Hajj 2025: Mataf now accommodates 107,000 pilgrims per hour, Saudi Arabia says

Dubai: The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has confirmed that the Mataf area, the open space surrounding the Kaaba where pilgrims perform the Tawaf ritual, is fully prepared to accommodate an unprecedented flow of worshippers during this year’s Hajj season.

The authority announced that the Mataf’s capacity will reach up to 107,000 pilgrims per hour.

Saudi authorities have worked closely with relevant agencies to optimize entrances, pathways, and crowd management systems to handle the vast number of pilgrims with ease and order.

Multiple main and secondary gates leading to the Mataf have been dedicated exclusively for pilgrims, with additional access points reserved for emergency and service use.

These measures are part of a comprehensive crowd management strategy aimed at ensuring the safety and convenience of all visitors performing their rituals.

The capacity announcement comes amid a surge in international arrivals, with the General Directorate of Passports reporting that as of Friday, 890,883 pilgrims have entered Saudi Arabia in preparation for Hajj 1446H. This includes 846,415 arrivals through airports, 41,646 via land crossings, and 2,822 by sea.

Among the recent arrivals was the first Hajj flight from the United Kingdom, landing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with 142 pilgrims onboard.

British Consul General Cecille El Bilidy, along with officials from Jeddah Airports Company and government agencies, welcomed the group.

Jeddah Airports Company highlighted its readiness across three terminals, Terminal 1, the Northern Terminal, and the dedicated Hajj and Umrah Complex, equipped with hundreds of immigration counters, baggage stations, boarding bridges, and customs inspection devices to facilitate the efficient processing of pilgrims.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE