Saudi Security Forces Prepare for Hajj with Parade

Saudi Arabian security forces marched through a parade ground in Mecca as pilgrims around the world continued to converge on the Muslim holy city for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Police forces held mock demonstrations of pursuit and capture situations.

Pilgrims started arriving in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, with thousands of Muslims expected to attend the 2024 Haj pilgrimage season.

Haj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, is the world's biggest religious gathering and a major source of income for the Saudi government from worshippers' lodging, transport, fees and gifts.

Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif attended the annual military parade of the Hajj security forces and the agencies concerned with affairs of Hajj and pilgrims participating in implementing the general plan for this year’s Hajj season.

The minister reaffirmed the readiness of the Hajj security forces to carry out their tasks in preserving the security and safety of pilgrims.

The ceremony, which was held in Mecca, was attended by a number of senior government officials.

The parade demonstrated the readiness of the security sectors participating in this year’s Hajj security mission to provide the highest levels of security and safety for the guests of God so as to enable them to perform the rituals of Hajj in ease and comfort.

A number of military displays and drills were also presented, which included a review of the most prominent modern mechanisms used in Hajj missions this year. During the parade, a number of aviation displays were presented, and then the mechanisms, security aviation, and types of aircraft that will be used in this year’s Hajj were displayed to monitor human crowding and equipment at the Holy Sites.