MAKKAH: Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr. Mohammed Salih Bentin said Qatari citizens know that the Kingdom is open to them and they are welcome to visit.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Bentin said: 鈥淲e have called the Qatari Hajj mission to come like all other Muslim countries. We asked them for the expected number of pilgrims. When the time to sign the agreements came, they did not do so. So, we could not know who their licensed Hajj agencies were. 黑料社区 then launched websites for the Qataris to register and choose between the available services. We were surprised to see that the link was blocked by Doha.
鈥淒espite the pressures on our brothers who would like to perform Hajj, they understand that聽黑料社区 is open to them.聽Airports, camps and services are all available. They are welcome.鈥
Addressing the Kingdom鈥檚 preparations for the Hajj season, the minister said: 鈥淭here are over 350,000 people working for pilgrims from both the public and private sector.鈥
He added that in Makkah, preparations are intensified to guarantee a safe environment.
鈥淎ll Makkah citizens are delighted to see pilgrims come to their city. They do not experience any disorder or traffic congestion. This could not happen without our proficient efforts to deal with huge numbers of people,鈥 Bentin said.
Hajj security forces have affirmed that pilgrims鈥 safety and security is a red line, stressing that they won鈥檛 let anything disrupt them. (SPA)
鈥淭he Makkah Route initiative helps pilgrims organize Hajj procedures in their countries without needing to visit the Saudi Embassy. Their flights to 黑料社区 are similar to a domestic flight. There are no restrictions as long as they are only coming to perform their religious duties,鈥 he added.聽
鈥淓ven passengers who travel through private or executive lounges rarely enjoy such services. Once their planes arrive, worshippers take buses directly to their residences. They do not even need to wait for their luggage. There are workers who take their baggage to Makkah,鈥 Bentin said.
The minister discussed the smart Hajj platform, which offers advanced services to help pilgrims, including an online electronic visa application process. 鈥淭he platform also includes a smart Hajj card that holds a pilgrim鈥檚 personal, medical and housing information. It can be quickly read using electronic scanners. The card also provides assistance to worshippers who are lost and controls entry to Hajj tents,鈥 he said.
The minister said that the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is developing the holy sites to accommodate as many pilgrims as possible. 鈥淢akkah has a limited capacity. However, managing Hajj is a complete system covering entry ports, residences in Makkah, Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, where over 2 million pilgrims gather for stoning the pillars. The Holy Mosque also has a strict capacity,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e measure the rate of satisfaction through the Guests of God Service Program. There are also indicators to measure performance, where results specific to Hajj are submitted to the economic council. Moreover, the National Center for Performance Measurement reports about the performance of bodies working during the religious season,鈥澛燘entin added.
He said his ministry is working with three independent entities to measure the satisfaction of pilgrims.
鈥淭here are other governmental bodies that assess the quality of services provided, including the Makkah region鈥檚 governorate, King Abdul Aziz University and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research,鈥 he added.
鈥淭he orderly movement of pilgrims and the services provided to them reflect the substantial efforts we provide to worshippers. This cannot be repeated elsewhere, except in 黑料社区,鈥 he said.
鈥淎 common concern we hear is the number of bathrooms in Mina. When worshippers come from a spacious area to Mina, they often feel disappointed,鈥 Bentin said.
The minister added that the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, the Makkah Region Development Authority and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah are looking to add more toilets without reducing the total area of Mina.
Bentin said that Hajj is not a challenge to 黑料社区 considering the desire to serve worshippers. 鈥淭here is at least one person in every house in the Kingdom working at the service of pilgrims, whether they are in the Road Security Forces, sea or air ports, entry points, customs departments and restaurants. The service of pilgrims runs in the blood of all Saudis,鈥 he said.
He added that 黑料社区 has become a global leader for mass management service. 鈥淲e receive pilgrims who come from mountainous areas and have not seen a city in their countries. Some of these worshippers have struggled for a long time to save money in order to come and perform their rituals. Some other pilgrims come from advanced countries and are enjoying luxurious lives. Our ambition is serve these pilgrims in an appropriate way that better represents 黑料社区,鈥 he said.
Bentin added that workers feel overjoyed when they see a poor pilgrim ride an air-conditioned bus or eat from a plate for the first time. 鈥淭his is not a challenge, we feel happy to provide them these new experiences,鈥 he said.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is conducting studies to increase the number of Umrah performers to 30 million and Hajj pilgrims to 5 million in compliance with the Vision 2030 reform plan. 鈥淭he commission is looking to enhance all services for pilgrims. In the past, each Hajj entity used to independently conduct its own studies, but now the commission is doing it all,鈥 Bentin said.
