The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains steadfast in mobilizing all its capabilities to serve the Guests of Allah, offering an integrated system of services that ensures pilgrims can perform their rituals with safety, ease, and peace of mind. Among these services, healthcare stands as a top national priority, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, which places human well-being and quality of life at the forefront, especially during the Hajj season, the largest annual human gathering hosted on Saudi soil.
As part of its preparations for Hajj 1446 AH, the Ministry of Health is executing an intensive, comprehensive health plan built on the highest standards of preventive, therapeutic, and emergency care. These efforts reflect the Kingdom's exceptional level of readiness and coordination across all sectors involved in serving pilgrims.
Under its operational plans, the Ministry is enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of healthcare by equipping medical facilities across the holy sites with advanced technologies and qualified medical personnel, ensuring that pilgrims receive integrated and timely healthcare services.
Proactively, the Ministry launched early coordination with international health organizations and conducted risk assessments to address potential health threats during the Hajj. It issued mandatory health protocols, including essential vaccinations against meningitis, yellow fever, polio, seasonal influenza, and COVID-19. These measures are designed to minimize the risk of disease transmission and ensure public health protection.
As part of the “Makkah Route" initiative, the Ministry has been delivering healthcare services at 14 border entry points—air, land, and sea. Over 50,000 medical services have already been provided, including advanced surgeries such as open-heart operations and catheterizations, all conducted before pilgrims even reached the holy sites.
From an environmental health perspective, the Ministry—working in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites—has implemented climate adaptation initiatives aimed at improving the pilgrim experience. These include planting 10,000 trees, expanding shaded areas, installing misting fans, and adding 400 additional water coolers. Multilingual awareness campaigns have also been launched to educate pilgrims on health and environmental practices.
To deliver rapid and effective emergency response, the Ministry has established a new emergency hospital in Mina with a capacity of 200 beds, constructed in record time. It has also deployed 15 field hospitals in coordination with health and security sectors, more than 900 ambulances, 11 air evacuation helicopters, 71 emergency response points, and over 7,500 paramedics across the Hajj zones.
The Ministry is further advancing healthcare delivery through digital innovation via the Seha Virtual Hospital, enabling remote consultations and chronic disease monitoring using smart sensor devices. These services expand access to care and significantly boost response efficiency.
This year's Hajj season also marks increased participation from the private healthcare sector, with three major hospitals operating in the holy sites under public-private partnerships. This collaboration supports the expansion of medical capacity and offers additional treatment options for pilgrims.
The Ministry of Health continues to run field and digital awareness campaigns, urging pilgrims to follow health guidelines, avoid direct sun exposure, stay hydrated, and seek medical attention when needed. The Ministry has reaffirmed its full preparedness to respond to any health emergencies to ensure a safe and healthy Hajj for all.
These efforts are part of a broader national framework of unified action, reflecting Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of pilgrims. The integrated approach, combining prevention, treatment, technology, and public engagement, embodies the values of compassion and responsibility, while bringing the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to life in one of its most profound forms.