His Excellency Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, President of the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), held a joint coordination meeting today with senior officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, led by H.E. Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah. The meeting reviewed sector readiness and discussed the integration of operational plans to ensure the highest level of service for pilgrims during Hajj 1446. H.E. also chaired a separate meeting with the water sector leadership in the Makkah region to assess the latest operational developments and preparations for the season.

As part of his visit, H.E. Al-Abdulkarim conducted a field tour of Makkah and the holy sites, inspecting the readiness of water-related projects and operations across production, transmission, storage, distribution, and irrigation. These efforts aim to ensure efficient and reliable water supply and service quality for pilgrims.

He reviewed ongoing development projects at the holy sites, including the readiness of water infrastructure, strategic storage, pumping stations, distribution networks, and treatment facilities, in addition to emergency supply and contingency plans. He also visited the control and monitoring center in Mina to assess technical and operational preparedness for peak Hajj days.

Accompanied by senior sector officials, H.E. was briefed on the comprehensive operational plan for Hajj, which emphasizes proactive preparedness and supply reliability. He visited key projects executed by the National Water Company (NWC), reviewed progress rates, and confirmed their readiness for integration into this year’s operations—including network expansions, reservoir upgrades, and operational efficiency improvements across Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat.

At the end of his visit, H.E. commended NWC for its outstanding efforts in improving operational performance in Makkah and the holy sites. He praised the successful, ahead-of-schedule completion of all 13 critical projects, reflecting the company’s high readiness and dedication to ensuring uninterrupted water supply for pilgrims.

He also acknowledged the joint efforts supporting water supply across production, transmission, and storage during Hajj, and emphasized the role of all water sector partners—including the Water Partnerships Company (WPC), its private sector collaborators, and the Water Transmission Company. H.E. stressed the importance of maintaining high preparedness, intensifying coordination, and mobilizing all resources in line with the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership to provide exceptional services to pilgrims and support a smooth and peaceful Hajj experience.