15.927 “Mobile” cell towers in Makkah, Medina and the Holy Places in addition to 460 sale points for mobile SIM cards ‘’GASTAT’’: More Than 7.400 Employees to Provide Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Services for Hajj Season of This Year On Friday 6th of Dhu Al-hijjah, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) published the related data of ICT services provided by Saudi Arabia to pilgrims within the statistical calendar of 1439 H Hajj season. The statistical calendar showed that the total number of employees providing ICT services this year reached 7.411 employees who work 24/7 in order to deliver adequate and improved services. Moreover, these services are supervised by the Communications and Information Technology Commission in accordance with authorized service providers. On the other hand, the number of branch offices of telecom services reached 69 offices in Makkah this year, and the total number of 2G, 3G and 4G cell towers was 15.972 towers and that is to ensure and extend the coverage of mobile network and data in Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah, Arafat, Medina and at the Holy Mosque. Additionally, telecom and internet services are available at all air, land and sea ports as well as all roads to serve pilgrims at anytime and anywhere. The percentage of increase in the number of 4G cell towers was at 42.90% at the Holy Mosque, 24.40% in Makkah, 106.00% at the holy places, and 24.50% in Medina. More importantly, the percentage of increase of 4G network capacity at the peak hours for this season reached 80.00% at the Holy Mosque, 84.00% in Makkah, 182.00% at the holy places, and 36.30% in Medina.   It is worth mentioning that within the developmental works of serving pilgrims, the number of base stations ‘’cell towers’’ increased to nearly 3000 cell towers in Makkah and Medina compared to last year. Concerned bodies have also worked on providing wireless internet services by using Wi-Fi technology where the access points of this year reached 3000 points. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has launched ‘’Smart Hajj’’ application this year on ‘’Saudi’’ portal to provide digital services. Moreover, the ministry has also made a list of the distinguished interactive apps in order to identify Hajj rituals and to help pilgrims to benefit from technology when moving between the holy places. Also, the ministry has put a number of guidelines, health apps and some government applications that may help pilgrims and Umrah performers in Makkah and Medina.  On the other hand, the Communications and Information Technology Commission branch in Makkah periodically checks the sound and internet indicators, ensures their effectiveness, scans the frequency bands of mobile networks at the Two Holy Mosques as well as the connected highways between Makkah, Jeddah and Medina to ensure the quality of mobile services. It also deals with any harmful interference that may affect the performance of the network and allows the use of frequencies of each mobile service provider to increase the capacity of the network and improve the level of services provided to pilgrims in Makkah, Medina and the holy places. Saudi Arabia's telecommunications companies have more than 460 sales points available at the holy places to provide SIM cards, data SIM cards and recharge cards, as well as providing technical support centres with various languages to serve the pilgrims. GASTAT has included this data and its details in the statistical calendar of 1439 H Hajj season, which was set in order to publish all the statistics related to Hajj services provided by governmental entities to pilgrims, on its official website www.stats.gov.sa .

