Saudi Arabia facilitates 800 media reps covering haj

MAKKAH: Befitting this year’s haj slogan of “The Kingdom Embraces the World”, Saudi Arabia is hosting more than 800 media professionals from outside the kingdom to cover the haj.

It is anticipated that between two million and three million pilgrims from around the globe will converge for the annual ritual between Aug 19 and 24.

Saudi Arabia’s Information Minister Dr Awad Saleh Al-Awad said the government took pride in facilitating the journalists by providing them services, facilities and accommodation.

He said the ministry had equipped media centres here and in other holy sites this year to serve them.

“The government also provided them with all the services needed by the press, such as technology, communications networks, computers and studios,” he said after visiting to the headquarters of the Radio and Television Ministry and the Saudi Press Agency and information centres in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina on Thursday.

“It takes a great effort to host the great number of guests of the Lord and facilitate their obligatory performance, with six official radio stations and 10 international broadcasters in 10 languages providing news bulletins and daily programmes on haj, and 16 direct digital publishing channels in six languages working around the clock covering the pilgrimage season in a creative, fast and innovative way,” said Awad.

The haj will see pilgrims performing their duties such as tawaf, casting of stones and s’ai (to run quickly) between the hills of Safa and Marwa.