Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, chairman of the Central Haj Committee, declared yesterday that all government departments have completed their preparations for this year’s Haj, which is expected to start on Feb. 9, depending on lunar sightings.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting arrangements for Haj in Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa, the governor said the new projects implemented by various government departments this year would help enhance the welfare and comfort of pilgrims.
We have implemented many projects in the past, but we still considered them insufficient, he said, adding, the guests of God (pilgrims), who come from all over the world, deserve even better services.
The governor stressed that development of services for pilgrims will continue. The government will do everything possible to ensure the security and safety of pilgrims, he said, adding the hope that nothing would happen to undermine pilgrims’ security.
More than 571,000 pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom until Saturday. About 557,000 of them flew in, while the rest arrived by sea and land until Saturday, Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajeeni, director general of the Passports Department, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency.
The governor urged the pilgrims not to squat in the courtyards of the Haram Mosque and public places in the holy sites and thereby cause problems to other pilgrims and create a bad impression. We have taken steps to put an end to this bad practice, he added.
Prince Abdul Majeed earlier inspected the new projects implemented by various ministries and agencies, including arrangements for the transportation of Southeast Asian pilgrims and drinking water facilities in Arafat, as well as the drainage system to remove floodwater. He was accompanied by Haj Minister Iyad Madani, Communications Minister Dr. Nasir Al-Salloum, Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi and other high-ranking officials.