A woman travelling with a Turkish Hajj group was detained by security forces at Masjid al-Haram after she attempted to cut a piece of the Kaaba’s covering — the Kiswah — with scissors to keep as a souvenir.
The Makkah Health Cluster has activated a dedicated cardiac emergency unit at the Grand Mosque, deploying a 30-member medical team, 10 intensive care beds, and a mobile catheterization lab to respond to heart emergencies among the millions of pilgrims.
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques has introduced a new electronic transport booking service, allowing Umrah pilgrims to request vehicles directly from their hotels to the Grand Mosque without visiting any transportation point.
Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque introduce dedicated WhatsApp channel available in 7 languages to enhance visitor experience and real-time assistance.
Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al‑Sudais mandates that every obligatory prayer at Masjid al‑Haram and Masjid an‑Nabawi include secondary imams and muezzins to maintain uninterrupted worship.