Minister Al-Rabiah inspects Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Ramadan readiness

MAKKAH — Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah conducted a field inspection of operational and service readiness at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.The tour reviewed on-ground preparations, crowd management plans and the smooth movement of Umrah performers and worshippers, as well as coordination mechanisms among relevant entities, as part of ongoing efforts led by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque and partners within the Guest of God service ecosystem.Al-Rabiah was briefed on the readiness of service systems at the Two Holy Mosques, including the provision of more than 10,000 manual wheelchairs and over 400 electric carts for the elderly and people with disabilities.The preparations also include 12 carts designated for assisting pilgrims with exiting the state of Ihram, the operation of 31 guest care centers offering 13 services — including assistance for lost persons, support for the elderly, people with disabilities and children, spatial guidance and identification bracelets — and the activation of 30 mobile guidance points providing services in 20 key languages.Preparations further include the operation of four free luggage storage centers around the clock, three child hospitality centers, an interactive digital map to facilitate movement and a “Worshipper’s Guide” available in seven international languages.Field guidance has also been reinforced through walking teams and multilingual color-coded wayfinding systems.During the visit, the minister received a briefing on support services delivered through more than 30 Nusuk Care centers, supported by over 500 volunteers.Reception and guidance services at all entry points are provided by 595 staff members. He also reviewed field inspection efforts carried out by 410 personnel monitoring Umrah companies’ compliance with regulations, with more than 225,000 inspection visits conducted to date. These efforts are complemented by enhanced digital and on-site monitoring tools to address observations in real time.Al-Rabiah said the preparations are in line with directives of the leadership and reflect the Kingdom’s continued commitment to caring for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.He noted that Ramadan readiness efforts represent an extension of ongoing development initiatives aimed at enhancing service quality and enriching the experience of worshippers, in line with the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program.