Daily Hajj Flakes Tuesday 20 Dhul-Qa’dah 1445 – May 28, 2024
By Fatih Lawal-Garu
1. Over half a million pilgrims have landed in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. According to Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports announced that a total of 532,958 pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia as of May 26 to perform Hajj. A majority of pilgrims (523,729) arrived by air, 9,210 crossed land borders and 119 arrived by sea.
2. Around 21,000 buses and more were readied to serve Muslim pilgrims during the upcoming annual Hajj season in Saudi Arabia. This was provided to serve about 2 million pilgrims
3. The Makkah Municipality licenced 4,000 buildings comprising nearly 500,000 rooms to accommodate around 2 million Hajj pilgrims.
4. The authorities have launched new buildings for the accommodation of domestic pilgrims in the Mina Valley. This buildings will provide 11,000 places for the pilgrims. They have been designed lavishly for a room to accommodate 25 to 30 pilgrims. There are a total of five floors in each building. Each building has 4 elevators, of which 3 elevators are for pilgrims and 1 is for services.
5. Madīnah has seen the arrival of about 370,000 foreign pilgrims ahead of the forthcoming annual Hajj pilgrimage, mostly through Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz International Airport Madīnah.
6. The first group of pilgrims traveling by ship to perform this year’s Hajj arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port from Sudan yesterday Monday, 28 2024. It also facilitates the passage of goods and their arrival at local markets during the Hajj season. It extends over an area of 12.5 sq. km and comprises equipped container terminals through which chilled and frozen food products, as well as other goods, pass.
7. Current data indicates that Madinah’s hotel occupancy stands at 52 percent capacity.
8. Till date, about 190,000 of pilgrims that arrived through Al Madīnah have moved to Makkah to commence their Hajj rituals.
9. Saudi Arabian authorities have listed some innovations in the Prophet’s Mosque. The courtyards are currently equipped with 250 large sun shields, which are 15 meters high and weigh 40 tons each, to provide shade and protection for up to 228,000 worshippers. In other to combat the intense heat, 436 mist fans have been installed, which mix cold air with water mist to create a cooler environment for pilgrims.
10. Sheikh Maher bin Hamad Al-Muaiqly, an Imām at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, will deliver the Arafat sermon for this year’s Hajj.The Arafat sermon is delivered at the Namira Mosque, the second largest in the Makkah region after the Grand Mosque on the day of ‘Arafah.
11. Saudi Arabia is exploring the idea of a one-day Hajj package exclusively for Mecca residents, as part of efforts to reduce the number of illegal pilgrims. This new package would allow residents to participate in the Day of Arafat, the pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The plan targets expatriates with legal residency in Mecca as well as Saudi citizens, offering them a more affordable option.
12. Some Nigerian Pilgrims in Al Madīnah have described their accommodations as not only decent but also in close proximity with the Prophet’s Mosque. The closeness of their accommodation to the holy Mosque has not only eased their transportation difficulty but also reduced the incidents of getting lost on the road.
13. The 9th and 10th batch of Abuja’s pilgrims which is also the last batch have been told to report to camp before will departure today.
14. Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, have cautioned FCT contingents against extravagance and other reckless lifestyle that can make them vulnerable during the Hajj exercise. They should spend their $400 BTA judiciously.
15. Nasarawa State Pilgrims Board hajj officials have started payment of BTA balance to its pilgrims. The Executive Secretary of the Board assured that those that are unable to get the BTA in dollars will get the Riyal equivalent.
16. 1,324 Yobe intending pilgrims transported to Saudi Arabia.
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