Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Committee of the Program to Serve Pilgrims Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Benten has confirmed the completion of arrival of pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the number of pilgrims arriving has so far reached 1,860,000 pilgrims from outside the Kingdom and about 400,000 pilgrims from Within the Kingdom, half of these pilgrims will be tomorrow in the Holy Site of Mina.
The Minister said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Ministry supervised the arrival of pilgrims in Mina, pointing out that all parties working in hajj have completed their preparations in Mina and Arafat, stressing that all plans are going accordingly, as the Ministry was briefed today with the Ministry of Transport and other concerned bodies on the ascension track to Arafat, services and camp readiness, security presence, safety, and health centers.
He also said that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah started earlier awareness programs for pilgrims in their countries, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued electronic hajj visas for the first time, which facilitated many of pilgrims' procedures.
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah said that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince pay great attention to Hajj, as they are keen that all parties serve and provide comfort for pilgrims.
Minister Dr. Benten said that the presence of about two million pilgrims this afternoon in Makkah in addition to city's people without any congestion or crowding comes after previous expertise and experiences.
He added that there is a central reservation platform through which pilgrims can search for suitable accommodation, as it will include all housing and services being provided to pilgrims or Umrah performers during this year's hajj.
