Arafat Day: Saudi Arabia Commits over $87bn to Upgrade Infrastructure

*NAHCON assures pilgrims of adequate care

Hammed Shittu in Makkah

Ahead of the next week’s Arafat day, the Saudi Arabian authorities have disclosed that the Kingdom has spent over $87 billion to upgrade infrastructure in strategic locations across the country in order to assist the pilgrims perform their  hajji rites without hindrance.

The authorities also said improvement have been made in the areas of health, security, logistics, among others, all aimed at ensuring quality and efficient service delivery to pilgrims during the hajji exercises.

The Kingdom’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, disclosed this in Jeddah, during a meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) conference held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

He said, “the spending of the huge sum of funds is also meant to ease the performance of Hajj and Umrah rites for Muslims who visit the Holy land from across the world.”

The minister explained that the Kingdom has spent over 200 billion Saudi Riyals (About 54 billion dollars) in the expansion works on the Grand Mosque “being the largest building in history.”

He added that another 60 billion Saudi Riyals (About 16.2 billion dollars) was expended on the two Holy Mosques train project which has greatly reduced travel stress between Makkah and Madinah for pilgrims.

Al-Rabiah stated that the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has so far consumed over 64 billion Riyals ( About 17.28 Dollars).
He re-ecoched the resolve of the Kingdom to make Umrah, Hajj and other visitations easy by extending Umrah Visa from 30 days to 90 in addition to allowing Visa holders to perform Umrah without any hindrance.

The minister reiterated their resolve to take Umrah and Hajj to the highest level possible through diligent implementation of the Pilgrims Experience Programme, inaugurated by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, as a crucial component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON,) has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation and provisions made the by company of Mutawwif to adequately take care of the entire Nigerian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj.

The Company of Mutawwif is saddled with the responsibilities of attending to pilgrims from non-African countries and Nigeria is among such countries.

Speaking with members of the NAHCON media team in Makkah, the NAHCON Deputy Coordinator, Alhaji Alidu Shutti said all the 18 field offices of the company he visited with his entourage were fully prepared to serve the about 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims that would be taking part in the annual religious rites.