Historic Egyptian Hajj Road is a legacy of faith

Historic Egyptian Hajj Road is a legacy of faith
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Used by pilgrims since the dawn of Islam, this route transcends mere religious significance, embodying a rich cultural, civilizational, and archaeological legacy. (SPA)
Historic Egyptian Hajj Road is a legacy of faith
2 / 2
Used by pilgrims since the dawn of Islam, this route transcends mere religious significance, embodying a rich cultural, civilizational, and archaeological legacy. (SPA)
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Updated 05 June 2025
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Historic Egyptian Hajj Road is a legacy of faith

Historic Egyptian Hajj Road is a legacy of faith
  • Connected Islamic world with Makkah and Madinah
  • Currently on UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

CAIRO: The Egyptian Hajj Road is recognized by historians and travelers as one of the most important pilgrimage and trade arteries connecting the Islamic world to the Arabian Peninsula.

Used by pilgrims since the dawn of Islam, this route transcends mere religious significance, embodying a rich cultural, civilizational, and archaeological legacy, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Its importance has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, which is a precursor to the World Heritage List.

Saudi Arabia made its submission in 2015, in which it outlined the route linking Egypt to Makkah and Madinah.




Map showing land and sea routes of the Hajj in the early 20th century. (Courtesy of AramcoWorld)

The document states that the route “benefited pilgrims coming from Egypt, Sudan, Central Africa, Morocco, Andalusia and Sicily, as they meet in Egypt, then travel through Sinai to Aqaba then march across two trails.”

The road starts from the town of Haqel on the Gulf of Aqaba and ends in Makkah.

Several Muslim rulers over the centuries established structures on the road including pools, canals, wells, barricades, bridges, castles, forts and mosques, the document stated.

And “on the road near the camps are numerous Islamic inscriptions and commemorative writings, engraved by pilgrims as they passed through the road.”

It also noted that rulers and wealthy patrons built caravanserais, supplied water and provided protection along these roads to Makkah and Madinah to ease the pilgrims’ journey.

“Individual Muslims, in the name of charity, helped others to make the journey,” it added.

Historians have divided the ancient Egyptian Hajj Road into four chronological periods.

The first period from about the year 1150 featured both overland and coastal routes to the Arabian Peninsula.

The second from 1042 to 1268 had the North Sinai passageway ended and pilgrims opting for sea travel from Egypt to Jeddah.

The third from 1269 to 1884 had pilgrims reverting to using the coastal overland route.

The fourth period, from 1884 to contemporary times, marked the discontinuation of the overland route, replaced first by sea travel from Suez, and subsequently by air travel to Jeddah.




Used by pilgrims since the dawn of Islam, this route transcends mere religious significance, embodying a rich cultural, civilizational, and archaeological legacy.  (SPA)

The route’s importance for pilgrims from Africa and the Maghreb is particularly notable.

Caravans from Moroccan cities including Marrakech, Fez and Sale, sometimes including pilgrims from Senegal, would travel either by land along the Mediterranean or by sea.

These caravans would then converge with pilgrims from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, passing through cities including Mahdia, Sfax, Sousse, Tripoli, Barqa and Tobruk.

They would then cross Egyptian land, often along the coast, to reach Alexandria and Rashid.

From there, pilgrims would take Nile boats to Cairo, joining the Egyptian Hajj caravan at modern-day Al-Baraka. The combined caravans would then continue by land to Suez.

From Suez, pilgrims either continued the land route through Sinai and along the Red Sea to Jeddah, or sailed across the Red Sea to Jeddah, then proceeded by land to Madinah and Makkah.


KSrelief distributes food baskets to displaced people in Lebanon, Sudan and Afghanistan

KSrelief distributes food baskets to displaced people in Lebanon, Sudan and Afghanistan
Updated 15 July 2025
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KSrelief distributes food baskets to displaced people in Lebanon, Sudan and Afghanistan

KSrelief distributes food baskets to displaced people in Lebanon, Sudan and Afghanistan
  • The aid agency distributed 120 food baskets to Afghan refugees who returned from Pakistan and settled in Omari camp near the Torkham border crossing
  • Over the past decade, KSrelief has run thousands of humanitarian initiatives in nearly 92 countries

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed hundreds of food baskets to families in need in Sudan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan as part of ongoing efforts to alleviate the food security crisis in various countries.

KSrelief announced that 4,250 individuals will benefit from 700 food baskets distributed to displaced families affected by the armed conflict in Sudan, specifically in Al-Kamalin district of Gezira state.

In Afghanistan, the aid agency distributed 120 food baskets to Afghan refugees who returned from Pakistan and settled in Omari camp near the Torkham border crossing. At least 720 Afghans benefited from food baskets as part of a dedicated security and emergency project in Afghanistan for the 2025-2026 period.

