On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held today at the Royal Court in Mina Palace the annual reception for heads of state, high officials, Muslim dignitaries, guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, guests of government agencies, and heads of delegations and pilgrim affairs offices who performed Hajj this year. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Beninese Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata Zime Yerima, and former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed attended the reception.
Verses from the Holy Quran were first recited, after which HRH the Crown Prince delivered the following speech:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
Your excellencies, heads of state, Pilgrim brothers and sisters, distinguished guests.
May Allah’s peace, blessings, and mercy be upon you.
On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, we are pleased to congratulate you and all Muslims on the blessed Eid Al-Adha. We implore Allah Almighty to accept the pilgrims’ Hajj and their righteous deeds.
Allah Almighty has honored this country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, pilgrims, and Umrah performers. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed this at the forefront of its priorities, devoting all its capabilities to serving the pilgrims and facilitating the performance of their rituals with ease and comfort.
Saudi Arabia will continue to carry out this duty, recognizing the great responsibility and honor of service.
Your excellencies, highnesses, and heads of state,
This year, Eid Al-Adha arrived as our brothers in Palestine continue to suffer from Israeli aggression.
We emphasize the role of the international community in ending the disastrous repercussions of this aggression, protecting innocent civilians, and establishing a new reality in which Palestine enjoys peace in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
We ask Allah Almighty to bless our country, all Muslim countries, and the world with lasting security and stability, to accept the Hajj of the pilgrims, and to return them safely to their families.
Happy Eid to you all.
May Allah’s peace, blessings, and mercy be upon you.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Pilgrim Experience Program Committee Tawfig Al-Rabiah delivered a speech in which he reviewed preparations for this year’s Hajj season, which began at the end of last year’s Hajj under the supervision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and with the personal support, guidance, and follow-up of the Crown Prince. This has led to the Hajj system rising to unprecedented levels of integration and efficiency. He noted that the Supreme Hajj Committee, headed by the Minister of Interior, oversaw efforts coordinated through the Hajj Project Management Office (Hajj PMO), resulting in unified performance, integrated planning, increased coordination, and direct contracting for Hajj missions. More than 670 service agreements were concluded, providing a wide range of high-quality service options.
Al-Rabiah also highlighted several notable achievements of this year’s Hajj. In the energy sector, 46 new projects enhanced the electrical system in Makkah and the Holy Sites, increasing capacity by 75 percent, with a total investment exceeding SAR 3 billion. In the transportation sector, more than 7,000 flights from 238 international destinations were received, 4,700 Haramain High-Speed Railway trips and 2,500 Mashaer Metro Train trips were operated, and more than 20,000 buses were deployed. In the healthcare sector, bed capacity increased by over 60 percent, a new emergency hospital was established, 71 rapid intervention points were set up at the Holy Sites, and emergency response capabilities more than tripled compared to last year. In the infrastructure sector, over 300,000 square meters were shaded, including 170,000 square meters along pilgrims’ pathways, and 23,000 trees were planted to moderate the atmosphere and reduce heat stress. In the technology sector, the Nusuk app now offers more than 130 digital services, facilitating pilgrim journeys from visa issuance to return. The Masar Nusuk digital platform streamlined contracting, visa issuance, and procedures across relevant authorities. In the security sector, the “No Hajj Without Permit” campaign was implemented to ensure compliance, protect authorized pilgrims, and support safe crowd management.
The speech of the Muslim World League was then delivered by Sheikh Muhammad bin Ahmed Hussein, Secretary-General for Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories. He emphasized that one of Islam’s key objectives—and a primary benefit of Hajj—is preserving the unity of the Islamic nation. He noted that Saudi Arabia occupies a special place in the hearts of Muslims and has exerted significant influence in unifying Muslim ranks, fulfilling the aspirations of Muslim nations, and embodying the true, moderate essence of Islam. He added that the Kingdom promotes a culture of reconciliation, tolerance, and harmony while pursuing a forward-looking vision of brotherhood and solidarity.
“I express my deep appreciation—and that of all Arabs and Muslims—for Saudi Arabia’s historic support for the Palestinian cause and its honorable leadership in international efforts to halt the atrocities of genocide in Gaza and the ongoing destruction and starvation imposed by the Israeli occupation forces. The Kingdom also undertakes major responsibilities, guided by its Islamic, Arab, and humanitarian values, to rally international support for recognizing the State of Palestine,” he said.
Syria’s Minister of Endowments Sheikh Mohammad Abu al-Khair Shukri also spoke on behalf of the heads of Hajj affairs offices, expressing gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for the exceptional and distinguished services provided to pilgrims.
“The Hajj season of this year, 1446 AH, continues the Kingdom’s consistent efforts to ease Hajj performance for pilgrims, reflecting its historic and sacred mission in serving Islam and Muslims,” he said.
He also praised the comprehensive and sustainable infrastructure development, the implementation of smart services, and the use of advanced technologies in crowd management, all of which reflect the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 and its early accomplishments. He further noted that all pilgrims observed the high quality of services delivered through the Pilgrim Experience Program, including the use of advanced electronic systems, mobile applications, and healthy competition among service providers—factors that have significantly improved the overall pilgrim experience.
— SPA