Makkah: The Ministry of Interior on Friday held a joint press conference for Hajj security forces commanders at the Unified Security Operations Center (911) in Makkah. The high-level briefing detailed the comprehensive security, traffic, and organizational plans established for the 1447 AH Hajj season.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the conference was led by Director of the General Directorate of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, alongside Commander of the Special Emergency Forces at the Presidency of State Security Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Amri, Director of General Directorate of Civil Defense Maj. Gen. Dr. Hamoud Al-Faraj, and Acting Director General of the General Directorate of Passports Maj. Gen. Dr. Saleh Al-Murabba.
Lt. Gen. Al-Bassami emphasized that the Kingdom has mobilized vast material and human resources to guarantee the safety of pilgrims from their arrival until their safe departure. To enforce this, a strict security cordon has been established around the entrances to Makkah and the holy sites to absolutely prevent the entry of unregistered individuals. He further outlined comprehensive field measures deployed to deter crime, combat pickpocketing, and manage traffic flow across Makkah's central area.
Addressing regulatory enforcement, Lt. Gen. Al-Bassami warned that authorities are aggressively monitoring and dismantling fraudulent Hajj campaigns, including fake domestic agencies. He reiterated the severe penalties for anyone caught transporting individuals without valid Hajj permits: up to six months in prison, a fine of up to SAR50,000 per unauthorized pilgrim, and the confiscation of the transport vehicle. Expatriate violators face immediate deportation and a 10-year ban from re-entering the Kingdom.
Detailing emergency readiness, Maj. Gen. Dr. Al-Faraj confirmed that the civil defense forces have completed all preventative, operational, and emergency management preparations. These vast field operations are being seamlessly coordinated through the Holy Sites Operations Center and the Command and Control Center in Mina.
Concluding the briefing, Maj. Gen. Dr. Al-Murabba announced that the General Directorate of Passports has processed 1,518,153 international pilgrims to date. The arrivals include 1,457,514 by air, 54,141 via land crossings, and 6,497 by sea.