Faisal, emir of Makkah Province, adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and chairman of the central Haj committee, was briefed on a report dealing with the efforts of the governorate and related authorities during the Umrah season in the holy month of Ramadan. Prince Khaled was briefed by the adviser to the emir of the region Dr. Hashim Bin Abdulrahman Al-Faleh, Saudi Press Agency said. The report highlighted the functions of the government and related services authorities during the Ramadan season to carry out their plans that have been drawn up in this connection. This begins with the arrival stage (King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Jeddah Islamic Port) and ending with the departure stage so as to ensure the smooth flow of work and quality of procedures for Umrah pilgrims at each location they pass. The authorities also noted down the delays or slowness in completing procedures. The report said King Abdulaziz International Airport receives the biggest number of Umrah pilgrims. In this regard, the terminals were provided with all the services to receive and see off the Umrah pilgrims as well as follow up work fully in the passenger terminals. The report said the number of arriving Umrah pilgrims at the airport reached 645,000 and the departing Umrah pilgrims reached 265,000 until June 27, 2016 (Ramadan 22, 1437H) on board 2,400 arriving flights and 1,500 departing flights. As to the health aspect, the Directorate of Health Affairs made sure that the Umrah pilgrims received all the required vaccinations and that the pilgrims were fit. The directorate's staff provided treatment and medical support to the Umrah pilgrims who needed them. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior sectors at the airport completed the fingerprinting procedures and data entry with the required precision and speed. The Customs Department inspected the Umrah pilgrims' baggage and made sure that all items were safe and secure. The Ministry of Haj and Umrah facilitated matters for the pilgrims and provided them with the required services, while solving any problems they faced. The ministry also monitored the condition of the pilgrims since their arrival in Makkah until their departure. The report said during the holy month of Ramadan until June 27, 2016, the Jeddah Islamic Port received 11 ships. The same number of ships then departed from the port during the same period. The port is provided with all facilities. In Makkah and the Grand Mosque, the report said, the Ministry of Finance prepared the expansion projects in the Grand Mosque and its courtyards, and expansion of the Mataf. As a result, the capacity of the Tawaf areas in the Tawaf Piazza, ground floor, first floor and roof was increased to 107,000 circumambulators per hour. Special places (lanes) were allocated for Umrah pilgrims on wheelchairs. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques provided all services to Umrah pilgrims including furnishing in the Grand Mosque and the courtyards. It also provided chilled Zamzam water. Public Security including the police and traffic police made sure that security prevailed beginning with arrival at the airport and seaport, on the roads, in Makkah and in the parking areas for small cars. The report said until today (Saturday) over 19 million passengers were transported to and from the Grand Mosque using 1,500 buses. The number of small cars that benefited from the parking areas exceeded 1.2 million.
