MINA: Some 524 pilgrims with disabilities arrived earlier at the holy sites, embarking on their spiritual journey as part of a pioneering national initiative led by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, now in its fifth consecutive year.

The National Hajj Initiative for Persons with Disabilities was designed to ensure that pilgrims with disabilities can perform Hajj with dignity and ease. It provides a suite of tailored services, including accessible transportation, specialized accommodation and 24-hour escort support for those in need.

The initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan, which prioritizes inclusivity and a higher quality of life for all citizens and residents. By expanding access and strengthening support for pilgrims with disabilities, the Kingdom is reaffirming its commitment to equitable participation in all aspects of life.

According to the General Authority for Statistics’ Disability Statistics Publication 2023, released in May 2024 and carried by the Saudi Press Agency, an estimated 1.8 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population lives with some form of disability. These include a range of physical, sensory and communication impairments of varying levels of severity.

Speaking to Arab News, Abdullah Abdulmohsin Al-Harbi, head of the social responsibility and volunteering department at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the initiative now encompassed all 13 regions of the Kingdom.

“The initiative was originally conceived to empower persons with disabilities to visit all the holy sites and perform the Hajj pilgrimage with ease and dignity,” he said.

He said that the program welcomed men and women with disabilities from across the Kingdom, selected on defined criteria and classifications.

“We are proud to host pilgrims with various types of disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, have physical disabilities, or amputations. We have mobilized all necessary resources to support them, including a streamlined travel itinerary developed in collaboration with key entities such as Public Security, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development,” he added.

Al-Harbi said that the initiative had matured over the past five years, identifying the full spectrum of needs among persons with disabilities and developing appropriate support mechanisms, including comprehensive access solutions.

He added that the ministry hoped that the program could serve as a model for all services offered to pilgrims with disabilities.

Al-Harbi also emphasized the initiative’s profound impact on pilgrims, particularly the opportunity it gave them to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.

“The spiritual and emotional impact of performing Hajj has been deeply meaningful for them,” he said.

“With the support of the Kingdom’s wise leadership, all necessary resources and facilities have been mobilized to serve the Guests of Allah, regardless of their background. This valued segment of society has been provided with comprehensive services and supports to enable them to perform Hajj.”

Since its inception, the initiative has served nearly 2,000 beneficiaries of both genders, Al-Harbi added.

Among this year’s participants is Abdullah Saif Al-Qahtani, a pilgrim with a mobility disability, who said that his Hajj journey was smoother than he could have imagined.

“I registered and was admitted to the program. I have performed Hajj before, but this year’s organization was exceptionally excellent, and the stoning ritual was so easy,” he said, adding that every person he encountered was willing to help.

Abdulaziz Al-Enezi, another pilgrim with a similar disability, said that he learned about the initiative through a local disability society in Hafr Al-Batin, of which he is a member.

“I applied for the initiative, and they responded promptly. Their support was outstanding. I left Hafr Al-Batin on my own and didn’t need help from anyone. The initiative’s officials provided everything I needed, including medical and food support,” he said.

He said that he did not pay a single riyal for the Hajj. “I left my city with only my clothes and my wheelchair. So far, the services have been excellent. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” he added.

RIYADH: Each year, millions of Muslims from all over the world arrive in Makkah for Hajj — united in faith, but sometimes divided by language.

From Turkish and Urdu to Swahili and Bahasa, the diversity of languages in the holy cities is vast. For many, overcoming language barriers while navigating the logistics of Hajj can be overwhelming.

That is where young Saudi volunteers step in to translate and ease some of the challenges pilgrims face.

“We speak different languages, but we’re all here for the same reason,” said Deema Ibrahim, 21.

Ibrahim’s experience volunteering as a translator began with a change of plans. “I initially joined a team for emergency medical services,” she said. “But when we arrived, we found that the ambulance units were already full. So we were redirected to work in the road guidance division.”

Her unit was based near a hotel that housed non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims. As one of the few bilingual members of her team, Ibrahim’s role became essential.

“I also assisted deaf and mute pilgrims through remote video calls,” she said. “That allowed me to support a wider group of people who would otherwise be left struggling.”

One of the most emotional moments she experienced was helping an elderly woman who had become separated from her family. “She didn’t remember much and couldn’t communicate clearly.

“We eventually found a card with her camp name, called them, and her daughters came running. They didn’t expect to find her again. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

“I did it for the reward — and for the duas.”

Saad Al-Harbi, 23, was encouraged by a friend to volunteer.

“He said, ‘You speak good English, you live in Makkah, and you’re available — why not help as a group guide and translator?’” he recalled.

Most of the questions from pilgrims were about directions. “They’d ask how to get to Arafat, or where to perform the stoning, or how to navigate from one site to another.”

But what stayed with him most was the gratitude. “On the last day of Hajj, almost everyone in our group came up to thank me. They told me my help made a difference. That meant everything.”

Maha Al-Ahmari, 24, who speaks fluent Turkish, assisted several elderly Turkish origin or Turkish-speaking pilgrims who were part of a group of North African pilgrims in Muzdalifah.

“Many of them were completely disoriented and couldn’t communicate with security or their own groups,” she said.

“Just being able to speak their language calmed them instantly. One woman kissed my hand in thanks — I’ll never forget that.”

The Kingdom’s efforts to enhance services for pilgrims include multilingual signage, smart apps with translation features, and trained staff in key areas. Still, human contact is at the heart of everything guides do — especially when emotions run high.

Ibrahim said that some of the most difficult cases involved older pilgrims who were confused, hard of hearing, or dealing with memory loss.

“The pressure increases during the days of Nafr,” she said. “People get lost easily. And when they can’t speak Arabic or English, the stress becomes dangerous.”

She credits the government’s organization — from surveillance centers to camp identification systems — for helping volunteers like her stay effective. “We had support, but the human side of it — calming someone, assuring them — that was on us.”

Faris Al-Turki, 28, who volunteered in Mina, said he used Google Translate in real time to assist a pilgrim from Central Asia. “It wasn’t perfect, but it helped. He was trying to find his medication and explain a health condition. We figured it out.”

For many volunteers, the act of translation is an act of worship. It’s a way to serve the guests of Allah — a role that holds deep spiritual meaning in Saudi culture.

“You’re not just translating words,” Al-Harbi said. “You’re translating emotion. You’re showing them that they’re not alone.”

Ibrahim agreed. “It was exhausting, physically and mentally, but it was the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. Despite our different languages, we were all in the same sacred space, for the same reason. That unity — you feel it.”

In the end, most volunteers do not seek recognition. They often work behind the scenes, in the heat, in the chaos, among strangers.

But for the pilgrims who meet them — the ones who are lost, confused, scared — their presence is unforgettable. A calm voice. A familiar phrase. A gesture of patience.

And when the pilgrims return home, they may not remember every building or landmark, but they will remember that young Saudi who stepped forward, understood their words, and made them feel seen.