As part of the extensive preparations to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan, the General Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina has announced the official schedule for Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers at the Two Holy Mosques during the holy month of Ramadan this year, 1447 AH. This announcement comes in response to the aspirations of millions of Muslims worldwide who eagerly anticipate and yearn for the spiritual atmosphere of the Two Holy Mosques during this blessed month.

List of Imams of the Grand Mosque in Ramadan 1447 AH

The approved schedule for the Grand Mosque included a selection of reciters and sheikhs whose voices are deeply ingrained in the memories and devotion of worshippers. The list included:

• His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais.
• His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Juhaini.
• His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Yasser Al-Dosari.
• His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Bandar Balila.
• Sheikh Badr Al-Turki.

Their Eminences will take turns leading the worshippers in the Tarawih and Tahajjud prayers according to the schedule set by the Presidency, to ensure a humble and spiritual experience for the worshippers.

Imams of the Prophet's Mosque

Within the precincts of the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him), the Presidency approved a schedule that includes a group of distinguished sheikhs to lead the prayers, namely:

• His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Qasim.
• Sheikh Salah Al-Budair.
• Sheikh Abdullah Al-Qarafi.
• Sheikh Khalid Al-Hana.
• Sheikh Muhammad Barhaji.

In addition to a number of other sheikhs who will participate in reviving the nights of the holy month in Medina.

Operational plan: 7 strategic objectives to serve visitors

The General Presidency for Religious Affairs' preparations are not limited to scheduling; they are based on a comprehensive operational plan announced last Thursday. This plan for Ramadan 1447 AH rests on seven key strategic objectives, all aimed at enhancing the message of the Two Holy Mosques.

These objectives revolve around enhancing and enriching the religious and spiritual experience of pilgrims, with a focus on disseminating and teaching the Holy Quran and the purified Sunnah of the Prophet. The plan also places great emphasis on consolidating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's religious standing and its global leadership in serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.

Digital transformation and the global message

In light of rapid technological advancements, the Presidency, as part of its plan, emphasized the importance of harnessing modern technologies and digital transformation to spread guidance and enhance communication with Muslims across the globe. This includes leadership in translation and language services to ensure that the tolerant message of Islam, based on moderation and balance, reaches all visitors and pilgrims in their various languages.

This great and meticulous attention to the details of the schedule and operational plan reflects the keenness of the wise leadership and concerned authorities to provide the utmost comfort and reassurance to the guests of God, so that they may perform their rituals in an atmosphere full of tranquility and reverence during the holy month.

In a strategic move that reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in the water sustainability sector, the "Water Innovation Oasis" complex has officially commenced operations in Rabigh Governorate. This project is an unprecedented achievement, having been recognized as the world's largest integrated water innovation complex, earning it a place in the Guinness World Records. It stands as a scientific and industrial landmark, combining rigorous scientific research, practical experimentation, and real-world application in a single geographical location.

The oasis boasts a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including more than 23 specialized laboratories designed to accelerate the transformation of theoretical research outputs into tangible, commercially viable solutions. The Saudi Water Authority explained that the project extends beyond laboratories, encompassing advanced experimental stations and platforms designed to test technologies for water production, transmission, distribution, and reuse with high efficiency, supported by the application of cutting-edge artificial intelligence to manage and operate these complex systems.

In line with its commitment to global environmental standards, the Authority affirmed that the Oasis adopts sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions in all its operations. The system relies on clean energy for up to 41% of its needs, in addition to utilizing natural lighting for 90% of its facilities. This directly contributes to reducing carbon emissions by more than 284 tons of carbon dioxide annually, aligning with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative.

The significance of this massive project lies in the Kingdom's tireless efforts to achieve water security, a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030. With its long history and global leadership in desalination, the Kingdom is transitioning from a production and consumption phase to one of exporting knowledge and technology through this facility. The facility's output will help bridge the traditional gap between research centers and industry, facilitating the transformation of innovative technologies into commercial products that serve the water sector's needs not only domestically but also in countries around the world facing water scarcity challenges.

The registration of the oasis in the Guinness Book of World Records reflects the extent of Saudi ambition to lead the future of the water sector globally, as this system will be a center for attracting global minds and expertise, and a destination for startups and large companies wishing to develop water technologies, which will enhance the knowledge economy and create promising investment opportunities in this vital sector.