By Ed Attwood

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YouTube streams Makkah prayers live during Ramadan

Google confirms tie-up with Saudi Arabia to stream from holiest point in Makkah

By Ed Attwood
Thousands of Muslims gather in the Grand Mosque, in Islams holiest city of Makkah and home to the Qabba, as they take part in dawn (fajir) prayers on August 29, 2010, starting their day-long fast during the holy month or Ramadan. (AFP/Getty Images)
Thousands of Muslims gather in the Grand Mosque, in Islams holiest city of Makkah and home to the Qabba, as they take part in dawn (fajir) prayers on August 29, 2010, starting their day-long fast during the holy month or Ramadan. (AFP/Getty Images)

Google has announced that it will show prayers live from Makkah during Ramadan on its video-sharing service, YouTube.

The internet giant confirmed on Monday that it had been working in close partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information.

“This is the first LiveStream event coming from MENA, specifically Saudi Arabia, and we hope that it will give the opportunity not only to two billion Muslims but to the entire world to observe one milion Muslims praying each day from the holiest point in Makkah, the Kaaba, for the first time in history,” said a Google statement.

The service can be found at www.youtube.com/MakkahLive.

The holy month of Ramadan began on Monday 1 August.

All Muslim adults are expected to observe a fasting period during daylight hours, leading public sector firms and government departments to reduce their operating hours during the day.

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