Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia hosted senior officials, religious leaders, military commanders, and Hajj representatives at Mina Palace during Eid Al-Adha celebrations, acknowledging their contributions to this year’s pilgrimage. On behalf of King Salman, he extended Eid greetings to Saudi citizens, residents, and pilgrims, commending military and security personnel, government workers, and volunteers for their commitment to serving pilgrims and ensuring the Kingdom’s safety.
The Crown Prince underscored Saudi Arabia’s dedication to serving the Two Holy Mosques and maintaining security and stability at the holy sites. The event was attended by senior officials, including representatives from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, ministers, and scout groups involved in the Hajj operations.
Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, speaking for the security services, praised the success of this year’s Hajj security plans and highlighted the enhancement of safety and operational efficiency due to Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in pilgrim services. This year, Saudi Arabia is hosting over 1.7 million pilgrims, with more than 1.54 million arriving from abroad and approximately 160,000 participating from within the Kingdom.
An increase in pilgrim numbers from last year was reported, facilitated by expanded infrastructure, digital services, and improved crowd-management systems at holy sites like Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Makkah Route Initiative was also expanded this year, allowing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures before leaving their home countries, thus streamlining their arrivals.
To support the Hajj operations and ensure pilgrim safety, more than 441,000 personnel, including security officers, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency responders, have been deployed. Additionally, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged Eid greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, expressing hopes for continued peace, stability, and prosperity among Muslim nations.
