MAKKAH: The security and control command center for Hajj installed nearly 6,000 digital cameras to monitor the movement of pilgrims at the holy sites to ensure their safety, according to the head of the center.
In statements to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the head of the security and control command center for Hajj, Maj. Gen. Hassan Al-Zahrani, highlighted the work of those working in the center.
The center is responsible for providing information to the security sectors and government and private entities participating in this year’s pilgrimage plan so that they can provide maximum comfort for pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and smooth manner, he said.
“The officers and non-commissioned officers were selected to work at the center based on their extensive experiences in dealing with different situations and circumstances that may occur in the field, as well as their ability to use the advanced technology,” Al-Zahrani said.
He also explained that the center operates 5,906 high-definition digital cameras, an increase of 606 cameras in the past two years, enabling it to monitor more areas in greater detail.
These cameras also help predict problems before they occur. They were placed according to certain standards and criteria in these locations around the two holy mosques, Al-Zahrani said.
“2,000 cameras were installed in areas where the Grand Mosque has been expanded, while 3,906 cameras are located around the holy sites and roads leading to them.”
The modern telecommunications network is another step in dealing with any emergency. The telephone section receives notifications from citizens, pilgrims or workers in the field on the phone number 987.
The operations department is then responsible for communicating with field security or the services sectors located near the site of the incident, to quickly deal with the situation.
“The center follows up on the implementation of security, traffic and service plans during Hajj. It benefits from the maps of modern technology covering the holy mosques and the holy sites, and provides more accuracy and speed for those working to provide services to pilgrims,” Al-Zahrani said.
Saudi government installed 6,000 surveillance cameras for safety, security of Hajj pilgrims
Saudi government installed 6,000 surveillance cameras for safety, security of Hajj pilgrims
Ramadan spending lifts small Saudi businesses in Diriyah’s Samhaniya
- Abayas, perfumes, heritage products in abundance
- Proudly Saudi, operators and owners tell Arab News
RIYADH: In the Samhaniya neighborhood, a pocket of Diriyah, old mud-brick houses have been restored and repurposed into small shops and studios.
Throughout Ramadan, the neighborhood sees a familiar surge: longer nights, busier walkways, and more spending tied to hosting, gifting, and evening gatherings.
At Artisana, a Saudi brand specializing in handmade crafts, that shift is reflected in customer interest and purchasing.
Inside the shop, shelves and tables are arranged like a gift gallery, with handcrafted ceramics including cups, bowls and lidded containers.
Alongside are ready-to-carry items including subha or prayer beads, scarves, and handbags with traditional embellishments of different regions of the Kingdom.
Operator Ghalia Al‑Mutairi told Arab News: “Artisana is a leading Saudi brand in handmade crafts, known for transforming skilled craftsmanship into timeless gifts that carry cultural meaning and emotional value.”
The store’s focus is on presenting Saudi handcrafted products through pieces that celebrate heritage and inspire pride, she said.
The brand has developed four main product lines to cover a range of gifting needs, from simple souvenirs to luxury items, curated to highlight each product’s cultural and aesthetic value.
Ramadan brings a noticeable rise in demand, Al‑Mutairi said, driven by a mix of social habits and the month’s reflective atmosphere.
“Gift-giving culture increases in Ramadan, and Artisana’s heritage character makes it an ideal option that expresses authenticity and Saudi generosity.”
A few doors down, the same Ramadan rhythm plays out in scent.
“Ramadan is known as a season, and naturally sales are higher then,” Suleiman Al‑Durayhim, who co‑founded Oud AlDurayhim with his brother, told Arab News.
The month, he added, pushes brands to highlight what they have and stand out in the market.
Oud AlDurayhim’s setting matches its stock: textured mud walls, carved wooden display towers filled with oud chips, and gift boxes arranged beside small burners.
Glass decanters and mixing vessels sit behind the counter, holding amber-toned oils prepared for customers who want a specific profile.
“We’ve had strong demand, especially here in Diriyah, not only across the Kingdom but across the Gulf as well,” Al‑Durayhim said.
The brand began as a small venture and later took on the family name. Among the scents on the shelf, one is kept especially close: Saad, a perfume named after his late father, carrying family memory into something customers can wear and share.
Nearby is Suweik, a restored building that operates like an indoor strip of local labels, which has become another Ramadan stop for shoppers.
Nour Ahmed, a sales associate at Ghain Abaya, told Arab News that the brand built its online audience before opening its first brick-and-mortar shop in Diriyah.
“The brand has been on Instagram since 2017, and this is its first physical shop, where there’s been a great turnout.”
She added that prices range from SR170 ($45) to SR550.
This Ramadan has brought a much stronger flow of visitors. “Last year there weren’t that many people, but this period there’s a lot of turnout, especially from foreigners too,” she said.
“A lot of Europeans come because they want to see the abayas, and they even want the hijab, and they kind of feel a sense of spirituality with Muslims.”
Samhaniya itself has grown over the last few years, Ahmed said. “At first it was only cafes and the guesthouse, but now it’s extended to the end of the street. It’s all Saudi brands.”
