The city of Madina witnessed after Friday prayers the departure for Makkah of 35,000 pilgrims. Over 800 buses were drafted in for the operation which is restricted by safety measures that bar pilgrim buses from traveling between midnight and four A.M. “This is the largest single movement of pilgrims as the vast majority of those who come to the Kingdom for Haj will not miss the opportunity to conduct Friday prayers at the Prophet's Mosque before moving on to Makkah,” said Yousif Hawalah of the National Establishment for Guides. “A comprehensive plan was drawn up well in advance to ensure that the arrival and departure of the thousands of pilgrims on the peak days of Thursday and Friday passed smoothly,” Hawalah said. “Pilgrims arriving at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah on Saturday will be taken straight to Makkah,” Hawalah said, adding that the next peak times for arrivals in Madina are on the fifth and fourteenth days of Dhul Al-Hijja, corresponding to Nov. 22 and Dec. 2. Approximately 300,000 pilgrims conducted Friday prayers in Madina yesterday. – Okaz/SG Pilgrim drivers take awareness courses By Abdul Aziz Ghazzawi JEDDAH – Some 9,000 drivers of vehicles transporting pilgrims have taken awareness and educational courses on grouping pilgrims, vehicle safety and fire drills. The courses, which also versed drivers in traffic police regulations and the effects of drugs on driving performance, saw the distribution of over 60,000 leaflets. – Okaz/SG Transportation arrangements MAKKAH – The Organization of Guides for Pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, US and Australia met on Thursday with the Haj Ministry Undersecretary for Transportation Affairs Sahl Al-Sabban to coordinate transport arrangements. The meeting looked at the various phases of transportation operations and pilgrim transport vehicle resources.
