Discussion of Organizational and Technical Arrangements for Hajj Pilgrims’ Movement for the 1447 AH Season
The Hajj and Umrah Sector of the General Authority for Endowments and Guidance, in coordination with the General Authority for Regulating Land Transport Affairs, held a comprehensive meeting today with representatives of agencies and companies transporting pilgrims to the Holy Mosque in Mecca.
The meeting was dedicated to discussing the organizational and technical arrangements for the 1447 AH Hajj season, ensuring the smooth flow of pilgrims and enhancing the level of performance and services provided.
During the meeting, Sheikh Muqbil Al-Kadahi, Undersecretary of the Hajj and Umrah Sector, emphasized that the sector relies on effective partnerships with relevant authorities to provide distinguished services to the pilgrims.
He called for full adherence to the regulations and instructions governing pilgrim movement, ensuring discipline and enhancing performance efficiency. Sheikh Al-Kadahi explained that the sector has implemented a set of regulatory measures, including uploading pilgrims’ names to the electronic portal and verifying their data in the “Al-Rukn Al-Yamani” application, completing the issuance of licenses, ensuring buses have the sector’s approved sticker, and adhering to the designated departure points from the main station located at the Economic Corporation on South 60th Street.
He emphasized the necessity of cooperating with the field committees that will operate around the clock at several locations, confirming that deterrent measures will be taken against violating agencies, in addition to adopting performance evaluation models.
For his part, Ibrahim Al-Muayyad, Chairman of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, stressed the importance of coordination between the Authority and the sector to regulate transportation and prevent any disruptions.
He noted that the Authority will work on preparing organized daily trip schedules and informing transport companies of the number of pilgrims allocated to each agency to ensure the fair and organized distribution of trips. Hajj and Umrah sector advisor Abdulrahman Al-Naami explained that previous seasons witnessed problems in crowd management, including overcrowding, poor adherence to designated stations, and failure to comply with schedules, leading to disruptions in pilgrim movement and delays in departures.
He indicated that these challenges necessitate a concerted effort from everyone involved, working as a unified team to overcome them completely during the current season.
Al-Naami stated that the measures taken focus on enhancing discipline by requiring companies to conduct technical inspections of buses before each trip, prohibiting the movement of any bus without prior authorization through the designated gate, requiring the submission of trip schedules 48 hours in advance, and establishing a joint emergency and operations committee to monitor implementation closely.
He emphasized the importance of organizing the boarding process for pilgrims by numbering seats and assigning two drivers to each bus, thus ensuring the safety and comfort of the pilgrims. The meeting was attended by the Director of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Ali Ja’il, the Director of Hajj Organization and Accounts, Naji Shaiban, and members of the Supreme Hajj Committee: Abdulqader Amer, Amin Al-Soudi, Ali Jardan, Ali Al-Khazan, and Abdu Hassan, as well as a number of representatives from transport agencies and companies.
Following the meeting, the Undersecretary of the Hajj and Umrah Sector, Sheikh Al-Kadahi, the Head of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, and representatives of transport agencies and companies visited the central site designated for the movement of pilgrims in the capital, Sana’a, to review the ongoing arrangements and the level of preparedness.