13.909 flights, and more than 600.000 bus trips “statistics” : More than 47.700 employees providing the services of transport, post, shipping, and supply to pilgrims On Thursday, the 5th of Dhu-Al-Hijjah 1439 H, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has clarified within the statistical calendar of 1439 H Hajj season published on its official website that the number of labor force in the transportation and post services, as well as the logistic services (shipping, post, and supplies) provided by Saudi Arabia to pilgrims reached 47.765 employees who work in seven sectors specialized in the services of land and air transport, in addition to the services of shipping, post, and supplies. On the level of air transport, which is supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority, the total number of international and domestic flights prepared for transferring pilgrims reached 13.909 flights. In Jeddah, the number of international and domestic flights from and to King Abdulaziz International Airport reached 7.255 flights, whereas as Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina registered 6.654 international and domestic flights. On the other hand, more than 1.369 employees in Jeddah airport and more than 809 employees in Medina airport started to work twenty four seven since the beginning of Dhu-Al-Qida  in order to provide pilgrims who arrive by plane  with all services they need. Their work will last until the mid of next Muharram. The airport services include: maintaining the safety of passengers, organizing the planes movement, observing the performance of electrical and technical systems at airports, ensuring the arrival of luggage, and keeping the airport facilities clean. It is worth mentioning that the terminal of pilgrims in King Abdulaziz International Airport receives about 50.000 pilgrims daily.   The terminals of Hajj and Umrah can receive 3800 arrivals per hour, and 3500 departures. However, the waiting areas can take up to 7000 passengers in the arrival terminal, and 12.000 passengers in the areas outside the terminal. The new terminal can take more than 91,000 arrivals and 84.000 departures per day. Those terminals can operate 312 flights which means 13 flights per hour.    In terms of sea transport, which is supervised by the General Ports Authority, more than 300 employees work at Jeddah Islamic Port to facilitate for the arrival of pilgrims, reduce the period of their checkout procedures, and equip facilities that serve and receive pilgrims from the first moment of their arrival to the port until they leave. The port started to receive pilgrims coming by sea from the mid of Dhu al-Qida and lasts until the fourth of Dhu al-Hijjah where 17 trips were scheduled on three ferries. The arrival terminal may receive more than 800 pilgrims per hour. As for the transport by buses, there are 600.000 bus trips to transfer pilgrims in the holly places by using 18.700 buses during the days of Hajj. There are also more than 43.786 employees, supervisors, and drivers to control the process of transferring pilgrims by buses from the General Cars Syndicate and the Higher Commission for Controlling Pilgrims Transportation which work on setting a system that ensures determining the responsibility of the safety of cars that are used to transfer pilgrims, insuring all buses, making sure that all buses have undergone technical and safety check in the motor vehicles periodic inspection stations, making field visits to the sites of pilgrims transportation companies to check the buses that passed the periodic inspection , operating the buses and violations registration system, in addition to all data of buses including the type of bus, license number, body number, and the bus brand.  Furthermore, they also work on following-up the operation of buses at airports, ports, and road rest areas, direction and Tafweej centres, and support centres.  They also follow-up the pilgrims transfer between Makkah, Jeddah, and Medina, in addition to observing the buses malfunctions, and following accidents- once they occur, coordinating with the concerned entities to check the procedures, making sure that all signs guiding to Hajj cities are available and that there is a driver for each bus, and coordinate with those who are responsible for guiding buses.  As for the track of transporting pilgrims by train, Makkah Development Authority has prepared the train to transfer more than two million pilgrims through more than one thousand trips within seven days. It also prepared nine stations distributed among Arafah, Mina, and Muzdalifah, with 60 entrance and exit gates.  In terms of the logistic services (express post, shipping, warehousing, and supplies) provided to pilgrims, more than 535 employees from the Saudi Post are working in 96 post offices in Makkah, Medina, and the holly places, equipped with 60 cars and 50 motorcycles. They work all day and night during the Hajj season. Post services include: pilgrims’ postal parcels that reduces carrying heavy weights by pilgrims when they transfer.  The services provided to pilgrims also include the service of selling ponds of “Hadi” and “Adhahi” during Hajj, in cooperation with the Saudi project to benefit from Hadi and Adhahi through the sale points in all Saudi Arabia’ post offices, or in the temporary locations of sale in Makkah, Medina, and the holly places. However, the total number of postal parcels that have been sent and received during the previous Hajj season reached 54.804 parcels.   For more information about the details of services provided by Saudi Arabia to pilgrims, please visit the statistical calendar of 1439H Hajj season on the official website of GASTAT www.stats.gov.sa

