Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated here on Thursday maintenance and operational projects and initiatives with a total cost of more than SR31 million.

The launch of these projects and initiatives, which coincides with this year's Hajj, will be implemented by the ministry to provide the highest quality services for pilgrims in adherence to all precautionary and preventive measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The minister affirmed that these projects and initiatives seek to achieve integration and coordination among various agencies to provide the highest standards of safety and service for the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.

The projects include operation and maintenance contracts for Miqats of Qarn Al-Manazil, also known as Al-Sayl Al-Kabeer and Wadi Mehrim, as well as the mosques at the Holy Sites, worth over SR31.3 million.

This is in addition to a project for installing smart devices to educate and guide pilgrims and launch the Wi-Fi service in the Namirah Mosque located in Arafat valley.

The projects also include installing 62 screens to broadcast awareness-raising messages in different languages. The ministry will provide 30 interactive screens for the Islamic electronic library.

Additionally, the ministry will activate an automated response system for answering pilgrims' queries.

Other initiatives include the distribution of 200,000 umbrellas among pilgrims and those working in the Hajj season, provision of meals for pilgrims at the Miqats and arrangement of four golf cars and 2,000 prayer chairs for the elderly.

The minister praised the efforts being exerted by different agencies to serve pilgrims and visitors of the Two Holy Mosques. He also commended the agencies' keenness to implement all health measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims.