The Two Holy Mosques Affairs: 8,000 vehicles to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers at the Grand Mosque

Integrated efforts to serve the guests of God

As part of its ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality services to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques, the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque announced the allocation of a massive fleet of 8,000 vehicles to facilitate the movement of pilgrims within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards. This initiative is part of a comprehensive system of services aimed at providing the utmost comfort and peace of mind for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, enabling them to perform their rituals with ease and convenience.

Historical background of serving the Two Holy Mosques

Serving pilgrims and Umrah performers is a great honor and a historic responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undertaken since its founding. Over the decades, the Grand Mosque has witnessed successive and massive expansion projects, the largest in its history, aimed at accommodating the increasing numbers of Muslims arriving from all corners of the earth. These projects have not only increased the mosque's area but have also included a comprehensive development of its infrastructure and logistical services, including cooling systems, dedicated pathways, digital services, and assistive transportation. Providing this large number of vehicles today is a natural extension of this long-standing legacy of caring for the guests of God and reflects the Kingdom's commitment to harnessing all its material and technological capabilities to serve them.

Importance and expected impact

This initiative is of paramount importance on multiple levels. Locally, it showcases the Authority's exceptional organizational capabilities and underscores its meticulous attention to detail in ensuring the comfort of visitors. Internationally, it reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leader of the Islamic world and sends a clear message about its unwavering commitment to the sanctity of Islamic holy sites. These services also directly contribute to achieving one of the key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030: enhancing the Hajj and Umrah experience and making it accessible to the largest possible number of Muslims. Facilitating the performance of rituals for those with disabilities not only enriches the religious experience but also leaves a profound and positive impact on millions of visitors.

Details of the vehicle system and its types

The authority explained that the fleet of 8,000 vehicles is divided into two main types to meet different needs:

• Handcarts: There are more than 5,000 handcarts available, free of charge, at three main distribution points to facilitate access: the eastern square via the public transport entrance, the southern square next to the King Abdul Aziz Endowment, and the western square from the Al-Shubaika entrance.
• Electric vehicles: There are approximately 3,000 advanced electric vehicles available in various sizes to suit all needs. They can be accessed via four main entrances: the eastern courtyard above the Al-Qashashiyah roof, the southern courtyard via the Ajyad Bridge leading to the first floor and the escalator at the Ajyad Gate, and the western courtyard via the Al-Shabika Bridge.

Digital transformation in vehicle services

To keep pace with technological advancements, the authority has enabled the pre-booking of electric vehicles before arriving at the Grand Mosque via the “Tanaqol” app, available on app stores for smart devices. This step aims to reduce waiting times and streamline the service, with the vehicle waiting for the user upon arrival at designated service points, whether at the start of the Sa'i from the Safa side or on the mezzanine level at the beginning of the Tawaf.

Additional support services

In addition to wheelchairs, the Authority provided a wheelchair pusher service to assist the elderly and people with disabilities. These pushers were strategically located in various areas, including the ground-level circumambulation area (Mataf), the ground-level Sa'i area near Gate 14, and the second-floor Sa'i area near the Al-Arqam stairs. Free golf carts were also made available in the outer courtyards of the Grand Mosque to transport elderly pilgrims and worshippers with disabilities, ensuring their easy access to and from the mosque's gates.