The General Directorate of Passports has deployed some 7,000 of its personnel at the Kingdom’s land, air and sea ports, Al-Eqtisadiah Arabic newspaper reported. The department noted that there would be no exceptions made for those not carrying Haj permits and that coordination in this respect had been made with the domestic Haj offices. Meanwhile, studies are under way for the construction of a new terminal at the pilgrims’ city of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The terminal, having a capacity of 400 pilgrims, is for pilgrims departing for Madinah, the paper said. The project is expected to be completed during next year’s Haj season.

100 GUESTS FROM GHANA

As many as 100 pilgrims from Ghana, who will be hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, arrived Saturday at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. On arrival, they were welcomed by a number of senior officials. The pilgrims expressed appreciation for enabling them to perform Haj at the personal expense of King Fahd. Meanwhile, Dr Tawfiq Al-Sudeiry, the undersecretary of the ministry of Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance, praised the initiative of King Fahd to host every year a number of pilgrims from various countries. He noted that more than 1, 400 pilgrims from 28 countries will perform Haj this year at the personal expense of King Fahd.

Kiswa HandOver Ceremony

Sheikh Saleh Al-Hussein, the president of the affairs of the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, will hand over on Sunday the Kiswa (dress) of the Holy Kaaba to the Kaab'as chief sadin (servant) Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheibias is customary every year. The function will be attended by a number of senior officials. The total cost of the Kiswa, which is made of pure 'black' silk, amounts to SR17 million.

The height of the Kiswa, which is decorated with verses of the Holy Quran, is 14 meters. The Kiswa includes the dress of the door of the Holy Kaaba, which is called 'Al-Burgu'. The height of Al-Burgu, which is made of pure silk, is 6.5 meters, while its width is 3.5 meters. It is also decorated with verses of the Holy Quran. More than 200 trained Saudi cadres work at the factory of the Kiswa in Makkah.

Three Iraqi Hajis Killed

Three Iraqi pilgrims were killed and 16 others were injured in a traffic accident near here late last Thursday night while they were on their way to Makkah and Madinah. According to the Riyadh-based Al-Jazirah Arabic newspaper, the injured persons were rushed to the King Khaled and King Fahd hospitals in Tabuk and that they were in a stable condition with the exception of one, who has been admitted in the intensive care unit.