Major General Muhammad Al-Bassami, commander of the Umrah Security Forces, stated that all partners have been integrated to ensure a successful Umrah season during Ramadan.

Masks will be strictly enforced in the central Haram area, he said. During a press conference of the Umrah security forces in Makkah, he said, "All the plans that have been implemented in the past years have been studied and evaluated with regard to implementation of the Umrah plan during Ramadan."

As al-Bassami said, the mataf (circumambulating area around the Holy Kaaba) and ground floor of the Grand Mosque will be reserved for Umrah pilgrims. Pilgrims are also permitted to enter through the gates of King Abdulaziz, King Fahd, Umrah and Al-Salam, and the Al-Marwah entry gate.

The condition that Umrah performers must have a permit to perform the ritual is intended to promote crowd management, while those coming to pray can enter without a permit. Ramadan plans of security forces encompass a range of aspects such as security, public order, crowd management, traffic control, providing humanitarian services, and empowering and supporting security agencies. The health authorities have directed pilgrims to wear masks in the central Haram area in order to preserve their health.

The Third Saudi Expansion Area will have passages to facilitate the movement of pilgrims after the completion of Umrah pilgrimage from Marwah to the Grand Mosque's western side of Shobaika, and the southern sides of Jabal Omar and Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street.

Maj. Gen. Salman Al-Jomai, assistant commander of the Umrah Security Forces for traffic affairs, said five screening points would be available to receive visitors and pilgrims at the entrances to Makkah, and unauthorized vehicles would be turned away.

Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Qahtani, assistant commander of the Umrah Security Forces for security patrols, emphasized that beggars who practice it in the Two Holy Mosques will be arrested, without complacency, and stringent legal methods will be taken against them. The patrol teams will monitor whether the faithful are wearing masks during prayer times at the Two Holy Mosques, and smart devices will be used to facilitate pilgrim entry.