Saudi Arabian Authorities Deploy 11 Air Ambulances And 120 Land Units During Hajj

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia's Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) has activated air ambulance services for the 2025 Hajj season, deploying 11 helicopters out of 13 strategically located helipads to transport critical medical cases from the Grand Mosque and holy places.

This is done to ensure a quick emergency response across the pilgrimage area.

Air ambulances play an important role in supporting seasonal emergency networks by ensuring the rapid transport of injured patients and individuals; facilitate medical evacuation between health facilities; and deploying special medical teams to high-density areas or critical emergencies, the Saudi Press Agency reported. June 3.

At the same time, SRCA has increased its operational capacity with more than 120 ambulance units operating continuously, supported by more than 100 vehicles across Mecca. Strategic distributions cover 45 ambulance units in the northeast and west sectors, 15 units covering the southern zone, and 20 units in the central area.

State-of-the-art mobile resources include more than 160 emergency medical technicians; 12 motorized emergency vehicles; and three golf carts installed as portable ambulances for zones with limited access. These assets ensure a thorough readiness for a possible emergency.

In addition, more than 30 emergency units have been strategically placed at the Grand Mosque. These include seven teams in the Masa'a and Saudi Corridors, eight teams in Masa'a and the eastern courtyard, 10 teams covering the west and south pages, and two in the third Saudi expansion zone.

These units are managed by more than 60 paramedics and strengthened by 16 medical golf carts for rapid responses in high-density areas.

The service is backed by more than 120 high-quality emergency doctors and technicians who work around the clock to provide urgent medical care to pilgrims.

To support this operation, more than 550 volunteers from the authority team, spread over 200 units are operating continuously. These special teams provide emergency medical services on all dense hajj routes.

This integrated system is a fundamental pillar of the Hajj's contingency plan, which significantly contributes to reducing response times.