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These include maintenance and operational projects and initiatives for the drastically reduced number of Hajj pilgrims
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Saudi Arabia is allowing only 60,000 pilgrims — all from within the country — to perform Hajj this year
Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Minister Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh on Thursday, July 15, inaugurated several projects in Jeddah worth SAR 31.32 million ($8.35 million), said local reports on Friday.
These include maintenance and operational projects and initiatives for the drastically reduced number of Hajj pilgrims from within the country.
These projects and initiatives will reportedly be implemented by the ministry in order to provide the services for pilgrims, in line with implementing health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The projects include operation and maintenance contracts for Miqats of Qarn Al-Manazil, also known as Al-Sayl Al-Kabeer and Wadi Mehrim, as well as the mosques at the Holy Sites, with a cost of SAR 31,324,807, or a little more than $8.35 million.
This is in addition to an application project for smart devices to educate and guide pilgrims and launching Wi-Fi service in Arafat-valley-based Namira mosque.
The projects also include installing 62 screens to broadcast awareness-raising messages in different languages. The ministry will reportedly provide 30 interactive screens for the Islamic electronic library. It will activate robots to answer inquiries.
As for the initiatives, they include distributing 200,000 umbrellas for pilgrims and those working in Hajj, providing meals for pilgrims at the Miqats, and providing four golf cars and 2,000 prayer chairs for the elderly.
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the Saudi economy really hard, especially by forcing it to limit Hajj.
In 2019, the pilgrimage and associated services netted the kingdom $12 billion, which was the equivalent of 7% of its total GDP, and 20% of its non-oil GDP.
With the pandemic reducing oil demand and forcing Saudi Arabia to severely restrict Hajj, the country’s revenues have taken quite a hit. Saudi Arabia is allowing only 60,000 pilgrims — all from within the country — to perform Hajj this year.