Arrival of 1000 Sudanese pilgrims as part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of 1,000 pilgrims from the families of martyrs of Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope from the sisterly Republic of Sudan. This generous hosting comes within the framework of the Custodian of Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit, which the Ministry is implementing this year amidst a comprehensive system of services and facilities to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims and facilitate their transfer to their accommodations in Makkah with ease and peace of mind.
General and historical context of the event
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program is one of the most prominent Islamic and humanitarian initiatives undertaken annually by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It aims to host thousands of Muslims from around the world to perform Hajj at the state's expense. In this context, hosting the families of Sudanese martyrs is a gesture of appreciation for the immense sacrifices made by Sudanese forces within the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, which began with Operations Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope in 2015. This honor reflects Saudi Arabia's enduring loyalty to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom in defending the causes of the Arab and Islamic nations.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, this hosting highlights the Kingdom's and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs' immense organizational capabilities in crowd management and providing top-tier logistical services. Regionally, this step strengthens the historical bilateral relations between Riyadh and Khartoum and underscores Arab solidarity in confronting shared challenges. Internationally, this event reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as the beating heart of the Islamic world and a welcoming home for Muslims from all corners of the globe, thus enhancing its soft power and profound humanitarian influence.
An integrated system of services and care
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs affirmed that the pilgrims hosted by the Ministry have received a comprehensive package of services since their arrival in the Holy Land. This care included a warm welcome at entry points, the provision of modern buses for transportation, high-quality accommodation, and round-the-clock food and healthcare. Specialized awareness and guidance programs were also prepared to enable them to perform the Hajj rituals in a spiritually enriching and accessible environment.
Thanks and gratitude to the wise leadership
For their part, a large number of Sudanese martyrs' families, who were among the pilgrims hosted by the Kingdom, expressed their profound gratitude and deep appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz – may God protect them both. They praised the exceptional care they received upon their arrival, affirming that this humanitarian gesture embodies the Kingdom's deep respect and loyalty to the families of martyrs and reflects its unwavering commitment to supporting its brothers and sisters. They prayed to God to grant the Kingdom continued security and stability.
Statistics for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program this year
It is worth noting that the committees working within the Ministry of Islamic Affairs are continuing their work around the clock according to a precise operational plan, under the direct supervision of His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the General Supervisor of the program, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh. This year, the program is hosting a total of 2,500 pilgrims representing 104 countries from around the world, including 1,000 pilgrims from the Republic of Sudan, which underscores the comprehensive and global nature of this royal initiative in serving Islam and Muslims.
