The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has intensified its carpet maintenance program to accommodate the high volume of worshippers during Ramadan, where specialized teams execute a daily operational plan that includes laying, cleaning, and sanitizing carpets across all prayer areas. (SPA)
Updated 1 min 39 sec ago
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
- Expanded staff and shifts, authority tells Arab News
- Pilgrims laud Makkah authorities for the operations
MAKKAH: There is an exceptionally high level of sanitation and iftar services at the Grand Mosque in Makkah for millions of worshippers and visitors this Ramadan, according to the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The authority recently told Arab News exclusively that the plan includes an expanded workforce operating around the clock, with ground staff and supervisory personnel working across two and three shifts respectively.
The mosque has defined operational zones: four sites around the circumambulation courtyard, two along the Sa’i walkway, three covering the corridors and outer courtyards, and three dedicated rooftop areas.
Each zone has its own supervisor, shift leader and standing crew to guarantee rapid response and tight operational discipline.
Cleaning crews work continuously without shutting down any area, deploying light, easily maneuverable equipment through the dense crowds so as not to disrupt or obstruct worship.
Field operations rooms are in constant contact with supervisors via communication devices, resolving reports within minutes.
A dedicated surge plan kicks in during the three peak windows of the day, which are the lead-up to Maghrib prayer, the post-iftar rush, and the period following Tarawih.
Managing iftar waste follows its own precise timeline. Teams fan out and pre-position bags and mobile containers before the Maghrib call to prayer, then swing into action the moment iftar concludes.
The workers collect waste, wash surfaces, treat stains and dry floors. Rapid suction and washing machinery tackle lower-density areas, while on-site supervisors ensure floors are cleared of liquids and slip hazards and fully restored before Isha and Tarawih prayers begin.
Iftar arrangements inside the mosque are governed by strict health and regulatory protocols.
Organizers must obtain advance permits, adhere to an approved list of food items chosen for ease of distribution and cleanup, meet food safety and packaging standards, and submit to continuous field inspections to ensure iftar stations do not block worshippers or emergency evacuation routes.
The results have not gone unnoticed by those on the ground.
Mohammed Abdulrahman, a worshipper from Egypt, said: “Cleanliness levels inside the mosque were impressive given the sheer scale of the crowds.”
He said the floors were in pristine condition within minutes of iftar ending.
Abdullah Yusuf Khan, visiting from Pakistan, praised the authority for the smooth and unobtrusive distribution of iftar meals, and the rapid clean-up operations.
source https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636269/saudi-arabia
Categories: Arab World, Ramadan, Saudi Arabia