The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Saudi Arabia after authorities announced that the 1447 AH Hajj season concluded without any disease outbreaks or public health threats, highlighting the Kingdom’s management of one of the world’s largest annual mass gatherings amid ongoing global health challenges.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Saudi Arabia on the successful Hajj season and thanked healthcare workers for their role in helping ensure a safe pilgrimage. He said their efforts reflected international confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to manage the health requirements of major mass gatherings.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Hanan Balkhy also commended Saudi Arabia’s health preparations for the pilgrimage. She cited the use of technologies including robots and drones, the delivery of healthcare services across pilgrimage sites and continuous monitoring of pilgrims’ health throughout their journey.
The comments came after the Ministry of Health announced that the Hajj season had been free of disease outbreaks and public health threats.
Authorities said the pilgrimage was supported by one of the largest health preparedness operations undertaken for Hajj, including preventive, therapeutic and emergency services, alongside epidemiological surveillance, health assessments and risk-management measures carried out in coordination with national agencies and international health organizations.
Health Minister Fahad AlJalajel said that “Hajj health security is global health security,” noting that millions of pilgrims travel from around the world to perform the pilgrimage before returning to their home countries.
He said the season’s success resulted from an integrated health system that begins before pilgrims arrive, including vaccination requirements, health screening measures and preparedness planning.
The system also incorporates epidemiological surveillance, risk assessment and rapid-response mechanisms, supported by coordination among government agencies and international health organizations.
AlJalajel also expressed appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their support of the healthcare sector and pilgrim services, saying their directives had helped strengthen the readiness of the health system and support efforts to protect pilgrims’ health.