Pilgrims Observe Tarwiyah in Mina, Pray at Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches its Peak

Hajj pilgrims from far and wide spent the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims from far and wide spent the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Pilgrims Observe Tarwiyah in Mina, Pray at Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches its Peak

Hajj pilgrims from far and wide spent the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims from far and wide spent the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, Saudi Arabia (SPA)

On Friday, Hajj pilgrims observed the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, following the prophetic tradition.
They enjoyed a peaceful and secure environment as they prepared for their journey to Arafat at dawn on Saturday, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, to perform the crucial ‘standing at Arafat’ ritual.
The movement of pilgrims to Mina was smooth, monitored by thousands of security personnel.
The Saudi government provided comprehensive care, mobilizing all resources to offer top-tier services, ensuring the pilgrims could perform their rituals with ease and comfort.
Thousands Gather at Al-Khaif Mosque in Mina
Al-Khaif Mosque in Mina was filled with several thousands of worshippers in a spiritual and secure atmosphere.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs launched a major upgrade to the mosque’s air conditioning, adding over 780 new units and 73 air purification systems.
These improvements ensure a constant flow of fresh air and keep the temperature inside at a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius.
Al-Khaif Mosque in Mina has long been a focus for Muslim leaders. Expanded in 1987, it now features four minarets, advanced lighting, air conditioning, and carpeting. It also includes a restroom complex with over a thousand facilities.
Pilgrims traveling to Mount Arafat benefit from extensive services provided by various government sectors to ensure their comfort and ease during their spiritual journey.
At Namirah Mosque in Arafat, pilgrims will perform combined and shortened Dhuhr and Asr prayers after listening to the Arafat sermon by Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly, Imam of the Grand Mosque.
The sermon will be translated into 20 languages, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to leadership, tolerance, moderation, and global peace.
At sunset, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, where they perform Maghrib and Isha prayers.
They spend the night there until dawn on Sunday, the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
On Eid al-Adha, they will throw stones at the largest Jamarat pillar, perform the sacrificial slaughter, shave their heads, and then go to the Grand Mosque for Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’i between Safa and Marwah.
New Flexible Flooring Enhances Pilgrim Comfort
The Royal Commission for Makkah has installed flexible flooring at the holy sites using the latest technology. This project aims to make the pilgrimage more comfortable and safe by reducing the effort needed for walking and minimizing heat stress.
The flooring, made from recycled rubber, increases comfort, reduces injuries, improves the area's appearance, and lowers heat emissions.
Moreover, Makkah experienced a surge in electricity demand on Thursday, the eve of Tarwiyah, reaching 5,361 megawatts—a 20% rise from the previous year’s 4,451 megawatts.
The Saudi Electricity Company is actively managing power services across Makkah, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah during Hajj.
Highly skilled teams ensure reliability, readiness for emergencies, and swift response to maintenance and reports via the unified security operations center and social media.



Saudi Arabia Says Will Not Allow Practices That Deviate Hajj from its Objectives

Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
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Saudi Arabia Says Will Not Allow Practices That Deviate Hajj from its Objectives

Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)
Security commanders are seen at the press conference in Makkah on Friday (Bashir Saleh)

Saudi Arabia said it would not allow the Hajj to be used for any activity that strays from its religious purpose, as more than 1.5 million pilgrims arrived from abroad by Friday afternoon.

He made his statement during a press conference by Hajj security commanders at the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in the Makkah region.

Officials outlined security, traffic, and organizational plans for this year’s holy pilgrimage, along with related instructions and guidelines.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, director of Public Security, said the Hajj security system was fully ready to carry out its duties.

“Our goal is for pilgrims to reach their destination, perform their rituals, and return home safely,” he stressed.

Al-Bassami said crowd management plans focused on regulating pilgrim flows and minimizing overlap between routes. Technology, he said, was playing a key role alongside security personnel on the ground.

He said authorities were prepared for various scenarios based on risk assessments, following extensive drills and field exercises to test the readiness of all security agencies.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari, commander of the Special Emergency Forces at the Presidency of State Security, described the security plans as “integrated, proactive and flexible.” He said security forces were deployed in the central area and the holy sites to protect pilgrims.

Maj. Gen. Dr. Hammoud Al-Faraj, director general of Civil Defense, said preparations for the Hajj season were complete.

“We trained all bodies involved in serving pilgrims on self-protection,” he said, adding that male and female volunteers were working alongside Civil Defense personnel across all tasks and operations.

Maj. Gen. Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba, commander of the Passports Forces for Hajj, said the “Makkah Route” initiative accounted for 30% of arriving pilgrims. He said 1,518,153 pilgrims had arrived from outside Saudi Arabia by Friday afternoon.


Saudi, Pakistani Interior Ministers Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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Saudi, Pakistani Interior Ministers Discuss Security Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received on Friday a telephone call from his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi for talks on issues of common interest.

They also reviewed aspects of security cooperation and coordination.


Saudi Leadership Congratulates Yemen on Unity Day

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates Yemen on Unity Day

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Friday a cable of congratulations to Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi on the occasion of his country's Unity Day.

King Salman wished the president continued good health, and the government and people of Yemen further security and stability.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent Al-Alimi a similar cable on the occasion.