Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, has reiterated the importance of improving employee performance and services for pilgrims, and forging ahead in efforts to prepare for this year's pilgrimage. The Emir spoke during a Haj Committee meeting held Saturday in Makkah. Muhammad Bin Ali Al-Shaf'ee, Secretary of the committee, said members discussed the preparations of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Central Administration for Development Projects, and new plans being carried out at the holy sites Al-Shaf'ee said the committee also looked at plans from Jeddah Mayoralty, Haj Ministry, Control and Investigation Board, Customs, Ministry of Transport, Central Department of Statistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Jeddah Islamic Port. Prince Khaled is scheduled to visit Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdul Aziz International Airport on Monday and Wednesday respectively, where he will inspect pilgrims' halls and services, tour the new airport terminals and the departments of Operations and Health where pilgrims' health certificates are checked and vaccination procedures implemented. Sami Badr, the director of Haj Operations at the airport, said the airport was ready to receive some 230 flights every day, with 3,700 pilgrims passing through the facility each hour. The director of Haj Administration at Jeddah Islamic Port, Fahd Al-Adoni, said 20,000 pilgrims were expected to arrive at the port from Egypt and Sudan.
