Hajj Minister: over 1.2 mln pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH, June 6 (KUNA) - Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced Thursday the arrival of over 1.2 million pilgrims, from the four corners of the globe, in the Kingdom to perform hajj rituals.
In a news conference in Riyadh, Dr. Rabiah assured that the pilgrims completed their entry procedures with ease and they are in good health conditions and enjoy high levels of satisfaction.
With the continued arrival of pilgrims, Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized the importance of cooperation from all pilgrims. He stressed the need for adherence to regulations and instructions to ensure a smooth and fulfilling Hajj experience for everyone.
He reiterated the wise leadership's unwavering commitment to ensuring a successful Hajj season. This manifested in early preparations, including diligent reviews of plans, projects, and initiatives.
By addressing challenges from previous years and fostering creative solutions, the ministry strives to continuously improve pilgrim services. This dedication aligns perfectly with the goals of Kingdom Vision 2030, he added.
He emphasized the importance of pilgrim awareness and adherence to regulations.
To this end, the ministry has launched a multi-pronged approach. An international campaign, spanning over 20 countries, educates pilgrims about the dangers of violating Hajj regulations, fraudulent practices, and fake campaigns. A national campaign, "No Hajj without a Permit," reinforces regulations and ensures a smooth and orderly Hajj experience for all pilgrims following proper procedures.
Minister Al-Rabiah highlighted improvements made to the service system for pilgrims.
"By fostering competition among Hajj service companies, the number of providers has increased to 35 this year. These companies are carefully selected for their expertise in hospitality, financial stability, and commitment to delivering exceptional service," he said.
Previously, pilgrims from countries without organized Hajj missions relied on intermediaries.
To address this challenge, the ministry implemented a direct electronic registration system, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring pilgrims receive the agreed-upon services. This initiative began in Europe and America in 1443 AH and has since expanded to cover 126 countries, generating significant praise and satisfaction from participating nations.
For domestic pilgrims, a unified electronic portal simplifies service selection, while the "Nusuk" application offers over 120 digital services.
Minister Al-Rabiah emphasized the dedication of Hajj and Umrah personnel.
"The highly qualified individuals, motivated by a sense of honor, religious duty, and national responsibility, work tirelessly alongside over 10,000 male and female volunteers," he said.
The minister highlighted infrastructure improvements designed to enhance the pilgrim experience. Eleven prototype buildings, accommodating 37,000 pilgrims, were completed within a remarkable nine months.
Regarding the experience enhancement projects, Al-Rabiah noted that the area surrounding Al-Mashar Al-Haram was developed through the inauguration of a pathway project designed to facilitate movement with ease and convenience.
He also highlighted the installation of the world's largest air cooling and purification station in the Grand Mosque.
Al-Rabiah said partners in the transportation sector continue their rapid development work.
This Hajj season will witness the operation of Al-Mashaer train with a capacity of 72,000 passengers per hour, contributing to the transportation of over 350,000 pilgrims between the holy sites.
Furthermore, continuous collaboration is taking place with the partners in the Ministry of Health around the clock to monitor the health situation of the pilgrims.
Al-Rabiah underlined that the Kingdom has dedicated all capabilities and resources to achieve the success of the Hajj season for the year 1445 AH and ensure exceptional progress as part of a transformative experience.
He added that this experience is supported by the outcome of Saudi Vision 2030 in its eighth year through the initiatives of the Pilgrim Experience Program, which aims to fulfill the aspirations of the leadership in exerting all efforts to serve the Hajj pilgrims. (end) fn.ibi