JEDDAH: The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has started to implement a comprehensive plan to provide the necessary services for visitors during the Umrah season which started on Jan. 5 and will end on Sept. 13, Al-Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdur Rahman Al-Hussein, the Chief of the Presidency, told to Saudi Gazette recently. This year more than 3.5 million visitors are expected according to the Ministry of Haj, said Al-Hussein. The first task of the Presidency is to provide a clean and peaceful atmosphere inside the Grand Mosque. To achieve this, four thousand officials and workers consisting of men and women, have been deployed equipped with electric cleaners and compact garbage disposal vehicles. They are working around-the-clock. They assist in providing Zamzam water, fill and clean 25,000 thermoses and distribute sterilized plastic glasses. Most of the pilgrims who come from villages are unaware of the rites of Umrah and its proper performance. Renowned scholars deliver more than 100 lectures after Fajr and Asr prayers, until Isha prayer. These lectures are in Arabic, Urdu, English, Malay and Indonesian languages, said Al-Hussein. A network of more than 100 telephones allow for questions on any matter pertaining to religion or problems related to Islamic jurisprudence. The system is connected to a central room where the scholars answer calls and provide legal opinion. Thousands of booklets containing the details of the rituals and instructions on how to perform Umrah are distributed in various languages. For Tawaf, circumambulating around the Ka'ba, and the ritual walking between As-Safa and Al-Marwah, 10,000 wheelchairs are available for the disabled. These can be found outside the mosque and on the first floor of As-Safa gate. Wheelchairs can be used only on the first floor where a gallery has been built to go around the Ka'ba for Tawaf. An additional 525 wheelchairs are for hire from an assistant outside As-Safa gate, said Al-Hussein. All the four floors of the Grand Mosque are under camera surveillance. A computerized central room alerts security personnel to ensure quick response. A total of 700 staffers have been deployed at 139 gates of the Grand Mosque to manage the exit and entry of visitors. Nine electronic escalators are operating around-the-clock. One million copies of the Holy Qur'an in Arabic and translated into various languages are being distributed free of cost to visitors. The Saudi authorities take pride in serving the two holy mosques, where Muslims converge from around the world to worship their Lord, said Al
