Maintaining Safety at Holy Sites: Saudi Security Forces’ Efficient Crowd Management
Saudi Arabia’s security forces are playing an effective role in maintaining order and safety at the Holy Sites in Makkah and Madinah.
Each year, millions of pilgrims from around the world flock to the Kingdom to perform Hajj and Umrah, the sacred pilgrimage journey for Muslims where they visit the Grand Mosque (Al Masjid Al-Haram) and the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam.
They also visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah as part of the pilgrimage.
Efficient Crowd Management
Dealing with such large crowds of different cultures and backgrounds on a daily basis is not an easy task. Yet, Saudi Arabia has shown great efficiency in maintaining order and providing a streamlined pilgrimage journey to all pilgrims.
From the moment pilgrims arrive at the airports in Makkah and Madinah, Saudi security forces warmly welcome them with water, flowers, gifts, and copies of the Holy Quran, as well as guidance books in their native languages.
Throughout the pilgrimage, whether for Hajj or Umrah, Saudi security forces perform one of the most honorable duties—serving the guests of the Holy Sites.
Challenging Task
Last month, a video went viral on social media showing a Saudi officer handling a challenging situation when a woman slapped him. His response, mirroring what often happens in various countries around the world, sparked widespread attention.
The officers work tirelessly, offering assistance and guidance to pilgrims, maintaining order at the Holy Sites, facilitating the smooth performance of rituals, and ensuring the safety of all those in attendance.
In other countries, managing large crowds can be a challenging task. Security forces can find difficulty in dealing with crowds of even several hundred people. Sometimes, they resort to forceful measures to maintain order.
This rarely happens in Saudi Arabia, as Saudi security forces show a great deal of patience and flexibility. However, they could resort to such forceful measures to prevent violations of rules, maintain order and security at the Holy Sites and ensure the safety of all pilgrims.
