logo
Ramadan: Mecca's Grand Mosque sees record 25 mln worshippers in first 10 days

Ramadan: Mecca's Grand Mosque sees record 25 mln worshippers in first 10 days

Al Arabiya13-03-2025

The Grand Mosque in Mecca has recorded unprecedented numbers of worshippers and visitors during the first 10 days of Ramadan, with more than 25 million people gathering for prayers, Al Arabiya reported, citing The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques.
According to the Al Arabiya report, over 5.5 million Muslims performed Umrah in the same period, marking a significant surge in religious activity at the holy site.
For more Saudi news, visit our dedicated page.
The authority also released new data highlighting the extensive operations in place to manage the growing number of worshippers.
Ten days of mercy have passed with peace, ending in prayers and unwavering faith. O Allah, accept from the pilgrims and those who fast. 🤲🏻🌙 #Makkah_And_Madinah_Eagerly_Await_You #Ease_And_Tranquility pic.twitter.com/cDVcihz7rU
— Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (@MoHU_En) March 12, 2025
More than 11,000 employees have been deployed to organize the mosque's courtyards and walkways, while 350 Saudi supervisors oversee 4,000 workers responsible for cleaning the mosque five times daily.
These workers also prepare entrances and pathways, regulate access through escalators, and coordinate with operations teams to direct worshippers to the upper floors and pilgrims to the tawaf area, while ensuring that all safety measures are in place.
Scenes from #Taraweeh prayers at Al-Masjid Al-Haram—Night 13 of Ramadan. #Makkah_And_Madinah_Eagerly_Await_You #Ease_And_Tranquility pic.twitter.com/q8IF53jFd4
— Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (@MoHU_En) March 12, 2025
To accommodate the millions of visitors, the Grand Mosque is equipped with 20,000 dispensers of Zamzam water.
The number of electric golf carts available for those in need of mobility assistance has reached 400, all designed to reflect the mosque's spiritual and architectural significance.
One of the world's largest cooling systems is also in place to regulate temperatures inside the mosque, with a total capacity of 155,000 tons.
The system operates through two main stations: the Al-Shamiya station, which has a production capacity of 120,000 tons, and the Ajyad station, which produces 35,000 tons.
These advanced cooling systems maintain indoor temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius, using high-efficiency air filters that remove 95 percent of impurities to ensure clean air circulation.
The Grand Mosque's audio system, consisting of 8,000 speakers, ensures the clear transmission of the call to prayer, sermons, and prayers throughout the mosque's three expansions and surrounding courtyards.
The mosque also remains illuminated throughout the year by 120,000 lighting units, ensuring a well-lit environment for visitors at all times.
As Ramadan continues, these efforts are aimed at enhancing the experience of millions of worshippers and ensuring a smooth and spiritually enriching environment for all visitors, the authority said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Most pilgrims leave Mina after performing Hajj rituals
Most pilgrims leave Mina after performing Hajj rituals

Saudi Gazette

time14 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Most pilgrims leave Mina after performing Hajj rituals

Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Most of the Hajj pilgrims vacated the tent city of Mina before sunset on Sunday, the second day of Tashreeq, after performing the ritual of casting stones at three Jamarat, pillars symbolizing Satan. The pilgrims, who are in a rush, are allowed to leave Mina for Makkah before sunset on the second Tashreeq day or else they will have to stay an extra day in Mina and have to pebble the devil. The pilgrims, who will stay back in Mina on Sunday night, will leave the tent city after completing the stoning ritual on Monday afternoon. After performing the stoning ritual, pilgrims, who are in a hurry, swiftly proceeded to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Wida (Farewell circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba), the last obligatory ritual of Hajj. The Grand Mosque received several batches of pilgrims, who arrived from Mina to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida, before heading to visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah or to their home. The pilgrims were seen in a spiritually elevated and euphoric mood after completing their lifetime spiritual journey. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the departure of pilgrims from Mina as per a two-day schedule prepared by them so as to avoid any congestion at the Jamarat Bridge as well as to ensure their smooth movement to the Grand Mosque to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida. Although Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, concludes officially on Monday, the third day of Tashreeq, pilgrims are allowed to leave a day earlier. Pilgrims opting for early departure performed the Farewell Tawaf amid a heavy flow of worshipers at the Grand Mosque. The relevant authorities have mobilized all their capabilities to facilitate the movement of early departure pilgrims, ensuring a smooth flow within the Grand Mosque. The Hajj Security Forces at the Grand Mosque confirmed their full readiness to receive pilgrims for the Farewell Tawaf. This is part of a comprehensive security and organizational plan designed to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals in ease and comfort, within an atmosphere of faith, security, and safety. Support services include 400 electric carts, over 10,000 wheelchairs, and 210 smart gates to regulate entry and exit. These efforts reflect the implementation of the Saudi leadership's directives to provide the highest quality services to pilgrims and to facilitate the performance of their rituals in an atmosphere of security, comfort, and tranquility. The plan includes establishing organized mechanisms for entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque, as well as allocating designated routes to regulate crowd movement in the courtyards surrounding the mosque and the passageways leading to mataf, ensuring the security and safety of pilgrims. The Monitoring and Control Center at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Mina was closely tracking the movement of pilgrims on the second day of Tashreeq as part of the ongoing operations to ensure smooth crowd flow and the safety of pilgrims across all movement routes. The center relied on an advanced technological infrastructure that enables real-time monitoring of crowd density indicators and data analysis. This allowed for immediate decision-making and enhances rapid response to any emergency, thereby improving the flexibility and smoothness of pilgrim movement. The center operates based on a unified operational model that integrates all Hajj-related systems, covering group movement, transportation, aviation, and even entry data from various border points. This integration provides a comprehensive view of the pilgrim's journey from arrival to the completion of rituals. It has notably contributed to reducing waiting times at air entry points to under 40 minutes, thanks to integration with flight tracking systems and improved reception preparedness. Center teams also track the movement of pilgrim buses using smart technologies that generate precise movement maps, aiding in the organization of pilgrim flow and preventing congestion along critical routes, particularly during peak hours.

