Saudi Government Targets Fully Electronic Service, 4.5 Million Pilgrims In 2030

By Ahmad Shukran Shaharudin MAKKAH, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Saudi Arabian government is targeting providing future pilgrims, expected to number 4.5 million in 2030, with haj and umrah journeys which are free-of-anxiety and inconvenience, and providing them with fully electronic services, said its Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Mohammad Saleh Taher Benten. Affirming the Kingdom's determination to provide pilgrims maximum access to health, security, transport and residential facilities, he said this was in line with the Kingdom Vision 2030 introduced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman. "All you want to achieve (can be done) by mobile (phones) because it has all the technical applications. By 2030, all Haj services will be fully electronic," he said. Dr Mohammad Saleh was speaking to 11 editors from Malaysia, Pakistan, Senegal, Indonesia, Turkey and Sudan who are here to cover pre-pilgrimage preparations at the Holy Land. He said these included a US$30-billion allocation for facilities and services for the increasing number of pilgrims each year. “Every year now, we receive a total of 30 million haj and umrah pilgrims," he said. He said other developments include the Haramain Speed Rail project connecting Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, the biggest addition to the transportation services for pilgrims, expected to be operational this September along with a road network for buses and other means of communication. The biggest project in the Arab world, it will have a US$16-billion top-speed train which can travel up to 300km/h, and is expected to transport six million passengers a year. This would save the pilgrims time and energy as a one-way rail journey from Makkah to Madinah will now be only two hours compared to five or six hours by bus. In addition, the US$35-million extension of the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah is also another dedicated service for the benefit of the pilgrims. Similarly, he said, a housing project involving more than 500 residential units would be constructed, helping to provide more accommodation for pilgrims. He said Makkah's population of six million people would increase each haj season with the arrival of about three million pilgrims. In addition, he said, the Saudi government was also working on building a 'Global Muslim Village' which would reflect the culture of every Muslim country. In the village, to be located about 40 kilometres from Makkah, Muslim nations could set up their cultural sites and sell their own products. It will be connected to the other cities by a metro train service. -- BERNAMA