Free Hajj ritual release service at the Grand Mosque: Locations and features
As part of ongoing efforts to improve the services provided to pilgrims to the Holy Mosque, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has achieved a qualitative leap in facilitating Umrah rituals through the “release from rituals” service , a civilized initiative aimed at making things easier for the guests of God at the end of their spiritual journey.
This free service, which was launched for the first time during the holy month of Ramadan in 1446 AH, is a strategic step to address the challenges that pilgrims previously faced after completing the Sa’i. Five fully equipped sites have been allocated opposite the Marwa area, saving the trouble of searching for barbershops outside the Haram courtyards and contributing to reducing overcrowding in the areas surrounding the Grand Mosque.
Service details and quality standards
The service features mobile units with a flexible engineering design, allowing them to be moved and repositioned in response to crowd density and pilgrim flow. This dynamic approach ensures smooth movement within the courtyards, especially during peak times and religious seasons, reflecting meticulous crowd management planning.
The service is provided by a highly experienced and specialized team, with each pilgrim receiving service within two minutes, ensuring speed and efficiency. Most importantly, the authority adheres to the highest standards of public health and safety, using sterilized, single-use shaving tools for each pilgrim. This prevents the spread of infection and ensures the health and safety of the pilgrims, a fundamental requirement in large gatherings.
Social and organizational impact
The importance of this initiative extends beyond mere organizational considerations to encompass humanitarian and social dimensions. The Authority has provided this service free of charge to men and women, within the framework of Sharia and regulatory guidelines, with special attention given to the elderly and people with disabilities. This alleviates their hardship and contributes to their completing the rituals with ease and peace of mind. This aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to host millions of Umrah pilgrims annually, offering them a distinguished spiritual experience and world-class services.
Numbers that reflect success
Official statistics revealed the initiative's resounding success, with the authority announcing that the number of beneficiaries of the Hajj ritual release service exceeded one million since its launch in Ramadan 1446 AH until September 2025. This huge number reflects the extent of the need for this service and the degree of satisfaction of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques with it.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque affirmed its determination to move forward in developing innovative solutions and improving field services, in line with the aspirations of the wise leadership - may God support them - to harness all capabilities to serve the Two Holy Mosques, and to provide a safe and healthy environment befitting the sanctity of the place and the comfort of visitors.
