The volunteer work system at the Prophet's Mosque witnessed significant progress during 2025, with official statistics revealing the participation of 27,154 male and female volunteers in providing diverse field and humanitarian services to pilgrims. These efforts culminated in the completion of 519,396 volunteer hours, reflecting a profound sense of faith and a strong desire to do good in the holiest of places.
The General Authority for the Care of the Prophet’s Mosque explained that this large volunteer movement was made possible by offering (373) diverse volunteer opportunities, covering various aspects needed by visitors and worshippers, from field organization to precise specialized services.
Kingdom Vision 2030 and promoting a culture of volunteering
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader national context of Saudi Arabia, where volunteer work is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, which aims to reach one million volunteers annually. Volunteering at the Two Holy Mosques is a top priority within the "Serving the Guests of God" program, one of the Vision's executive initiatives, which seeks to enrich the visitor experience and facilitate the performance of their religious rites with ease and tranquility. This significant turnout of volunteers embodies the cohesion of Saudi society and its sense of religious and national responsibility towards those visiting the city of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Diversity of field and humanitarian services
The volunteer efforts encompassed a wide range of services that directly address the needs of visitors, most notably:
- Crowd management: Organizing the movement of worshippers in corridors and courtyards, especially during peak times and the five daily prayers, to ensure smooth movement and prevent overcrowding.
- Social care: Providing direct assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities, and providing wheelchairs and mobility assistance.
- Breakfast and water services: Active participation in organizing breakfast meals for fasting people and distributing Zamzam water bottles and chilled water throughout the mosque and its courtyards.
Specialized services: medical, technical, and linguistic
The efforts were not limited to logistics services alone, but extended to include highly specialized areas that enhance the quality of service provided:
Medical and ambulance services emerged as a key component, with specialized volunteers collaborating with health authorities to provide first aid and rapid intervention in emergencies. Translation and guidance services a pivotal role in assisting non-Arabic speaking visitors, helping to break down language barriers and facilitate their access to facilities and services.
On the technical and awareness front, volunteers contributed to activating interactive guidance screens and providing spatial guidance along the enrichment route, especially for female visitors, to ensure a comprehensive and accessible spiritual experience. This integrated system of services underscores the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques' commitment to investing in and directing human resources to serve the houses of God, thus reinforcing the Kingdom's leading position in crowd management and serving Muslims from all corners of the earth.
