Makkah Exhibition Displays Rare Grand Mosque Crowd Artifact
An exhibition in Makkah is displaying a rare wooden platform once used near the Black Stone to direct pilgrims during Tawaf, highlighting early crowd-management methods at the Grand Mosque.
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Last updated: 20 Jun 2026, 12:02 PM (Saudi time)
An exhibition in Makkah is displaying a rare wooden platform once used near the Black Stone to direct pilgrims during Tawaf, highlighting early crowd-management methods at the Grand Mosque.
Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative pre-cleared 388,694 pilgrims at 17 departure points in 10 countries during Hajj 2026, with Senegal and Brunei Darussalam joining the programme for the first time.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites completed the second phase of its Arafat shading and cooling project, expanding covered areas fivefold to more than 272,000 square metres ahead of Hajj 2026.
Saudi Arabia deployed more than 39,000 trained volunteers across the holy sites, border crossings and pilgrim cities during Hajj 2026, coordinated through a unified digital command centre linking 16 organisations.
Saudi authorities announced the successful conclusion of the Hajj 2026 season, with more than 1.7 million pilgrims completing the rites at the holy sites. Preparations for the 1448 AH pilgrimage have already begun.
Saudi Arabia has begun issuing Umrah visas for the 1448 AH season, with pilgrims able to enter Makkah from June 1, 2026. The Nusuk application is now mandatory for permit issuance regardless of visa type.
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