MAKKAH: The General Directorate of Civil Defense in a press conference yesterday announced the designation of more than 17,000 highly trained personnel, supported by 3,000 advanced vehicles, to provide pilgrims with the highest levels of safety during Hajj.
Maj. Gen. Hamad Al-Mubaddel, director of the Civil Defense for Hajj, confirmed that forces have been deployed to all sacred sites and that they are fully prepared to carry out the directorate’s plan for Hajj in cooperation with 32 government bodies. He also noted the introduction of new technology and digital maps of the sacred sites.
Brig. Gen. Hamoud bin Sulaiman Al-Faraj, director of the Civil Defense in Mina, explained the importance of the basic pillars of the plan, such as the preventive side, through analysis of past data and geological surveys of problematic areas.
Al-Faraj stressed the importance of deploying field teams and preventive supervision posts in suitable areas for easy movement and swift arrival at target locations.
Moreover, Brig. Gen. Abdullah Al-Hammad, director of the Civil Defense in Arafat, said that civil defense conducts round-the-clock observation of the area.
Brig. Gen. Ali Al-Muntashiri, director of the Civil Defense in Makkah, remarked that they work in accordance with a detailed annual plan that consists of three main parts, including the operational and preventive plans. As for Madinah, Col. Khalid Al-Juhani, spokesman for the directorate in the region, said that the plan is divided into two phases: Before and after Hajj.
Responding to reporters’ questions, Al-Mubaddel said that Civil Defense services are developing all the time, and new elements are added every year based on past experiences and studying new challenges, in cooperation with all participating authorities.
Other Civil Defense officers covered various important points, such as the inspection of pilgrims’ residences, the deployment of rapid intervention teams and crowd management.
Saudi Civil Defense says 17,000 personnel deployed to serve Hajj pilgrims
Saudi Civil Defense says 17,000 personnel deployed to serve Hajj pilgrims
Mashaer metro system transports thousands of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat
- There are 17 trains in the Mashaer metro fleet, each capable of carrying 3,000 passengers
MAKKAH: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims used the Mashaer metro system to travel from Mina to Arafat on Saturday, as they began the most important day of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The metro system consists of nine stations located across the holy sites, connected by an 18-kilometer double-track railway, and is capable of accommodating 72,000 passengers per hour in one direction. The journey from Mina to Arafat takes just 20 minutes, with the train traveling at 80 km per hour, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency.
There are 17 trains in the Mashaer metro fleet, each capable of carrying 3,000 passengers. The eco-friendly electric trains significantly reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by replacing approximately 50,000 passenger buses during the Hajj season.
The trains are managed the Facilities Security Forces, under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior.
Khalil Hasan, an Egyptian pilgrim, said he is performing Hajj for the second time.
“The first time I performed Hajj was nearly 30 years back when I was a schoolteacher in Yanbu. Everything here has unbelievably changed, including the Jamarat Bridge.“Seeing the metro travelling between stations in the holy sites was a wonderful scene that added great glamor to the place and substantial enhancement to the many services provided by the kingdom,” Hasan said.
Previously, he added, he could not have imagined that a pilgrim would be able to reach Arafat from Mina within minutes.
Hasan’s lifelong friend, AbdulTawab, who is accompanying him on the spiritual journey, said that it is his first Hajj experience, and he was amazed by the metro service.
“It is wonderful, and I am grateful to the Kingdom for this metro that has facilitated the movement of pilgrims, especially the elderly, making it easy and comfortable to move from one place to another within the holy places,” he said.
Pilgrims prepare for the final stages of Hajj
- Pilgrims spent the night in Muzdalifah, under the open sky, where they took the time to rest and refresh
MAKKAH: Hajj pilgrims have begun preparing for the final stages of this year’s pilgrimage, arriving in Muzdalifah after spending the entire day performing prayers and supplications in Arafat.
After they arrived in Muzdalifah, pilgrims performed Maghrib and Isha prayers and collected pebbles for the stoning rituals at the Jamarat area in Mina, which begin Sunday morning.
These stones are used once they reach Mina, where pilgrims perform the “first throwing” of Jamarat, before heading to the Grand Mosque in Makkah for tawaf (circumambulation) and “sacrificing the lamb,” a commemoration of the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim had intended to make of his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah.
Pilgrims spent the night in Muzdalifah, under the open sky, where they took the time to rest and refresh.
