Saudi Interior Ministry readies for end of Ramadan, Umrah season

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced that it has all the measures in place to ensure a safe end to Ramadan and the Umrah season for millions of pilgrims and visitors in Makkah and Madinah.

The announcement was made by senior officials of the Umrah Security Forces for this year’s pilgrimage season at the Unified Security Operations Center in Makkah on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Director of Public Security, Lt. Gen. Mohammad Al-Bassami, said that Ramadan has gone smoothly so far and now the ministry was preparing for the last 10 days of the holy month that normally sees higher numbers of pilgrims in Makkah.

In light of this, the front of the first floor, the roof of the Grand Mosque and the courtyards and ground floor, have been allocated for Tawaf, or



circumambulation.

Al-Bassami commended the officers working in the ministry’s command and control center for their diligence during the holy month; and those teams in the field who had conducted several operations including arresting beggars.

Maj. Gen. Hammoud Al-Faraj, the director-general of the Civil Defense, said that teams are operating around the clock at more than 111 sites in Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Faraj said the Civil Defense has the support of several teams of volunteers who assist in spreading safety awareness through the media and electronic displays at the two holy mosques.

Deputy Director-General of the General Directorate of Passports Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Murabba said that officers at all the country’s entry points have been gearing up to ensure the speedy completion of procedures for visiting worshippers.