Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah inspected a number of sites in the Holy Sites. This comes in line with the Saudi leadership's directives to ensure all preparations for receiving pilgrims for this year's Hajj season 2025. The minister also reviewed the readiness of facilities, infrastructure, and services provided to pilgrims, ensuring their comfort and safety.

Al-Rabiah inspected the readiness of the Kadana Al Wadi Towers, which represent a comprehensive transformation in the way pilgrims stay in Mina.

He inspected a number of new projects implemented by Kadana Development Company to improve and develop the environment of the holy sites.

The projects scheduled to be launched this year include advanced service facilities aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving the quality of services provided to pilgrims, including the project to establish a new emergency hospital in Mina with a capacity of 200 beds, and the establishment of 71 emergency centers along the pedestrian paths in the holy sites. Other projects inlcude shading and cooling the squares surrounding the Namirah Mosque on an area of ​85,000 square meters, establishing 320 canopies, installing 350 misting fans, and completing the first phase of developing the restroom system in Mina by replacing 2116 restrooms with 61 modern two-story complexes containing more than 5600 restrooms.

With the aim of raising the efficiency of services and providing a more comfortable environment for the guests of God, it has also completed planting 20,000 trees on an area of ​​290,000 square meters within the Green Sites Project, which is in line with the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to increase green spaces and moderate the atmosphere.

These inspection visits come within the framework of ongoing coordination between relevant government agencies, such as the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites and Kadana Development Company, the main developer of the Holy Sites, to ensure comprehensive readiness before the start of this year's Hajj rituals and provide the best enriching and organizational experience for pilgrims.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the arrival of more than 600,000 pilgrims so far, through various land, air and seaports, representing about 42 percent of the total expected pilgrim visas for this year, in an indication of the acceleration of the pace of arrival from outside Saudi Arabia.

The competent authorities continue to intensify their efforts to ensure an organized Hajj season, relying on advanced infrastructure and an integrated service system that meets the aspirations of pilgrims and reflects Saudi Arabia's continued commitment to serving those visiting the Two Holy Mosques.