The Grand Mosque is already full of worshippers and Umrah pilgrims. Over 4.5 million Umrah visas have been issued for this year's Ramadan starting Monday. Authorities have devised elaborate plans to provide all comfort to visitors to the holy cty. — Archives MAKKAH – The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has a special Ramadan plan in place to ensure millions of worshippers and Umrah pilgrims can perform their rituals in ease and comfort. Necessary services have been put in place for the smooth exit and entry of worshippers at the Grand Mosque. The Ramadan plan aims to help everyone perform their rites in peace and provide all necessary and upgraded services, said Dr. Muhammad Bin Nasser Al-Khuzaim, a deputy at the presidency. The presidency, Al-Khuzaim said in a statement, welcomes any observations or suggestions to improve its services, either directly or by fax on 02-5739992. The plan includes guidance services at the Grand Mosque focusing on religious matters; religious study groups, including on jurisprudence; and distributing copies of the Holy Qur'an and guidance booklets, Al-Khuzaim said. These services are provided by a number of administrative teams at the Grand Mosque, he added. The elaborate Ramadan plan, Al-Khuzaim said, includes providing Zamzam water at several sites inside and outside the Haram, and wheelchairs for people with special needs, he said. All gates of the Grand Mosque will be strictly monitored to prevent people carrying food inside. Guidance signs have been installed inside the Grand Mosque and surrounding courtyards, 160 Zamzam water taps have been put into service in the Tawaf area and the old part of the Haram and a network of fans has been set up at six locations in the southern courtyards of the mosque, Al-Khuzaim added. The presidency's plan for the Ramadan season, Al-Khuzaim said, is being carried out by more than 4,450 male and female employees, in addition to fulltime and seasonal male and female workers tasked with cleaning, maintenance and other operations. The plan was ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier, under the supervision of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, with monitoring by Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdulrahman Al-Hussayyen, chief of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. The presidency trains workers to serve Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque through a number of programs for workers and female guides, he said. About 400 workers and female guides at the Grand Mosque have benefited from the training program, he added. The presidency expressed its hope that visitors respect the sanctity of the place by not bringing food and bags into the Grand Mosque and not making ablution at places reserved for drinking Zamzam water. It also hopes they do not fill and carry plastic bottles with Zamzam water, which causes waste and spilling all over the place. The presidency also called on visitors not to sleep inside the Grand Mosque and stressed that they should keep it clean by throwing away garbage in allocated containers and placing shoes on shelves.
