Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, adorned in white seamless ihram attire, began their serene and reverent journey to the tent city of Mina on Thursday night, marking the commencement of their 5-6 day Hajj pilgrimage. The holy city of Makkah resonated with the powerful chants of “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (O God, here I am answering your call) as over 1.5 million pilgrims from across the globe prepared for this profound spiritual journey, considered a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for Muslims. Many domestic pilgrims joined them, seeking spiritual fulfillment through the performance of Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.
On Friday, Dhul Hijjah 8, the pilgrims will observe Tarwiah Day in Mina, engaging in prayers and meditation in their tents as they prepare for the pivotal day of standing at Arafat on Saturday. In Mina, located 7 km northeast of the Grand Mosque, pilgrims will pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr, shortening the Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers to two Rakaats each, following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Mina, situated between Makkah and Muzdalifah, is a valley encircled by mountains to the north and south and is only inhabited during Hajj. It is bordered by Jamrat Al-Aqaba near Makkah and Wadi Muhasser towards Muzdalifah.
Saudi authorities have mobilized extensive resources to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage. Under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, various ministries, government departments, security agencies, and tawafa organizations have diligently prepared to provide the best possible services and facilities to the pilgrims. The logistical efforts to support millions of pilgrims are immense.
Security measures are meticulously planned to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims.
This year, Kidana Company has introduced advanced multi-storey residential towers named Kidana Al-Wadi in Mina. These 10 towers can accommodate over 30,000 pilgrims, offering modern designs inspired by the Holy Sites' urban identity, enhancing the pilgrims' experience. The Kidana Al-Wadi project, completed in partnership with the private sector, was implemented within nine months.
The Mashaer Train has prepared nine stations across the Holy Sites of Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat, connected by an 18 km double railroad. The train's capacity is 72,000 passengers per hour per direction, facilitating over 2,000 trips. The train can travel from Mina to Arafat in approximately 20 minutes, with each train accommodating 3,000 passengers.
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has deployed over 2,000 employees to ensure water services for the pilgrims. Daily water pumping rates exceed 750,000 cubic meters in Makkah, reaching one million cubic meters during peak times on the Day of Arafat and Eid Al-Adha. Water storage capacity is at 3.2 million cubic meters, with about 4,100 daily tests to ensure quality.
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has implemented a flexible rubber asphalt initiative in pedestrian walkways at the Holy Sites, including roads leading to Jabal Al-Rahma in Arafat, covering over 25,000 square meters, reducing temperatures by about 20%.
The Saudi Electricity Company has completed a project to connect mobile stations with a voltage of 110 kV, extending over a network of more than 4 km with a total capacity of 147 MVA, commissioned on May 31 at a cost of SR60 million.
Health Ministry and Red Crescent Ready to Serve Pilgrims
The Ministry of Health and Saudi Red Crescent Authority have completed preparations to offer top-notch medical and emergency services to pilgrims. The new Mina Street Hospital, with 50 beds and departments for heat exhaustion and sunstroke, is equipped to handle emergencies. The hospital features general and specialized clinics, an endoscopy department, an isolation unit, an intensive care unit with 16 beds, a dialysis unit, and a well-equipped laboratory.
Mina Emergency Hospital has 200 beds, including 88 emergency beds and 35 outpatient clinics. It has 160 general beds, with over 20 dedicated to sunstroke cases. Mina Al-Jisr Hospital has 150 beds, with critical care and emergency department beds.
The Health Affairs wing of the Ministry of the National Guard has set up clinics and a center for heat stress in Mina and Arafat, staffed by over 250 health practitioners, including 50 doctors.
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority is deploying over 2,540 personnel, including doctors and emergency medical technicians, across 98 emergency centers. Their fleet includes 320 ambulances, 13 advanced response vehicles, seven air ambulances, two medical evacuation planes, 15 motorcycles, 150 golf carts, 150 electric scooters, 27 electric bicycles, 10 ambulance buses, and service vehicles, supported by 595 volunteers.
