Saudi Arabia Clean-up after Hajj 2026, from Mina Tent City to Transportation System

JAKARTA - With the end of the 2026 Hajj season and the return of pilgrims leaving Makkah, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, Saudi Arabian authorities have begun a major operation: dismantling non-permanent support facilities, maintaining infrastructure, and preparing the holy sites for next year's Hajj.

According to official statistics, as many as 1,707,301 pilgrims performed the hajj in 2026, an increase of 2.04 percent from 2025.

Of the total number, 1,546,655 pilgrims came from outside Saudi Arabia, including 1,485,729 pilgrims who were recorded to have traveled by air transport. Meanwhile, as many as 160,646 pilgrims are citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia.

In Mina, known as the "tent city", because it is the center of the implementation of the peak series of the Hajj, its non-permanent supporting facilities are now inspected, repaired, dismantled, or stored for reuse.

This is followed by road cleaning, servicing the cooling system, and returning emergency equipment to regional facilities after technical inspection.

Saudi Arabia Starts Post-Hajj Season Phase

A representative from the Saudi Red Crescent Society, T.J., said his authority immediately started post-Haj operations after the official Hajj season ended.

"After the end of the Hajj season, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority began closing the seasonal emergency facilities and preparing them for the upcoming season, in accordance with an organized plan that ensures the best possible preparation and utilization of resources," the representative told AN, quoted on Monday, June 1.

The humanitarian organization and emergency health service operates two types of emergency posts during the 2026 hajj: a permanent steel-structured facility; and non-permanent supporting facilities consisting of tents and portable cabins.

The permanent facility was secured and closed after the end of the hajj season, while non-permanent supporting facilities were dismantled and moved to a warehouse for future use.

"Regarding medical and emergency equipment and devices, the resources participating in the season were inventoried and withdrawn from various regions after undergoing the necessary technical inspections," said T.J.

The equipment will be inspected again after arriving in Mecca to ensure operational readiness and verify the availability of spare parts and medical supplies.

The authority also coordinates with maintenance companies and technical support teams for the repair and maintenance of equipment throughout the year. Including workshops and training sessions for employees and Hajj officers to improve their readiness and efficiency in using equipment related to the Hajj.

T.J. added that post-Hajj operations also include road, tunnel, water system, electricity network, and air conditioning infrastructure inspections.

According to the Saudi Red Crescent, the holy sites during the 2026 Hajj season are in full readiness as a result of maintenance and ongoing infrastructure work throughout the year.

Kidana Development Co., the implementing agency of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Places, started post-Hajj operations focusing on inspection, maintenance, rehabilitation, and assessment of infrastructure in preparation for the next season.

The process begins with a comprehensive inspection at two levels. The first level focuses on permanent infrastructure such as electricity and water networks, where technical teams assess any damage caused by intense operational stress during the Hajj season while continuing routine maintenance programs.

The second level focuses on temporary facilities and operational assets, which are classified according to their condition. Some are repaired and rehabilitated for reuse during the next Hajj season, others are safely stored, while damaged assets are completely replaced with newer and more efficient alternatives.

Kidana is known to manage maintenance operations through an integrated cycle consisting of four stages: Hajj operations, post-season maintenance, preventive maintenance, and operational preparation for the upcoming season.

The post-Hajj period is considered one of the phases that require more effort, time and attention because of the need to recover thousands of assets spread over a large area within a limited period of time while simultaneously implementing new development projects in the holy places.

Kidana also relies on operational observations and reports collected from service providers during Hajj to improve future planning and infrastructure improvements.

The data is used to carry out direct operational improvements aimed at increasing efficiency and improving services for pilgrims in the future.

Transportation System

The transportation system also undergoes a post-Hajj maintenance phase. Buses used to transport pilgrims are serviced and returned to operators.

Meanwhile, the monorail line and unit in Makkah, which operates specifically to serve pilgrims during the Hajj season, Metro Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah, underwent technical inspections before entering standby mode during the 2027 Hajj season.

Authorities are also reviewing operational data collected during the 2026 hajj season, including mass movement, transportation efficiency, emergency response time, and heat mitigation measures. The findings are used to improve planning and infrastructure for the upcoming season as Saudi Arabia expands the capacity of the hajj pilgrimage under Vision 2030.

Post-Hajj Waste

Waste management is one of the biggest challenges after the hajj. According to Sultan Al-Harthi, spokesman for the Saudi National Waste Management Center, the hajj produces several types of waste, including urban solid waste, health service waste, animal slaughterhouse waste, and Adahi project waste.

"The Hajj season produces various types of waste due to the large number of pilgrims and the variety of services provided at all holy sites," said Al-Harthi.

"Each type of waste is handled through a predetermined path to ensure proper processing, safe disposal, and reduction of environmental impact," he continued.

He said that the city's garbage was moved to the Al-Akayshiyah final landfill. Followed by health service waste from hospitals and clinics transported to a special processing facility outside Mecca. Meanwhile, the waste from the slaughterhouse is disposed of at a designated processing site.

Al-Harthi said the biggest challenge his party faced was the soaring amount of waste produced in a short time during the Hajj season.

"These challenges require high-level coordination, among the relevant authorities, increased compliance, and greater empowerment of private companies specifically to contribute to more sustainable solutions," he said.