Including 25 hospitals, 153 health care centers, and  959 ambulance and medical teams “Statistics”:  More Than 32,500 Employees Provide Medical and Health Services to Pilgrims in 1439 H  Hajj Season On Wednesday, the 4th of  Dhu- Al hijjah 1439 H, The General Authority  for Statistics  (GASTAT) announced within the  statistical calendar  of 1439 H Hajj season,  published on  its official website www.stats.gov.sa ,  that the number of workforce provide health and ambulance services for pilgrims this season amounted to more than 31.571 capita (including 9.216 women) of the Ministry of Health,  Saudi Red Crescent Authority  and Saudi Food and Drug Authority members, as well as the workforce that  provide health services of security and military sectors members.  As well, the total number of medical and ambulance teams  in holy places during  Hajj season is more than 959 medical and ambulance teams providing their services to the pilgrims. Furthermore, GASTAT has pointed out through its daily bulletin in the statistical calendar of  1439 H Hajj season that Saudi Arabia harnessed its all financial and human potential in the field of health, curative, preventive and emergency services, such as free specialized health services enhanced by the Ministry of Health with more than 29.495 specialized medical staffs include:  doctors, pharmacists, nurses, technicians and administrators . Moreover,  the health services provided  to pilgrims include the following: open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, dialysis including both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD), digestive endoscopies, in addition to  birth deliveries and other specialized medical services needed by pilgrim patients, where the number of operating hospitals totaled 25 hospitals in Makkah and holy places.  It is noteworthy that the number of health centers reached 153 centers that equipped  with all  health, medical and ambulatory potential, in addition to, 106 field teams in holy places as well as inside and outside Makkah, 100 small ambulances operating as mobile intensive care units in order to handle field ambulatory emergencies and 80  highly-equipped big  ambulances. Ministry of Health hospitals, since the beginning of Dhul-Qa'dah till the first of Dhul-Hijjah, in terms of services provided to the pilgrims,  have conducted 142 cardiac catheterization procedures, 9 open-heart surgeries, 761 dialysis ( hemodialysis HD ) ,39  endoscopy procedures, in addition to other 568 surgeries during the same period. Moreover, The Saudi Red Crescent Authority  has allocated 127 temporary and permanent rescue centers, 361 ambulances, 20 bicycles, and more than 1861 people for the emergency teams and workforce within the area of  Makka, Medina and Holy places,  to provide all emergency and medical services to pilgrims.  In addition to, all health and ambulance staff works in Makkah 24 hours a day,  until Sunday, 15 Dhu Hijjah, where the concerned entities have developed integrated programs and plans which include:  providing all needs and possibilities to handle emergencies and disasters, and providing medical, preventive, therapeutic as well as ambulatory services to pilgrims, Umrah  performers and Makkak as well as Prophet's Mosque visitors. These services are provided efficiently, effectively  and according to a unified methodology,  with latest methods of medical and ambulance care as well as  with qualified cadre with practical and scientific training, to achieve the health security of holy places and  the Two Holy Mosques visitors,  access roads, and air as well as sea ports. It should be recalled that these services are not limited to ground service through ambulances, but also including the Saudi Air Ambulance, motorcycles, rapid response specialized team, field teams in in the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque as well as surrounding squares depending on available human resources, in addition to a constellation of volunteers (males and females). On the other hand, The Saudi Food and Drug Authority(SFDA)  handling supervisory  tasks on (food, drugs and medical equipment as well as products) with pilgrims and Hajj missions as well as supporting supervisory entities responsible for the inspection of facilities that provide meals to pilgrims in Makkah, Medina and the holy places. It is worth mentioning that SFDA provides seven major services including:  inspection of food, drugs and medical equipment as well as products coming through ports, health surveillance of food facilities located in the scope of Holy  Makkah Municipality and Al Medina Regional Municipality, health inspection of  sacrifices slaughtered in slaughterhouse in Mina place  , conducting field studies of food safety,  raising awareness during Hajj season of  the safety of food, drugs and medical equipment as well as products, in addition to inspection of transportation means entering Makkah and holy placess.    For more information related to statistical services provided by Saudi Arabia to the pilgrims, GASTAT has provided plenty of details in Hajj statistical calendar 1439 H, published on its official website www.stats.gov.sa

