MAKKAH — Preparations are under way everywhere in the Kingdom to receive the guests of God for this year's Haj with all the air, sea and land inlets gearing up for the great occasion. The Presidency for he Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has deployed more than 15,000 of its manpower including the seasonal workers to undertake the execution of its Haj plan consisting of cleaning, maintenance and operation. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the presidency's chief, said the plan focuses on direction, guidance and education. He told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the new Kaaba kiswa will be delivered to the Custodian of the Grand Mosque early Dhul Hijja (Sept. 2) and will be placed on the House of God on the eighth and ninth of the same month (Sept. 9-10). Sudais said the ground floor and the electric staircases of the third Saudi Expansion would be fully utilized during this Haj providing more space for the pilgrims to do their Tawaf and Saie. He said the presidency would implement the fourth version of its campaign tilted: "The service of the pilgrim and visitor is an honor for us". He said the campaign would be executed under the sponsorship of Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Madinah Governor Prince Faisal Bin Salman. Meanwhile abouwt 2,000 Iraqi pilgrims have arrived through Arar border post in the north while more than 19,000 Yemenis have registered for the Haj and are expected to arrive within the coming few days. So far, a total of 303,900 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and pray in his mosque. According to Turki Bin Faisal, spokesman of the Private Establishment of Guides, as many as 108,325 pilgrims have departed Madinah for Makkah. He said the Indonesians, with 54,954, represent the largest nationality of pilgrims who are still present in Madinah. Chairman of the committee for the accommodation of pilgrims, Mazin Al-Sinnari, said enough housing units have been provided in Makkah for the accommodation of about 1.6 million pilgrims. He said as of today, there are 166,697 pilgrims who are accommodated in 345,258 rooms with a total area of 7,227,572 square meters. Sinnari said the committee made more than 6,000 inspection tours of the Haj buildings to make sure that the guests of God are well accommodated and are provided with all the necessary services that will enable them perform their Haj rites in peace, ease and comfort.
