims in April 2015 over allegations that Saudi security officers assaulted two male Iranian pilgrims travelling through Jeddah Airport as they returned from Makkah.

In September of the same year, a stampede during Hajj led to 769 deaths, with Iranian pilgrims accounting for 464 of those killed.

Before ties were restored, Iranians had only been able to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage that all Muslims are expected to undertake at least once. and which is subject to strict quotas for each country.

Umrah can be performed at any time and is not deemed compulsory.

Both countries have since agreed to reopen embassies and consulates and reinstate economic agreements signed more than 20 years ago.

Iran reopened its diplomatic missions in Riyadh last June. Consulate services in Jeddah also resumed shortly after.

Mica

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Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

'The Sky is Everywhere'

Director:Josephine Decker

Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon

Rating:2/5

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):

Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points

Five personal finance podcasts from The National

 

To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes 

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What is a portfolio stress test? 

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What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested? 

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How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies 

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Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?  

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Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
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UAE rugby in numbers

5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons

700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams

Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams

Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season

Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season

At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

Updated: April 22, 2024, 10:38 AM