Preparations for Hajj 2022 in Full Swing

Preparations for Hajj 2022 in Full Swing

Dr Mozammel Haque

 

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to organize Hajj 2022 and improve the services offered to Hajjis every year is really praiseworthy

Saudi Arabia has permitted up to 1 million people to join the Hajj this year, inviting pilgrims from foreign countries for the first time in two years, after COVID-19 restrictions saw the annual pilgrimage limited to residents of the Kingdom.

Full immunization is required. Full COVID-19 vaccination still required for Hajj, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said. Those not fully immunized would be denied a Hajj permit.The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that full immunization with one of the approved COVID19- vaccines is still required for those planning to perform Hajj this year.

Almost 300,000 applied in Saudi e-draw for Hajj, according to Saudi Ministry. A total of 297,444 applications have been registered in the electronic draw for citizens and residents inside the Kingdom for the 2022 Hajj season, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said recently. According to the Ministry, 62 per cent of the applicants are men and 38 percent women.

 Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdulfattah Mashat said that the electronic system sets several conditions in the selection process. Applicants should not be older than 65 and must be completely immunized according to the status in the Tawakkalna app.

Saudi authorities unveil operational plan for Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques on Sunday, 19 June 2022 launched its operational plan for this year’s Hajj season The presidency confirmed its readiness to receive 1 million pilgrims, saying that it has mobilized 10,000 male and female employees and workers to serve the worshippers.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, the  president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, launched the plan in the presence of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and the Director of the General Directorate of Public Security, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Bassami. Imam Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais said that all topics, services and programs were being followed up minute by minute to ensure the highest quality, through a set of indicators supervised by the presidency around the clock

The President Sheikh Al-Sudais said that the presidency had launched smart applications and electronic platforms that would facilitate and enrich visitors’ experiences, revealing that the number of beneficiaries of this digital service had reached more than 160 million.

Entry Gate: Sheikh Al-Sudais also said that the presidency has allocated King Abdulaziz Gate, King Fahd Gate, and Bab Al-Salam Gate for the entry of pilgrims and visitors, adding that the presidency has allocated a total of 144 gates for the entry of worshippers to the Grand Mosque.

Zamzam water bottles As regards Zamzam water, the Presidency is working on distributing 3 million Zamzam water bottles in day in the Grand Mosque, and 1 million Zamzam water bottles in the holy sites.

Electric vehicles: President Sheikh Al-Sudais said that 2,000 electric vehicles had been provided to serve the elderly and people with disabilities, in addition to providing 500 engineering staff, and that the sermon of Arafa would be translated into 10 different languages.

Other services

New Luggage Transport Services: Saudia is offering a new luggage service for its Hajj customers traveling on international flights, collecting luggage from their hotel or other accommodation in Makkah and Madinah 24 hours before their departure, and and delivering it to the correct airport baggage center before they arrive. It allows passengers to travel easily without worrying about carrying around their luggage after their pilgrimage. The airline is also issuing Hajj pilgrims’ boarding passes and luggage tags to eliminate hold-ups during chack-in.

The regulations concern items not allowed in carry-on luggage, including Zamzam water, bags with loose or long straps, irregular shaped or damaged boxes, and ensuring that luggage is in good condition for travel by being organized and packed with caution.

Saudi Hajj Teams can speak 13 languages: The General Directorate of Passports’ field teams for this year’s Hajj can communicate with pilgrims in 13 languages, including English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Portuguese, and Bangladeshi. The field teams have been deployed at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and Madinah’s Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

4.8 million meals per day: Catering Companies provide 4.8 million meals per day during Hajj. A Muslim pilgrim receives food on the plains of Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia (REUTERS).

Some 195 catering companies and kitchen owners approved by Makkah’s municipality are expected to provide around 4.8 million meals per day to pilgrims during the Hajj season this year.