With more than 7300 supervisors, and 1480 vehicles in the field “Statistics” Six Governmental Entities Integrate with Each Other to Provide Supervision and Follow-up Services to Guarantee the Success of 1439 H Hajj Season TheGeneral Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced today in the statistical calendar of 1439 H Hajj season published on its official website www.stats.gov.sa that the number of the workforce that provides supervision and follow-up services to pilgrims reached more than 7300 supervisors and observers, including more than 160 women. Six governmental entities provide the supervision and follow-up services; Makkah Region Emirate, Medina Emirate, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Control and Investigation Board, and Ministry of Labour and Social Development. These entities have many supervision tasks such as:  general supervision on all services provided in Hajj from all government entities, coordination with different government entities, making sure that all necessary preparations related to Hajj season are available, developing necessary plans to address any faults or notices in order to prevent them in the Hajj season, follow-up and coordination of the procedures related to the projects' implementation and services provision in the sites related to Hajj and Umrah in Medina Region, Supervising the work of the office units and committees that carry out field tasks related to the matters of pilgrims and Umrah performers, Participating in the committees, studies and research related to the works of Hajj and Umrah, Verification of arrival procedures completion speed in the land, sea, and air ports, making sure that the pilgrims are heading directly to their residences in Makkah and Medina, Supervision on the performance of the entities working in the ports which are supervised by the ministry (pilgrims guide institutions, agencies unified office, General Cars Syndicate, Pilgrims buses guidance bureau) and monitoring the failure, monitoring any direct development, Supervising the operations of transferring pilgrims from the air, land and sea ports to Makkah and Medina to be safe and easy,  Inspection of Pilgrims' residences in Makkah and Madinah and address deficiencies if any,  Follow-up the availability of quantities of goods, basic food supply and main meals in Makkah, Medina ,Jeddah, Taif and the holy places, follow up the availability of quantities in the suppliers and traders of food supply, basic supplies, national factories and the quantities of goods associated with them imported from Jeddah Islamic Port and other ports, monitoring the inventory and follow-up its availability in sufficient quantities to meet any potential increase in demand, or the occurrence of emergencies requiring food supply  with continuous supplying without obstacles, Increasing the supervision on shops to ensure the quality of food commodities offered ,their suitability for consumption and its conformity to the standard specifications,  supervision of the services provided to pilgrims in the ports of entry and ports of departure by land, sea and air, Comprehensive control over the services provided in the Hajj,  Participation with the committee of sites distribution and clearance of government entities in the holy places, Follow up the arrival of seasonal labor through air, land and sea ports, Follow up seasonal labor during the Hajj season and make sure of their workplaces and places of residence, Follow-up facilities with seasonal visas and the application of regulations against any violation, as well as  providing social care for children and elderly in care centers.   The supervision and follow-up work of the concerned governmental entities includes both office work and the field work, as the total number of vehicles assigned to these tasks in the field reached more than 1480 vehicles, including custom equipment, cars, and motorcycles equipped with more than 2320 wireless devices for direct communication. The 1439 Hajj Statistical Calendar, published by the General Authority for Statistics, contains details of these statistics, it can be accessed through the official website of the GASTAT.

