Saudi Arabia outlines steps to improve comfort for Hajj pilgrims

The Zamzam Water Department is providing pilgrims cold Zamzam water around the clock. (SPA)
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Updated 29 May 2024
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Saudi Arabia outlines steps to improve comfort for Hajj pilgrims

  • Sun shields, marble flooring, mist fans among measures to protect worshippers from intense heat 

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have outlined how they are making Hajj as comfortable as possible for pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Press Agency documented the arrival of pilgrims from various nationalities at the Prophet’s Mosque, highlighting the extensive care provided by the the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The measures include the provision of cold Zamzam water around the clock.
Managed by the Zamzam Water Department, the operation involves transporting 300 tons of Zamzam water daily from its source in Makkah to the Prophet’s Mosque.
The water undergoes rigorous testing in laboratories and is distributed to thousands of coolers placed throughout the mosque, SPA reported.
The Prophet’s Mosque courtyards are also equipped with 250 large sun shields, which are 15 meters high and weigh 40 tons each, to provide shade and protection for up to 228,000 worshippers.
They feature intricate gold-plated copper designs and are equipped with a water drainage system. To combat the intense heat, 436 mist fans have been installed, which mix cold air with water mist to create a cooler environment for pilgrims.
The floor of the mosque and its courtyards is covered with a rare type of white marble imported specifically for the Two Holy Mosques.

The flooring reflects sunlight and retains moisture, enhancing the comfort of worshippers. The marble pieces are precisely installed facing the Qibla, and are carefully maintained and reinstalled during expansion works.
 


What makes the Taif Rose such a precious fragrance product?

Perfume artisan involvement aligns with Jazan Festival’s initiative repositioning traditional crafts as dynamic. (SPA)
Updated 09 January 2026
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What makes the Taif Rose such a precious fragrance product?

  • These farms produce nearly 550 million roses annually, all harvested during a brief season of no more than 45 days, from early March to the end of April

TAIF: Taif roses, renowned for their exceptional aroma and the meticulous care required in cultivation, harvesting, and processing, are among the Kingdom’s most valuable natural perfume products and stand out as prominent agricultural and cultural symbols deeply connected to the region’s heritage and tourism.

Taif rose farms, numbering over 910 and spread across Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat, Al-Wahit, and Wadi Liya, are home to approximately 1,144,000 rose bushes covering about 270 hectares of agricultural land. 

FASTFACT

Taif rose farms, numbering over 910 and spread across Al-Hada, Al-Shafa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat, Al-Wahit, and Wadi Liya, are home to approximately 1,144,000 rose bushes covering about 270 hectares of agricultural land.

These farms produce nearly 550 million roses annually, all harvested during a brief season of no more than 45 days, from early March to the end of April.

This harvest yields around 20,000 tolas of Taif rose oil. Producing a single tola requires approximately 12,000 roses, which are picked manually at dawn and distilled within 24 hours to preserve the purity and quality of the scent before reaching the market.