Pilgrimage

Holders of visit visas to Saudi Arabia banned from entering KSA during Hajj season: EgyptAir

Sat, 20 May 2023 - 06:49 GMT

The company asked all tourism companies and travel agents not to issue tickets or accept visas of all kinds on flights heading to Jeddah/Madinah, starting from Tuesday, May 30, 2023, until Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Egypt bans patients with chronic diseases from performing Hajj

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 - 12:29 GMT

The ban includes people who are the most vulnerable to the risks of infection, according to the controls approved by the Ministry of Health.

EgyptAir starts air bridge to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on Friday

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 - 05:34 GMT

The first batch of pilgrims will depart on eight flights from the Cairo International Airport; six flights to Madinah and two flights to Jeddah, the company added.

There is no point in banning Copts from visiting Jerusalem: Pope Tawadros II of Egypt

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 - 03:26 GMT

There is no point in banning the visits of Copts to Jerusalem at the moment, as such decision has weakened Coptic presence in the holy city, Pope Tawadros II of Egypt aid Friday.

Saudi Arabia: 2020 Hajj allowed for nationalities residing in kingdom

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 - 08:07 GMT

This decision has been taken to ensure safety for the pilgrims by taking all preventive measures and applying social distancing.

Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Medina holy sites after sterilization

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 - 10:00 GMT

Saudi Arabia on Friday reopened Al-Haram Mosque in the holy city of Mecca and Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi in the holy city of Medina after temporarily closing them for one night for sterilization, reported state TV Al-Ekhbariya.

EgyptAir cancels bookings of Umrah visa holders

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 - 11:44 GMT

In a statement, the Egyptian state-owned company added that the cancellation decision has been enacted on Thursday, February 27, 2020.

Hajj return flights to kick off Tuesday

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 - 09:09 GMT

The Cairo International Airport is scheduled Tuesday midnight to receive the first batch of Egyptian pilgrims returning home following completing their Hajj rituals.

In Pics: Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat in Mecca

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 12:27 GMT

The sanctity of the granite mount for Muslims comes when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his farewell sermon for pilgrims some 1,400 years ago, calling for equality and unity among Muslims.

Will people obey gov't, stop slaughtering in streets?

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:30 GMT

Al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the holy city of Mecca.

History of Holy Kaaba silver, gold doors

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 08:30 GMT

The door was installed on October 31, 1947 and replaced on October 13, 1979 with a gold one that still exists to date.

Hajj operations rooms have not received complaints: official

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 - 02:20 GMT

Operations rooms in Medina have not received any complaints from Hajj pilgrims, said executive president of Egypt’s official Hajj mission Amr Lotfy.

EgyptAir makes 1st flight to carry 2019 Hajj pilgrims to Mecca

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 - 12:47 GMT

The State-owned company organized a total of 315 flights this year; 206 flights to Jeddah and 145 flights to carry 41,000 Egyptian Pilgrims.

Egypt ranks 1st in pilgrim number in Arab world, 4th in world

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 - 09:44 GMT

The number of Egyptian pilgrims who performed Umrah in 2019 was about 538,940 from the beginning of the Umrah season until the third day of Eid al-Fitr.

In Pics: Sisi performs Umrah in Mecca

Fri, 31 May 2019 - 03:18 GMT

The president was saluting Egyptian pilgrims at Mecca.

Death toll among Egyptian pilgrims rises to 39 -- ministry

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 - 11:49 GMT

The new deaths are from the governorates of Alexandria and Aswan. Their ages range between 63 to 81 years old, said the ministry's spokesman Khaled Meghad.

'Green hajj' slowly takes root in Mecca

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 - 11:12 GMT

It's all part of an initiative to reduce the environmental footprint of the hajj, one of the world's largest annual gatherings.

King Salman receives Egyptian Mufti, Iraqi PM

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 - 09:48 GMT

His highness also received an Egyptian delegation of 60 media personnel.

Mecca governor says politics faraway from Hajj affairs

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 - 09:36 GMT

Al Faisal's statements came during an interview with Al Arabiya news channel aired on Thursday on the occasion of the Hajj season this year. 

5th Adha as president, Sisi extends Adha feast greetings to all people

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 - 12:37 GMT

Sisi stated: “We thank Allah (God) for these blessed days, and we call upon him to [grant] us security, welfare and blessing.”

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