RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received princes, ministers, religious scholars and military commanders at Mina Palace on behalf of King Salman on Wednesday as the Kingdom marked Eid Al-Adha, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Among those offering Eid congratulations at the royal court in Mina were GCC officials, ministers, and scout groups participating in Hajj operations.
The crown prince, who also serves as prime minister, used the occasion to praise the Kingdom’s military, security and government personnel for their role in safeguarding pilgrims and protecting Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions.
“We thank all members of the military and security sectors, the dedicated employees across various government agencies, and the volunteers for their service to the pilgrims and for ensuring their safety and security,” the crown prince said in remarks carried by SPA.
He said serving the two holy mosques and sites remained one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest honors and described protecting the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty as a longstanding national commitment.
The crown prince also congratulated Saudi citizens, residents and pilgrims on Eid Al-Adha and prayed for continued peace and prosperity across the Islamic world.
Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, later delivered remarks on behalf of the military sectors participating in this year’s operations.
He said Saudi Arabia had made service to the two holy mosques the cornerstone of its mission since the Kingdom’s founding, adding that the success of this year’s Hajj security plans had strengthened overall safety and service standards for pilgrims.
Guests later greeted the crown prince and attended a banquet at Mina Palace.
Saudi Arabia is hosting more than 1.7 million pilgrims during the Hajj, one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
Saudi authorities said pilgrim numbers rose about 2 percent compared with last year, with more than 1.54 million pilgrims arriving from abroad, mostly by air, and around 160,000 joining from within the Kingdom.
Saudi officials have credited expanded infrastructure projects, digital services and enhanced crowd-management systems for improving pilgrim movement between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
Authorities also expanded the Makkah Route Initiative this year, allowing pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures in their home countries before departure. Nearly 389,000 pilgrims used the program, an increase of almost 24 percent from last year.
More than 441,000 personnel, including security forces, healthcare workers, transport coordinators and emergency response teams, have been deployed to support Hajj operations and oversee pilgrim safety throughout the season.
Separately, King Salman and the crown prince exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, SPA reported.
The Saudi leaders thanked fellow Muslim leaders for their messages and prayed for continued security, stability and prosperity across the Islamic world, while also asking God to accept the good deeds of pilgrims during Hajj and Eid.
