Projects are being launched in Makkah and its surroundings to develop and improve areas with street lighting, rest areas, and pedestrian pathways.
The CEO of Kidana Development Company, which is behind this initiative, said that some areas have already been improved.
«Approximately 20 percent, or 500,000 square meters, have been built up in Mina,» Hatim Mumina told Arab News. «We are no longer talking about a simple tent, but about housing ready for occupancy, equipped with comprehensive services for pilgrims.».
Mumina said that the camps were designed with the highest safety requirements in mind, especially with regard to electricity.
Kidana launched a project to landscape the areas adjacent to Jabal al-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy) on the plains of Arafat as part of its plans for the holy sites.
The project, covering 200,000 square meters, aims to improve the aesthetics and accessibility of the area for visitors and pilgrims throughout the year, not only during the Hajj season.
It includes streetlights, toilets, parking spaces, rest areas and pedestrian walkways. There will also be restaurants, cafes, TV channel platforms and dispatch towers.
Kidana also opened the Zlim Integrated Services Center to assist pilgrims, ensure uninterrupted operations in Mina and Arafat, and provide necessary services to Hajj stakeholders such as the Makkah Municipality, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Civil Defense, the National Water Company and the Saudi Electricity Company.
Mumina said that Kidana can quickly accept or update changes to help pilgrims through qualified contractors because it had access to the camp and holy site projects.
He said that the company has completed part of the project to repair toilets in the holy sites.
«This project is part of a package of development projects aimed at building 1,000 toilets in Mina and 1,000 toilets in Arafat and Muzdalifah, as well as the maintenance and repair of 30,000 toilets to ensure the comfort of pilgrims.».
Mumina also spoke about the Malik Center, a technical support unit that resolves issues in the holy sites by directing them directly to the relevant authority.
The center is run by Saudis who are trained in communication skills and ensure that the task is completed in the shortest possible time.