MINA, 1 January 2006 — All preparations have been completed for Haj, which is likely to begin on Jan. 8, Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed announced yesterday as more than one million pilgrims arrived for the annual event.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting Haj facilities in Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat, the governor expressed his hope that this year’s Haj operation would be a big success.
The government established new development projects worth SR1 billion this year to improve facilities for the more than 2.5 million pilgrims who are to perform Haj.
He said he brought with him ministers, other senior officials as well as businessmen during the inspection tour in order to find quick solutions to possible problems ahead of Haj.
Prince Abdul Majeed held a three-hour meeting with officials at the governorate office in Muzdalifa and reviewed Haj preparations.
According to Maj. Gen. Salem Al-Belaihed, chief of the Directorate General of Passports at the Interior Ministry, more than 1.1 million pilgrims have already arrived in the Kingdom from abroad by Friday. As many as 1,021,171 pilgrims came by air, 70,019 by road and 17,457 by sea, he added.
Prince Abdul Majeed also inaugurated the charitable kitchen established by well-known businessman Muhammad Al-Amoudi in Muzdalifa to supply a million meals free of charge to pilgrims staying in the area on the second night of the Haj while returning to Mina from Arafat. The governor praised Saudi businessmen for their contributions to philanthropic activities.
He also inspected the expansion work at the Jamrat (stoning area) in Mina where several pilgrims have died in past Haj seasons as a result of stampedes.
“We have made a lot of changes in the Jamrat area in the light of our past experiences in order to avoid overcrowding and accidents,” the governor told reporters.
Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie, and Nasser Al-Salloum, secretary-general of the Makkah Development Authority, accompanied Prince Abdul Majeed on his tour.
