Al-Youm reveals Hajj 1447 AH projects: Innovative solutions to mitigate the climate and enhance safety – Urgent
Al-Youm has exclusively learned of a package of development projects planned for the 1447 AH Hajj season, as explained by Kadana Development and Investment Company – the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites.
The upcoming season will witness the implementation of several high-quality initiatives aimed at improving the pilgrims' , enhancing the efficiency of services, and boosting comfort and safety levels in the Holy Sites.
Upgrading cooling systems at the Jamarat facility
Kadana noted that one of the most prominent projects is the replacement of traditional misting columns with more efficient misting fans. Approximately 190 misting columns will be replaced with modern fans capable of serving nearly 180,000 pilgrims per hour. This project complements the development work carried out during the 1446 AH Hajj season, which included replacing the previous misting columns at the Jamarat facility and upgrading the eastern Jamarat plaza by installing 200 misting fans.
The project aims to reduce temperatures in the area by up to 8 degrees Celsius, alleviate heat stress on pilgrims, enhance the efficiency of spray distribution, and improve air cooling around the Jamarat area, thereby enriching the pilgrims’ experience and improving the quality of services provided to them.
The second phase of the project to mitigate heat stress at Jabal Al Rahma
In a related context, “Kadana” revealed the implementation of the second phase of the project to mitigate the effects of heat stress in the Jabal Al Rahma area, which aims to moderate the climate and reduce the impact of direct sunlight on pilgrims as they move around and perform their rituals.
The project includes the construction of canopies covering a total area of approximately 14,000 square meters, distributed across 20 canopy units equipped with misting fans and modern, innovative cooling systems to moderate the atmosphere in the courtyard.
The project aims to provide a more comfortable environment for pilgrims, especially during peak hours, and to enhance sustainability and improve the quality of life in the holy sites. It also contributes to raising the level of safety and the quality of services provided, reducing direct sun exposure, and lowering temperatures.
Slope and rockfall risk assessment
As explained by Kadana, the Hajj projects for 1447 AH include conducting comprehensive studies to assess the risks of slopes and rockfalls in the holy sites, and implementing effective engineering protection measures. The project scope covers the areas of Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat, with an estimated area of approximately 119.6 square kilometers.
The project includes 81 geotechnical zones containing 506 different monitoring stations, each station extending for a distance of approximately 50 meters. The studies aim to conduct a reliable geological assessment of the risks of collapses and rockslides, and to propose innovative solutions to mitigate these risks, thereby enhancing the safety of pilgrims and workers, and supporting the sustainability of the infrastructure in the holy sites.
“Kadana” confirmed that these projects come within a comprehensive development vision aimed at improving the experience of the pilgrims, raising operational efficiency, and providing a safer and more comfortable environment that keeps pace with the expected increase in the number of pilgrims during the coming seasons.
