Hajj: Saudi to expand holy sites

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said it will soon begin expansion development at holy sites to accommodate more pilgrims coming for hajj from all over the world.

This was revealed by the emir of Makkah Prince Khaled AlFaisal when he addressed a final press conference for this year’s hajj season at his emirate office in Mina.

He said an integrated plan for the development of the holy sites is underway, so as to accommodate more and more pilgrims in future, saying “Saudi Arabia never boasts of the huge funds that it pumps in carrying out its sublime mission of serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims as the Kingdom sees this as one of its established principles.”

Al-Faisal said more than two million pilgrims performed hajj this year, and they represented over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. This figure is an increase of 30 per cent compared to last year.

He said the city of Makkah is a place for worship and the government won’t allow Makkah to be used for politics or any other purposes.

“There is no religious tourism in Makkah, as it is a place for Hajj and worship. Tourism would be outside the boundaries of Makkah and the holy sites,” he said.

In comments about the measures taken by the Kingdom towards the call for the politicization of hajj by the Iranian pilgrims, Prince Khaled said: “The Iranians are Muslims and this country is open to all Muslims to perform hajj rituals and we did not prevent the Iranians or anyone else from any part of the world from performing their rituals or visiting the holy land and Makkah. They all are invited, like other Muslims, to come to these places and visit Makkah and Madinah to perform their rituals as this is a land for worship ordained by Allah Almighty.”

Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for the care and guidance he has given to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims during the hajj.

Daily Trust reporter in Mina observed that facilities at the Tent City were overstretched.