Tag: Mecca

Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh dies at 84

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation, the passing of its top cleric who memorized the Qu'ran at age 10 underscores the changing face of religious authority and perhaps tolerance in a kingdom increasingly defined by megaprojects, oil wealth, and the House of Saud’s push to rebrand itself for a post-oil world. 

Inside the Kaaba: Islam’s Hidden Heart

We've all heard about Mecca, but what does it look like inside the black cube that Muslim pilgrims walk around? We take a peek inside.

Saudi Arabia artist Ahmed Mater featured at Christie’s in London

Saudi artist Ahmed Mater talks about his work involving magnetism, mirage and Mecca. Ahmed Mater: Chronicles is taking place at Christie’s headquarters located in the heart of St. James’s, London, from July 17 to August 22.

New Saudi Arabia Desalination Plant Powered by Clean Energy

Toray Industries from Japan announces it will supply the membranes for a new reverse osmosis desalination plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This will be the Kingdom’s first seawater reverse osmosis  desalination plant using clean energy under a public-private-partnership (PPP) structure. Water will go to Mecca and Medina.

Magic and Islam

Muslims used stones for warding off the evil eye. A pile of unusual magical objects was uncovered in Israel and believed to be used by sorcerers helping pilgrims on their way to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. 

Al Baydha Regenerative farming in Saudi Arabia

The Al Baydha project: a piece of Saudi Arabian desert is brought back to thriving life through ancient/innovative water conservation, and plenty of grit. Slowing down flash floods in the highlands, and, over time, converting them into seasonal streams or savannahs.

No kissing the kaaba at this year’s hajj

The year was 2014 and already Ebola was on everyone's minds. Mers and avian flu have scared off people from hajj, but covid-19 has closed Saudi's doors. This year a very modest, local hajj will take place.

Hajj selfie fever rocks the Kaabah in Mecca – but is humble bragging holy?

The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca known as Hajj has officially begun. Just search #hajj or #hajj2014 and you’ll see...

MERS Risk and Hajj – How to Prepare for a Healthy Pilgrammage

Public health officials in the Gulf states are playing down fears about an outbreak of the deadly MERS coronavirus...

Holy Mecca Will Be Saudi’s First Solar City

Saudi Arabia’s government has confirmed that it will develop and build a $640 million solar power plant in the...

SARS-like Mystery Virus Appears in Saudi Arabia, Alerting Haj Pilgrims

A new SARS-like mystery illness has health authorities alert ahead of the millions-strong Haj pilgrammage to Mecca. There have...

The Weird Science of Pedestrian Behavior Might Help Hajj

Math helps us understand how people flow, and just maybe it could help Hajj pilgrims stay safe. A Californian...