A view inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (AN photo by Ahmad Hashad)
JEDDAH: More than 26 million Umrah pilgrims and worshippers visited the Grand Mosque during the month of Ramadan and in the first few days after Eid Al-Fitr, thanks to a smooth transport arrangement under the guidance of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
Hisham Al-Faleh, adviser to the Makkah governor and general supervisor of the urban development of Makkah, was quoted as saying by local media that about 8 million Umrah pilgrims and worshippers were transported to and from the Grand Mosque during the first 10 days of Ramadan.
“The total number of passengers was 26,729,709, an increase of more than 4.6 percent against last year,” he said.
Al-Faleh said 1.7 million vehicles used the parking lots at the entrances of Makkah and the central area while 6.6 million vehicles were pressed into service for pick-up and drop of pilgrims and worshippers — a 15 percent increase compared to last year. Al-Faleh said that five transport firms assumed the task of transportation.
Source: ArabNews
