Saudi Arabia unveils two-month Haj plan

MAKKAH — The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has unveiled its two-month plan for the upcoming Haj season, stretching from the beginning of the current month until the end of the month of Dhul Hijjah (July-August).

Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, chief of the authority, said the presidency was keen to make all early preparations for the Haj season for this year, including a number of services, covering administrative and human resources, guiding, engineering and technical fields.

He also pointed out that the plan during this year’s Haj season is working to achieve a number of goals, including helping pilgrims to perform their duties with utmost ease while making sure that the plan goes on without any hindrance, making all its venues available for the Great Mosque pilgrims and guiding them with wisdom and good advice as well as providing all the necessary services and preparing all the facilities and venues and ensuring they are ready in the best possible way.

He also indicated that it was done in partnership and coordination with the relevant institutions, government and security parties headed by the Ministry of Interior and the regions of Makkah and Madinah.

Concerning the pilgrims’ guidance, Sheikh Sudais stressed the availability of a number of important services provided by public administrations including a guidance and advise service that is concerned with raising the awareness of pilgrims and visitors conducting their worship in the most appropriate way and according to legitimate requirements.

This includes: workshops conducted by a number of religious figures from sheikhs, instructors and scholars, the distribution of Qur’an copies, pamphlets, religious and advisory books, translation of Friday sermons in the Two Holy Mosques in several languages, and organizing and arranging the visits and salutations to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his worthy companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as well as arranging the entrance and praying of women in the Prophet’s Mosque without mixing with men.

He also underlined the fact that the foundation has been working on simultaneous interpretation of Friday sermons in the Holy Mosque and that in 10 languages in addition to organizing all the gates and stairs during the Haj season. There are 210 gates in the Grand Mosque and 100 gates in the Prophet’s Mosque

There are 660 marble Zamzam water fountains and 25,000 water dispensers in the Grand Mosque, 60 fountains and 23,000 water dispensers in the Prophet’s Mosque.?

King Abdul Aziz Foundation will also contribute through the renovation of Kiswa (gold-laced cover of the Holy Kaba) and a new cover on Dhul Hijjah 9.

The number of humidifiers and air fresheners will also be increased in the corridors of the Grand Mosque in order to welcome visitors and worshipers. The air fresheners will be equipped with the finest incense and the best variety of coal which preserves heat without causing any smell or sparks. The air fresheners used are made of colloidal copper and covered with a colloidal perforated silver coat that allows to diffuse the incense with all caution.

Efforts are also on to allocate 600 air fans to the Grand Mosque and its squares, 4,500 air fans in the corridors of the mataf (Kaba circumabulation area) and 250 umbrellas in the Prophet’s Mosque as well as 52,499 carpets in the Two Holy Mosques. — Al Arabiya English