Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Emir of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal emphasized on Saturday that the decision to reduce the number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims in the wake of the ongoing Mataf (circumambulation area) expansion is aimed at ensuring the comfort and dignity of pilgrims. Prince Khaled urged the faithful to comply with the directives issued by the authorities with regard to the new arrangements to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims and enable them to perform the rituals in ease and comfort. The Emir was speaking to reporters during an inspection tour of the center for correcting the residency status of Burmese nationals at Kudai. He said about 115,000 Burmese nationals have so far corrected their status and eventually residency permits were issued to them. “The scheme for correction of status will provide the Burmese nationals with a good opportunity to take part in the development of the region,” the Emir said while announcing that the governorate will not abandon any unplanned districts without developing them and correcting the status of local residents. Referring to the new arrangements at the Grand Mosque, Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said: “It is among the priorities of this nation to provide the best possible services for the guests of Allah, and the temporary arrangements to cut the number of Haj pilgrims is to ensure the arrival and return of pilgrims in a dignified manner.” Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, urged pilgrims not to repeat Haj or Umrah until after finishing the ongoing largest ever expansion in the history of the two holy mosques so as to make way for those who did not perform these obligatory rituals. “The authorities are racing against time to complete the gigantic expansion works at the Haram. In this context, any rush of pilgrims and their stay at Haram for a longer periods would harm their safety and security.” He urged everyone to positively respond to the decision to cut the number of Haj pilgrims as well as to limit the period of Umrah visas to 14 days.
