Arafat, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Tuesday the completion of the movement of the masses of pilgrims to the sacred Arafat, to perform the greatest pillar of the Hajj rituals, which is standing at Arafat, in a majestic scene of faith that embodies the concerted organizational efforts to serve the guests of God.
Accurate and highly efficient crowd management plans
The Ministry explained in its statement issued today that the movement of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat was carried out according to precise and organized crowd management plans, resulting in the smooth and easy transport of pilgrims.
The operational system relied on the “Holy Sites Train,” which transported approximately 350,000 pilgrims, supported by a large fleet of more than 24,000 buses operating on a shuttle system along dedicated routes. This effectively contributed to reducing travel time and ensuring smooth movement between the holy sites, in accordance with well-studied operational plans that guarantee the comfort of the pilgrims.
Comprehensive field preparations
Arafat Square is witnessing an intensive field presence of various security, health and service sectors, as all energies have been mobilized to serve the pilgrims. The “Mount of Mercy Hospital” has been operated at full capacity, in addition to a wide network of health centers and mobile ambulance points inside the holy site to provide immediate medical care and deal with emergency cases around the clock, to ensure the health and safety of the guests of God.
Smart technologies to serve the pilgrims
As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to digitize services, Arafat has been equipped with advanced electronic systems for crowd monitoring and precise traffic management.
Field teams have also been deployed for awareness and guidance, along with simultaneous interpretation of the Arafat sermon in 35 international languages, ensuring that the message of this ritual reaches all pilgrims, regardless of their language.
Furthermore, advanced smart applications have been made available to help pilgrims locate themselves, track their movement schedules, and easily manage their travel between the holy sites.
The journey of “Al-Nafrah” to Muzdalifah
As the sun sets on the Day of Arafah, crowds of pilgrims prepare to begin their journey to Muzdalifah, where they will perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined and shortened immediately upon their arrival, and spend the night in an atmosphere of tranquility and remembrance, before heading the following morning to Mina to complete the rest of their rituals.
These exceptional efforts by the Saudi authorities reflect a firm commitment to harnessing all human and technical capabilities to enable millions of pilgrims to perform their rituals in a safe and secure environment, within an integrated system that places the security and comfort of the guests of God at the top of its priorities, from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until they complete the Hajj pilgrimage.
