The English language daily Saudi Gazette, based in Jeddah, today reported that the 1420 Hajj has been one of the safest and most successful on record, for which all praise to Almighty God and thanks to the diligent efforts of the Saudi government under the wise leadership and guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz. The report expressed admiration at a statement issued by Minister of Health Dr. Osama Abdulmajeed Shobokshi affirming that there had been no epidemic outbreaks or any reported cases of contagious disease among the pilgrims. The movements of the pilgrims from Mina to Arafat, from Arafat to Muzdalifa and from Muzdalifa back to Mina, were made in record time. Traffic flowed smoothly and freely, and in complete safety and security. This success, the newspaper stated, did not come by chance, but through a great deal of careful planning on the part of the Supreme Hajj Committee chaired by Minister of Interior Prince Nayef Ibn Abdul Aziz.

The report explained that a new scheduling procedure had been implemented for the first time on the Jamarat terrace in order to avoid stampeding accidents. As a result of comprehensive long-term research and planning, the terrace can now accommodate 100,000 pilgrims per hour, and a monitoring room is equipped with video cameras and loudspeakers, through which instructions in eight languages are given to those performing the ritual.

The report also referred to the fact that in announcing the success of the 1420 Hajj, Governor of Makkah Province Prince Abdulmajeed Ibn Abdul Aziz praised the vital projects that had been implemented, foremost of them the completion of the fire-proof tents project in Mina.

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