Saudi Arabia marks the first Friday of Ramadan 1447 today with an extraordinary convergence of faith and meticulous planning at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, where millions of worshippers are expected to gather for Jumu’ah prayers during the holiest month of the Islamic calendar.
Grand Mosque Readied for Record Congregations
The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has implemented comprehensive operational plans to ensure worshippers experience a seamless and spiritually enriching visit. Security personnel, crowd management teams, and service staff have been deployed across every corner of the mosque complex, which has a capacity exceeding 2.5 million worshippers following the King Abdullah Expansion Project.
Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, recently conducted a field tour reviewing the operational and service preparations at the Grand Mosque, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to providing world-class facilities for pilgrims and Umrah performers throughout Ramadan.
Healthcare Infrastructure on Full Alert
The Makkah Health Cluster has raised its readiness to the highest level, with 10 hospitals and 82 health centers fully prepared to serve visitors and residents throughout the holy month. The Grand Mosque Hospital, located near King Abdullah Gate, along with three emergency centers distributed across the mosque complex, operates around the clock to address any medical needs.
Five mobile clinics have been deployed in the central area and at the entrance to Makkah, staffed with specialized medical personnel to provide primary healthcare services. Hospitals are operating on four daily six-hour shifts to maintain quality coverage, while King Abdullah Medical City stands ready to handle critical cases including heart attacks and strokes according to international protocols.
I’tikaf Registration Opens for the Final Ten Nights
In anticipation of the spiritual peak of Ramadan, the General Authority announced that registration for I’tikaf at the Grand Mosque will begin on Friday, with the retreat set to commence on the 20th of Ramadan and continue through the end of the month. The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to facilitate worship at the Two Holy Mosques through organized, technology-driven systems.
This Ramadan arrives during a mild winter season, offering worshippers more comfortable conditions for fasting and prayer compared to previous years when the holy month fell during the intense summer heat. The combination of favorable weather, expanded infrastructure, and the Kingdom’s vision of excellence in serving pilgrims positions this Ramadan as one of the most accessible in recent memory.
As the call to prayer echoes through the marble corridors of the Grand Mosque this Friday, it carries with it the aspirations of a nation deeply committed to its role as custodian of Islam’s holiest sites.
