Stressing that preparation for the upcoming Haj season starts after existing pilgrims' departure

Jeddah, October 11, 2016:

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Bentin, the Minister of Haj and Umra, concluded the consecutive meetings with the ministry officials, the representatives of domestic Haj pilgrims establishments and companies, and the Coordination Committee for Arbab Al-Tawaif Establishments. Pursuant to the ministry methods, these meetings were held at the end of the Haj season to observe and fix the negative aspects, and to increase the positive aspects. The Haj season of 1437 (Islamic calendar) attained record levels of success due to the joint efforts, and to implementing the ministry e-programs that heavily contributed, in cooperation with the various relevant agencies, to enabling Haj pilgrims to perform the rituals easily and conveniently.

Dr. Bentin stated: 'the ministry's preparation for the upcoming Haj season starts after the existing Haj pilgrims' departure, and includes adopting advanced operational plans, evaluating what is provided by domestic and foreign Haj pilgrims establishment and companies, ensuring the effectiveness of all electronic systems and human resources as per the Saudi Vision 2030, and receiving the large groups of Allah's guests (pilgrims and visitors) coming to the KSA through the different air, land, and sea ports. Such preparation is overseen by the Saudi government led by King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee; and His Royal Highness the Deputy Crown Prince (May Allah save them all). The Saudi government pays all its attention to improving the services provided to Haj pilgrims.'

His Excellency continued: 'the KSA has achieved and continued to implement numerous major projects in Makkah and Madinah, and at the holy sites; so as to comfort and serve Allah's guests. In this regard, the ministry of Haj and Umra prioritizes facilitating Haj performance, and harnesses its potential for this purpose imposed by Allah upon the KSA: leaders and people. This is directly supervised by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz, the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Governor of Makkah Province, and the Chairman of the Central Haj Committee; and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, the Governor of Madinah Province, and the Chairman of the Haj Committee in Madinah. This is a system integrated to achieve success in the Haj season.'

His Excellency also added: 'the preparation for the 1438 Haj season starts by the arrangements for organization and coordination with the Islamic countries' Haj missions heads and officials, who will start to arrive in the following two months. In addition, there is constant cooperation with other governmental and private agencies.' Moreover, Dr. Bentin highlighted the effective and constant cooperation among all the Haj system agencies, along with the substantial role served by technology in enabling Allah's guests to perform Haj rituals easily, serenely, and securely.

It is also worth to be mentioned that in the 1437 Haj season, the Ministry of Haj and Umra launched a number of electronic initiatives including the Haj pilgrims' e-portal on the ministry website, the e-bracelet project implemented for the first time, adopting performance indicators, increasing achievement rates, and the field observation and follow-up programs. These initiatives represent a remarkable progress of using technology to simplify Haj procedures for citizens and residents.

Source: www.haj.gov.sa