Over 1.23 million pilgrims benefited from walking field teams' services during Hajj
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Affairs announced that at least 1.23 million pilgrims have benefited from its walking field teams and guidance services in the Grand Mosque during the 1446 AH Hajj season.
The walking teams offer precise guidance and meticulous service, with a special focus on the elderly and people with disabilities. To ensure guides are easily identifiable, major directional signs and floor stickers with sequential numbers were installed at their fixed points. The system helps link locations with nearby services, marking a vital step in improving visitor assistance by providing effective and direct support.
The walking teams' service is part of the authority's ongoing efforts to enhance and develop diverse services. The initiative aligns with broader objectives to ensure an improved experience for all visitors within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
3 days ago
- Leaders
Interior Ministry Unveils Special Stamp for 2025 Esports World Cup
The Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Passports, has introduced a commemorative stamp to mark the 2025 Esports World Cup, in partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation. This exclusive stamp will be issued to travelers arriving at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh during the tournament which will be held at Boulevard City from July 7 to August 24, 2025. Related Topics: In Photos: Saudi Crown Prince Awards the Esports World Cup Champions NCA Launches Interactive Cybersecurity Awareness Exhibition for Hajj Pilgrims Saudi Arabia Named 'Country of the Year' After Record-Breaking Leap in StartupBlink Index Haramain Railway Boosts Hajj 2025 Capacity by 25% Operation Gideon Chariots: Israel Intensifies War amid Dire Conditions in Gaza Short link :
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Over 190,000 Umrah visas issued since start of the season
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that the number of Umrah visas issued to pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom has exceeded 190,000 since the start of the Umrah season on Dhul Hijjah 14, corresponding to June 10, until Monday, June 30. The ministry facilitated the issuance of Umrah visas through the Nusuk platform. This marks the beginning of a new phase of facilitating the pilgrimage services, in line with the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to enhance the pilgrims' experience under Saudi Vision 2030. The ministry confirmed that the issuance of Umrah permits for pilgrims began on Wednesday, June 11, via the Nusuk app, which is the unified digital platform for providing government services to pilgrims and visitors. The platform enables users to book and issue permits easily, in addition to offering a wide range of digital services to support and enhance the Umrah experience. The early surge in Umrah visa applications follows a highly successful Hajj season, characterized by streamlined procedures, improved performance, and upgraded technical infrastructure, all contributing to greater efficiency in services provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This reflects the Kingdom's leadership in serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and achieving the highest levels of comfort, safety and satisfaction for pilgrims.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Al Arabiya
How Saudi Arabia held the most technologically advanced Hajj in 2025
Saudi Arabia rolled out advanced technology, robust international coordination, and unprecedented crowd management systems for Hajj 2025 to ensure a safe and spiritually enriching pilgrimage, a top official told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. As this year's Hajj pilgrimage drew more than 1.67 million international pilgrims from over 130 countries, the Kingdom's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah scaled up its operations to deliver what officials called the most technologically advanced and internationally collaborative pilgrimage to date. For more news on Saudi Arabia, visit our dedicated page. 'Saudi Arabia is honored to have welcomed 1,673,230 million pilgrims from over 130 countries to perform Hajj, a cornerstone of the Islamic faith,' Deputy Minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Al-Hassan bin Yahya al-Manakhra, said. 'This is both a profound privilege and a sacred responsibility.' To ensure safety and efficiency, the Kingdom deployed over 250,000 personnel across government, private, and non-profit sectors. Among the innovations introduced this year were digital immigration checks, AI-powered crowd management, and wearable health-monitoring devices. 'We significantly expanded infrastructure – including the largest extension of the Grand Mosque in history – and integrated advanced technologies to improve every stage of the pilgrim's journey,' al-Manakhra said. He added that the 'No Permits, No Hajj' campaign was strictly enforced and promoted across multiple countries and languages. 'Every measure taken had a single purpose: to ease the experience so that pilgrims can focus on their spiritual journey with complete peace of mind.' Innovation meets tradition The ministry's digital transformation strategy took center stage this year. 'Saudi Arabia is thoughtfully blending tradition with innovation to make the pilgrimage safer, more seamless, and deeply meaningful,' al-Manakhra told Al Arabiya English. From drones capable of delivering emergency aid to wearable devices that monitor heat stress symptoms, the 2025 Hajj season featured a wide array of smart solutions. 'Voice-activated translators provide real-time interpretation in over 11 languages, smart bracelets help pilgrims navigate, and robotic guides offer directions and reassurance to anyone feeling overwhelmed or lost,' he said. International collaboration and the 'Makkah Route' The ministry had engaged with 78 countries in the lead-up to this year's Hajj, al-Manakhra emphasized, highlighting the Kingdom's dedication to international collaboration. 'This year alone, we have held over 130 bilateral meetings to ensure alignment with every country whose guests we welcome,' he said. 'Through a multilingual, culturally inclusive framework, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah works hand-in-hand with Hajj missions and international partners to provide seamless, end-to-end support.' He pointed to the continued success of the 'Makkah Route' initiative, which allows pilgrims to complete visa, biometric, and health procedures at designated airports in their home countries. 'Pilgrims are transported directly to their accommodations, and luggage is pre-coded and sorted,' he said, noting the program currently operates in eight countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Morocco. 'These efforts reflect the Kingdom's enduring commitment to international collaboration, built on shared values and mutual respect,' he added. Personalized cares across cultures To meet the diverse needs of pilgrims, services were tailored via the Nusuk digital platform. The ministry 'developed an integrated system for quality control and service oversight, rooted in both technology and field presence,' al-Manakhra explained. 'Real-time oversight was enabled through the Nusuk Card and app, which allowed pilgrims to report issues and receive support via 24/7 Nusuk Care Centers and the Pilgrims' Care Center hotline (1966).' The app supported multiple languages and ensured a consistent quality of care for pilgrims from all backgrounds. Health and heat preparation As this year's Hajj season took place amid rising temperatures in the region, Saudi Arabia bolstered health and safety protocols in partnership with the Ministry of Health and over 40 agencies. 'Health and safety are at the heart of our planning,' al-Manakhra said. 'We have increased shaded walkways – in Mina holy site we now have a total area of 35,000 m² and in Arafat holy site a total area of shaded space of 50,000 m².' Thousands of misting fans, 400 water stations, solar-cooled rest stops, and over 20,000 newly planted trees contributed to the Kingdom's climate resilience strategy. 'Every frontline worker is now trained to respond to heat-related issues, so we are fully prepared to mitigate any health-related challenges,' he said. Year-round pilgrims As the Umrah season officially opened on June 10, Saudi Arabia now turns its focus to welcoming pilgrims year-round. 'With the Umrah season officially opened on June 10, 2025, we look forward to welcoming pilgrims from every corner of the globe and continuing our dialogue with all partner countries to ensure a smooth, safe and sacred journey for every guest of Allah,' al-Manakhra said.
