Leading Saudi newspaper launches smartphone ‘Hajj Pilgrimage App’
Leading English Language Newspaper, Arab News creates app that provides real-time updates, connects pilgrims with emergency numbers and enables them to share journey with loved ones with the launch of a new Hajj app that can be used by pilgrims for the 2017 Hajj which begins in one week’s time.
Muslim World League endorses initiative and praises Arab News for annual Hajj coverage.
JEDDAH (August 24, 2017): Arab News, the Middle East’s leading English-language daily, today launched a unique smartphone “Hajj App” for use during the annual pilgrimage season.
The free app – currently available for download on iOS and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play – has a raft of useful features for use by both pilgrims and their loved ones back home for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia that is expected to bring together millions of Muslims from across the globe.
The “Hajj App” is sponsored and officially endorsed by the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), as part of its global outreach efforts to reinforce the organization’s position as an umbrella body that serves all Muslims.
The app features numerous functions for use during the Hajj season. These include:
· Important safety features such as an emergency call number and list of all embassies and important service providers during Hajj;
· Optional “pilgrim tracker” function, which enables users to switch on to share their location and follow loved ones in real time, around the clock. This means you can keep an eye on your family and friends wherever you are;
· The latest news updates from Arab News;
· A live broadcast service.
The launch of the service comes as part of the digital transformation of Arab News, and falls within the title’s efforts – as a leading Saudi Arabia-based English-language daily – to provide comprehensive coverage of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Commenting on the launch, Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, said the app will complement the newspaper’s renowned Hajj news coverage and thanked MWL for its support.
“This Arab News/Muslim World League cooperation is an ideal and practical example of a media outlet working with a non-governmental organization for the public good,” he said.
“Launching this app is part of Arab News’ digital transformation, and provides readers and English-speaking pilgrims added value and a very useful service,” added Abbas.
For its part, The Muslim World League praised the newspaper’s initiative and said it presents a positive model of putting technology into good use.
“We are happy to partner with Arab News in launching this app, which aims to serve pilgrims digitally by providing them with all the information and contact details they need, in addition to the pilgrim geographical tracker serve,” MWL said in a statement.
“We also would like to utilize this opportunity to praise Arab News for its editorial efforts, particularly that it has always been known for its unique and informative annual Hajj coverage.”
Arab News is part of the regional publishing giant Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG). It has been the English newspaper of record for Saudi Arabia and the region for over 40 years.
More details about the app can be found at www.arabnews.com/hajjapp.
ABOUT ARAB NEWS
Established in 1975, Arab News is the leading Middle East English-language daily. Based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the newspaper is renowned for providing the Arab perspective on international affairs via its network of reporters, opinion writers and analysts. It is considered the newspaper of record on major Arab affairs for a large number of global media outlets, governments and academic institutions. It can be read onlineat www.arabnews.com
ABOUT THE MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE (MWL)
More information about the Muslim World League can be found here: http://en.themwl.org.
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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