The first group of pilgrims to the House of God arrived in Mecca on Saturday, preparing to participate in the rituals amid strict preventive measures. The guests of God are being received at four centers, while pilgrims head to the Grand Mosque to perform the entrance tawaf, according to a reporter from "Sky News Arabia." This year's Hajj is limited to 60,000 citizens and residents who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The General President's Deputy for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque, Saad Al-Muhaimid, confirmed the mosque's full readiness to receive pilgrims, indicating that field preparations have been intensified and all routes for managing entry, exit, tawaf, and sa'i have been arranged. He stated in comments reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that "all human and mechanical resources have been verified to welcome the first delegations to the Grand Mosque for the tawaf of ifada, within a healthy and safe environment that meets all global health standards, and considers the leadership's aspirations to provide the best services."
He also noted that "complete preparations have been made for the corridors of the Grand Mosque, the area of tawaf, and the courtyards prior to the arrival of the pilgrims in order to achieve goals and facilitate the entry of pilgrims into the Grand Mosque for tawaf."
