Saudi Gazette report
MAKKAH — The plazas around the Grand Mosque in Makkah have been divided into six zones to properly manage the flow of pilgrims and visitors during the holy month of Ramadan.
Tariq Al-Malki, director of the department of plazas at the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, told Makkah Arabic daily on Monday that the six zones will be manned by about 200 permanent and part-time supervisors.
The northern areas of the King Abdullah Expansion Project have been marked as the first zone.
The area between Ali Gate and Al-Marwa has been marked as second zone, the area from Ajyad entrance to the gate number 88 is the third zone, the area from Al-Shabakiyyah to Dar Al-Tawheed is the fourth, the area covering Dar Al-Tawheed and King Fahd Gate is the fifth.
The space between King Fahd Gate and the walkway number 87 has been marked as the sixth zone.
Al-Malki said special passages will be prepared to facilitate the entry of pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque.
The passages of Al-Raqooba and Al-Fath Gate have been specially prepared for the movement of pilgrims and visitors coming from the northeastern side of the Grand Mosque.
The director said that his department will organize the iftar (breaking the fasting) and grant permits to charity organizations wishing to offer iftar meals.
The official said the department will thoroughly check iftar meals and will cooperate with the security authorities to prevent squatting along the passages and walkways.
Al-Malki said vendors and beggars will be prevented from coming anyway near the plazas.
