SAUDI EXPATRIATES

 Islamic Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Sheikh issued a circular on Sunday to update all health protocols covering mosques in all regions of the Kingdom. The new directive is based on information received by the ministry from the Public Health Authority regarding preventive protocols for mosques, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic situation. According to the circular, there has been changes in the timing of the waiting period between two calls for prayer. It has canceled the reduction of the waiting period between the first call to prayer (adhan) and the second call to prayer (iqamah) following the outbreak of the pandemic. All mosques shall adhere to the previously approved waiting period as follows: 20 minutes for all the obligatory prayers; 25 minutes for Fajr prayer, and 10 minutes for Maghrib prayer. According to circular maintaining the opening of mosques for Friday prayers one hour before the Friday call to prayer and close them 30 minutes after ...

  The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has revealed the requirements and procedure of registration for Hajj 2021 via the electronic portal for domestic pilgrims. The Ministry has allowed women to register for the pilgrimage without a male guardian (mahram) along with other women. “Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually.” The Ministry has announced three Hajj packages. The first package (Hospitality Package Camps) costs SR12,113; the second package (Distinguished Hospitality Camps) is priced at SR14,381 and the third package (Distinguished Hospitality Towers) costs SR16,560. The Ministry pointed out to the following requirements before registering: • Age group should be from 18 to 65 years old. • The health condition must be (immune, immune by the first dose, immune by recovery) • Free of chronic diseases. • Registration will be available for citizens and residents inside Saudi Arabia who did not perform Hajj in the last five years.   The registration ...

  President of the Presidency of the Affair of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais inaugurated yesterday a smart robot system to distribute bottles of Zamzam water. The robot works on distributing the water without human intervention and without affecting the movement inside the Two Holy Mosques. — SPA  

  JEDDAH —  The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) announced on Saturday that it is going to ban work under the sun — from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. — for three months, citing a ministerial decision. The ban, which covers all private sector companies and establishments, comes into force on June 15 (Tuesday) and will continue until Sept. 15, 2021. The ministry said the decision aims to preserve the safety and health of workers and employees in the private sector and is in line with its commitment to provide them a healthy and safe work environment and spare them from any risks and harm as part of the safety and occupational health considerations The ministerial decision stipulates that it is not permissible to make an employee work in the open under direct sunlight from 12:00 noon till 3:00 in the evening during the period between June 15 and Sept. 15 of each calendar year. The decision excludes workers in the oil and gas companies, as well as emergency maintena...