“We have been facilitating the sacrificial rites of pilgrims by supplying an adequate number of sacrificial animals, slaughtering them on their behalf and distributing the meat of these animals among the poor in 27 Muslim countries," Ali said. This year, the bank will distribute the meat of a record 1 million sacrificial animals including 1,000,432 sheep and 2,430 cows and camels, the president said.

“Distribution of this year’s sacrificial meat began since the early hours of Eid Al-Adha amongst the pilgrims in Mina and other holy sites as well as the needy,” Ali said.

He added that the meat of 150,000 heads of sheep and 433 cows have so far been distributed.

“The distribution will continue in the coming weeks through land and sea routes for the benefit of the poor in 27 countries,” he said. Round the clock sacrificial services are available to Muslims all around the world through www.adahi.org, he added.

The IDB president thanked the Saudi government for its continuous support to the program that has been instrumental in protecting the environment and ensuring cleanliness of the holy sites. Since the beginning of the program in 1982, the meat of 15 million sacrificial animals has been utilized. The Saudi government authorized the IDB to carry out the program ever since its launch 30 years ago. The IDB distributed coupons for sacrificial animals through Saudi Post offices, Al-Rajhi Bank branches, Al-Amoudi Money Exchange, and Hadyat Al-Haj Society. Pilgrims could also pay for the coupons through SADAD system at ATMs or through the program's website: www.adahi.org.

"We have been carrying out our financial operations following Shariah regulations," the IDB chief said. IDB’s subsidiaries are the Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.