Approximately 2,785 displaced Syrians living in Lebanon have received 577 food baskets from KSrelief volunteers in the western Beqaa Valley. This initiative is part of a project aimed at distributing food aid to support the most needy families in Lebanon, which has been significantly impacted by drought this summer.

Over the past decade, KSrelief has run thousands of humanitarian initiatives in 92 countries. Since its establishment in 2015, the aid agency has distributed food baskets to numerous countries, including Somalia, Mali, Bangladesh, Libya, and Palestine, among others.


Diriyah Dates Season celebrates sector’s growth and heritage

Diriyah Dates Season celebrates sector’s growth and heritage
Updated 15 July 2025
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Diriyah Dates Season celebrates sector’s growth and heritage

Diriyah Dates Season celebrates sector’s growth and heritage
  • Governor praises initiatives as exports hit $453m, production tops 1.9m tonnes
  • Ministry of Culture is also represented with a booth showcasing artisans specializing in palm-based crafts as part of the Year of Handicrafts

RIYADH: Diriyah Gov. Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah has praised the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for developing the date production sector in the Kingdom and enhancing the quality of dates as a national product.

He highlighted the ministry’s support programs for farmers and initiatives that add value to dates, aligning with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

His remarks came during the inauguration of the Diriyah Dates Season and accompanying exhibition, which runs until July 24.

The event, organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, aims to boost the sale of Saudi dates locally and globally, and provide an insight into Diriyah’s heritage through cultural and social activities.

The exhibition features booths for date vendors, processed date products, palm by-products and items from family-run cottage industries. It also has restaurants, cafes, food trucks, workshops for adults and children, a date auction zone and a horse parade.

The Ministry of Culture is also represented with a booth showcasing artisans specializing in palm-based crafts as part of the Year of Handicrafts.

The Kingdom’s palm and date sector is growing rapidly. According to figures from the General Authority for Statistics production surpassed 1.9 million tonnes in 2024, with SR1.7 billion ($453 million) worth of dates exported to 133 countries, up significantly from the previous year.

This growth reflects the Kingdom’s strong production capacity and government efforts to improve quality, expand global outreach and develop supply chains.


Saudi King Salman chairs weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah

Saudi King Salman chairs weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah
Updated 15 July 2025
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Saudi King Salman chairs weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah

Saudi King Salman chairs weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Tuesday praised the kingdom’s global ranking in the growth of international tourist revenues during the first quarter of 2025.

In its weekly session held in Jeddah, the Council of Ministers said the growth reflects the rapid development witnessed by the tourism sector in the Kingdom. 

The Cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s positions on regional and global developments, as well as efforts that achieve mutual interests and benefits, and contribute to addressing global challenges.


City Hub mobile entertainment arrives in Baha

City Hub mobile entertainment arrives in Baha
Updated 15 July 2025
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City Hub mobile entertainment arrives in Baha

City Hub mobile entertainment arrives in Baha
  • The event has already attracted attention in earlier stops, including Jazan, Alkhobar and Hail

RIYADH: Following the success of the City Hub event in Buraidah, Qassim region, the initiative has now reached Baha as part of a nationwide mobile entertainment tour.

The event has already attracted attention in earlier stops, including Jazan, Alkhobar and Hail, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

Organized by the General Entertainment Authority, it runs in Baha until July 25, offering entertainment for all segments of society.

The initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify entertainment and tourism, and improve quality of life, the SPA added.

City Hub in Baha offers live shows, electronic games, educational corners, family zones and food stalls. The event runs daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., combining local identity with modern elements to enhance the visitor experience.

The opening day saw strong attendance from residents and visitors, who enjoyed experiences new to the area. Tickets are available through the WeBook app, which also provides the daily schedule and show details, the SPA reported.

City Hub has become a successful model for mobile entertainment across the Kingdom, tailoring each edition to the host city’s character.

Its arrival in Baha reflects the authority’s commitment to diversifying entertainment, promoting local content, and fostering jobs and investment to improve quality of life.


Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety

Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety
Updated 15 July 2025
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Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety

Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety
  • Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations

RIYADH: The National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia welcomed the unanimous adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution on protecting children in cyberspace.

The society called it a significant step that strengthens international efforts to safeguard children’s rights amid the growing challenges of the digital world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It noted that the resolution aligns with the global initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to protect children in cyberspace, reflecting a strong commitment to upholding children’s rights in the digital sphere.

Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations, and establishes an international framework to support countries’ and communities’ efforts in this field.

He stressed that protecting children’s rights is a core priority the society actively supports and promotes, and praised the Kingdom’s mission to the UN and international organizations in Geneva for its role in supporting and engaging with the resolution.

Al-Fakhri highlighted the need to integrate national and international efforts to advance human rights, particularly children’s rights in the digital age, the SPA reported.

The society reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all international and local initiatives to protect children’s rights and raise public and legislative awareness of the dangers of cyberspace.

These efforts, it added, are crucial to ensuring a safe digital environment and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for a cohesive and secure society.