The visit will start with the prince inspecting emergency and security forces, covering new projects such as the Mashair Railway (Makkah Metro) and the completed Jamrat Bridge.

The metro, which links Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat by rail, will operate at 30 percent capacity this season, handling an estimated 150,000 pilgrims, while the SR4 billion bridge project now has a fifth level, its last.

All these projects, aimed at providing greater comfort and safety for pilgrims, have been constructed under the orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.

Prince Naif will also hold a press conference after the inspection tour.

Commanders of the security forces in Makkah welcomed the scheduled visit of Prince Naif.

“Every year, Prince Naif used to meet with commanders of the security departments in Haj and motivate them to spare no effort in serving pilgrims, as well as seeing for himself the preparations of these departments in handling their responsibilities and overcoming all obstacles,” Director General of Public Security Lt. Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani said.

“The directives given by Prince Naif during his inspections will boost the efficiency of all security forces and other related departments, enabling them to provide better services to pilgrims.”

Director General of Civil Defense Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijeri said Prince Naif’s visit, despite his other responsibilities and engagements, sends the message that the Kingdom’s rulers give top priority to the services provided to pilgrims.

“It is quite natural that this message reaches the commanders and staff responsible for all services and motivates them to exert maximum effort to increase the level of comfort for pilgrims,” he said.

“This is particularly significant when the message is accompanied by valuable instructions from the top security chief Prince Naif, who also has the responsibility of executing the best Haj plans in his capacity as chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee.”