المدينة المنورة تتأهب لاستقبال طلائع المتعجلين

The city of Medina has completed its preparations to welcome the guests of Allah and continue providing services to the visitors of the Prophet's Mosque after they have completed their Hajj rituals this year.

The relevant authorities are beginning to implement operational plans for the post-Hajj season, welcoming the first groups of those who wish to leave early, who will start arriving via buses and the Haramain High-Speed Train, while monitoring field efforts to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Hijra Highway, and taking necessary precautions to achieve the highest levels of security along the main routes taken by pilgrims to their destinations on the Qassim and Tabuk roads, passing through Medina.

The operational plan of the General Authority for the Care of the Prophet's Mosque during the post-Hajj season focuses on preparing the Prophet's 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 in the Prophet's Mosque will be opened to receive worshippers in the men's and women's sections, accompanied by efforts from the supervision 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 preparations include laying out 25,000 prayer rugs in all designated prayer areas within the mosque and the external courtyards, providing copies of the Quran and interpretations in several languages, enhancing guidance efforts, assisting lost individuals, and preparing services specifically for the most vulnerable groups in need of care, such as the elderly and persons with disabilities. This includes setting up points to distribute wheelchairs in the courtyards of the Prophet's Mosque, activating transport 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, while fully utilizing 133,459 lighting units throughout the Prophet's Mosque, and ensuring air conditioning services to provide a comfortable environment for worshippers.

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

The efforts also include preparing 2,782 restrooms in the service areas beneath the Prophet's Mosque and enabling access to them through entrances in the courtyards connected by regular and electric stairs to serve worshippers. Additionally, 6,060 sound systems will be operated during prayer times to convey the message of the Prophet's Mosque through sermons and sessions as part of the initiatives and scientific programs overseen by the General Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Prophet's Mosque.

The phase of welcoming the guests of Allah 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, based on the capacity of the area. Technical screens will be used to educate and guide visitors before entering the Noble Rawdah via designated paths in the courtyards, offering them Zamzam water bottles, and enabling them to perform voluntary prayers in the Rawdah during entry times, while adhering to the specified visiting times to allow the largest number of guests of Allah to pray in the Noble Rawdah.

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A secure system spanning 450 kilometers

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

Additionally, the number of first aid points belonging to the Red Crescent Authority has been increased to four points to enhance field readiness and reduce response times for emergencies in areas with seasonal density near the Prophet's Mosque and Quba Mosque, which has contributed to achieving a tangible impact. The average response time in some locations has decreased to 4 minutes and 52 seconds, while the response rate to urgent reports within 5 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.