As reported by Saudi-owned television Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia's medical authorities have introduced bicycles and motorbikes to provide ambulance services to pilgrims in Mecca, Islam's holiest site.
A television report reports that the Saudi Red Crescent Authority uses ambulance bikes to provide medical assistance in pedestrian-only narrow places that ambulance cars cannot access.
It has been developed in order to cater to the current season of Umrah, or minor pilgrimage, which usually peaks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
An operation room receives alerts via tablet devices about cases that need medical attention.
A responder is an emergency specialist who performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treats injuries.
This week, the Saudi news portal Ajel reported that 9.3 million Muslims performed Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Mecca in the first 10 days of Ramadan.
For Muslims wishing to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, the country has unveiled a number of facilities in recent months.
Muslims holding personal, visit, and tourism visas are permitted to perform Umrah and visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa in Medina, where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is located.
Umrah visas have also been extended from 30 to 90 days, allowing holders to enter and leave the kingdom via all land, air and sea routes.
Another facilitating step has been taken by Saudi Arabia by allowing citizens to apply for visas allowing friends to visit the kingdom and perform Umrah there.
There is also a stopover transit visa issued by Saudi Arabia, which allows the holder to perform Umrah, visit the Prophet's Mosque, and attend different events across the country. 90 days are the validity period of the four-day transit visa.
In addition, expatriates residing in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are eligible to apply for a tourist visa, regardless of their profession, allowing them to perform Umrah.
Umrah is undertaken annually by millions of Muslims who cannot afford the Hajj rituals physically or financially.
