RIYADH: Officials and institutions continued their extensive preparations on Thursday for the upcoming Hajj season which is expected to host more than 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad.
Prince Saud bin Mishaal, the deputy governor of the Makkah Region, and Gov. of Jeddah Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi conducted a field tour to inspect facilities at Jeddah Islamic Port for those pilgrims arriving by sea.
Jeddah’s governor reviewed operational plans implemented by the Saudi Ports Authority.
He was briefed on efforts to expedite entry procedures using technologies in the arrival and departure halls which are designed to streamline movement through the port. He also welcomed a vessel arriving from Sudan carrying pilgrims.
The governor praised the efforts of the port’s management to serve pilgrims and help them facilitate their journey to perform the Hajj rituals.
As part of its Hajj preparations, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority announced on Wednesday that it had deployed a sophisticated system of digital tools, including body cameras for field inspectors.
These devices feature live-streaming capabilities which send images to the Hajj Operations Center and allow real-time communication with inspection teams.
The technology also enables emergency distress services to help ensure the safety of inspectors.
The SFDA has specialized rapid response vehicles equipped with refrigeration systems designed to preserve food and pharmaceutical samples during transport, ensuring that the products remain in a stable condition until testing and analysis are completed.
Other key technologies include devices for the rapid detection of pharmaceuticals and chemicals, as well as equipment for the rapid field verification of the safety and conformity of such products.
This contributes to increased efficiency in inspection processes and strengthens the ability to detect counterfeit or unregistered products.
The Transport General Authority announced on Thursday that more than 33,000 buses and 5,000 taxis were ready to serve pilgrims throughout the Hajj season.
