"Saudi embassies and consulates in different countries completed the issuance of Haj visas on Monday evening," Al-Salloum told the Saudi Press Agency. As many as 1,582,217 pilgrims have already arrived in the Kingdom from different parts of the world. The majority of them -- 1,445,135 -- came by air, 116,532 by land and 20,550 by sea, according to Maj. Gen. Salim Al-Belaihed, director general of the Passport Department.

More than 2.5 million, including some 750,000 Saudis and expatriate workers from within the Kingdom, are expected to perform Haj this year. Saudi authorities have warned that only those domestic pilgrims who carry Haj permits would be allowed to enter the holy sites.

About 1,000 foreign dignitaries including 720 from Europe, 200 from Asia and Australia and 61 from Arab countries will perform Haj this year as guests of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. King Abdullah has invited nearly 12,000 prominent Muslim personalities from around the world to perform Haj as his guests over the past several years.

Saudi authorities have stepped up preparations for the annual pilgrimage, the largest gathering of Muslims in the world. Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, will inspect facilities in the holy sites today ahead of the start of Haj on Saturday.

The Ministry of Water and Electricity has made arrangements to pump 300,000 cubic meters of water daily to Makkah and other holy sites to meet the needs of the guests of God and to enable them to perform the ritual in safety and comfort. The ministry has prepared 21 water tanks in Makkah and 18 in the holy sites with a total capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters.

Al-Salloum highlighted his ministry's services for pilgrims. "We have introduced a centralized visa system linking the immigration counters at the Kingdom's entry points with its missions abroad. The system has helped in expediting procedures upon the arrival of pilgrims," he said.

To assist in issuing Haj visas, the ministry sends a large number of officials to Saudi embassies and consulates in different countries in addition to existing staff. "Thirty-five foreign missions have been provided with additional staff for Haj services," he added.

The Kingdom also sends temporary consular missions to countries that do not have Saudi missions in order to issue Haj visas. "This year we have sent 15 such missions benefiting pilgrims from countries such as Macedonia, Kosovo, Gambia, Benin, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Comoros, Togo and Trinidad," he said.

By P.K. Abdul Ghafour

© Arab News 2008

 

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