During the Eid Al-Adha celebrations, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted a significant reception at Mina Palace, welcoming senior officials, religious scholars, military commanders, and Hajj representatives. This event, held on behalf of King Salman, was an opportunity to acknowledge and commend the efforts of those who contributed to this year’s pilgrimage. The crown prince expressed his gratitude to Saudi citizens, residents, and pilgrims, while notably appreciating the dedication of military personnel, security forces, government employees, and volunteers in their service to pilgrims and the Kingdom’s security.
Reiterating Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the stewardship of the Two Holy Mosques and the sacred sites, the crown prince underscored that this responsibility remains among the nation’s highest priorities. The gathering saw the attendance of senior officials, including representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, ministers, and scout groups involved in Hajj operations. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, speaking for the security services, emphasized the successful implementation of this year’s Hajj security plans, attributing the enhanced safety and operational efficiency to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing investments in pilgrim services.
This year, Saudi Arabia is hosting over 1.7 million pilgrims for the Hajj season, with more than 1.54 million arriving from abroad and around 160,000 participating from within the Kingdom. Authorities noted an increase in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year, facilitated by expanded infrastructure, digital services, and improved crowd-management systems across the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Makkah Route Initiative was also expanded, enabling hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures prior to departing their home countries, thus streamlining the arrival process.
To support the Hajj operations and ensure the safety of pilgrims, over 441,000 personnel, including security officers, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency responders, have been deployed. In a separate gesture, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged Eid greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, expressing their hopes for enduring peace, stability, and prosperity throughout Muslim nations.