Bahraini officials carried out field visits in Mecca yesterday to monitor the condition of pilgrims and review services provided during the Haj season.
The visits were led by Bahrain Haj Mission head Shaikh Adnan Al Qattan, accompanied by Bahrain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Shaikh Ali bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa and deputy mission head Dr Mohammed Al Qattan.
Shaikh Adnan met Haj campaign owners and officials, reviewing their observations and proposals, while reaffirming the mission’s commitment to strengthening co-ordination with tour operators to streamline procedures and enhance services for pilgrims.
“The mission will continue its round-the-clock efforts to follow up on pilgrims’ affairs and meet their needs,” he said.
Shaikh Adnan said the high standard of services offered by Bahraini Haj campaigns reflected the directives and ongoing support of His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
He also praised the efforts of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in facilitating Haj rituals and ensuring pilgrims’ comfort and safety.
A total of 4,625 pilgrims from Bahrain are expected to perform Haj from today (May 26) and until Friday (May 29).
Pilgrims have been advised to ensure that they have their Nusuk cards on them at all times, which is required for entry to the holy sites.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Haj Mission also held a co-ordination meeting with licensed tour operators in the kingdom yesterday. They reviewed arrangements for transporting pilgrims, including departure schedules, bus routes and assembly points, as well as procedures for entry into camps.
Officials emphasised compliance with safety guidelines and the mandatory use of the Nusuk card during travel and camp access. Participants also underscored the importance of wearing train wristbands while moving between camps and holy sites.
Pilgrims were urged to follow instructions issued by approved guides from disembarkation until arrival at the camps.
As part of ongoing field monitoring, the committee said it would oversee bus movements and ensure tour operators adhere to approved schedules and routes.
More than 1.5 million Muslims began filling a vast tent city in the holy city of Mecca yesterday for Haj, exceeding the number of international visitors last year.
The white-robed pilgrims on buses or on foot arrived at the encampment in Mina after performing the ‘tawaf’ – walking seven times around the Kaaba, the giant black cube at Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
“The total number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has reached 1,518,153,” Saleh Al Murabba, the commander of Saudi Arabia’s Haj Passport Forces, told reporters late on Friday.
Last year, the total number of pilgrims at the Haj reached 1,673,320, including 1,506,576 from outside Saudi Arabia.
The GDN reported on Saturday that the Bahrain Haj Mission intensified field and administrative preparations as pilgrims from the kingdom began arriving in Mecca.
The preparations were carried out as part of an integrated system of health, security and organisational services aimed at ensuring the comfort and safety of pilgrims.
Improvements include enhanced tents, walkways and health facilities, in addition to the provision of cooling systems and amenities inside the camps to help pilgrims cope with high temperatures.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))