Haj has been extremely successful this year. The pilgrims performed the rituals in an atmosphere of security, peace of mind and the highest degree of ease and convenience. The Haj season was also free from illness despite around 1.8 million pilgrims converging on the holy sites from all the corners of the earth. This is due to the Saudi government's efforts to ensure that taking care of pilgrims remains the top priority. The entire Haj operation was carried out under the guidance and care of the Saudi leadership.
This year's pilgrimage has seen the utmost use of communications technology. The potential of the latest technology was harnessed to monitor the movement of pilgrims. Latest technology was used for crowd management. Helicopters were used to monitor the crowd and emergency areas in order to be ready for rapid intervention. Technology has boosted communication between pilgrims who use their phones and interact in their own language. With the introduction of smart bracelets that contain personal information about pilgrims, including their passport numbers and the state of their health, it became easy to respond to any emergency and trace a missing pilgrim.
Due to the security measures and vigilance, critics and anyone who might have been tempted to compromise the security of the pilgrimage and the Kingdom's sovereignty, failed in their design to create chaos — especially the mullahs in Tehran.
Responsibility and sincerity is the approach that the Kingdom adopts in its dealings, especially during Haj.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said, "We have proved to the world our ability to provide the best services and care to the pilgrims. We have started using modern technology. ...we have started this through e-bracelets for the pilgrims and ... God willing, things will improve with modern technology."
Every effort and every project, every moment of careful planning, hundreds of thousands of all those working for security and in the military, scouts, those in charge of health care and municipal services and the provision of food ... This enormous combined systems work together to send the message that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is dedicated to pleasing God, serving His guests though honor, pride and dedication.
This love and dedication is appreciated and applauded by millions of pilgrims throughout the year, who tell their parents and loved ones of their experiences in this holy land, and how keen the Kingdom is to ensure peace, welfare and comfort of the pilgrims. These people also realize the Kingdom's eagerness to unite the nation and contribute greatly in a pure Islamic humanitarian way.
When the pilgrims go back to their countries, they take with them indelible memories of their stay at the holy sites and their spiritual experience, which the journey of their lifetime gives them.
