MAKKAH: Saudi religious authorities on Thursday revealed plans for the biggest-ever organizational operation in Hajj season history.
A record 14,000 staff, along with thousands of volunteers, will be deployed in the Two Holy Mosques to handle the millions of worshippers taking part in the pilgrimage.
Making the announcement, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, noted that the focus for this year’s pilgrimage related to the government agency’s 2024 strategic goals based around Vision 2030.
Speaking in the presence of Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, he said: “We are pleased to announce our operational plan for this Hajj season, considered the largest in the history of the presidency and its agency for the affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque, now that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has come to an end and that millions of pilgrims are expected.
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“The operational plan will be conducted in accordance with an integrated services system set by our leaders,” he added.
Al-Sudais pointed out that the plan, drawn up based on the experiences of previous seasons, had been a year in the making.
Thousands of volunteering opportunities will be made available, and 300,000 copies of the Qur’an will be distributed between the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
More than 35,000 hours of Qur’an recitation and memorization teaching workshops will be run, along with round-the-clock scientific and orientation broadcasts in 10 languages.
And arrangements have been made to provide translation services, guidance, and answers to pilgrims’ questions in 51 languages.
Al-Sudais said that the presidency aimed to distribute 40 million liters of Zamzam water in the Two Holy Mosques via more than 30,000 distribution points, and at least 2 million bottles on a daily basis.
In addition, digital technology, apps, and robots would be employed to help improve the worshipper experience.
