Saudi Arabia has announced that it will host more than 800 media professionals from outside the Kingdom to cover the 2018 Hajj rituals.
The top ranking media men and women, most of who are already in the country and being conducted around important historical and religious sites, were drawn from no fewer than 80 countries.
The Kingdom’s Minister of Information, Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad, who briefed the invited world top Journalists shortly after they visited and were conducted round the headquarters of the Ministry of Radio and Television and the Saudi Press Agency and information centers in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina , to find out the preparations to receive the local and global media for the great scene to the world, explained that the ministry has equipped several media centers in Makkah and holy places this year to serve its guests from journalists and media professionals from inside and outside the Kingdom, and provided them with all the services needed by the press, technology, communication networks, computers and studios.
He said that the media owners and practitioners are expected to highlight, in professional manner, the numerous activities the Kingdom had lined up for the comfort of over three million Muslims expected to perform the annual Islamic obligation
The Minister remarked that it is a great effort to host the great number of guests of the Lord and facilitate their obligatory performance, with six official radio stations and 10 international broadcasters in 10 languages, providing news bulletins and daily programs on Hajj, and 16 direct digital publishing channels in six languages, working around the clock covering the pilgrimage season in a creative, fast and innovative way.
Dr. Awad Al-Awad said that in recognition of the Ministry of Information’s effort of the importance of digital media and its influential role in the world of modern technology and the speed of its information delivery, it launched, last year, the International CIC and its account on Twitter @CICSaudi.
“To strengthen relations with the international media, and to pursue more open policy to the world public, we have started to broadcast information and documented data on the events and facts, humanitarian work and services performed in several languages, primarily English, French and German.
“Also the digital media has been established for government communication center to document the digital creative work of government agencies, and to highlight its efforts, and the dissemination of the media message of the Kingdom locally and internationally, and media work of government under a single platform template professional, in addition to the existing platforms bodies of the Ministry.”
Dr. Al Awad reviewed the efforts exerted by the ministry’s departments and sectors to cover the pilgrimage with more than 1,000 administrative, media, technical staff, a number of media centers and studios in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Madinah and the holy places.
According to him, the media centers have been equipped with a number of Saudi technicians, media professionals, editors, photographers and designers have been invited to provide support and support to their fellow Arab and foreign journalists involved in Hajj coverage for conducting interviews with their guest
The Minister of Information pointed out that the ministry chose its slogan for this year: “the world in the heart of the Kingdom,” which derives its spirituality from the prayer of the father of the prophets Abraham, peace be upon him, this blessed country is the cradle of the hearts of the goddess of revelation and the kiss of the Muslims.
He added that the slogan derives its credibility from the Kingdom’s achievements in expanding the two holy mosques and the development of the surrounding urban area, and the huge constructions and infrastructure in the holy sites, which raised the capacity of the metaphor and enabled Muslims from all over the world to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility.
Dr. Al-Awad praised the performance of the system of government agencies that work for the success of the Mecca Road Initiative, which comes in line with the direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince, for the development that will facilitate the performance of the pilgrimage and upgrading the services provided to pilgrims.
The Minister affirmed that the message of the high pilgrimage is to affirm the message of moderation renounce extremism and terrorism and promote the idea of the humanity of Islam, and that of Hajj is a platform for transmitting a message of peace, security.
Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, for the continuous efforts exerted by the Government of the Kingdom to provide the best services, security and safety for those who set foot in this blessed land.
He commended them for harnessing all the resources and facilitate for the performance of pilgrimage and access to the holy places for all Muslims without discrimination.
Dr. Al-Awwad pointed out that Saudi Arabia welcomes all Muslims in the world to perform this religious ritual, stressing its categorical rejection of attempts to politicize the Hajj or use it for purposes of disturbing this worship.
