Saudi Gazette report
MINA — On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman hosted the annual reception ceremony for the Muslim leaders and heads of state, prominent Islamic personalities, Islamic scholars, guests of King Salman and government agencies, as well as for heads of delegations and pilgrims’ affairs offices who performed Hajj this year. The annual reception ceremony was held at the Royal Court of the Mina Palace on Monday.
In his address, the Crown Prince congratulated, on behalf of King Salman, the attendees and Muslims on the eve of Eid Al-Adha, asking God to accept the pilgrims’ rituals and help them complete the pilgrimage in a safe, easier and secure atmosphere. “In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we thank God Almighty for honoring us to bestow the opportunity to serve the Two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites, as well as to take care of those who visit the holy places, and ensure their security and safety. We are proud to continue carrying out this great duty, and we are making efforts and harnessing all capabilities, to provide comfort for the guests of God, ever since their arrival until their departure to their homes, safely and comfortably,” he said while praying to God to grant Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Ummah security and prosperity in these blessed days.
In his speech, Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Committee of Doyof Al-Rahman Program Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah highlighted the salient features of this year’s successful Hajj plan. He reviewed the ministry’s plans and organizational arrangements for all Hajj affairs offices in the countries, which contributed to the rapid completion of contracts very early compared to previous years.
He noted that since the resumption of Hajj for foreign pilgrims during the year 2022, after a two-year suspension due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, there are at present 35 Hajj service providing companies that contributed to raising the quality of services and increasing the satisfaction rate among pilgrims. “We organize a Hajj conference and exhibition every year, under the royal patronage. More than 100 countries participated in its last edition, and over 200 specialized companies offered their services to Hajj affairs offices,” he said while noting that this exhibition allowed them to view all the services provided and finalize their contracts under one roof.
Dr. Al-Rabiah referred to the establishment of the Hajj Projects Management Office (Hajj PMO), which works to coordinate more than 50 government agencies to serve the guests of God. More than 300 work plans were submitted, including all procedures and services, and three major drills for the grouping of pilgrims were implemented with the participation of 15000 buses in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior to simulate the movement of buses during Hajj as well as to ensure the readiness of the sectors. A total of 11 residential tower buildings were constructed in Mina that have the capacity to accommodate 37000 pilgrims.
“Based on the directive of the Crown Prince to pay attention to the safety and comfort of pilgrims, the Ministry of Interior, in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, launched this year the campaign titled “No Hajj without a permit” with the aim to rein in the phenomenon of illegal pilgrims during Hajj, which achieved its goals with complete success,” he said.
Dr. Al-Rabiah said this year, the ministry launched the Nusk digital identification card, which contains information about the pilgrim and the services provided to him, and enables the authorities to provide the service to him quickly and with high efficiency. “This card contains special security features that helped the security authorities distinguish legal pilgrims from illegal ones,” he said.
Referring to the Makkah Route Initiative, the minister said: “Under the leadership of the Ministry of Interior, the Makkah Route Initiative was expanded to include seven countries and 11 airports, through which more than 316,000 pilgrims arrived this year, and they completed entry procedures from the airports of their countries and transporting them directly to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah in an easier way.
Representing the Muslim World League, Dr. Shawki Ibrahim Allam, grand mufti of Egypt, delivered a speech in which he thanked King Salman and the Crown Prince for the warm reception and the generous hospitality accorded to them as well as for the good organization of all Hajj affairs. “This is what helped us to perform rituals with spiritual tranquility, and this solemn scene will remain in the memory of every pilgrim, in the brightest record, of the most honorable journey of faith,” he said.
Addressing the attendees on behalf of the leaders of the Hajj delegations from various countries, Sheikh Sami Al-Masoudi, president of the Iraqi Supreme Authority for Hajj and Umrah, thanked King Salman and the Crown Prince for the exceptional and qualitative efforts provided to the pilgrims to make their journey of faith and the performance of their religious duties much easier and comfortable.
He emphasized that the Hajj delegations are keen on establishing cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on a daily and permanent basis with regard to meeting all its requirements in the service or organizational aspects. “From this blessed place, and before you, the Crown Prince, we, the heads of the Hajj Affairs offices, confirm our full commitment to all regulations or instructions issued by the Kingdom regulating Hajj and maintaining the security and safety of pilgrims, including staying away from any political slogans or sectarian calls that could disturb the peace of Hajj and the security of pilgrims. We are with you always and forever to achieve that,” Al-Masoudi said.
The Crown Prince received Muslim leaders and heads of state, and they included Vice President of Gambia Mohammed Jallow; Prime Minister of Niger Ali Lamine Zaine; Prime Minister of Yemen Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak; former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed; former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, speakers of the Houses of Representatives and parliaments in a number of Islamic countries.
The invitees also attended a luncheon banquet together with the Crown Prince. The reception was attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Prince Miteb bin Saud, Prince Khalid bin Mohammed, Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Prince Nawaf bin Saud, Prince Khalid bin Mohammed, Prince Nawaf bin Nasser, Prince Bandar bin Salman, Prince Faisal bin Muqrin, Prince Khalid bin Mansour, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, Prince Abdullah bin Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Abdullah, Prince Bandar bin Abdullah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, deputy emir of Makkah, Prince Turki bin Muhammad, minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, Prince Saud bin Nahar, governor of Taif, Prince Faisal bin Muhammad, advisor to Emir of Makkah and general supervisor of the work of the Emirate Agency, Prince Saud bin Abdullah, governor of Jeddah, Prince Fahd bin Turki, Prince Khaled bin Saud, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, minister of interior, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar, minister of the National Guard, Prince Saud bin Salman, Prince Khalid bin Badr, Prince Sultan bin Ahmed, Prince Saud bin Turki, and Prince Khalid bin Salman, minister of defense.
