Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Holy Sites after Completing Main Hajj Rituals

Pilgrims stone the three pillars representing the devil on the first day of Tashreeq. (SPA)
Pilgrims stone the three pillars representing the devil on the first day of Tashreeq. (SPA)
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Pilgrims Prepare to Depart Holy Sites after Completing Main Hajj Rituals

Pilgrims stone the three pillars representing the devil on the first day of Tashreeq. (SPA)
Pilgrims stone the three pillars representing the devil on the first day of Tashreeq. (SPA)

The majority of Hajj pilgrims are packing their belongings in preparation to leave the holy sites on Tuesday, known as the “Day of Hastening.”

This comes after they have completed the essential rites of Hajj, which include standing at Mount Arafat, the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat, and performing the Tawaf al-Ifadah.

The Saudi Arabian government has provided a comprehensive range of services to ensure the smooth conduct of Hajj for all pilgrims.

This year’s pilgrimage has been marked by a well-coordinated system to facilitate the rituals for the millions of Muslims.

Pilgrims are arriving in Madinah as the city prepares itself to host them after the completion of their Hajj rituals.

The Madinah branch of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has prepared major mosques, including Khandaq, Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Qiblatain, ensuring they are clean, well-maintained, and equipped with air conditioning and water coolers.

Crowd management systems are in place, and educational materials and Qurans are being distributed.

Sheikh Osama Madkhali, the ministry’s local director, stated that all preparations are complete.

Over 900,000 copies of the Quran, provided by the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran, are ready to be given to pilgrims in Madinah and Yanbu airports as they depart.

Comprehensive health services

Saudi Arabia has deployed a comprehensive healthcare system to ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims.

Over 35,000 medical staff and 5,500 volunteers are on hand to provide around-the-clock care at 183 hospitals and health centers, as well as six mobile clinics equipped with the latest technology.

These facilities boast over 6,400 beds, including specialized units for intensive care, emergency treatment, and heat-related illnesses.

Virtual services are being offered through an online hospital and mobile app, providing medical consultations and information.

Additionally, the “937” call center secured urgent medical advice in seven languages for pilgrims.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, reported 2,764 cases of heat exhaustion on the first day of Eid, all promptly treated by healthcare teams.

The private health sector has also expanded its role, contributing over 62 facilities and emergency points, and providing services on the Holy Sites train at 18 locations.

Private providers operate two of the 25 Ministry of Health centers, marking a 400% increase in private sector involvement compared to last year.

The Ministry of Commerce has distributed over 37 million provisions to Hajj pilgrims in Mina on the first day of Tashreeq. The ministry’s field teams are actively monitoring the supply situation across the holy sites, ensuring that essential goods and products are readily available.

Moreover, the ministry oversees the supply chain according to its mandate, and its teams are also responsible for inspecting commercial establishments and sales outlets in the holy sites and Makkah.

These inspections ensure compliance with consumer protection regulations and identify any commercial violations.

The Saudi Water Authority announced the distribution of over 3 billion liters of fresh water in Makkah and the holy sites of Mina, and Arafat.

This effort is part of its operational plan to ensure seamless supply across production, transportation, storage, and distribution components of the system, catering to the comfort and service of pilgrims and all beneficiaries during pilgrimage.

Through coordinated efforts and meticulous planning, the authority and its operational arm, the National Water Company and its private sector partners, achieved this exceptional milestone.

The water production capacity was significantly increased, facilitated by the desalination arm of the Saudi Water Authority, enhancing the integrated efforts of the water system to deliver and distribute the water to Makkah and the holy sites.



Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince: We Stand by Gaza and Lebanon, Reject Attacks on Iran

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, stressed on Monday the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

He made his remarks while opening the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

Crown Prince Mohammed expressed solidarity with Lebanon and declared his rejection of attempts to undermine the role of the Palestinian Authority and efforts to hinder the role of humanitarian agencies in Gaza.

He condemned attempts to thwart the work of UNRWA in the Palestinian territories, while underscoring the need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Crown Prince Mohammed also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s launch of an international coalition for supporting the two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also announced his rejection of attacks on Iranian territories.

Arab and Islamic leaders arrived in Riyadh on Monday to attend the summit.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared: “We condemn the systematic killing of Palestinians in Gaza and we reject their displacement.”

“We must work together to implement the two-state solution,” he urged, while voicing commitment to just and fair peace.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said: “We must focus our efforts immediately on ending the Israeli siege on Gaza and ending the humanitarian catastrophe.”

“These wars must stop so that we can prevent the region from slipping into a wide-scale conflict,” he added.

“The region is enduring a tragedy that demands immediate action,” he stressed.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed for supporting the drive for countries to recognize a Palestinian state, noting that it was the foundation for achieving stability and peace.

He demanded the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 2735 that would stop the Israeli assault and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

He also called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, accusing it of committing “genocide against the Palestinian people for over a year.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for “isolating Israel on the international stage should it fail to end its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.”

He also called for “imposing an arms and trade embargo against it.”

The solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, he stressed.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is “going through an unprecedented historic and fateful crisis.”

“Israel cannot continue with its assault on Lebanon and its people,” he demanded, saying over 3,000 people have been killed and the human losses are devastating.

Mikati urged the gatherers to continue on sending aid to Lebanon.

On the regional level, he said the greatest challenge lies in the Palestinian cause and the suffering of the Palestinian people, echoing demands for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.