The lighting system in Arafat is fully ready for the Hajj season
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, represented by the Holy Capital Municipality, announced the completion of the lighting system in Arafat as part of the extensive preparations for the Hajj season. This step involves providing a vast and advanced network of modern lighting covering all areas of the holy sites, directly contributing to enhancing the comfort of pilgrims and creating a safe and spiritually enriching environment for them to perform their rituals with ease.
Ongoing historical development of infrastructure in Hajj
Over the decades, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has paid close attention to developing the infrastructure in the Holy Sites. Historically, lighting services have undergone radical transformations, from simple, traditional methods in the past to the latest global technologies of today. This historical development reflects the Kingdom's unwavering and continuous commitment to harnessing all available material and human resources to serve pilgrims and facilitate their performance of the Hajj rituals.
The development wasn't limited to simply increasing the number of lights; it also included a shift towards using smart, energy-efficient lighting technologies that meet modern environmental standards. This transformation is part of a comprehensive vision aimed at enhancing the quality of services provided and ensuring their sustainability for future generations of pilgrims.
Details of the lighting system's readiness in Arafat
The Ministry explained that Arafat appeared on the evening of Tarwiyah (the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah) in a dazzling and luminous display, after the Secretariat's teams implemented the lighting system in Arafat according to modern engineering designs and methods. These efforts contributed to creating a complete visual spectacle in the area, transforming the atmosphere of the night of Arafat into a vibrant display of lights that reflects the high level of preparedness and exceptional services provided to the pilgrims.
Official statistics indicate that the lighting network in the Holy Sites comprises more than 20,000 lighting units of varying capacities. These units have been installed on approximately 5,000 towers and poles of varying heights and shapes, and have been carefully distributed to cover all main and secondary streets and roads in the Holy Sites, forming a comprehensive model of modern lighting that meets the needs of high population density.
Implementing preventive maintenance to the highest standards
In a related context, the Ministry affirmed the continuation of work to develop and upgrade the lighting networks in Mecca and the Holy Sites on an annual basis. It noted that preventative maintenance was carried out this year on more than 200,000 lighting units in the Holy City and the Holy Sites, in addition to a large number of floodlights operating with modern technologies. Comprehensive inspection and maintenance work was also conducted on all network components well in advance of the Hajj season.
The Secretariat added that preventative maintenance work focused particularly on several vital locations in Arafat, the new pedestrian walkways, and the roads connecting Arafat and Muzdalifah. This work included the maintenance of towering lighting structures, some 50 meters high and others 30 meters high, in addition to high-powered floodlights of up to 1000 and 400 watts, to ensure clear visibility at all times.
The strategic impact of developing the holy sites
The completion of these vital projects is of paramount importance and will have a profound impact on several levels. Locally, these facilities will facilitate crowd management and ensure the smooth flow of traffic and pedestrian movement, thus reducing the risk of stampedes and enhancing security and safety. They will also provide an ideal working environment for security and medical personnel to deliver their services efficiently during nighttime hours.
At the regional and international levels, the Kingdom's success in managing these complex and massive systems reinforces its leading position as a global model for crowd management and the development of temporary smart cities. This success aligns perfectly with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aspires to host increasing numbers of pilgrims, while providing an exceptional religious and cultural experience that meets the aspirations of Muslims worldwide.
24/7 field monitoring
To ensure the sustainability of these successes, the Ministry indicated that specialized field teams are continuing their tireless work around the clock. This ongoing monitoring aims to oversee the lighting system, maintain its maximum operational efficiency, and guarantee the continuity of services provided to pilgrims throughout the Hajj season without any interruption or technical malfunction.
