Crown Prince Commends Hajj Workforce During Eid Reception in Mina
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed princes, ministers, religious scholars, military leaders, and senior officials at Mina Palace on Wednesday on behalf of King Salman as the Kingdom celebrated Eid Al-Adha, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Among those extending Eid greetings were Gulf Cooperation Council officials, government ministers, and scout groups involved in supporting Hajj operations.
During the reception, the crown prince — who also serves as prime minister — praised Saudi military personnel, security forces, government employees, and volunteers for their efforts in ensuring the safety of pilgrims and safeguarding the Kingdom amid ongoing regional challenges.
“We thank all members of the military and security sectors, the dedicated employees across various government agencies, and the volunteers for their service to the pilgrims and for ensuring their safety and security,” the crown prince said in remarks carried by SPA.
He emphasized that serving the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites remains one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest responsibilities and described protecting the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty as a longstanding national duty.
The crown prince also extended Eid Al-Adha greetings to Saudi citizens, residents, and pilgrims, while praying for continued peace, prosperity, and stability throughout the Islamic world.
Later, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, addressed attendees on behalf of the military sectors participating in this year’s Hajj operations.
Al-Bassami said the Kingdom has prioritized serving the Two Holy Mosques since its founding, adding that this year’s successful Hajj security plans had further strengthened safety measures and service quality for pilgrims.
Guests later greeted the crown prince personally before attending a banquet at Mina Palace.
Saudi Arabia is hosting more than 1.7 million pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season, one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world.
Authorities reported that pilgrim numbers increased by approximately 2 percent compared with last year. More than 1.54 million pilgrims arrived from abroad — most by air — while around 160,000 participated from within the Kingdom.
Officials attributed improvements in pilgrim movement between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah to expanded infrastructure projects, upgraded digital services, and enhanced crowd-management systems.
Saudi authorities also expanded the Makkah Route Initiative this year, enabling pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures in their home countries before traveling. Nearly 389,000 pilgrims benefited from the program, marking an increase of almost 24 percent from last year.
More than 441,000 personnel — including security officers, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency response teams — have been deployed to support Hajj operations and maintain pilgrim safety throughout the season.
Separately, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with leaders across the Islamic world, SPA reported.
The Saudi leadership thanked fellow Muslim leaders for their messages and prayed for continued security, stability, and prosperity across Muslim nations, while asking God to accept the worship and good deeds of pilgrims during Hajj and Eid.
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