Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted an Eid Al-Adha reception at Mina Palace on Wednesday, honoring the workforce behind the Hajj operations. The event, held on behalf of King Salman, was attended by princes, ministers, religious scholars, and military commanders, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Among those offering congratulations were Gulf Cooperation Council officials, ministers, and scout groups participating in the pilgrimage. The crown prince, who also serves as prime minister, commended the military, security, and government personnel for their dedication to safeguarding pilgrims and protecting the Kingdom amid regional tensions.
“We thank all members of the military and security sectors, the dedicated employees across various government agencies, and the volunteers for their service to the pilgrims and for ensuring their safety and security,” the crown prince stated.
He emphasized that serving the two holy mosques and holy sites remains one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest honors, and protecting the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty is a longstanding national commitment. The crown prince extended Eid greetings to citizens, residents, and pilgrims, praying for peace and prosperity across the Islamic world.
Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, spoke on behalf of the military sectors involved in this year’s operations. He noted that Saudi Arabia has made service to the two holy mosques a cornerstone of its mission since the Kingdom’s founding, and the success of this year’s security plans has enhanced safety and service standards for pilgrims.
Guests later greeted the crown prince and attended a banquet at Mina Palace. Saudi Arabia is hosting over 1.7 million pilgrims during Hajj, one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings. Pilgrim numbers rose about 2 percent compared to last year, with over 1.54 million arriving from abroad and around 160,000 from within the Kingdom.
Officials credited expanded infrastructure projects, digital services, and enhanced crowd-management systems for improving pilgrim movement between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. The Makkah Route Initiative was also expanded, allowing nearly 389,000 pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures in their home countries before departure—an increase of almost 24 percent from last year.
More than 441,000 personnel, including security forces, healthcare workers, transport coordinators, and emergency response teams, have been deployed to support Hajj operations and ensure pilgrim safety throughout the season.
Separately, King Salman and the crown prince exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings with leaders across the Islamic world. They thanked fellow Muslim leaders for their messages and prayed for continued security, stability, and prosperity across the Islamic world, while also asking God to accept the good deeds of pilgrims during Hajj and Eid.
