Saudi Arabia has forecast an average high temperature of up to 48ºC in Makkah during the Hajj pilgrimage this month, according to meteorological services.
“The expected climate for Hajj this year is an increase in average temperatures of one and a half to two degrees above normal in Makkah and Madinah,” National Meteorology Centre chief Ayman Ghulam said on Tuesday.
He said afternoon temperatures could peak at 48ºC.
“We expect relative humidity of 25 per cent, and although we expect a low probability of rain during most days, there's some forecast of heavy rains in the high plains of Taif that may then make its way to the holy sites,” he said.
The meteorology services put the probability of rainfall during the Hajj season at 60 per cent.
The Hajj, which begins on June 14, is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims who have the means to do so.
It involves a series of rites – much of which takes place outdoors in the holy sites of Makkah and its surroundings – completed over four days.
Last year more than 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Hajj, according to official figures.
More than 2,000 people suffered heat stress, according to Saudi authorities, after temperatures soared to 48ºC last year.
Officials in the kingdom take steps to try to mitigate the effects of heat, including providing air-conditioned tents and misting systems.
“There is a need for sufficient quantities of water to cover daily consumption as temperatures rise,” Mr Ghulam said.
He also said food for pilgrims should be transported in refrigerators so it does not spoil.
This year’s Hajj is expected to be the last to officially take place during the summer season in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj begins almost two weeks earlier each year due to Islam’s following of the lunar calendar which lasts 354 days.
Saudi Arabia began a cloud-seeding programme two years ago with the first batch of flights over the regions of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail to increase rainfall in the country, which does not exceed 100 millimetres a year.
Under Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to reform the kingdom’s economy, 30 million pilgrims would take part in the Hajj and Umrah – a smaller, year-round pilgrimage. That would be an increase of more than 10 million from average annual numbers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
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Al Mrzab Restaurant
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Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
