MAKKAH — Makkah Deputy Emir and Vice Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah Prince Saud bin Mishaal visited on Sunday the Grand Mosque in Makkah to inspect the readiness of the Mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) and the operational and service systems provided to pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season.This visit was part of the ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and improve the experience of pilgrims. The Deputy Emir was accompanied by several officials and listened to a briefing on the operational and service plans implemented by relevant authorities at the Grand Mosque. These plans include crowd management mechanisms, enhanced services, and facility preparation to ensure smooth movement and the comfort of pilgrims. Prince Saud bin Mishaal also inspected the progress of the Third Saudi Expansion project and reviewed the phased handover of operations being carried out by the Project Management Office at the Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.These efforts are part of a comprehensive operational system aimed at enhancing the quality of services provided to worshipers, Umrah pilgrims, and visitors, and creating a more accessible and seamless environment for worship within the Grand Mosque and its facilities. The Deputy Emir also inspected the Al-Nawariyah Pilgrims Reception and Guidance Center to review the operational procedures and services provided to pilgrims. He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat, Makkah Mayor Musaed Al-Dawood, and several officials from government and security sectors in the region. During the inspection tour, Prince Saud bin Mishaal reviewed the workflow in the center's pre-arrival room, including its screens and operational systems used to monitor operations. These systems include confirming pilgrims' accommodations with service providers before their arrival, tracking bus arrival statistics, and monitoring the bus tracking system to ensure smooth traffic flow and swift processing. The Deputy Emir also reviewed the operations at the pilgrims’ reception hall, the mechanism for exchanging foreign and Saudi buses at the center, and the organizational and operational services provided to facilitate the reception and guidance of pilgrims to their accommodations smoothly and efficiently.