MAKKAH — Some 200 pilgrims from South Africa will arrive in Jeddah on Wednesday, signaling the official start of this year's Haj season.
More than 10 government and private Haj service bodies, including the ministries of Haj and health have completed all arrangements to receive the pilgrims.
The concerned bodies, which will swing into action with the arrival of the South African pilgrims, include the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the Directorate General of Passports, the Tawafa Establishment for Non-Arab African Pilgrims, the Unified Zamazmah Office, the General Syndicate of Cars and the Makkah municipality.
Hatim Qadi, spokesman for the Haj Ministry, said all preparations have been completed to receive the guests of God on their arrival in the Kingdom. "The reception procedures are meant to express the genuine Saudi hospitality according to the standing orders of the country's leadership," he said.
Qadi said the Haj plan consists of reception of pilgrims at the air, sea and land inlets, grouping of pilgrims going to Makkah or Madinah, taking them to the holy sites and other services until the pilgrims complete their Haj rites and depart.
