Makkah and Madinah gear up for Ramadan rush

Approximately 7 million Umrah pilgrims are expected in Makkah and Madinah before and during the holy month of Ramadan this year. 
Umrah pilgrims come through various ports, the most important ones being King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz airport in Madinah. The Kingdom uses all its powers to receive the pilgrims and facilitate all procedures until they reach Makkah and Madinah, Saudi daily (Arab News) reported. 
Mohammad Bejawi of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah in Madinah said this year Egypt ranked first in terms of the grant of Umrah visas with 1,275,785 visas; Pakistan came second with 918,063 visas; Indonesia third with 655,163 visas, followed by India with 436,000 visas; Turkey with 439,000, Jordan with 343,000, Algeria with 313,000, Malaysia with 211,000, Iraq with 183,000, Britain with 77,000 and the rest of the world 695,000. 
Abdul Wahid Al Hattab of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques reviewed the operational plan for Umrah season which is the responsibility of 5,000 employees in cooperation with all service directorates. 
He said the presidency offers cool Zamzam water inside the Prophet’s Mosque and Grand Mosque. He confirmed that prayer areas have been laid with good quality carpets inside and on the roof of the two mosques and that the areas are kept clean around the clock. 
He said the Prophet’s Mosque’s yards have been provided with 436 fans to offer cool surroundings and 250 shades to protect pilgrims from the heat of the sun. He said 100 gates and six pedestrian paths have been allocated to worshippers in addition to 20 carts for the elderly and the disabled.

Source: QNA