Kingdom enhances Ramadan experience with mass meals, crowd tech and cultural exhibits
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After undertaking the Umrah rites in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, many pilgrims would flock to the Prophet’s Mosque to pray and visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa.
After undertaking the Umrah rites in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, many pilgrims would flock to the Prophet’s Mosque to pray and visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa.
SPA file
Dubai: More than 4.9 million Iftar meals were distributed to worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina during the first week of Ramadan, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques announced, as the Kingdom ramps up efforts to support pilgrims during the peak Umrah season.
In addition to the mass meal distribution, Zamzam water consumption reached 8,393 cubic meters, and over 1,190 tonnes of waste were cleared to maintain a clean and safe environment for the millions visiting the holy sites.
Ramadan Prayer Timetable 2025
The Grand Mosque also recorded a single-day peak of 500,000 Umrah performers, the highest number so far this Ramadan. To manage the influx, officials designated 196 access points, including five main gates, to ease entry and exit for worshippers.
Authorities have also introduced advanced crowd monitoring technologies, along with 200 digital wayfinding screens across mosque courtyards.
Pedestrian assistance teams were deployed, while new services such as mobile hair-shaving units for Umrah completion and luggage storage centers with six collection points were activated to improve the visitor experience.
As part of cultural enrichment efforts, the authority launched the “First Home” exhibition in the Third Saudi Expansion Area, drawing thousands of visitors to explore the history and evolution of the Kaaba.
Volunteer groups continue to play an active role, offering support in organizational, health, and informational services—reinforcing the Kingdom’s wider efforts to deliver a smooth, safe, and spiritually fulfilling Ramadan for all.
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