RIYADH: The Riyadh Municipality has announced special arrangements for the slaughter of sacrificial animals during the three days of Eid Al-Adha. The basic aim is to help people sacrifice their animals and to keep the city clean, said Dr. Salah Al-Dosairy, Assistant Director for Quality and Development, Environmental Health Department. Al-Dosairy said recently the municipality will manage six slaughterhouses located in a number of districts of the city, including one mobile slaughterhouse at Prince Faisal Stadium in the Malaz District during the three days of Eid. The five main slaughterhouses – in Al-Azizia, north of Riyadh, Hai Al-Sada and Al-Oraija – each have a slaughter capacity ranging from 400 head to 800 head per hour, he said. “People can use the free animal slaughtering services from butchers that operate the mobile slaughterhouse at Malaz District. However, the mobile facility has a capacity of 250 head per day,” said Salah. At the mobile slaughterhouse, however, people can slaughter their animals with their own hands, as recommended in Islam. He said slaughterhouses will operate right after Eid prayers until 6 P.M. On the following two days of the Eid, the slaughterhouses will start early and end at 6 P.M., he said. The municipality will mobilize about 100 veterinarians to inspect and issue health certificates before people can sacrifice the animals, he said. In addition, about 2,500 personnel will be on duty during the three-day Eid to help people at the slaughterhouses. “The municipality will distribute for free about 50,000 plastic bags and 250,000 water bottles to people who visit the slaughterhouses,” he said. Al-Dosairy said the environmental health department is issuing temporary licenses to kitchens at people's own premises that meet certain conditions such as cleanliness and the existence of a water facility to slaughter sacrificial animals. He said this is to help people who want to slaughter and then cook the meat at the same time. “We have issued about 300 temporary licenses so far,” he said. Besides the three main sheep markets at Al-Azizia, Naseem and Al-Oraija, the Riyadh Municipality has designated 13 additional sheep markets specially for Eid Al-Adha in various districts. This includes Hai Al-Badar, Malaz, Twaiq, Al-Jazeera, Al-Khaleej, Al-Rawabi, Umm Ul-Hammam, Al-Yasmeen, Al-Murooj, Hai Al-Malik Abdullah, Swaidi, Oraija and Al-Malaga. Al-Dosairy warned people not to violate the rules by carelessly slaughtering sacrificial animals at non-designated places such as near their homes. Citizens and residents can lodge complaints if they see people violate the rules by calling 940 around-the
