1.5 Million Hajj Pilgrims Arrive In Makkah, Here's The Regulation Of The Entrance And Exit At The Grand Mosque

Hajj pilgrims packed the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (Twitter/@HaramainInfo)

JAKARTA - The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to carry out various activities so that the pilgrims in the 1445 H Hajj season are easy and comfortable during worship, when more than 1.5 million pilgrims from various parts of the world arrive in the country.

The Directorate General of Saudi Arabian Passports confirmed that as of Tuesday, 1,547,295 pilgrims had arrived in the country, reported The National News.

Authorities said 1,483,312 pilgrims entered Saudi Arabia via airports, while the rest arrived by land and sea.

The number includes 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank arriving in Mecca earlier this month, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip cannot travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year, due to eight months of war between Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque announced that it had implemented additional steps to assist pilgrims in carrying out their worship easily and comfortably during this year's Hajj season.

The authorities have set entry and exit for the congregation by coordinating with government agencies operating within the Grand Mosque to ensure smoothness, making it easier for the congregation to complete their rituals and worship in a safe and spiritual atmosphere, quoted from the SPA.

Authorities have set special entrances, bridges and stairs for pilgrims arriving at the Grand Mosque. These include Raja Abdulaziz Gate, Raja Fahd Gate, Umrah Gate, Al-Salam Gate, Setapak 153 Gate and Setapak 145 Street Gate. In addition, Al-Shubaha Bridge, Al-Shubaha Stairs, Ajyad Bridge and Al-Arqam Stairs have been allocated.

To exit the Grand Mosque, authorities have established several gates, bridges and stairs, including Ajyad Gate, Ismail Gate, Al-Marwah Gate Gate, Al-Fatah Gate, and 89, 90, 93 and 94 Gate gates, as well as Al-Safa and Quraish Gate gates.

In addition, the bridges set to exit are the Al-Marwah Bridge, the Othman Bridge and the Al-Arqam Bridge. As for the stairs, the authorities have allocated the Al-Shubaha 65 Gate Gate, Morad Gate and Al-Qarara Gate Gate.

In addition, the authorities have prepared eight special entrances for people with disabilities and the elderly, which are marked by clear signposts to help those with visual impairments. The gates are Gate 68, 74, 79, 84, 89, 90, 93, and 94. For the exit, the designated bridge includes the Ajyad, Al-Shubaha, Al-Marwah and Al-Arqam bridges.

Authorities stated that this arrangement aims to facilitate pilgrims, Umrah pilgrims, and visitors in carrying out their worship and ensuring their safety and comfort while at the Grand Mosque.

Saudi Arabian officials estimate that this year's number of pilgrims will exceed 2023, when more than 1.8 million people perform the hajj, near the pre-pandemic level. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims performed the pilgrimage.