Readiness of the industrial sector in Mecca for the Hajj season | Minister of Industry's tour
As part of the extensive preparations to receive pilgrims, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, conducted an inspection tour to assess the readiness of the industrial sector in Makkah . The visit included several industrial and logistical facilities in the First and Second Industrial Cities, with the aim of verifying the efficiency of production lines and operational readiness to meet the demands of the 1447 AH Hajj season. This step underscores the vital role of national industry in serving pilgrims and ensuring the availability of all their needs for food products and essential goods with high quality and reliability.
A historical development and an ambitious vision to serve the guests of God
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on providing comfort and convenience for pilgrims to the Holy Mosque since its unification. With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the system for serving pilgrims has undergone a radical transformation, moving beyond temporary, seasonal efforts to encompass the development of a sustainable and advanced infrastructure. The Pilgrim Service Program, one of the Vision's key initiatives, aims to enrich the religious and cultural experience of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. In this context, the industrial sector plays a pivotal role by securing supply chains and localizing food and pharmaceutical industries, reflecting the wise leadership's commitment to providing the best possible services according to the highest international standards.
Enhancing logistics services in industrial cities
The Minister was accompanied on his field tour by Majid bin Rafed Al-Arqoubi, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON). The tour included visits to key facilities at several food and water factories. The Minister also inspected MODON's administrative buildings in the First Industrial City in Makkah, reviewing the logistics services, infrastructure, and digital enablers it provides to investors. This city is considered one of the most important industrial hubs supporting sectors related to serving pilgrims. The visit also included the Second Industrial City, a major industrial and logistics center spanning over 4.5 million square meters, which houses more than 85 industrial and investment contracts and boasts a strategic location near the train station and the Holy Sites.
The impact of the readiness of the industrial sector in Makkah locally and regionally
Ensuring the readiness of the industrial sector in Makkah not only has a positive impact locally, but its economic influence extends regionally and internationally. Locally, the occupancy rate in the industrial cities of the Makkah region has reached approximately 95%, one of the highest rates in the Kingdom, a clear indicator of investor confidence in this vital area. MODON (Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones) has allocated over 700,000 square meters of temporary seasonal areas to meet the demands of the Hajj season. These areas include facilities for the holy sites, parking for land pilgrims, central food supply units, and catering warehouses. Regionally and internationally, the region is home to 640 food factories whose products are manufactured by Saudi hands and national expertise. These factories produce goods that meet the needs of pilgrims to the Holy Mosque, and their surplus and high-quality production reaches regional and international markets, thus boosting the volume of Saudi non-oil exports.
Integrating national efforts for a successful season
The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources' continuous follow-up stems from the industrial sector's belief that serving the pilgrims is a major national responsibility requiring integrated efforts from all entities in both the public and private sectors. The sector has strived to develop the necessary industrial infrastructure to ensure the success of these efforts, transforming from a seasonal supplier into a comprehensive industrial system serving pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Mosque throughout the year. This strategic transformation guarantees business sustainability, provides thousands of job opportunities for Saudi nationals, and supports the gross domestic product, thus achieving an ideal balance between fulfilling religious duty and the Kingdom's sustainable economic growth.
