HIBAPRESS – Following
Mount Arafat in the heart of Arafat represents a witness to the greatest scenes of faith that the hearts of Muslims from all over the world yearn for.
Since the dawn of the Day of Arafah, groups of pilgrims have flocked to this pure land, supplicating to God with prayer and supplication in an atmosphere filled with tranquility and reverence, and in which the sounds of "Talbiyah" and "Takbir" rise in a unique faith unity. On the slopes of the mountain and its surroundings, majestic spiritual images of pilgrims from different cultures and nationalities appeared, brought together by hope and sincerity to God Almighty, where hands of supplication rose and tears of reverence were shed in a scene that embodies the profound impact of standing in Arafat on the conscience of Muslims. The site witnessed a smooth flow thanks to the integrated field operational plans implemented by the concerned authorities to manage the crowds, organize pedestrian paths, and facilitate access to sites surrounding the mountain, with intensified guidance, humanitarian, and health services around the clock. The Saudi Press Agency reported that, as part of efforts to improve the pilgrims' experience, shading and cooling projects emerged as quality initiatives to reduce the effects of heat stress; where the "Kudana" Company for Development and Development – the executive arm of the Royal Commission for the City of Mecca and the Holy Sites – implemented an integrated project that covered an area of (196) thousand square meters, carefully designed to ensure the safety of movement and the comfort of the guests of God. The first phase of the project included the installation of umbrellas with an area exceeding (785) square meters, and the operation of (129) mist fan columns to lower temperatures and cool the atmosphere, providing a more comfortable environment for pilgrims during their movement and performance of rituals. During the Hajj season of 1447 AH, the company completed the second phase of its project; which contributed to increasing the absorptive capacity of the shaded and cooled areas five times compared to last year, thus covering a total area exceeding (272) thousand square meters, as this phase witnessed a qualitative expansion with the installation of (18) modern umbrellas equipped with (36) mist fans, and (7) advanced units for cooling the atmosphere, in addition to (107) water mist columns; to complete what was accomplished in the first phase, which included (3) umbrellas, (6) mist fans and more than (165) columns, within a system aimed at upgrading the quality of services and enhancing the efficiency of the operational environment in the Holy Sites. In the vicinity of the mountain, pilgrims were keen to take advantage of those spaces to read the Quran and remembrance, while the squares resounded with prayers in multiple languages, in a scene that embodies the unity of Muslims and their gathering in obedience on this blessed day, amid an integrated system of services that reflects the volume of efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve the guests of God and enable them to perform their rituals safely, easily, and with peace of mind.
