Saudi Arabia Enhances Hajj Pilgrimage Safety with Drones and Infrastructure Improvements
The kingdom reports over one million pilgrims have arrived for this year's Hajj as new safety measures are implemented.
Saudi Arabia has initiated new safety and logistical measures for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, including the deployment of drones and an expansion of cooled roadways.
The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, detailed these preparations at a press conference held on Monday.
A key aspect of the improvements involves a 30 percent increase in the use of flexible rubberised roads aimed at facilitating the movement of pilgrims on foot.
The cooled roadways, which can lower surface temperatures by approximately 12°C, are particularly significant given the extreme summer heat experienced during this period.
Historically, each year, millions of Muslims from around the globe converge in Makkah to participate in Hajj, a fundamental tenet of Islam.
The pilgrimage encompasses a series of meticulously organized religious rituals spread over several days.
As of the latest reports, Saudi Arabia has already welcomed over one million pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with the Minister of Media, Salman Al Dosari, confirming that the total arrivals from international ports had surpassed one million and 70,000.
In addition to these developments, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has urged Muslims to observe the crescent moon on Tuesday evening to mark the commencement of the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijja, which is the designated period for Hajj.
Should the moon be sighted on the evening of the 29th day of Dhu Al Qadah, the new month will begin on Wednesday, May 28, with Eid Al Adha being celebrated on Friday, June 6. Conversely, if the crescent is not visible, the new month would start on Thursday, and Eid Al Adha would then take place on Saturday, June 7.
The Saudi authorities have also announced a series of penalties for individuals who breach regulations during Hajj, recognizing the event as one of the largest mass gatherings worldwide.
In a related regional development, Jordanian military forces successfully intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle narcotics across the country's western border.
The operation occurred early in the morning within the Southern Military Zone, where border guard personnel, in collaboration with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, detected the drone.
Surveillance systems monitored its approach as it attempted to enter Jordanian airspace.
Following confirmation of its trajectory and payload, military troops engaged and downed the drone according to established operational protocols.
The narcotics were subsequently recovered and forwarded to the relevant authorities for further examination.
Military officials highlighted their ongoing commitment to countering smuggling activities and safeguarding national security.
The Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, detailed these preparations at a press conference held on Monday.
A key aspect of the improvements involves a 30 percent increase in the use of flexible rubberised roads aimed at facilitating the movement of pilgrims on foot.
The cooled roadways, which can lower surface temperatures by approximately 12°C, are particularly significant given the extreme summer heat experienced during this period.
Historically, each year, millions of Muslims from around the globe converge in Makkah to participate in Hajj, a fundamental tenet of Islam.
The pilgrimage encompasses a series of meticulously organized religious rituals spread over several days.
As of the latest reports, Saudi Arabia has already welcomed over one million pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with the Minister of Media, Salman Al Dosari, confirming that the total arrivals from international ports had surpassed one million and 70,000.
In addition to these developments, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has urged Muslims to observe the crescent moon on Tuesday evening to mark the commencement of the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijja, which is the designated period for Hajj.
Should the moon be sighted on the evening of the 29th day of Dhu Al Qadah, the new month will begin on Wednesday, May 28, with Eid Al Adha being celebrated on Friday, June 6. Conversely, if the crescent is not visible, the new month would start on Thursday, and Eid Al Adha would then take place on Saturday, June 7.
The Saudi authorities have also announced a series of penalties for individuals who breach regulations during Hajj, recognizing the event as one of the largest mass gatherings worldwide.
In a related regional development, Jordanian military forces successfully intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle narcotics across the country's western border.
The operation occurred early in the morning within the Southern Military Zone, where border guard personnel, in collaboration with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, detected the drone.
Surveillance systems monitored its approach as it attempted to enter Jordanian airspace.
Following confirmation of its trajectory and payload, military troops engaged and downed the drone according to established operational protocols.
The narcotics were subsequently recovered and forwarded to the relevant authorities for further examination.
Military officials highlighted their ongoing commitment to countering smuggling activities and safeguarding national security.
