Saudi Arabia reveals comprehensive safety plan for Hajj season 2025

Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel confirmed Monday that the general health conditions among Hajj pilgrims remain reassuring, with no outbreaks or epidemic threats detected so far.

Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, Al-Jalajel detailed the Ministry's preparations for the Hajj season, including the deployment of 11 air ambulance aircraft, 900 ambulances, and 71 medical points across the holy sites.

Three field hospitals with a combined capacity of over 1,200 beds have been set up in coordination with the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and the National Guard.

Additionally, a new emergency hospital with more than 200 beds has been established in Mina, raising the overall hospital bed capacity by 60 percent compared to last year.

Al-Jalajel also revealed that critically ill pilgrims have been equipped with smart sensor devices linked to the Virtual Health Hospital—the largest of its kind globally—allowing remote monitoring of their conditions.

So far, over 50,000 health services have been delivered through 14 land, air, and sea entry points, with 140 surgeries and 65 cardiac catheterizations performed.

The minister stressed that pilgrims’ adherence to preventive guidelines is crucial to ensuring a safe and healthy pilgrimage.

To mitigate heat stress, the Royal Commission for Makkah and the Holy Sites has planted over 10,000 trees, installed 400 water dispensers, and placed misting fans across key locations.

In related announcements, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser said rubberized and cooled walkways have been expanded, and drones are being used to monitor pilgrim movement.

Meanwhile, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari stated that the Kingdom has provided over 10,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots for pilgrims and has leveraged advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, to support crowd management and logistical operations.