Latest news with #Hajj2025
Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia Unveils Comprehensive Plan for Seamless Experience
Saudi Arabia's General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has revealed an expansive operational strategy to ensure seamless experience for Hajj 2025. Millions of pilgrims are preparing to converge on the holy sites for this year's significant Hajj season. Consequently, the Kingdom aims to deliver a safe, spiritually fulfilling experience for all worshippers. This comprehensive field plan ensures maximum comfort and accessibility. Enhancing Pilgrim Experience, Accessibility The authority, in a detailed briefing, outlined a wide-ranging suite of services and enhancements. Furthermore, they introduced these across the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. This initiative aligns with their mission to meet the highest standards of organization, accessibility, and hospitality. Importantly, they are dedicated to elevating every aspect of the pilgrimage. Thirteen dedicated prayer areas have been set aside for people with disabilities. This ensures equal access to worship for all pilgrims. Moreover, to ease movement throughout the expansive mosque complexes, the authority activated 22 elevators and 224 escalators. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of the global Muslim community, religious and educational materials will also be available in 27 languages. This truly helps international pilgrims engage more fully with the spiritual experience. Streamlined Operations and Comfort Provisions Nineteen gates have been activated to improve the flow of pilgrims. This enables better crowd management during peak times. Subsequently, this significantly enhances pilgrim movement in and out of the mosques. To ensure comfort amid the desert heat, more than 883 air conditioning units, 244 mist fans, and 3,139 ventilation fans have been installed. These are strategically positioned throughout the holy sites. Additionally, 432 fragrance diffusers will infuse the air with calming aromas, enhancing the overall atmosphere of tranquility and reverence. Mobility has also been addressed with the deployment of 400 electric carts. These provide essential support for elderly and physically limited pilgrims in completing their sacred rites. Furthermore, the authority ensures robust safety measures are in place. Safety and Cultural Preservation On the safety front, the authority strategically positioned 1,229 emergency response tools. These are located across high-traffic areas. Additionally, they integrated a high-quality audio network of 8,000 speakers. This delivers clear guidance and religious messages throughout the pilgrimage during Hajj 2025. The mosques' libraries continue to play a central role in Islamic scholarship and cultural preservation. They offer access to 8,503 rare manuscripts as part of an ongoing digitization initiative. To support visual clarity and safety, more than 120,000 lighting units have been activated. These illuminate both holy sites and their surrounding facilities, ensuring clear visibility for all. Short link : Post Views: 5
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
SFDA CEO reviews Hajj readiness and AI-powered safety protocols in Makkah
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — As part of Saudi Arabia's preparations to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims during Hajj 2025, Dr. Hisham Aljadhey, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), conducted a field tour of SFDA operations in Makkah. The visit focused on evaluating the readiness of regulatory services and the implementation of the Authority's operational plans for the pilgrimage season. Dr. Aljadhey emphasized to SFDA inspectors and monitors the critical importance of safeguarding the food and medicine consumed by pilgrims. He commended the dedication of teams deployed across all sites under SFDA's jurisdiction, describing their work as a national duty and an honor in service to the guests of the Holy Mosque. The tour included a visit to the SFDA's Hajj Operations Center, where Aljadhey reviewed real-time coordination with other government agencies, inspection monitoring procedures, and support systems in place for field teams. Officials demonstrated the use of advanced tools, including body-worn cameras, smart sensors, and digital inspection systems integrated with artificial intelligence, which help enhance regulatory efficiency and ensure the safety of products distributed during Hajj. Aljadhey also inspected SFDA's base in the regulatory zone of the Holy Sites area, which oversees surveillance of food factories and storage facilities. Field teams presented procedures for collecting food samples and sending them for lab testing to verify safety standards, using digital platforms that support traceability and rapid data analysis. The tour continued with a visit to Mina's Emergency Hospital, where Dr. Aljadhey met with Dr. Abdullah Al-Algwizani, CEO of the Public Health Authority 'Weqaya.' Discussions focused on collaborative efforts between the two entities to strengthen public health protections for pilgrims. At the National Health Emergency and Crisis Management Center, Aljadhey was briefed on integrated efforts by various health and regulatory authorities. He stressed the significance of coordination in managing health emergencies and enhancing regulatory effectiveness throughout the Hajj season. The SFDA teams showcased cutting-edge analytical and AI tools deployed to bolster public health oversight and ensure that all food and drug products meet stringent safety requirements, reinforcing the Authority's role in supporting a safe and seamless pilgrimage.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Interior minister inspects Hajj security checkpoint and surveillance tech at Al-Shumaisi
