 |
| Source: Centre for Government Communications, KSA. Pilgrims circumnabulating the Ka'abah. |
According to the Saudi General Director of Passports, a total of 1,684,629 pilgrims have arrived in KSA via air, land, and sea ports by noon, August 16. The Hajj will be performed by an estimated 2 million pilgrims, including KSA residents.
Additionally, there are also more than 10,000 staff members from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque tending to pilgrims and visitor’s needs.
Furthermore, 42 research and scholarly papers have been published by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute of Hajj and Umrah Research, to develop a comprehensive, sustainable system for Hajj, umrah, and general visits.
Research that the institute is working on includes:
– An analytical study on the time it takes for pilgrims to complete necessary procedures to enter the kingdom.
– The modelling and simulation of tawaf (الطواف; circumambulation).
– Hajj and Umrah 2018 demographics and statistics.
– Employing interactive smart screens for navigation.
– The role of public relations (PR) pamphlets in health awareness and promotion.
– The evaluation of sanitary prayer counters in the Grand Mosque.
– Transportation from/to holy sites.
– The role of Saudi embassies in educating pilgrims about lawful conduct
The Ministry of the Interior has kept checks up on work and transport permits for the Hajj season. According to the Commander of Hajj Security Forces, 188,464 individuals and 837,46 vehicles were turned away from Hajj zones from 9 July to 6 August at 12 Makkah checkpoints.
This year’s Hajj started on August 19 and will end August 24.