Egypt Daily News – Saudi Arabia, 4 million worshippers and pilgrims at the Grand Mosque on the night of the 29th of Ramadan. The Emirate of Makkah announced that more than 4 million worshippers and pilgrims performed their rituals at the Grand Mosque on the night of the 29th of Ramadan. Over 2.5 million worshippers attended the Isha and Tarawih prayers at the Grand Mosque and witnessed the completion of the Qur’an, according to the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Grand Mosque saw a heavy influx of pilgrims and worshippers from Friday morning, filling the courtyards, the Tawaf area, and the surrounding roads leading to the mosque. They were able to perform their rituals and prayers with ease and safety.
The report highlighted that the The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque mobilized all its resources through an integrated operational system, in coordination with relevant authorities, to receive the guests of Allah, directing them to the Tawaf area and the designated prayer areas, as well as organizing the entry for people with disabilities and the elderly.
The General Authority in cooperation with concerned parties, developed plans to manage crowds and provide guidance in the two holy mosques and their courtyards. It created clear pathways to ensure smooth movement and launched the “Walking Guides” initiative, which provides trained teams to help pilgrims and visitors navigate easily and answer their inquiries in multiple languages.
Additionally, the General Authority used classified signage to help visitors find services and facilities, and enhanced operational services such as cleaning, sanitization, and fragrance with specialized equipment. It also ensured the operation of fully equipped restrooms and provided an increased number of prayer rugs, reaching 33,000 in total.
Multiple water points were set up for Zamzam water, available both chilled and non-chilled, around the clock. The entry and exit doors were also optimized to ease movement, with designated entrances for the elderly and people with disabilities. The General Authority also intensified the efforts of its reporting teams, receiving feedback around the clock, according to the agency.
The General Authority provided monitors at the mosque’s entrances to guide worshippers to their designated areas, organized the flow of prayer goers, and provided electronic screens in various languages to assist with spatial guidance. They also supported security forces in managing and redirecting worshippers when prayer areas reached capacity. Operational plans for cleaning and sanitizing the Grand Mosque were carried out as well.
Efforts were doubled to guide worshippers to their assigned prayer areas through qualified staff, organizing the courtyards and corridors, and facilitating the use of escalators. Coordination was carried out to direct worshippers to the upper floors and pilgrims to the Tawaf area, ensuring the readiness of safety equipment, fire systems, alarm devices, pedestrian safety routes, and an emergency plan in case of rain or weather changes.