Umm Al-Qura University becomes academic hub for Hajj
Umm Al-Qura University becomes academic hub for Hajj

Arab News

time14 hours ago

  • Arab News

Umm Al-Qura University becomes academic hub for Hajj

MAKKAH: As millions of pilgrims undertake Hajj pilgimage, Umm Al-Qura University is leveraging its research capabilities to support one of the world's most complex religious gatherings. Dr. Wardah bint Abdullah Al-Asmari, vice rector for investment and community partnership, told Arab News that the university has committed all available resources to support Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah infrastructure, aligning with Vision 2030 objectives. 'We mobilize our human, scientific, administrative, and research capacities annually through specialized educational and training programs, field studies, and consulting services designed to elevate pilgrim experiences and service standards,' Al-Asmari said. The university's flagship effort this season, the Licensing and Qualification Program for Helpers of Pilgrims, has provided over 300,000 training opportunities through 20 worker modules and 50 packages for pilgrims available in 15 languages. Other initiatives include the Rafid Al-Haramain program, offering more than 100,000 training slots and engaging over 3,000 participants from 30 organizations; and the Bus Guide Training Program, which certified 3,500 guides to assist with pilgrim transport. As part of its global outreach, the university translates Friday sermons and Arafat Day speeches into more than 20 languages, reaching an estimated 600 million Muslims worldwide. • Umm Al-Qura University's flagship effort this season, the Licensing and Qualification Program for Helpers of Pilgrims, has provided over 300,000 training opportunities. • The university translates Friday sermons and Arafat Day speeches into more than 20 languages, reaching an estimated 600 million Muslims worldwide. • This year, 2,027 volunteers were trained in partnership with relevant authorities in health, awareness, and organizational services. Academic departments have also integrated Hajj-focused curricula in medicine, nursing, computer science, and social sciences, covering crowd control, disaster management, and emergency response. Students gain hands-on experience through partnerships with the Ministry of Health at seasonal medical facilities. Umm Al-Qura's research arm, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, deployed 34 researchers and 458 data collectors to conduct 17 studies this season. These focus on crowd management, security protocols, sustainability measures, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence applications, and pilgrim satisfaction in 20 languages. The Institute for Research and Studies also contributes to national projects through consulting and research implemention. Digital transformation is another major pillar. The university delivered 34,000 remote training courses through its Specialized Training platform. The modules cover critical areas such as elderly and disabled assistance, translation, guest experience, crowd management, and safety protocols. Other digital initiatives include AI-driven data analysis, pilgrim-focused smart apps, innovation hackathons, and operating the Nusuk Card project center through Wadi Makkah Co. Al-Asmari noted ongoing collaboration with key government bodies including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Municipal Affairs, as well as the Royal Commission for Makkah City, Pilgrim Experience Program, Civil Defense, Border Guard, and Makkah Health Cluster. These partnerships span research, training, performance metrics, and volunteer mobilization. Volunteerism is central the university's social responsibility mission. This year, 2,027 volunteers were trained in partnership with civil defense, health, and border authorities in health, awareness, and organizational services. To meet growing sector needs, the university launched degree and diploma programs in Hajj and Umrah management through its specialized institute and colleges, attracting students pursuing careers in the expanding pilgrim services sector. Looking ahead, Al-Asmari affirmed Umm Al-Qura's ambition to expand research, partnerships, and tech innovation in line with the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

Interior minister opens Mujahideen's new Hajj Command HQ in Muzdalifah
Interior minister opens Mujahideen's new Hajj Command HQ in Muzdalifah

Saudi Gazette

time17 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Interior minister opens Mujahideen's new Hajj Command HQ in Muzdalifah

Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif inaugurated on Sunday the General Command Headquarters for Hajj and Umrah missions, affiliated with the General Administration of Mujahideen, in Muzdalifah. During the inauguration, Prince Abdulaziz watched a presentation on the new facility, which has been equipped with the latest technical and security standards. These enhancements will enable the personnel and field teams of the General Administration of Mujahideen to serve pilgrims with the highest levels of efficiency and professionalism. The minister visited on Saturday the General Transport Center of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites in Arafat. He was received by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Transport General Authority (TGA) Saleh Al-Jasser; Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics and TGA Acting President Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih; and CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites Eng. Saleh Al-Rasheed. During the visit, Prince Abdulaziz had a briefing on the transport system's operations during this year's Hajj season, including the planning, operation, and control mechanisms managed by the center. This includes central operation rooms and subsidiary control rooms that regulate crowd movement, direct buses, and ensure smooth flow using real-time data analysis tools and live monitoring systems. The interior minister also reviewed the interactive map of pilgrim service routes between Mina and the Grand Mosque during the days of Tashreeq, which regulates shuttle transport and sets closure times for each route. The General Transport Center is responsible for organizing and managing the transport system in Makkah and the holy sites through multiple operational modes, including shuttle transport and single and double shuttles, in direct coordination with over ten government agencies to ensure functional integration within the Hajj system.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store