JEDDAH, 16 December 2007 — An eight-member team from Arab News will bring the latest from the holy sites during Haj 2007. The team comprises Somayya Jabarti, Hassna’a Mokhtar, Siraj Wahab, Badea Abu Al-Naja, Syed Faisal Ali, Samir Al-Saadi, Galal Fakkar and Abdullah Muwallad. For Somayya and Hassna’a this will be their first Haj assignment, and they are naturally excited. Also they will be bringing in a women’s perspective on Haj to our readers.
Siraj Wahab’s diary will be picking up the nuggets as the faithful perform their ritual while seeking succor from God. This is his eighth Haj assignment.
Makkah-based Badea Abu Al-Naja will be on home turf for the first time for Arab News. He has already established himself as an intrepid newsman and will be on the lookout for some crisp Haj stories.
Syed Faisal Ali will be on the trail of human interest stories, while Samir Al-Saadi will attempt to see things from domestic and official angles. Galal Fakkar’s input will be focused on pilgrims from the Middle East. Photographer Abdullah Al-Muwallad will capture the spirit of the pilgrimage through his lens.
