Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marked Eid Al-Adha by welcoming an array of senior officials, religious leaders, military commanders, and Hajj representatives at Mina Palace. This gathering celebrated the hard work of those involved in this year’s pilgrimage, which saw Saudi Arabia host over 1.7 million pilgrims. The crown prince, representing King Salman, conveyed festive greetings to citizens, residents, and pilgrims, while acknowledging the commitment of military, security forces, government employees, and volunteers in ensuring the safety and service of these pilgrims.
Emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s enduring duty, Crown Prince Mohammed underscored the importance of serving the Two Holy Mosques and maintaining peace and stability across the holy sites. Attendees included high-ranking officials from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, ministers, and scout groups who played roles in the Hajj operations. Highlighting the success of the security measures during this year’s pilgrimage, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami noted the impact of the Kingdom’s continued investment in pilgrim services on enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Compared to previous years, this Hajj season saw an increase in pilgrim numbers, aided by improvements in infrastructure, digital services, and crowd-management systems at key locations such as Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Makkah Route Initiative also saw expansion, allowing numerous pilgrims to complete immigration and customs processes before leaving their home countries, effectively streamlining their arrival in Saudi Arabia. This year, over 441,000 personnel, encompassing security officers, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency responders, were mobilized to support the pilgrimage and ensure the safety of all participants.
In a separate gesture of goodwill, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged Eid greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, extending their hopes for enduring peace, stability, and prosperity among Muslim nations. This outreach underscores Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to fostering harmony and collaboration within the global Islamic community.