MAKKAH MUKARRAMAH, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 12th May, 2026) Ahead of the grand gathering for Hajj 2026, the Saudi Arabian government organized an exclusive media tour to showcase the comprehensive Hajj arrangements and the spiritual and historical significance of the Holy Sites. Orchestrated through the collaboration of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites and the General Authority for Media Regulation, the delegation which included journalists from Pakistan and various Muslim nations visited key locations including the Jamarat, the Plain of Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Umm Al-Qura University.
The delegation inspected the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, a sophisticated five-story structure designed to facilitate the safe performance of the stoning ritual for millions of pilgrims. The bridge maintains a capacity of 300,000 to 500,000 pilgrims per hour, featuring entirely separate entry and exit routes to prevent overcrowding. To combat the intense heat, an advanced mist-cooling system has been installed throughout the facility, effectively maintaining the ambient temperature at approximately 29°C.
Media representatives were also guided through the Plain of Arafat, visiting the Nimra Mosque and Jabal al-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy).
Standing 65 meters high, Jabal al-Rahmah is the historic site where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his Farewell Sermon. Reflecting the prophetic tradition that “Hajj is Arafat,” this year’s operations feature smart crowd management technology to analyze pilgrim movement in real-time across the entire site. The delegation later toured Muzdalifah, where modern monitoring cells have been established to manage the flow of the massive crowds.
In the final phase of the tour, journalists visited the Manuscript Center at Umm Al-Qura University, which houses priceless artifacts including 8th-century AH Qurans and Kufic calligraphy masterpieces inscribed on deerskin. The center preserves over 20,000 historical documents that have been protected in modern scientific laboratories and are now being digitalized for global researchers.
Representatives from the Pakistani media commended the world-class facilities provided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, noting that the balance between modern infrastructure and Islamic heritage is a testament to the success of Saudi Vision 2030 as Makkah prepares to welcome millions of pilgrims.
