The Grand Mosque in Mecca has recorded unprecedented numbers of worshippers and visitors during the first 10 days of Ramadan, with more than 25 million people gathering for prayers, Al Arabiya reported, citing The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques.
According to the Al Arabiya report, over 5.5 million Muslims performed Umrah in the same period, marking a significant surge in religious activity at the holy site.
The authority also released new data highlighting the extensive operations in place to manage the growing number of worshippers.
More than 11,000 employees have been deployed to organize the mosque’s courtyards and walkways, while 350 Saudi supervisors oversee 4,000 workers responsible for cleaning the mosque five times daily.
These workers also prepare entrances and pathways, regulate access through escalators, and coordinate with operations teams to direct worshippers to the upper floors and pilgrims to the tawaf area, while ensuring that all safety measures are in place.
To accommodate the millions of visitors, the Grand Mosque is equipped with 20,000 dispensers of Zamzam water.
The number of electric golf carts available for those in need of mobility assistance has reached 400, all designed to reflect the mosque’s spiritual and architectural significance.
One of the world’s largest cooling systems is also in place to regulate temperatures inside the mosque, with a total capacity of 155,000 tons.
The system operates through two main stations: the Al-Shamiya station, which has a production capacity of 120,000 tons, and the Ajyad station, which produces 35,000 tons.
These advanced cooling systems maintain indoor temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius, using high-efficiency air filters that remove 95 percent of impurities to ensure clean air circulation.
The Grand Mosque’s audio system, consisting of 8,000 speakers, ensures the clear transmission of the call to prayer, sermons, and prayers throughout the mosque’s three expansions and surrounding courtyards.
The mosque also remains illuminated throughout the year by 120,000 lighting units, ensuring a well-lit environment for visitors at all times.
As Ramadan continues, these efforts are aimed at enhancing the experience of millions of worshippers and ensuring a smooth and spiritually enriching environment for all visitors, the authority said.
Source: Al Arabiya