19 Government and Private Entities Providing more than 136 Main Services to Pilgrims “Statistics”: More than 192.200 Male and Female Employees Working Around the Clock to Serve the Pilgrims in the Field of Public Services On Tuesday 3rd of Dhul Hijjah, 1439H, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced more than 136 main services in the field of public services within the statistical calendar of the Hajj season this year. It includes: secretariats and municipalities activities , control and inspection services, electricity and water services, religious and information awareness, security services, preparing ports to receive pilgrims, issuing Hajj licenses for pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia, civil affairs services, in addition to other supportive services.  Through the statistical calendar published on its official website, GASTAT stated that the total number of labor force providing public services reached 192.254 male and female employees, 189.113 of them are men and 3.141 are women who works around the clock during all the days of the Hajj season. Whereas the number of equipment and machinery used for this service reached 59.741 equipment and machinery, 7.956 cars, 1.583 motorcycles, 13.349 wireless devices, and 3.760 computers.   The security services provided to the pilgrims are the most important public services provided by the "Public Security". It implements the security and traffic plans and the maintenance of public order in Makkah, the Holy Places and Madinah. The number of police stations in Makkah and the holy Places reached 52, whereas the number of traffic centers is 280, in addition to 75 security control centers stationed at the borders and entrances of Makkah and the Holy Places.  The General Directorate of Passports works, through more than 5.000 employees who works as officers, personnel and technicians, to prepare the ports to receive pilgrims and provide necessary services until the completion of the procedures for their departure to their countries through 7 land ports, 3 air ports and 2 sea ports. In addition, the Saudi Customs also provide custom services and reception and farewell services to pilgrims through labor force exceeding 2000 employees. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is present at the same ports through 14 quarantine rooms to inspect animal and plant consignments coming to Makkah and Madinah. In the field of providing civil defence services, approximately 15.000 of the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defence staff works to implement preventive awareness programs as soon as pilgrims come to Saudi Arabia from their countries and ensure the availability and completion of safety requirements in their places of residence in Makkah, Madinah and Holy Places. In addition, they provide civil defence basic work such as firefighting, rescue, ambulance, evacuation operations, etc. The number of civil defence centres inside the Holy Places reached 105, in addition to 556 preventive supervision points, contingency units and support units. Moreover, there are 64 centres in Makkah, 30 centres in Madinah, and 25 centres of civil defence at the border entry ports and main roads.  In the field of providing and enabling government entities to use technology, the National Information Center, through more than 1.355 technicians and administrators, provides and prepares tablets to read the electronic Hajj permits in the sites of screening and security control at the entrances of Makkah. It also prepares and operates all Hajj entry points in all regions of Saudi Arabia, screening sites and security control sites at the entrances of Makkah by devices, fingerprint stations, different types of printers, and information transmission circuits using modern technologies.  The Civil Affairs also provide their services through electronic services and through their presence in 10 Civil Affairs’ offices in Makkah and Madinah. The services include, the issuance and cancelation of Hajj permits for the pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia and the registration of births and deaths incidents of pilgrims who are residents or coming from outside Saudi Arabia. In order to highlight the pilgrimage and its importance, and to transfer its work to all countries of the world, the media and awareness services emerges. The Ministry of Media prepares Media centres in ( the Holy Places, Madinah and Jeddah). In addition, it carries out the work of supervision and approval of publications that the official and private entities, diplomatic missions and Hajj missions wish to distribute to pilgrims. Furthermore, it controls different publications that comes with the pilgrims through the ports of Saudi Arabia, Monitor publications published in Arabic and foreign newspapers, prepare daily reports on Hajj matters, coordinate with the press organizations to issue press supplements for pilgrims in a number of languages and supervise their distribution at the ports and the places of pilgrims, host a number of media professionals from Arab and Islamic countries to cover Hajj. Whereas the Saudi Press Agency broadcasts reports, news and surveys of interest to pilgrims, highlight the Hajj journey, highlight the efforts of the government of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques in serving the pilgrims, highlight the efforts on services and accomplishments, make press interviews with Hajj missions and pilgrims, translate all this by broadcasting hundreds of news , reports and press interviews to visual, audio and print media on the website of (SPA agency) and social media and other types of media. It is broadcasted in six languages (Arabic, English, French, Russian, Chinese and Persian). The Saudi Broadcasting Authority has a staff of up to 1000 employees, including media specialists, administrators and technicians, to broadcast the Hajj rituals through two satellite channels and five radio stations. In addition, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media regulates and facilitates the rituals of Hajj through 134 satellite channels, 18 radio stations, in addition to providing permits for foreign media missions, issues permits for foreign channels, issues filming permits for local production companies, ffacilitates the work of all media involved in covering Hajj rituals.  