Cards with all pilgrims' details handed over before travel, plus signage and a distinctive colour for each camp to help pilgrims find their way
Security companies to prevent outsiders entering, more rest areas and mosques, and special attention to landscaping and tent materials
Bandar Al Rajhi: Special attention to Egyptian pilgrims to provide them with distinguished services throughout the season
In preparation for the 1447 AH-2026 Hajj season, a delegation of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah representing the private sector from the Egyptian Tourism Federation and the Chamber of Tourism Companies held a meeting with officials of Al Rajhi Hajj Services, which is responsible for the services of Egyptian travel companies' pilgrims. They discussed the main features of the pilgrims' camps in tourism Hajj programs at their various levels, "luxury, 5-star, economy and land", as well as the proposed locations for them in Mina and Arafat.
During the meeting, a presentation was given revealing the locations agreed with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in coordination between Al Rajhi and the Chamber of Companies. Eng. Bandar Al Rajhi, the company's CEO, stressed their keenness to choose distinguished locations in both Mina and Arafat.
It was agreed that all tourism camps for all programs will be made of distinguished materials that are similar across all levels and programs. A plan was also presented for attention to landscaping, especially at the Arafat camps where space allows, along with rest areas and prayer spaces, with care taken to increase their number.
Al Rajhi officials explained that there will be extensive signage to ease pilgrims' movements within the camps, and walking routes will be designated in the camps with their number increased, each route having its own colour, with each colour matched to one of the tents and the colours present along all the camp's paths, making it easier for pilgrims to reach their tents without difficulty.
Among the main points agreed during the meeting was a mechanism, for the first time, to prevent tent problems and overcrowding: a dedicated card will be printed for each pilgrim bearing his name, photo, camp number and colour, and his seat or "sofa bed" number. These cards will be printed and handed to pilgrims before they arrive in the holy land, to prevent disputes and guarantee a place for every pilgrim in the camps, with a list of all pilgrims' names and their seat numbers posted at the camp entrance.
It was also agreed to use trained security personnel at all camp gates to prevent any individuals or pilgrims not staying in the camp from entering, to avoid any problems previously caused by outsiders.
Eng. Bandar Al Rajhi stressed that the company pays great attention to Egyptian pilgrims and is keen to provide them with distinguished services throughout the Hajj season, adding that the company has taken all measures to ensure their comfort and safety.
For their part, members of the Egyptian delegation said they will follow all procedures around the clock to ensure the success of the season and provide the best services to the companies' pilgrims, expressing confidence that Al Rajhi officials will make every possible effort to make the season a success.
The meeting was attended by members of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah Nasser Turki, Vice Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation; Ahmed Ibrahim, head of the Religious Tourism Committee at the Chamber of Tourism Companies; Yousri El-Saudi, head of the Dispute Settlement Committee; and Walid Khalil, head of the chamber's Legal Affairs Committee, in the presence of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' representative Eng. Mohamed Reda, Director General of Religious Tourism, to follow up on what was agreed and check that the companies' pilgrims' accommodation complies with the rules.
Attending from Al Rajhi were Eng. Bandar Al Rajhi, the company's CEO; Abdullah Sambawa, head of projects and investment; Ibrahim Filali, head of operations; Ahmed Shafei, director of the Holy Sites department; and a number of senior engineers and camp officials at the company.