The first day in Mina, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, marks the first day of Eid Al-Adha. On this day, pilgrims sacrifice animals. Male pilgrims have their heads shaved and take off their ihram clothes. Female pilgrims cut only a portion of their hair.
Hisham Thamin, an Indian pilgrim living in Qatar, told Arab News that it had been a seamless Hajj experience.
“It’s a very nice (and) very spiritual feeling. I’m enjoying the vibes here. The people here are very calm. It’s a very peaceful atmosphere.”
Thamin said that he was initially concerned about the arrangements given the heat and high numbers of people, but he was pleasantly surprised by the coordination and organization by the Saudi government.
“I’m glad the Saudi government has made very good arrangements. There’s cold water, cold juices, and breakfast boxes for everyone. They have spread out all the sheets on the sand, to make sure it’s comfortable for everyone. So I’m liking it very much. And it’s not what I expected, it’s much better than what I expected.”
Nawaf Alhabib, a Saudi pilgrim, said his experience had been “perfect.”
Alhabib planned to walk to Mina on Sunday morning before Fajr prayer.
“By 12 in the morning, we will finish from Muzdalifah and make our way towards Mina. We will rest and then perform Jamarat and it will hopefully be a beautiful day tomorrow.”
Saudi pilgrim Tawfeeq Alquraishi said he was proud of the developments and initiatives fulfilled by the Kingdom.
“The services provided to ensure a smooth Hajj experience for pilgrims is something I am so proud of as a Saudi national. This is a successful and comfortable Hajj.”
Waleed Mohammed, a pilgrim from Egypt, was grateful for being able to perform Hajj.
“This is a feeling I cannot explain. Thank God for everything,” he said. “This is an experience that everyone dreams of … everyone is happy and the organization is beyond our expectations.”
225 pilgrims treated for heat stress and fatigue on second day of Hajj
- The cases were treated at the Medical Center for Heat Exhaustion and Sunstroke
MAKKAH: About 225 cases of pilgrims suffering from heat stress and fatigue had been treated at the medical center for heat exhaustion and sunstroke in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The cases were reported on Saturday, the second day of Hajj, when pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat to ask God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health.
The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the Hill of Mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The center, affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, has 20 beds equipped with the latest equipment to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke.
It is also equipped with an air and water spray system using sprinklers to cover all parts of the injured person’s body, in addition to clinics for men and women and a pharmacy.
Saudi officials had earlier advised pilgrims to use umbrellas and keep themselves hydrated, and to take rest periods between rituals to avoid heat fatigue.
The National Center for Meteorology had forecast that temperatures in Makkah would range between 45 C and 48 C, with little rain potential.
Arafat sermon projected to reach 1 billion listeners worldwide
- The translated sermons promote peace, coexistence and a deeper understanding of Islam
ARAFAT: The Arafat sermon delivered on Saturday at Namira Mosque in Makkah was projected to reach a staggering 1 billion listeners around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sermon was translated live into 20 languages as part of the groundbreaking initiative launched by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in 2018. There were also non-simultaneous translations into 17 other languages.
Led by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the project serves as a cornerstone in spreading the message of moderation and centrism espoused by the holy sites, SPA said.
“The translated sermons promote peace, coexistence, and a deeper understanding of Islam — a religion built on mercy, tolerance, and peaceful living,” the report said.
When the project was launched in 2018, translations were offered in only five languages. Its reach has continued to grow each year. Sermons are translated into an increasing number of languages and broadcast on various platforms, including digital platforms, FM radio, and Islamic television channels.
“These efforts demonstrate the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to serving Islam and the global Muslim community,” the report said, adding that the initiative “exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s dedication to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their pilgrims. It further reflects the leadership’s commitment to promoting global peace and the values of tolerance and moderation.”
The report continued: “Having surpassed 200 million listeners in 2020, the project fulfills the Kingdom’s sacred responsibility of caring for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. By translating the Arafat sermon, they effectively share the message of these holy sites with the entire Muslim world.”
Interior minister inspects Hajj security forces in Makkah
- Prince Abdulaziz met with the commanders of the forces and discussed their preparations for their assigned tasks.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud has inspected the special security forces participating in this year's Hajj security forces in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency said early Sunday.
As part of the visit, Prince Abdulaziz met with the commanders of the forces and discussed their preparations for their assigned tasks.
Prince Abdulaziz was accompanied by several high-ranking officials and senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Security.