In addition, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance provides its services through 2.824 employee who organize various Dawah activities and answer religious inquiries via free telephone, which reaches 57,000 calls during the Hajj season. In the field of guidance and support services, the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association works through 3000 scouts to guide lost pilgrims and guide them to their locations, distributes Quraan, books and educational materials, contributes in organizing pilgrims while they are at the sites of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, regulates the random selling points, food supply stores, barber shops and peddlers, stops  violators jointly with Makkah Municipality team, Organizes the entry of pilgrims and directs them inside health facilities, helps those who need transport by carts and guides them to their destinations, supports the Ministry of Health,  pilgrims Tafweej from the pilgrims offices to Aljamarat, issues guides and maps for all government entities in Mina,  ‘Arafat, Makkah (Azizia) and Madinah (center area). The number of scout teams participating this year reached 370 scout teams. In addition, the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research works to provide research and studies services in order to develop an integrated information system to support decision makers in the field of Hajj and Umrah through 200 employees working in the Hajj season. The institute issued 42 research and organized 18 specialized scientific research. Regarding the preparation of Makkah and Holy Places facilities, the Development of Makkah Region Authority worked on shading the pedestrian ramp from Azizia to the Jamarat facility, shading the slopes of the train stations , maintenance of Aljamarat establishment and supporting projects, maintenance and operation of  the Holy Places train, all operations and cleaning of the facilities of the Holy Places through 11,777 employees.  Furthermore, Makkah Municipality provides municipality services to the pilgrims through 15.671 employees, which include: General cleaning, collection, transportation and disposal of waste to maintain high levels of environmental sanitation, market monitoring and food inspection, operation and maintenance services for municipal facilities and supervision of slaughterhouses in Makkah. Moreover, the Saudi Electricity Company works on the operation of five main stations through labor force that reaches 1500 employee. While the water services are provided through more than 2800 employee who work in the National Water Company to operate and maintain the water network and its attachments, and maintain and clean toilets in Mina, Mozdalefah and ‘Arafat. It is worth mentioning that the General Authority for Statistics has provided these data and details through the statistical calendar of Hajj 1439 AH, which was allocated to publish all statistics related to Hajj services provided by government entities to pilgrims through its official website www.stats.gov.sa

More than 470 statistical researchers started their works this morning GASTAT starts the enumeration process for pilgrims of 1439 H GASTAT started the enumeration process for pilgrims who arrived in Makkah this morning Sunday the first of Dhu Al-hijjah 1439 H. The enumeration process is done through more than 470 statistical, administrative and technical researchers from GASTAT and they are available at the main centers in Makkah, Medina, Jeddah and Taif. In addition, the researchers will be working for (24 hours) every day until the sunset of the day of Arafah the ninth of Dhu Al-hijjah next Monday. Moreover, GASTAT clarified that the process of collecting data from pilgrims is done by completing the data of the electronic form in a very short time. The data include: number of pilgrims, nationality, destination and type of vehicle. On the other hand, GASTAT called all the pilgrims who are heading to Makkah for Hajj this year to submit the required statistical data to the pilgrims’ enumeration centers which are: Makkah/Jeddah Highway) Road , (Makkah/old Jeddah)Road, Altan’eim center(the connection road between Medina and Makkah), AlShrai’e center (the connection road between Makkah city and Alta’if city through AlSail), Alkar center (the connection road between Makkah and Alta’if through Alhada), and the Southern center ( Allaith -Jazan road  near Als’adeiah village) in addition to the Hajj statistics supportive centers in Jeddah at King Abdulaziz international airport, mass transportation stations, and other locations in Jeddah, Medina center (Abiar Ali and ‘Ashirah), and Alta’if center (Alsail Alkabeer).

