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| Source: Ministry of Haj and Umra, KSA. Graphic for Vision 2030. |
HE Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Minister of Haj and Umra said, "The Ministry of Haj and Umra is preparing to shift from pilgrim serving to hospitality industry, shifting away from seasonal work to a year-long work system culture, and building an efficient system of Hajj and umrah services and economy so as to fulfill the kingdom's Vision 2030, and launching the National Transformation Programme 2020 with the joint efforts of the institutions in relation with Hajj and umrah systems."
The kingdom's Vision 2030 includes an integrated strategy for the development of Hajj and umrah infrastructure to support more Muslims in the performance of Hajj and umrah duties. The results are reflected in KSA's hosting and management of the largest umrah season to date. Nearly 6.5 million umrah performers were hosted this year, the ministry said in a statement.
Infrastructure improvements
In line with Vision 2030, the KSA government has also carried out the largest expansion of the two holy mosques* in Islamic history. The development of the holy sites is part of a strategy to eventually host 30 million pilgrims and umrah performers. The current focus is to double the number of pilgrims and umrah performers in the next five years. To date, the strategy - carried out under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HH the Crown prince and HH the Deputy Crown Prince - has involved:
- Expansion of the two holy mosques (completed),
- Development of a train network for the holy sites,
- Housing projects and tents for pilgrims,
- Expansion and building of large airports for the reception of pilgrims (completed), and
- Active security management in view of terrorism challenges and attempted politicisation of Hajj.
The kingdom has also expanded its system of health services for those involved in Hajj and umrah, including upgrading hospitals and health centres, delivering around-the-clock and regular services covering information, awareness-building and supply of services, together with a high standards of hygiene at the holy sites. There is a core focus on sophisticated sanitation services, as well as continuous expansions of the Jamaraat Bridge**.
Hospitality programmes
There has been a focus on welcoming pilgrims this year, from welcome programmes upon the arrival of pilgrims to the kingdom to pilgrims' community centres across Makkah and Madinah. Field monitoring is in place and follow-up committees are for the protection of the pilgrim's rights.
Transportation
Organised transportation is key to a successful Hajj. The Ministry of Haj and Umra oversees 18 transportation companies which manage 18,000 fully-equipped buses to transport over 1.4 million overseas pilgrims during Hajj 2016 (1437), including 1,696 new buses, some of which replace those which have reached their end of service. The buses ferry pilgrim securely between Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites. This has also opened up 24 job opportunities for drivers and technicians offered by transportation companies for the Saudi youth.
Digital transformation
The Ministry of Haj and Umra has launched an e-portal for pilgrims to speed up e-visa issuance and accelerate procedures on the ministry's website. The Haj and Umra portal helps to finalise procedures involved in requesting Hajj and umrah visas and related services, cutting down the time spent to a few minutes.
E-bracelets have debuted for a total of 1.5 million pilgrims. The wearables allow for quick identification of pilgrims and electronic access to critical data that will allow authorities to provide help in context, especially for non-Arabic speakers, or those who have no other identification. This will enable the Ministry of Haj and Umra to identify the information of pilgrims, their residence addresses and all the necessary information which can assist pilgrims in light of their information stored in the electronic bracelet, like guiding the lost. All available information about the pilgrim can be accessed through all types of smartphones or tablets through an app accessible to all those providing Hajj and related services in the field.
Pilgrims' affairs offices in the various countries where pilgrims come from have been asked to provide information on pilgrims before their arrival to KSA, allowing the bracelets to feature information such as the border number, visa number, passport number, and links to related information in the ministry's database, including a photograph of the pilgrim, who in charge of his party, address of the residences in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites and the phone numbers of all those providing services to that pilgrim's party.
The bracelet initiative is ultimately expected to increase the efficiency of the Hajj and umrah sector, reducing time taken for procedures, implementing transparency of information and making it accessible to all authorities involved. It is also expected to lead to the implementation of quality programmes, and speeding up operational performance rates for the Hajj this year.
Logistics revamped
The Ministry of Haj and Umra has adopted new methods for the pilgrims' tafweej*** this year through cooperating with tafweej team and the authorities involved in infrastructure. New assessment and measurement indicators are guiding field actions in real-time. The tools and techniques can convert tafweej into an organised seasonal project, that takes into account regulatory parameters and criteria in pilgrims' tafweej schedules, crowd mobility and tafweej routes, necessity of adherence to schedules, the pilgrims' desires with respect to the Jamaraat ritual, locations of pilgrims' camps and exits, schedule preparation times, and information from e-portals.
The Tafweej Executive Plan depends on electronic control systems and surveillance cameras to monitor crowd flow, analyse field data, and to adopt a mechanism for refinement of tafweej operations within the overall tafweej execution plan for Hajj 2016 (1437). The ministry has started registering real-time recording of violations through mobile techniques and applications and sending them immediately to servers at the Ministry of Haj and Umra, analysing data and identifying sources of deficiency, if any, and reporting such issues to the ministry's control units, observation committees, followup committees, and operating tafweej units around the clock from the Hajj season until 15 Muharram 1438, corresponding approximately to 5 October 2016.
HE Dr Bentin has already directed the revision of all tafweej systems and the building of the crowd, modelling, and statistical data analysis. The Ministry of Haj and Umra has prepared tafweej schedules and communicated them to the concerned bodies, mapping pilgrims' exit and return routes, monitoring establishments' performance to ensure they fulfill the assigned tasks, holding defaulters answerable, monitoring crowd flow on different courses and comparing them with tafweej projections. The ministry has also implemented new monitoring mechanisms, including teams for readiness follow-up, gate control teams, a course support team, in implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Mosques, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Deputy Crown Prince on providing all services and facilitations for the pilgrims from their arrival till their safe return to their countries.
*The mosques are the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, KSA, where the Ka'abah is located, and the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, or Mosque of the Prophet, in Madinah.
**The bridge enables the ritual of the 'stoning of the devil' to be carried out. This is a compulsory ritual of the Hajj.
***Tafweej refers to the logistics of transporting pilgrims from one site to another in accordance with the rituals they need to perform. It is particularly complex given the large numbers of people involved, all of whom have to complete the rituals within a given time.