Saudi Grand Mosque enhances accessibility for people of determination with new facilities
Efforts to ensure they can perform rituals with ease and comfort at two mosques
Dubai: The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to accommodate the people of determination, ensuring they can perform religious rituals with ease and comfort.
The authority has specially equipped several areas within the grand mosque to better serve such visitors. These include three prayer areas for men and three for women, located strategically near entry and exit points to facilitate movement.
For men, the areas are located in the King Fahd expansion at the first floor opposite door 91, the first floor opposite the Al Shabaka Bridge door 68, and the ground floor next to Al Shabaka stairs at door 68. For women, the areas are positioned at ground floor door 88, first floor door 65 near “Al Shabaka “, and prayer Area 15 in the Saudi patio overlooking the Al Tamim bowl.
These designated areas are furnished with aids for individuals, such as Tayammum tools, Qurans with reader’s pens, Braille Qurans, and other essential reading materials.
Visually impaired pilgrims also have access to canes and sign language translations of the Friday sermon to enhance their worship experience.
Moreover, the mosque entrances are equipped with ramps at doors 68, 74, 79, 84, 89, 90, 93, and 94 to support easy access. Additionally, multiple bridges including Ajyad and Shabaka bridges provide further accessibility. Transportation options such as golf carts and electric vehicles are available for the elderly and the people of determination, which can be booked through “Tawakkalna” application.
Pickup points for these services are conveniently located across the mosque premises, ensuring all areas are accessible.
Furthermore, handcarts are available at two key locations: the entrance to the eastern square, Bab Al Salam 19, and the western square, Ajyad bridge. A voluntary push service also operates in two areas to assist elderly and disabled pilgrims, located at the ground floor inside Ajyad and on the second floor in Safa, ensuring their participation in all religious activities.