JEDDAH: A number of Saudi businessmen and welfare organizations have signed contracts with five-star hotels and high class restaurants to provide 10 million free meals for distribution to pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah for the five days of Haj.
“The InterContinental hotels in Jeddah and Makkah have signed contracts with about 20 Saudi businessmen and charities to provide hot and cold meals for distribution free of charge among the guests of God,” said Bandar Al-Harbi, general manager of InterContinental hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Harbi added that hotel chains have been preparing and distributing food free of charge from refrigerated trucks and catering vehicles among pilgrims in the holy sites for years.
Muhammad Al-Rifaie, a PR officer at a five-star hotel in Jeddah, said the current world financial crisis has not affected charity work in the Kingdom, especially that which is carried out during Haj and Ramadan. “Millions of hot and cold meals are being distributed free of charge among pilgrims,” he said.
Several charities will be setting up restaurants to distribute free food in Arafat, including, among many others, those bearing the name of the late King Fahd, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, and Saudi businessman Muhammad bin Abood Al-Amoudi.
Al-Amoudi’s restaurant will be set up close to Mount Rahmah and will have separate sections for men and women. He said more than 2,000 pilgrims can sit and have their meals on tables in the restaurants and also take food away. “We also serve pilgrims with free tea, coffee, water and soft drinks,” he added.
Because of the H1N1 pandemic, Al-Amoudi will also be distributing over 600,000 surgical masks and more than 1.2 million sterilizers to pilgrims through 37 stalls in the holy sites.