Including services statistics provided by more than 40 entities to pilgrims GASTAT Launches the “Statistical Calendar” for 1439H Hajj Season GASTAT has  Launched the “Statistical Calendar” for 1439H Hajj Season, on Sunday,   the first of Dhu al-Hijjah -1439 , through GASTAT’S official www.stats.gov.sa, which shows the publishing dates of services statistics provided by government entities in Saudi Arabia to pilgrims, in addition to the statistics of domestic and foreign  pilgrims. GASTAT official spokesman, Mr. Taiseer Almofarrej, explained  that the statistical calendar with its content, from statistics and numbers, aims to show the efforts made to pilgrims from more than 40 public and private entities. Moreover, on the second day of the current month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the statistics of services provided to pilgrims such as, supervision, public, health, transportation, and communication as well as information technology services will be announced through statistical calendar and on GASTAT’S official website. Then, the number of domestic and foreign pilgrims will be published every six hours, from the seventh day of Dhu al-Hijjah,  until the total number of domestic and foreign pilgrims is announced that will be on the evening of Arfa, the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, if Allah willing. Furthermore, Mr. Almofarrej added that GASTAT will issue the detailed bulletin of Hajj statistics the morning of Eied day (10 Dhul Al-Hijja  1439H). Moreover, the spokesperson of GASTAT revealed that  the statistical calendar includes services statistics provided to pilgrims from the following governmental entities: Holy Makkah Province Principality, AL-Madinah Principality, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance, Ministry of Media, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, General Authority for Statistics, General Customs Authority, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture,  Communication and Information Technology Communication,  Saudi Commission for Investigation and Prosecution in Makkah Province, Makkah  Region Development Authority, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, General Security, General Directorate of Passports, The General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense, The National Information Center, the General Presidency of Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Affairs, Civil Defense in Makkah Province, Holy Makkah Municipality, Jeddah Municipality, Electricity Company of Makkah, Makkah and Taif Business Units at the National Water Company, The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, the High Commission for Controlling Pilgrims’ Transportation, Saudi Post, Saudi Arabia Boy Scouts Association, Saudi Arabia Airlines , King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah ,  Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport , Jeddah Islamic Port, Mobile and Internet Operators as well as  many entities involved in providing services to pilgrims.    It is worth mentioning that the services statistics provided by the public and private entities will be available through the GASTAT’S official website on the dates set, according to the statistical calendar dates in open sources to support research, studies and media centers to benefit from and publish them.

With integration and coordination between GASTAT and the road security special forces Makkah Receives Pilgrims with "Security" and " Statistics" The General Authority for Statistics and the Road Security Special Forces in Makkah region clarified that all entry ports in Makkah are ready to receive pilgrims starting from the first hours of the first day of Thu-Alhijja, 1439 H. They added, great efforts have been made both financially and physically to facilitate the pilgrims' entry process. " Statistics" and " Road Security Special Forces" asked all pilgrims to provide their data accurately and clearly once they reach Makkah official entry ports.   This was discussed during the coordinative meeting which was held on Saturday Thu-alqida 29, 1439H in the services center in Alshimaisi Alsare'a between GASTAT leaders and the Road Security Force in Makkah region. The attendants of the meeting included GASTAT president, Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi and the operation division director in the Road Security Force in Makkah region Colonel Faisal bin Saad Alju'aid, who confirmed that all security entities are highly prepared for implementing the Hajj instructions in all roads and entry ports to make the entry process quick and easy, especially in the rush days which are usually the seventh and eighth days of the Thu-alhijja. All vehicles will be received by the road security special forces to make sure they have Hajj license. Then the General Authority for Statistics begin the task of pilgrims enumeration in the main centers surrounding Makkah: (Makkah/ Jeddah highway) center, ( Makkah/ Jeddah old way) center, Tane'em center, Sharae'a center, the South center, and the supportive centers in Medina and Taif.  On his part, GASTAT deputy of operations, methodologies and supervisor of the Hajj statistics program, Mr. Fahd Al-Fuhaid, said that the cooperation and integration with the Special Forces had started early this year. The meeting came today to review the joint goal between the two sides which is serving pilgrims and facilitating their entry to the city of Makkah during these days with all the data required to implement the program of Hajj statistics. He added that the process of collecting information is conducted electronically in a way that does not exceed 30 seconds maximum to ensure the speed of vehicles entry, as the statistical researcher enter data of each car carrying pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia, including: type of car, number of pilgrims distributed by gender and nationality. Then he registers data in an electronic form using tablets. The entered data are referred to the time and date of vehicle entry and coordinates of the data collection location. Then they add the data of pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia that are taken from the Directory of Passports.  It is worth mentioning that in addition to the road security forces and the relevant security entities, there are some other entities participating in the implementation of security tasks at the entrances leading to Makkah such as the Hajj Security Command for Traffic Affairs, the General Directorate of Passports, the General Directorate of Prisons, and Security Aviation. All offices and branches of the road security special forces also participate in the mission of Hajj each in his specialty to control the fake Hajj campaigns in accordance with a comprehensive security system to implement the early legal procedures on all roads leading to Makkah. However, the General Authority for Statistics in coordination with all these entities counts and enumerates the numbers of pilgrims, as their work lasts until they announce the total number of pilgrims  on the ninth of Thu al-Hijja.

