
Over 3 million people benefit from Islamic Affairs Ministry's services during 2025 Hajj season
Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Over three million people have benefited from the services of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, and border entry points across various regions of Saudi Arabia during the 2025 Hajj season. This comes as part of an operational plan aimed at promoting religious awareness and facilitating the performance of rituals in accordance with the principles of moderation and balance.
The ministry's key initiatives included supplying over 1.6 million liters of water at Namirah Mosque in Arafat. It conducted 125,000 awareness activities in Makkah and Madinah, with 1,700 scholars and preachers providing direct religious guidance. Over 1.4 million educational materials, including books, brochures, and digital cards explaining ritual rulings, were distributed. Additionally, nearly 100 million multilingual awareness text messages were sent to pilgrims in various locations.
Through its digital platforms, the ministry broadcast 43 educational video episodes on its official YouTube channel. Its toll-free Islamic awareness hotline received over 500,000 calls, and four million video messages in multiple languages were displayed on 340 digital screens in Miqat mosques and hotel prayer areas near the Grand Mosque.
Additionally, over 25,000 volunteers participated across various regions of the Kingdom, contributing more than 124,000 volunteer hours through opportunities provided by the ministry to serve pilgrims. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift of copies of the Holy Qur'an was distributed among departing pilgrims at various border crossings.
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Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
Over 3 million people benefit from Islamic Affairs Ministry's services during 2025 Hajj season
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Over three million people have benefited from the services of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, and border entry points across various regions of Saudi Arabia during the 2025 Hajj season. This comes as part of an operational plan aimed at promoting religious awareness and facilitating the performance of rituals in accordance with the principles of moderation and balance. The ministry's key initiatives included supplying over 1.6 million liters of water at Namirah Mosque in Arafat. It conducted 125,000 awareness activities in Makkah and Madinah, with 1,700 scholars and preachers providing direct religious guidance. Over 1.4 million educational materials, including books, brochures, and digital cards explaining ritual rulings, were distributed. Additionally, nearly 100 million multilingual awareness text messages were sent to pilgrims in various locations. Through its digital platforms, the ministry broadcast 43 educational video episodes on its official YouTube channel. Its toll-free Islamic awareness hotline received over 500,000 calls, and four million video messages in multiple languages were displayed on 340 digital screens in Miqat mosques and hotel prayer areas near the Grand Mosque. Additionally, over 25,000 volunteers participated across various regions of the Kingdom, contributing more than 124,000 volunteer hours through opportunities provided by the ministry to serve pilgrims. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Gift of copies of the Holy Qur'an was distributed among departing pilgrims at various border crossings.


Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
420,070 workers served during Hajj 2025: Saudi statistics authority
RIYADH: A total of 420,070 people from the public and private sectors, including security services, worked to serve 1,673,230 pilgrims during the recently concluded Hajj season, the General Authority for Statistics — or GASTAT — has reported. Of the number, 92 percent were male and 8 percent female, the agency said in its Hajj Statistics Publication carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The publication said the number of male and female volunteers within the holy sites reached 34,540, contributing a total of 2,134,398 volunteer hours during the Hajj season. It also showed that 314,337 male and female pilgrims benefited from the Makkah Route Initiative this year, representing 20.9% of all pilgrims who arrived from eight countries. This initiative, launched during the 2017 Hajj season, aims to streamline travel procedures for pilgrims. GASTAT earlier announced that of the year's 1,673,230 registered pilgrims, 1,506,576 arriving from abroad through various entry points and 166,654 citizens and residents from within the Kingdom. Of the pilgrims, 877,841 were male 795,389 female. GASTAT said the statistics were based administrative records provided by the Ministry of Interior.


Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
420,070 personnel served 1.67 million pilgrims during Hajj 2025: GASTAT
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Tuesday released its official Hajj 2025 Statistical Bulletin, revealing that 420,070 individuals from both the public and private sectors, including security agencies, served the 1,673,230 pilgrims who performed Hajj this year. Of those working in the service of pilgrims, 92% were men and 8% were women. The total also included 34,540 volunteers — male and female — who collectively contributed 2,134,398 volunteer hours within the holy sites during the Hajj season. GASTAT's data also showed that 314,337 pilgrims benefited from the 'Makkah Route Initiative,' representing 20.9% of all foreign pilgrims. The initiative, launched in 2017, streamlines the arrival process for pilgrims from eight countries by conducting pre-travel immigration procedures. The bulletin reaffirmed previously released figures, stating that a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj this year. This included 1,506,576 foreign pilgrims arriving through various entry points and 166,654 domestic pilgrims, comprised of both Saudi citizens and of the total pilgrim count, 877,841 were men and 795,389 were said its data relies on administrative records from the Ministry of Interior, providing a high degree of reliability and accuracy. These records cover the full range of pilgrim demographics and services provided, following a statistical methodology applied consistently over the past five years.