Saudi women are for the first time at the forefront of managing the female crowd during this year's Hajj, in accordance with the directives of the General President for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais.
Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel inspected hospitals and other medical facilities in Makkah and the holy sites to ensure they meet standards for pilgrims.
The Hajj is an annual religious pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, performed every year by millions of Muslims around the world. It takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, called Dhul-Hijjah, between the eighth and 13th days of the month.
Projects are being launched in Makkah and its surroundings to develop and improve areas with street lighting, rest areas, and pedestrian pathways.
Under the steady hum of a ceiling fan, Ahmed Osman weaves golden threads into black fabric, creating verses of the Quran, a century after his grandfather's work adorned the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of Makkah.
The Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics is carrying out repair works in Makkah on roads leading to the holy sites to ensure the safety of pilgrims, improve travel to and from the holy sites, and facilitate the Hajj, officials said.
During the Hajj, a series of special exhibitions and enrichment initiatives will be held in the holy sites to provide pilgrims with an enhanced spiritual and cultural experience as part of an unforgettable Hajj journey.
For nearly 600 years, Diriyah was a key stopping point for pilgrim caravans heading to perform the Hajj.
The efforts of the university's specialized research institute for Hajj and Umrah are helping authorities improve the services provided and better manage their operations. According to its dean, the institute «has so far conducted 740 specialized studies and trained more than 6,000 trainees.».
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Every year, the ministry transports bedridden pilgrims from hospitals in Medina to the holy sites so they can perform the Hajj rituals.