المدينة المنورة تستعد لاستقبال ضيوف الرحمن

The government agencies in Medina have completed their preparations to welcome the guests of Allah and continue providing services to the pilgrims visiting the Prophet's Mosque after they have completed their Hajj rituals this year.

The relevant authorities will begin implementing operational plans for the post-Hajj season, under the supervision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Emir of the Medina region and Chairman of the Hajj and Umrah Committee in the region, to welcome the first groups of pilgrims who will start arriving tomorrow evening (the twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah) via buses and the Haramain High-Speed Train. They will also monitor field efforts to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Madinah Expressway and take necessary precautions to achieve the highest levels of security along the main routes taken by the pilgrims to their destinations on the routes to Al-Qassim and Tabuk, passing through Medina.

The operational plan of the General Authority for the Care of the Prophet's Mosque focuses on preparing the mosque and its facilities to receive the guests of Allah in a healthy, safe, and clean environment inside the mosque, in the courtyards, on the roof, and in all facilities. 141 doors will be opened in the Prophet's Mosque to welcome worshippers in the men's and women's sections, accompanied by efforts from the supervisory and spatial guidance staff to organize entry through 100 corridors distributed throughout the Prophet's Mosque.

The General Authority for the Care of the Prophet's Mosque has indicated that the preparations include laying out 25,000 prayer rugs in all designated prayer areas in the mosque and the outer courtyards, providing copies of the Quran and interpretations in several languages, enhancing guidance efforts, assisting the lost, and preparing services specifically for the most vulnerable groups, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, by setting up points to distribute wheelchairs in the courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque, activating transportation services using electric carts for the targeted groups, and operating 194 stairs and elevators at the doors and entrances to serve worshippers of various categories, fully utilizing 133,459 lighting units throughout the Prophet's Mosque, and ensuring air conditioning services to provide a comfortable environment for worshippers.

Efforts to welcome the guests of Allah in the post-Hajj season include intensifying the provision of Zamzam water in sufficient quantities around the clock, by distributing more than 10,000 water containers throughout the Prophet's Mosque, as part of a drinking program that considers the density of worshippers, preparing points for drinking cooled water in the courtyards, opening umbrellas during daylight hours in the western, northern, and southern courtyards, and laying carpets to accommodate worshippers.

These efforts also include preparing 2,782 restrooms in the service areas beneath the Prophet's Mosque and enabling access to them via entrances in the courtyards connected by regular and electric stairs to serve worshippers, in addition to operating 6,060 loudspeakers used during prayers to convey the message of the Prophet's Mosque through sermons and study circles as part of the initiatives and scientific programs overseen by the Religious Affairs Presidency at the Prophet's Mosque.

The phase of welcoming the guests of Allah after performing the Hajj pilgrimage is accompanied by guidance and organizational services to facilitate the entry of visitors and worshippers to the Noble Rawdah according to pre-booked appointments through approved applications, considering the capacity of the place. Technical screens are used to educate and guide visitors before entering the Noble Rawdah through designated paths in the courtyards, providing them with Zamzam water bottles, and allowing them to perform voluntary prayers in the Rawdah during entry times, while adhering to the specified visiting times to enable the largest number of guests of Allah to pray in the Noble Rawdah and to honorably greet the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them).

The security services have formed the largest system to serve the pilgrims along the Madinah Expressway, which extends for 450 kilometers, connecting Mecca and Medina, to preserve lives. The buses transporting pilgrims along the Madinah Expressway are accompanied by a security plan that includes identifying points for calming along the highway to ensure the safety of pilgrims and travelers until they arrive safely in Medina.

Additionally, the number of emergency points operated by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority has been increased to four points to enhance field readiness and reduce response time for emergencies in areas with seasonal density near the Prophet's Mosque and Quba Mosque. The new launch points have contributed to achieving a tangible impact, as the average response time in some locations has decreased to 4 minutes and 52 seconds, while the response rate for urgent reports within five minutes has exceeded 56% of the total reports, reflecting the effectiveness of the project and its ability to meet the increasing demand for emergency services during peak seasons.