Saudi authorities must make greater efforts to organize the arrival and departure of Umrah pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport to avoid unnecessary delays, said an Indian pilgrim from Kerala.

“The Saudi government is doing a wonderful job of enhancing facilities for the guests of God, but the several hours of delay upon both arrival and departure at airports will give a bad impression and authorities should give priority to quickly solve this problem,” said K.P. Hashim, a social worker.

He urged the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to deploy more employees to handle the rush of pilgrims during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.

“Pilgrims have to queue up for hours to complete immigration procedures, causing them much discomfort,” he said.

Hashim, who is director of Abhaya, a center for taking care of cancer patients in Thalassery, said he came to perform Umrah with his wife and her mother in a 30-member group organized by the Kerala Haj Group.

“Members of the group were extremely happy, as the trip spiritually elevated them after having gotten an opportunity to engage in worship and prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the second half of Ramadan,” he said.

He said the group members spent two Fridays at the Grand Mosque and performed Eid Al-Fitr prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque. “All of us were able to spend Eid in Madinah for the first time,” he added.

Hashim said he and his group members were highly impressed by the generosity displayed by Arabs when iftar meals were distributed to the thousands of pilgrims and worshippers at the two holy mosques. “It was great charitable work and I don’t have words to express my feelings toward this noble deed.”

He said he was amazed seeing the marvelous movement of the faithful circumambulating around the House of God. “I used to watch them from the first floor of the mosque. It’s a unique scene that reflects the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world.”