GASTAT continues its preparations for the 1439H Hajj statistics Dr. Fahad Altekhaifi: Saudi Arabia is the Heart of the Islamic World, and Serving Pilgrims is an Honor The president of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that the authority is still preparing for the Hajj statistics program for this year 1439H. these preparations aim at providing detailed and accurate statistics, data, and information about the numbers of pilgrims coming from inside and outside Saudi Arabia.  These works will be done through seven main centers in Makkah, and three supportive centers in Medina, Jeddah, and Taif.  Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi said that GASTAT with all its financial and humanitarian  potentials, along with many governmental entities, is implementing the directions of the custodian of the two holly mosques and his crown prince- may God protect them-  to provide all pilgrims with the services they need in order to make them feel comfortable, as Saudi Arabia is honored to serve them and facilitate their Hajj steps every year.  Saudi Arabia represents the heart of the Islamic world, and serving pilgrims is an honor. Therefore, all Saudi public and private entities are competing to provide whatever they can do to make the Hajj season a successful one. He added, we, the people of Saudi Arabia, recognize what does it mean to be the only country that organizes a very important Islamic pillar.  Dr. Altekhaifi clarified that GASTAT is implementing the Hajj statistics through three main tracks; the first one concerns pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia (from all Saudi regions to Makkah). In this track, GASTAT uses the comprehensive enumeration method, which counts all arrivals who come to Makkah for the purpose of Hajj. It is conducted through all Hajj statistics main centers located in Makkah entry ports. The president indicated that all main centers are located in the entry ports of Makkah and surrounds it from all sides, except for the one located in the center of Makkah. GASTAT employees are found, along with the concerned entities of the ministry of interior, in (Makkah/ Jeddah highway) center, which is the biggest and most important center, as it represents the main way taken by pilgrims who come from Jeddah city. They are also found in (the old way between Makkah and Jeddah) center, Tan'em center, Shara'ea center, Alkar center, and the south center. However, GASTAT can be also found in some supportive Hajj statistics centers which are located in Medina, Jeddah, and Taif, especially in the domestic pilgrims' parking, airports, public transport stations, and the Meeqat spots. The second track is for pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia (pilgrims who come from outside Saudi Arabia to Makkah through all air, land, and sea ports. To count those pilgrims, GASTAT depends on the pilgrims data received from the concerned entities, distributed by gender, nationality, date of arrival, and way of arrival. However, the third track concerns pilgrims coming from Makkah. GASTAT estimates the numbers of those pilgrims depending on the periodical field surveys conducted by GASTAT among a sample of households from Makkah in order to determine the percentage of pilgrims who come from Makkah.    As for the mechanism of pilgrims' numbers enumeration, Dr. Fahad Altekhaifi stated that GASTAT staff will be present in the Hajj statistics centers located in Makkah entry ports, so that they can count all arrivals who come for the purpose of Hajj. The works will begin on the first day of Thu Alhijja, 1439H. the staff will register the data of every car that carries pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia. The data will be registered on an electronic form by using tablets. They include the car type, number of pilgrims distributed by gender and nationality. The data have a time reference which is the time and date of entry, and a spatial reference which is the coordinates of the data collection location. After that, the information will be transferred to the entry centers' databases through transferring systems. Then a synchronization of data is made between the tablets and the centers' databases. Finally, data are transferred to the main database in Makkah, where data are processed, and daily reports and Hajj statistics bulletins are written. It is worth mentioning that the task of pilgrims' enumeration has been done by GASTAT since 1390 H. this task aims at providing accurate information that helps all governmental entities in planning and developing the pilgrims services. This task is still performed by GASTAT with many improvements in the methods of enumeration to make them more accurate and comprehensive.