JEDDAH: The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques started implementing its plan for the pilgrimage season this year, which lasts for two months from the beginning of the current Dhul Qadah month until the end of Dhu Al-Hijjah.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, chief of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, said the presidency was keen to prepare early for the season this year.
Al-Sudais said that the presidential plan seeks to achieve a number of goals, including helping pilgrims perform their rituals with ease and tranquility and preparing all facilities.
He highlighted the availability of important services, including seminars by a number of high-ranking scholars and teachers, distribution of the Holy Qur’an and religious pamphlets, translation of Friday sermons into 10 languages and arranging visits to the Prophet’s Mosque.
A total of 210 doors in the Grand Mosque and 100 doors in the Prophet’s Mosques have been prepared as well as 28 escalators in the Grand Mosque and four escalators in Prophet’s Mosque. There are 38 doors for people with special needs and seven for women. There are seven bridges and a special entrance for funerals. There are also 25,000 Zamzam water containers in the Grand Mosque and 23,000 in the Prophet’s Mosque.
It also translates speeches into sign language for the deaf and provides services for those with special needs, such as golf carts to transport elderly pilgrims, and regulating the entry and exit of worshipers.
He said that the number of people circulating Kaaba in all the floors of the Grand Mosque has reached 107,000 an hour.
Air conditioning has been installed in the basement and ground floor and many other areas have finished. Thousands of fans have been installed in the Two Holy Mosques and their yards.
The area around the Two Holy Mosques has been equipped with more than 8,441 toilets, as well as more than 6,000 ablution units.
A number of different TV and radio programs and films have been made highlighting the efforts made by Saudi Arabia in the service of the two Holy Mosques and the holy sites and services provided to the guests of the House of God.
Al-Sudais said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomes pilgrims from all countries of the world and from different sects. He stressed that the Kingdom is keen to provide the best services for all pilgrims in order to help them perform their rituals in comfort, ease and security.
