Cairo: Four prayer areas will be designated in the Grand Mosque in Mecca for the physically challenged worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan beginning next week, Saudi media reported.
The General Presidency for Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has provided the areas with all services needed by the persons with mobility, hearing or visual impairments to ensure their comfort and safety. The areas will be constantly sterilised.
The capacity of the Grand Mosque has been increased to reach 50,000 Umrah pilgrims and 100,000 worshippers per day in Ramadan.
In October, Saudi Arabia set into motion a plan for gradual resumption of the Umrah after suspension of around seven months amid stringent health precautions. At the time, a prayer area for the physically challenged worshippers was allocated on the first floor of the Grand Mosque.
First phase
The first phase of the plan, which began on October 4, allowed 6,000 Umrah pilgrims from inside the kingdom per day into the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
The second went into effect on October 18, allowing about 40,000 worshippers and 10,000 pilgrims a day into the mosque.
As many as 20,000 Umrah pilgrims and 60,000 worshipers per day were allowed into the mosque according to the third phase that started in November.
