The Minister of Hajj and Umrah estimated that around 1.2 million pilgrims had arrived in Riyadh, meeting the admission requirements with ease and in excellent health.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Allah, the wise leadership, and the heroes of the sector for their efforts in serving the pilgrims.
The Ministry has taken proactive measures to enhance the Hajj experience, including early preparations, coordination with government agencies, and initiatives to educate pilgrims and enforce regulations.
The 7th of June, 2024, Riyadh. As the day came to a close, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, estimated that around 1.2 million pilgrims had arrived. The pilgrims, hailing from all over the world, reportedly met the admission requirements with ease. The physician, Dr. Al-Rabiah, remarked on their "excellent state of health and high levels of contentment." The minister expressed gratitude, attributing the accomplishment to "Allah first," the "unlimited support of the wise leadership," and the "sincere efforts of the heroes of the sector serving the pilgrims." "A wise leader places a high value on providing pilgrims with the best possible care and facilitating their arrival at the two holy mosques and holy sites so that they can perform the rituals with ease, as stated by Dr. Al-Rabiah at a government news conference in Riyadh today. The minister of media, Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary, was present at the conference. Dr. Al-Rabiah expressed the Kingdom's honor in serving pilgrims and worshippers since its inception.Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who serves as both the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, direct the unwavering dedication to providing assistance to pilgrims. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, for his unwavering support.
He also expressed his appreciation to the princes and representatives from Makkah and Madinah for their unwavering commitment.In light of the fact that pilgrims continued to arrive, Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized the importance of cooperation among all these individuals. During his speech, he underlined the importance of adhering to norms and procedures in order to ensure that the Hajj experience is simple and enjoyable for everyone.Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Religious Affairs, emphasized the unwavering determination of the wise leadership to ensure that the Hajj season is successful. Early preparations included actions such as conducting comprehensive inspections of plans, programs, and activities. On a consistent basis, the ministry works to enhance the services it provides to pilgrims by addressing some of the challenges that have occurred in the past and encouraging creative solutions. He emphasized that this decision aligns perfectly with the principles outlined in Kingdom Vision 2030."This dedication began immediately after the 1444 AH Hajj on the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah," he said, highlighting the ministry's attention to early preparation for this year's Hajj season. He also emphasized the importance of his previous statement. Representatives from offices dealing with pilgrimage matters met to discuss preliminary arrangements. For the purpose of coordinating these various projects, the Pilgrim Experience Program established the Hajj Project Management Office, often known as the Hajj PMO, to coordinate these various projects.
Since Muharram 1445 AH, the Hajj Program Management Office has worked in conjunction with more than fifty government agencies to oversee the execution of more than three hundred programs in more than two thousand and six hundred locations. Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed the proactive approach that the Ministry takes to facilitate the Hajj experience for pilgrims all over the world. "Since the conclusion of last year's Hajj season, I and other leaders in the sector have embarked on a historic mission, visiting 11 countries and holding 24 official meetings," he explained to reporters. The purpose of these direct discussions was to address the challenges that pilgrims from these nations face while also investigating the possibilities for enhancing the services that are readily available. The success of these efforts is evident in the issuance of approximately one million Umrah visas by the end of the month of Dhul-Qi'dah in 1445 AH. This represents a sevenfold increase compared to the same time period in 1444 AH. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Al-Rabiah expressed his appreciation for the help they provided in accomplishing this significant milestone.
He brought to the forefront the need for pilgrims to be knowledgeable and adhere to the law. The ministry has initiated a multi-pronged effort in order to achieve this objective. An international program operating across twenty countries educates pilgrims about the dangers of violating Hajj standards, fraudulent strategies, and phony campaigns. "No Hajj without a Permit," a nationwide campaign, enforces regulations to ensure a smooth and orderly Hajj experience for all pilgrims who follow the appropriate procedures.The minister underscored the continued success of the Makkah Route Initiative, under the direction of the Ministry of Interior, spanning across seven countries and eleven airports. This year alone, it has been helpful in the arrival of over 250,000 pilgrims.Over 120,000 workers and leaders of pilgrim groups have undergone intensive training over the past few months, Minister Al-Rabiah continued. These courses, held in a variety of languages both inside the Kingdom and outside, equip professionals with the knowledge and abilities necessary to provide the highest possible level of hospitality and service to all pilgrims.Minister Al-Rabiah brought improvements to the pilgrim service system to his attention. He noted that the number of suppliers has increased to 35 this year as a result of fostering competition among Hajj service firms. He said, "We carefully choose these companies for their expertise in hospitality, financial stability, and dedication to providing exceptional service. "Pilgrims from countries without formal Hajj missions previously used intermediaries. To address this issue, the Ministry of Religious Affairs created a direct computerized registration system.
This approach removes the need for intermediaries and ensures pilgrims receive the agreed-upon services. The year 1443 AH saw the initial launch of this initiative in Europe and the Americas. Since then, it has expanded to include 126 countries, garnering significant praise and delight from those who took part. The "Nusuk" application offers more than 120 digital services, while a unified electronic platform makes it easier for domestic pilgrims to select the services they want to use. During the Hajj and Umrah, Minister Al-Rabiah lauded the unwavering commitment of the workers. "The highly qualified individuals, motivated by a sense of honor, religious duty, and national responsibility, work tirelessly alongside more than 10,000 male and female volunteers," he explained to reporters.The minister highlighted the infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience. In just nine months, they completed eleven prototype structures capable of housing 37,000 pilgrims.Al-Rabiah observed that the implementation of a walkway project, intended to encourage quick and convenient mobility, enhanced the region surrounding Al-Mashar Al-Haram. This was a reference to the efforts made to enhance the experience.
He also mentioned that the Grand Mosque was the location of the greatest air-chilling and purifying plant in the entire world.Al-Rabiah mentioned that partners in the transportation business are continuing their rapid development work. This year, the Al-Mashaer train, which has the ability to carry 72,000 passengers per hour and will transport over 350,000 pilgrims between holy sites, will begin operating during the Hajj season.As an additional point of interest, continuous engagement with partners from the Ministry of Health is taking place around the clock in order to check the pilgrims' health status. According to Al-Rabiah, the Kingdom has committed all of its capabilities and resources to ensuring the success of the Hajj season in 1445 AH, and making extraordinary progress as part of an experience that will impact the lives of all who participate. The eighth year of Saudi Vision 2030 supports this experience through programs like the Pilgrim Experience Program, which strives to realize the leadership's aspirations by making every effort to serve Hajj pilgrims. He stated that Saudi Vision 2030 supports this experience, among other programs. He prayed to Allah, the Most High, to make the pilgrims' journey easier, to reward them generously, and to forgive all of their mistakes.