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif inspected the Al-Shumaisi checkpoint on the Makkah–Jeddah highway on Thursday, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and smooth movement of pilgrims during Hajj 2025. During the visit, Prince Abdulaziz received a detailed briefing from Public Security Director Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami on the security procedures in place at the checkpoint. These include verifying the legality of pilgrim entry and preventing unauthorized individuals from entering the holy sites. He also reviewed the coordination mechanisms between various security and service agencies aimed at facilitating the safe and smooth flow of pilgrims. The minister was also briefed on the latest technologies deployed at the Field Monitoring Center of the Special Forces for Road Security, including the advanced Lucid patrol vehicle equipped with smart security systems and rapid response addition, Prince Abdulaziz reviewed the use of winged drones designed to monitor crowds and analyze human density with high precision, as well as thermal imaging cameras that provide real-time surveillance under diverse environmental center also features mobile broadcast units that deliver live field footage to operations rooms, supporting swift and informed inspection reflects the Kingdom's commitment to employing cutting-edge technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency during the Hajj season.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Dubai Airports prepares to support pilgrims for this year Hajj
Dubai Airports has launched an extensive operational plan at Dubai International (DXB) to facilitate the smooth departure and return of pilgrims participating in Hajj 2025. This initiative underscores the airport's commitment to providing a seamless and supportive airport experience during one of the busiest periods of the year. This year, approximately 3,100 pilgrims are set to depart from DXB on 28 dedicated flights operated by Emirates, flydubai, Saudia, and flynas. The official delegation from the Government of Dubai will commence their journey on the first official Hajj flight from Terminal 3 on June 1. To ensure a streamlined experience, Dubai Airports, in collaboration with the oneDXB community, including Dubai Police, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA), Dubai Customs, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, dnata, and airline partners, has implemented a number of measures. These measures include the provision of dedicated check-in counters across Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Prayer rooms and changing facilities are available in all terminals for Ihram preparation. Multilingual Guest Experience Ambassadors and Hajj Committee support desks are also present. Designated baggage carousels have been allocated for the secure handling of Zamzam water. Pilgrims are advised to arrive at the airport at least four hours prior to departure and to carry all required travel documents, including passport, Emirates ID, Hajj permit, and vaccination certificate. Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports, said, "Through the efforts of our people and the oneDXB community, we want to ensure every pilgrim departs with confidence and returns with ease.' The pilgrims are expected to return between June 9 and 12. Preparations are in place to provide a warm welcome, coordinated baggage support, and a small token of appreciation upon arrival. The Hajj season coincides with the summer travel peak and the Eid Al Adha holiday, during which DXB anticipates a significant increase in guest volumes. WAM
CairoScene
3 days ago
- CairoScene
Saudi Arabia Deploys Drones to Monitor Unauthorised Hajj Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia enhances Hajj safety with drone surveillance to detect unauthorised access and enforce permit regulations. Saudi Arabia has introduced drone surveillance technology to support security operations during Hajj 2025, as part of the ongoing 'No Hajj Without a Permit' campaign. The initiative aims to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering Makkah and participating in the pilgrimage without official documentation. According to the General Directorate of Public Security, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, and artificial intelligence are being deployed to monitor access points and remote desert areas. The surveillance technology is designed to detect violators attempting to enter restricted zones and to relay real-time data to security patrols for immediate response. Recent footage released by authorities showed drones identifying a suspicious vehicle transporting unauthorised pilgrims. The vehicle's location was shared with security teams, leading to its interception and the arrest of the individuals involved. Under current regulations, unauthorised attempts to access Hajj sites carry fines of up to SAR 20,000 for individuals and up to SAR 100,000 for those facilitating such violations. Additional penalties include imprisonment, deportation for expatriates, a 10-year re-entry ban, and potential vehicle confiscation.
