Tens of thousands of pilgrims attend the first Friday prayers after Haj. (Okaz photo) Holy Sites: It has been a record-breaking Haj in many ways this year – with a record number of pilgrims, multibillion-riyal developments at the holy sites, and a spending spree by pilgrims for their loved ones back home. For many pilgrims it was a bitter-sweet last day of Haj. Hundreds of thousands prayed Friday prayers and listened attentively to the moving sermon at the Grand Mosque for the last time before preparing for their journey back home. The area at the Grand Mosque was packed and congested but kept under control by the traffic and security authorities. This year there was an unprecedented number of pilgrims coming to complete the holy pilgrimage, as prescribed by Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them). The General Statistics Department announced that there were officially over 2.7 million pilgrims on Haj this year. A total of over 1.7 million pilgrims came from abroad and the remaining 989,789 were from the Kingdom, most of them residents. This is apart from the illegal pilgrims coming for the holy journey. This was unlike last year when many pilgrims were kept away over swine flu fears. There were brief but unfounded fears that rain and hail, which hit the holy sites in earnest late Wednesday, would cause the same sort of havoc that resulted in such chaos and disaster in Jeddah last year. In the end, pilgrims experienced brief problems, but generally enjoyed the showers and completed their prescribed rituals at Al-Jamarat and Tawaf Al-Wida (farewell circumambulation of the Holy Ka'ba). By Friday morning the weather had cleared, as predicted by the Kingdom's meterological agency. The Haj was also free of any major security or health incidents. On Thursday, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah confirmed that there was no outbreak of epidemic diseases. Authorities, however, do face a major clean-up operation at the holy sites now that Haj is complete. Mashair Train The most significant and high-profile development for Haj this year was the completion of the first phase of the SR6.5-billion Holy Sites Train, also known as the Mashair Train, which has already reduced traffic on the roads by 3,000 buses, according to the Haj Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). The train operated without any incident on the first two days of Haj. There was a slight problem Thursday when heavy rain caused a short-circuit resulting in a brief suspension of the service. The completion of the top level of Al-Jamarat Bridge has also considerably eased the movement of pilgrims from the Tent City to perform the ritual of stoning of the devil. Pilgrims spend SR3b Pilgrims have spent an estimated SR3 billion on Haj souvenirs this year, according to Muhammad Mustafa Bin Siddiq, a member of a JCCI committee. He said an economic study conducted by a team of experts shows that the souvenir market in the holy sites, Makkah, Madina and Jeddah attracted hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. He said each pilgrim spends an average of SR1,500. The most popular items are beads, prayer rugs and gifts with religious characteristics. Muhammad Rashidi, a Moroccan pilgrim who was holding a small toy in his hand, complained about the prices. “I am obliged to buy some gifts because I can't tolerate going empty-handed to my children.” Ihlam Bayoumi, a female pilgrim from Egypt, said she was also out shopping. “Most of the girls in Egypt like this type of gift so I can't imagine going back without buying a collection of these scarves.” Makkah's evolution Makkah is also expected to see massive new developments over the coming years, according to plans outlined by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, Thursday. “Don't be surprised by anything in the next decade,” said Prince Khaled to journalists promising the most advanced technology to “make things comfortable for the pilgrims”. He wouldn't give the cost, but said it was “unimaginable”. The plan includes removing slums and old buildings around Makkah and replacing them with a new generation of housing and hotels. Authorities also plan to build new hospitals and improve transportation and communication infrastructure, said the governor's deputy, Abdulaziz Al-Khedheiri. The housing will have “a diversity of levels, from one- to seven-star hotels,” he said.
