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MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi authorities officially announced on Saturday that the total number of pilgrims performing Hajj this year has now surpassed two million, the majority from outside the Kingdom. Officials said that the final numbers may increase with the arrival of more pilgrims in the next couple of days.
The announcement was made at a a press conference on preparations for Hajj that took place in the holy city of Makkah. Hajj is set to begin on Sunday.
Major General Mansour Al Turki, official spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said at the news conference, “Those who are part of the efforts to serve the pilgrims are ready and on standby at this point to receive the pilgrims at the Holy Sites.
“All participants in Hajj missions in Makkah and at the Holy Sites,” he continued, “will carry out their duties to facilitate the movement of pilgrims between Makkah and the Holy Sites, as well as on the network of roads to the Holy Sites and the roads within the Holy Sites.”
In addition to the press, attending the press conference were officials representing the Saudi Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Health, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Hajj Security Forces, and Civil Defence.
“According to preliminary statistics, the number of pilgrims who have already arrived has passed two million,” both international and domestic, Major General Al Turki continued. He said the number includes 240,000 domestic pilgrims, both Saudis and foreign residents of the Kingdom.
But the total number of pilgrims may increase, he said, noting, “We expect the arrival of a small number of pilgrims today and tomorrow.”
The General Authority for Statistics will issue on Tuesday the final number of pilgrims who have been able to perform Hajj this year.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is the major pilgrimage to Makkah, Islam’s holiest city. All Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the pilgrimage are required to do so at least once in their lives.
‘MAKKAH ROUTE’
Major General Al Turki said that six percent of international pilgrims have benefited from this year’s ‘Makkah Route’ initiative, including all pilgrims from Malaysia and some of those from Indonesia. The initiative facilitates the pilgrims’ journey by offering immigration pre-clearance for pilgrims at their respective points of embarkation.
Saudi authorities have said that the Kingdom is ready provide the service to pilgrims from any country “wishing to benefit from it” in the future. Major General Al Turki told the news conference that countries wishing to join the Makkah Route initiative must meet all the requirements to implement the program.
“The Kingdom is ready to provide this service to all countries in the Islamic world who request it, pending the provision of the technical requirements to implement it,” he added.
PILGRIMS’ JOURNEY TO THE HOLY SITES
Some 21,000 buses carried some 750,000 pilgrims who visited Madinah to Makkah and the pilgrims are now ready to embark on their Hajj journey, Major General Al Turki said.
“Today represents the first stage of the pilgrims’ journey to the Holy Sites,” he added.
Hatem Qadi, spokesman for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that buses will begin ferrying pilgrims to the holy sites as of Saturday night.
Hajj officially starts on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and lasts until the 13th of the same Islamic month, which this year corresponds to Sunday August 19th to Friday August 24th.
Qadi said that more than 18,000 inspection visits were carried out in Makkah prior to the pilgrims’ arrival in the Kingdom.
Colonel Sami Al-Shweirekh, spokesman for the Hajj Security Forces, said a number of scenarios were reviewed to ensure the preparedness of all sectors to serve the pilgrims.
"The security men are fully ready and on alert to execute the plans to serve the pilgrims,” Al-Shweirekh said.
Mishal Al-Rubaian, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said there have been no epidemiological cases reported so far among the pilgrims. He said nine women of different nationalities have given birth during this Hajj season.
All preparations by Saudi health authorities to ensure a healthy Hajj have been completed, he said. Serving the pilgrims will be 25 hospitals and 155 health centers at the Holy Sites and other areas, providing some 5,000 beds in total. There are also 180 ambulances on stand-by for emergencies.
Others attending the press conference were Fahd Alhazmi, spokesperson for the Red Crescent Authority; and Colonel Mohammed Al-Qamash, spokesman for the Civil Defense Forces for this year’s Hajj.
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