MAKKAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, was briefed Sunday on the plans and accomplishments of the authorities concerned with Umrah season and the preparations for the 2015 Haj season, SPA said. Prince Khaled, while chairing the Central Haj Committee meeting here, discussed shifting from the holy sites government authorities that do not provide direct services to the pilgrims. There are 25 such authorities in Mina holy site in an area of 193,718 square meters. The space will be used for accommodating pilgrims. There are 35 such authorities in Arafat in a total of 121 locations. They will provide a total area of 57,647,775 square meters to accommodate pilgrims. There are 13 authorities in Muzdalifah in a total of 27 locations. They will provide a total area of 17,743,667 square meters to house pilgrims. A committee headed by Makkah governorate with the participation of the ministries of finance and Haj, Control and Investigation Board and Makkah Municipality will distribute and hand over the alternative sites in the government authorities complex in Mashaer. The committee also discussed a proposal to improve and beautify pedestrian tunnels in Makkah and the holy sites by making use of the tunnel walls by placing guidelines and creating awareness for the pilgrims to help them carry out their rites and reach their destinations easily and safely. Prince Khaled reviewed a report on the Umrah situation until April 11, 2015. The number of visas during the current Hijri year exceeded 4.4 million. Of these, 2,481,249 Umrah performers came through King Abdulaziz International Airport; 816,111 through Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport; 203,615 via Halat Ammar border post; 91,694 via Yanbu Airport; 76,378 via Al-Batha border checkpoint and 53,556 via Al-Raq'i border post.
