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About 2 million pilgrims will perform Hajj this year, showing that the number of worshippers has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Hajj regulatory authority in the Kingdom has allowed pilgrims to apply for Hajj without any age restrictions in order to accommodate as many Muslims as possible.

With the huge number of pilgrims, extensive efforts were required from the authority to ensure that worshippers receive high-quality Hajj and Umrah services as defined and highlighted in the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The program, one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiatives, was launched in 2019 and aims to enable pilgrims to perform their rituals in a spiritual environment that provides them with peace and comfort.

It also seeks to enrich pilgrim and Umrah experiences while worshippers are performing their religious ritual duties.

To achieve these goals, Hajj authorities carried out several simulation experiments before the actual Hajj to test the effectiveness of various facilities, and ensure their ability to provide services to pilgrims efficiently and without interruption or failure.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, represented by the Hajj regulatory body, has implemented a hypothetical experiment to transport pilgrims to the holy sites involving more than 3,000 buses and six stages of transportation.

This experiment was performed in partnership with Hajj security and regulatory agencies, and had more than 10,000 participants.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed its preparedness for this Hajj season, especially in dealing with any unforeseen crises involving Hajj facilities. The ministry seeks to test the operational and planning capacity of all facilities and technical systems that support the Hajj activities to ensure their effectiveness and readiness.

To further facilitate this year’s Hajj season, the General Authority for Roads, in partnership with the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, has begun a research study on “cooling asphalt surfaces.”

This experiment was initiated with the use of what are known as “cold pavement technologies” that lower the surface temperature of the asphalt through various treatments.

Finally, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services has completed testing of road conditions leading to the holy places by using advanced technical digital and electronic equipment, including drones and laser technology.

The ministry aims to enhance the level of safety on all road networks and improve its performance to ensure that effective services are provided to road users.

• Talat Zaki Hafiz is an economist and financial analyst. Twitter: @TalatHafiz

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