During the Eid Al-Adha celebrations, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed a diverse group of attendees, including senior officials, religious leaders, military commanders, and Hajj representatives, at the Mina Palace. This gathering recognized the significant contributions of those supporting this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Acting on behalf of King Salman, the crown prince conveyed Eid greetings to Saudi citizens, residents, and pilgrims, expressing gratitude towards military personnel, security forces, government employees, and volunteers for their unwavering commitment to serving pilgrims and ensuring the Kingdom’s safety.
Emphasizing the importance of serving the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated Saudi Arabia’s dedication to upholding security and stability. The reception was attended by prominent figures, including Gulf Cooperation Council country representatives, ministers, and scout groups involved in Hajj management. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, speaking for the security services, highlighted the successful implementation of this year’s Hajj security plans, noting that Saudi Arabia’s investments in pilgrim services have significantly boosted safety and operational efficiency.
Saudi Arabia is currently hosting over 1.7 million pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season. Of this number, more than 1.54 million have traveled from abroad, while approximately 160,000 are participating from within the Kingdom. Authorities have observed an increase in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year, facilitated by enhanced infrastructure, digital services, and improved crowd-management systems across the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Makkah Route Initiative was also expanded, enabling hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures before leaving their home countries, thereby streamlining their arrival process.
To support Hajj operations and ensure the safety of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has deployed more than 441,000 personnel, including security officers, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency responders. In a separate gesture, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged Eid greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, expressing hopes for enduring peace, stability, and prosperity among Muslim nations.