An estimated 2.5 million pilgrims are gathering in the holy sites – 1.8 million from abroad and 700,000-800,000 from inside Saudi Arabia. Every country has a Haj quota of 1,000 pilgrims per million inhabitants and the biggest contingent - 200,000 pilgrims - will come from Indonesia. Saudi Arabia is deploying some 63,000 security forces, including 3,500 anti-riot policemen backed by 450 armored vehicles, while the Civil Defense is deploying 22,000 forces and 6,000 vehicles. Some 1,500 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the Grand Mosque and 29 police stations will be open to serve the holy sites. Some 20,000 health workers have been mobilized to cope with any emergency and five rescue helicopters also have been readied to serve the faithful. More than 12,000 male and female guides known as “mutawif” help organize the pilgrims' stay. The Grand Mosque in Makkah covers 368,000 square meters and can hold more than 1.5 million people. The door of the Ka'ba is made from 280 kilos (616 pounds) of pure gold. The Kiswa covering, made anew every year, is embroidered with verses from the Holy Qura'n using 150 kilos (330 pounds) of gold and silver thread. __
