The world's largest cooling system is in operation at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, as more than a million Hajj pilgrims gather in the Saudi city amid the summer heat.
The annual pilgrimage is to begin on Wednesday and Saudi authorities have vowed that the event will be safe as temperatures soar. Strict penalties have been enforced against illegal visitors to Makkah in an effort to prevent overcrowding.
A cooling system with a capacity of 155,000 refrigeration tonnes, a unit of power used to measure refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, will keep temperatures at the mosque between 22°C and 24°C, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba and is visited by millions of worshippers every year. The oldest parts of the mosque date back to the 16th century.
Two main cooling stations will pump air around the mosque – the Shamiya station, with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes, and the Ajyad station at 35,000 tonnes, SPA reported, quoting the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque.
"These efforts are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at elevating the pilgrim experience and providing the highest levels of comfort and tranquillity during ritual performance, especially given the potentially harsh weather conditions," SPA added.
Saudi authorities said last year that 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died as temperatures reached 50°C. Many were unregistered and lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is mandatory for Muslims able to do so to perform the pilgrimage once in their lives.
As of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia, officials said. Temperatures this week are forecast to exceed 40°C.
"I can’t describe the joy of travelling finally for the Hajj," Abdullah Al Mutawa, 45, told The National at Dubai airport on Monday, before boarding a flight to Makkah. "I broke down in tears when I arrived at the airport knowing my dream has became a reality."
More than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials will work to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has warned that anyone attempting to perform the pilgrimage without a permit will face a fine of up to 20,000 riyals ($5,300). Those enabling illegal pilgrims to travel to Makkah face higher fines. Foreigners who breach the rules could be barred from entering Saudi Arabia for 10 years.
The Saudi government has built new infrastructure to enhance the safety of Hajj pilgrims. A quota system for visitors to Makkah was introduced in 1987, agreed on by member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, to limit the number of pilgrims allowed by each nation to 0.1 per cent of its population.
This year, artificial intelligence will be used by authorities to monitor data and video, with a new fleet of drones to take to the skies above Makkah, to help manage the crowds.
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
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