Saudi Arabia, Apr 23: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has directed authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure a safe and smooth Hajj pilgrimage.
He emphasized the pride of this blessed land in serving the Grand Mosque of Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque of Madinah and in offering the best care for their visitors.
Crown Prince Mohammed, who chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss the Haj preparations, ordered the full mobilization of operational, security and preventive plans, stressing the need to deliver the highest standards of service across the holy cities,
pilgrimage sites and all air, land and sea entry points.
Over three lakh pilgrims from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and other nations have arrived in the kingdom for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
More than twenty thousand Indian pilgrims, including around 1100 from Jammu and Kashmir have reached the Saudi kingdom for performing the Hajj, one of the fundamental principles of Islam. 28 flights will operate from Srinagar embarkation to carry 4,704 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir which will continue till May 5.
Approximately 3,990 of these pilgrims will fly directly from Srinagar, with the remainder departing from Delhi and Mumbai. Akasa Air has been awarded the tender to operate the Haj flights from Srinagar for this Haj season.
Meanwhile, Minister of Hajj and Umrah,Tawafiq al Rabiah inspected the readiness of camps in Mina as part of field tours to assess service quality ahead of the Hajj season.
He said preparations began early, with coordinated efforts among authorities to enhance camp readiness and operational efficiency.
Mr Al -Rabiah said that new electronic systems have been introduced to monitor pilgrim movement and regulate entry and exit, supported by clear signage to guide timings and instructions, adding: “These measures support crowd management and enhance pilgrim safety, aligning with efforts to advance Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Programme.”
Over 12,000 scheduled and charter flights will carry around 1.5 million pilgrims from all over the world. Authorities said regulatory teams have been deployed to ensure airlines and airports meet performance and service standards.
Six key airports have been designated to receive Hajj flights, operated by a workforce of more than 22,000 staff. New initiatives include a “baggage-free traveler” service, allowing luggage to be shipped directly from accommodation, alongside expanded pre-shipment of Zamzam water.
In a statement, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Crown Prince instructed to continue providing the highest quality services and facilities for the pilgrims .ends
